Copper’s Veterinary Expenses
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This is Copper. Copper is a sweet, handsome, nine year old beagle that my husband and I adopted from the SPCA back in 2017. He loves playing hide and seek with his treats, going for long walks, and smelling all the things. He also loves head pats, belly rubs, and napping with mom and dad.
Unfortunately, just a few months after we adopted him, Copper started experiencing severe pain in his back and neck to the point where he was temporarily unable to use his back legs. After a stressful visit to the vet, and an emergency animal clinic, it was discovered that he most likely had a herniated disk in his back. This was treated with steroids, a lot of rest, and eventually laser therapy which Copper thoroughly enjoys! Moving forward, after the initial flare up we experienced with him, we were easily able to treat later flare ups with laser therapy. After working closely with our vet, it was decided he would be on a once daily dose of Gabapentin, with regular appointments for laser treatment every few months.
In mid 2020, our small family moved from snowy Ohio to sunny Florida, and Copper was so excited! He had so many new sniffs to explore, creatures to experience, and walks to take. Previous to December 11th of 2020, he loved getting out of the house, making new friends, and trotting along the water's edge. But, on that day, he began to experience another flare up. He couldn't lay normally, he was no longer able to jump up on the couch to nap with his humans, and he lost his appetite completely. We took him to the vet right away, and they prescribed him more steroids and rest, which ultimately did not work. We began taking him to get laser treatments twice a week, and started a more aggressive round of steroids, along with muscle relaxers, and two different types of pain medication. At this point, he was taking thirteen pills a day, and his condition was still not improving.
We took him back to the vet, and the vet suggested we take him in for a neurological visit and an MRI. The vet suspects he may have something called Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD) which could lead to him needing a surgery that would cost upwards of $10,000. We asked how much the MRI would cost, and were told it would be around $2500. We communicated that we would not be able to afford the MRI, and the vet, who was very understanding, was able to give him an x-ray and theorized he had a rupture in one of the discs in his neck. We were told to continue with the medication, and laser therapy, and we did so accordingly.
Eventually it seemed like he was starting to get better, the vet was happy with his progress, and we were going to start tapering off the steroid medication because it can be damaging to keep a dog on steroids for too long. He seemed to be doing okay at first, but just a few days ago, he began experiencing constant severe pain once again. We can see his neck spasm throughout the day, and when he sleeps. He cries out in pain when he stands up, and he can no longer go on even a short walk. He struggles to stand on his front legs, and often holds up his right leg when he is standing.
We took him back to the vet once again, and they're adamant that we should take him to an animal neurologist to explore the possibility of getting him and MRI, and starting him on a different medication routine. We want to do what is best for our dog, and we are willing to do whatever it takes to make him comfortable, but we're struggling to pay for his medical expenses. After the last vet visit we have maxed out our CARE credit card, we still need to pay for him to continue his laser therapy, we have all of the medication to pay for, along with the pill pockets we put them in, and we need to be able to take him to a neurologist to get the MRI.
All we want is for Copper to get the care he needs in order to be pain free. We want him to be able to enjoy walks once again, and live the full life he deserves. If you're able to spare even just $5.00 to help fund Copper's vet bills and treatment, we would be so grateful for your donations. And even if you can't afford to spare any money, we would be so thankful if you could share our GoFund me page in order to spread Copper's story.
Update:
We took Copper to the neurologist today, he doesn’t think Copper is going to get better on his own and has a ruptured disc in his neck. We won’t know for sure until he has an MRI. However, they want to do it all at once, the MRI is done while he is sedated and if it does show a ruptured disc he would go straight into surgery. We are hoping to raise enough for this all to happen and have attached the estimate for everything.
Unfortunately, just a few months after we adopted him, Copper started experiencing severe pain in his back and neck to the point where he was temporarily unable to use his back legs. After a stressful visit to the vet, and an emergency animal clinic, it was discovered that he most likely had a herniated disk in his back. This was treated with steroids, a lot of rest, and eventually laser therapy which Copper thoroughly enjoys! Moving forward, after the initial flare up we experienced with him, we were easily able to treat later flare ups with laser therapy. After working closely with our vet, it was decided he would be on a once daily dose of Gabapentin, with regular appointments for laser treatment every few months.
In mid 2020, our small family moved from snowy Ohio to sunny Florida, and Copper was so excited! He had so many new sniffs to explore, creatures to experience, and walks to take. Previous to December 11th of 2020, he loved getting out of the house, making new friends, and trotting along the water's edge. But, on that day, he began to experience another flare up. He couldn't lay normally, he was no longer able to jump up on the couch to nap with his humans, and he lost his appetite completely. We took him to the vet right away, and they prescribed him more steroids and rest, which ultimately did not work. We began taking him to get laser treatments twice a week, and started a more aggressive round of steroids, along with muscle relaxers, and two different types of pain medication. At this point, he was taking thirteen pills a day, and his condition was still not improving.
We took him back to the vet, and the vet suggested we take him in for a neurological visit and an MRI. The vet suspects he may have something called Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD) which could lead to him needing a surgery that would cost upwards of $10,000. We asked how much the MRI would cost, and were told it would be around $2500. We communicated that we would not be able to afford the MRI, and the vet, who was very understanding, was able to give him an x-ray and theorized he had a rupture in one of the discs in his neck. We were told to continue with the medication, and laser therapy, and we did so accordingly.
Eventually it seemed like he was starting to get better, the vet was happy with his progress, and we were going to start tapering off the steroid medication because it can be damaging to keep a dog on steroids for too long. He seemed to be doing okay at first, but just a few days ago, he began experiencing constant severe pain once again. We can see his neck spasm throughout the day, and when he sleeps. He cries out in pain when he stands up, and he can no longer go on even a short walk. He struggles to stand on his front legs, and often holds up his right leg when he is standing.
We took him back to the vet once again, and they're adamant that we should take him to an animal neurologist to explore the possibility of getting him and MRI, and starting him on a different medication routine. We want to do what is best for our dog, and we are willing to do whatever it takes to make him comfortable, but we're struggling to pay for his medical expenses. After the last vet visit we have maxed out our CARE credit card, we still need to pay for him to continue his laser therapy, we have all of the medication to pay for, along with the pill pockets we put them in, and we need to be able to take him to a neurologist to get the MRI.
All we want is for Copper to get the care he needs in order to be pain free. We want him to be able to enjoy walks once again, and live the full life he deserves. If you're able to spare even just $5.00 to help fund Copper's vet bills and treatment, we would be so grateful for your donations. And even if you can't afford to spare any money, we would be so thankful if you could share our GoFund me page in order to spread Copper's story.
Update:
We took Copper to the neurologist today, he doesn’t think Copper is going to get better on his own and has a ruptured disc in his neck. We won’t know for sure until he has an MRI. However, they want to do it all at once, the MRI is done while he is sedated and if it does show a ruptured disc he would go straight into surgery. We are hoping to raise enough for this all to happen and have attached the estimate for everything.
Organizer
Kristin Rosa
Organizer
Palm Harbor, FL