Brownie's MRI Fund
Donation protected
Brownie is my 8 year old Shih Tzu, which I've had since he was three weeks old. I have bottle fed him, taught up to jump, and do so many tricks. He's the light of my life and has helped me throughout my battle with depression. Now he's the one that needs help.
Since late 2016 I have been taking him to the vet for stomach issues, along with a lot of built up gas and pain. He's been given countless medications that never seemed to address the issue. Blood-work and x-rays never found anything outside of minor liver elevations. We feared a worse underlying problem and the vet suggested a Ultrasound. In March/April 2017 I saved enough money $500+ and was able to have an Ultrasound done. As it turns out, his stomach was fine. There was absolutely nothing. He was given liver supplements ($50 for 30 days) and on his way.
Fast forward to last week. I spent $100 taking him to a vet who would see him right away (not his regular vet office). He was given medication for the inflammation as he said he might have a stomach infection from something he ate. We sense this wasn't the cause, but tried the medicine anyway. It didn't work and a week later I was finally able to see his regular vet office. X-rays were taken on 6/14, but the results wouldn't be in for a week. We were given new meds and blood-work was taken, $360. Then we were sent home.
Things went from bad to worse within hours, and by midnight we went to the emergency vet office. Brownie couldn't walk or move, he kept crying in pain and was sitting still while his head was tilted towards the ceiling. Again we feared the worst and thought he would go into shock or worse. We spent nearly five hours in the ER clinic with him. Had to pay for more x-rays since we needed the results right away. Turns out the x-rays were clean, there is nothing in his stomach. In reality there never was anything wrong.
The vet told us he is showing signs of early spinal cord disease and that our beloved dog will eventually lose his ability to walk. But this is just the vet's best guess, there could be a more serious problem present. We need to see a specialist and need to have an MRI done, the cost for this would be nearly $4000. There was also "a slight murmur" heard in his heart, which needs to be addressed before he can even have the MRI done.
We are devastated and don't know what to do. We don't have pet insurance and it's honestly too late for that due to the pre-existing cause. While all of this is going on, our other dog Sophia was in the ER as well for hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. This was nearly another $800 we've paid in the last 48 hours. With further treatments pending. In total we have spent over $2000 in the last 3 days or so.
We are a modest family that lives paycheck to paycheck. We don't take vacations, we don't have fancy cars. I don't have anything in my life that I care for more than my dogs. They are my everything and I feel like I will die without them. Because of my credit (I'm a recent homeowner and have a large student loan to my name), I don't have the means to acquire more credit. I don't have any family I can turn for help either, I'm responsible for both my parents financially.
I hate having to beg for help, but I am losing my mind and don't know what to do. My Brownie needs help and the sooner the better. The vet made it clear to us that the longer we wait the more damage to his spine he'll endure and it'll be irreversible.
Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated.
Since late 2016 I have been taking him to the vet for stomach issues, along with a lot of built up gas and pain. He's been given countless medications that never seemed to address the issue. Blood-work and x-rays never found anything outside of minor liver elevations. We feared a worse underlying problem and the vet suggested a Ultrasound. In March/April 2017 I saved enough money $500+ and was able to have an Ultrasound done. As it turns out, his stomach was fine. There was absolutely nothing. He was given liver supplements ($50 for 30 days) and on his way.
Fast forward to last week. I spent $100 taking him to a vet who would see him right away (not his regular vet office). He was given medication for the inflammation as he said he might have a stomach infection from something he ate. We sense this wasn't the cause, but tried the medicine anyway. It didn't work and a week later I was finally able to see his regular vet office. X-rays were taken on 6/14, but the results wouldn't be in for a week. We were given new meds and blood-work was taken, $360. Then we were sent home.
Things went from bad to worse within hours, and by midnight we went to the emergency vet office. Brownie couldn't walk or move, he kept crying in pain and was sitting still while his head was tilted towards the ceiling. Again we feared the worst and thought he would go into shock or worse. We spent nearly five hours in the ER clinic with him. Had to pay for more x-rays since we needed the results right away. Turns out the x-rays were clean, there is nothing in his stomach. In reality there never was anything wrong.
The vet told us he is showing signs of early spinal cord disease and that our beloved dog will eventually lose his ability to walk. But this is just the vet's best guess, there could be a more serious problem present. We need to see a specialist and need to have an MRI done, the cost for this would be nearly $4000. There was also "a slight murmur" heard in his heart, which needs to be addressed before he can even have the MRI done.
We are devastated and don't know what to do. We don't have pet insurance and it's honestly too late for that due to the pre-existing cause. While all of this is going on, our other dog Sophia was in the ER as well for hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. This was nearly another $800 we've paid in the last 48 hours. With further treatments pending. In total we have spent over $2000 in the last 3 days or so.
We are a modest family that lives paycheck to paycheck. We don't take vacations, we don't have fancy cars. I don't have anything in my life that I care for more than my dogs. They are my everything and I feel like I will die without them. Because of my credit (I'm a recent homeowner and have a large student loan to my name), I don't have the means to acquire more credit. I don't have any family I can turn for help either, I'm responsible for both my parents financially.
I hate having to beg for help, but I am losing my mind and don't know what to do. My Brownie needs help and the sooner the better. The vet made it clear to us that the longer we wait the more damage to his spine he'll endure and it'll be irreversible.
Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated.
Organizer
RoseLynn Mercedes
Organizer
Roselle, NJ
