Donate to Save River: A Beloved Doberman's Battle

My brother Daniel, who I miss and love, has a wonderful female fawn Doberman named River because of his love for the outdoors. I asked him to explain what’s happened…

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Update on River. She is a fighter!! We are all surprised she has made it this far. She doesn’t want to give up and neither am I. It’s been two weeks since she first got sick. Her liver is still in very bad condition but the medications have brought it back a little bit. But still has a very long way to go. She still has very little appetite. Which means she isn’t getting the nutrition she needs to help her strength. So she is tired and lazy. But she still gets up on her own. Goes outside, even picks up a toy to play with now and then. She jumps in and out of the car when we go to the dr. She still has energy and is still going. But… for how much longer is the question. The medication is working. But is not working fast enough. We keep pushing and keep going. One more week and we will do more testing. I’m very grateful I have gotten two weeks more with her and thank god for each day forward. The vet bills, medications and limited diet has cost me everything I have. I’m putting it all on the line for her. Thank you for everyone who donated already. And please continue to share this. The more shares the more views the more chances someone can pitch in and help me pay for her bills and continued care. Thank you and blessings to you and yours.

This is River, she is my baby girl. She just had her 8th birthday this month on the 16th. I’ve had her since she was a puppy at 8 weeks. Anyone that has ever met her says she is a sweetheart and I couldn’t agree more. The kindest dog I’ve known. Very loyal to me. She took to her Uncle the most. My male doberman is her Uncle by blood. They are like brother and sister. He is older by 2 years. He is the one who has always had medical problems. River, even though becoming a senior herself, still acts like she did when she was 2 years old. Never had medical issues, I thought she would be around much longer than Jackson, my other dobie. High energy dog. Loves to play with her toys and chase the squirrels out of the yard. Her and I have been through a lot in her lifetime. She helped me get through some very tough times. She always knows when I’m down and needing a lap session even though she knows she can’t fit in my lap. She would always try to.

Well, this past Monday the 22nd I took her to the vet. Over the weekend she had been throwing up and stopped eating. She was still drinking water but at first was throwing it up as well. So I brought her to the vet and in the waiting room I noticed she has jaundice. Her gums are yellowing, her eye whites and her belly all turning yellowish. Signs of liver failure. We immediately ran the tests. Her liver levels were over 4000 and normal is 200. Her bilirubin levels were over 40, normal levels are 0.9. So toxic build up was happening while the liver was failing. We rushed to the ER. Got her on fluids and antibiotics. Then did a liver biopsy. The liver was found to be infected with bacterial infection and inflamed. The bladder and urinary tract also got infected. Since the bilirubin was trying to work its way out through the urine. Then the kidneys begin to work overtime. To add to the problem, spayed Dobermans have problems with incontinence. Especially during a UTI. So she can’t control her bladder and just leaks wherever she is. So the ER put a catheter in for her comfort and cleanliness. She stayed in the ER for 48 hours. Getting fluids and antibiotics. She still wasn’t eating, only a bite or two. But after 48hrs all her levels dropped 50%. So they released her to go home with medications, since we’re seeing improvements. She went home with levels at 2000 and 11. Still way high. Not out of the woods yet. She comes home, it’s good to have her here with me and my other dog. Her family in her bed. She drinks but she doesn’t eat still. 24 hrs later from coming home she is not eating and now a full week since her last full meal. They recommend to check her levels again. So bring her in and find that the levels have severely gone the wrong way. Now at 7000. The liver is failing. Even with the help and only 24 hrs of fluids. She still has energy to walk and even jump in and out of the car to go to the vet. She gets up to drink and go pee, when she hasn’t peed already in her sleep. The vet gave the end of life talk at this point. What to expect. What choices have. Gave me a timeline. I was able to bring her back home. Not knowing if her organs will slow to a stop overnight in her sleep or if she would wake up and be in bad shape and I take her in to be put down, the humane thing to do. Let me tell you I didn’t get any sleep. She laid on my bed right next to me all night. My hand on her chest feeling her breathing and her beautiful heart beat. She woke up this morning. She took her pills, drank lots of water and then we spent the morning laying outside in the sun listening and watching the birds and squirrels in the trees. She’s happy. Tired. But happy and content. She isn’t in pain or discomfort from what we can see. She is doing good though. She has eaten a few treats now. Hoping that will increase to small bites of wet food and then more and more food. When I brought my girl into the ER the first time they didn’t expect her to recover. She did. When I brought her back in and her levels almost tripled. They gave me end of life talks. But River is a fighter. Her heart is strong. She doesn’t want to go. Maybe there is a miracle still in play. I won’t give up on her. I’ve spent more money than I ever thought I would on a dog. Her bills come before mine now. I love this dog so much. If I can get her better and get another couple years with her then this fight is worth it. But my funds are limited and running out. If she needs something more I’m afraid I won’t be able to provide it. She is still young enough that it’s worth fighting for. A liver is a regenerative organ. We need to clear the infections and keep giving the liver medication to get levels down. She just might be able to pull through. She just needs all the guardian angels she can get.

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So far the bills have exceeded $7,500 which is why I’m asking for $8k to help cover expenses. Please consider donating if only $10 if you can to help my brother !

Thank You

Matt