This is Eiger, our sweet, crazy, cuddle-loving 4 year old spaniel who has been with us since the day he was born. He lives with us in our tiny home on wheels and, alongside his sister Petra, has spent the past four years chasing balls, diving into the sea, climbing mountains, and stealing hearts all across Europe.

From the outside, he looks the picture of health: energetic, playful, affectionate, and as ball-obsessed as ever, but inside, his liver is in serious trouble.

What we know

After months of ongoing tests, scans and specialist input from the amazing team at Liverpool Universities Small Animal Teaching Hospital Eiger has been found to have a serious liver issue. His bloodwork shows dangerously high liver values, he has ascites (fluid in his abdomen) and liver shunts; all indicating that his liver is struggling to cope.

A biopsy was ruled out, as it would have been too dangerous due to the fluid buildup and bleeding risk, so we don’t have a complete diagnosis, but the most likely theory currently is that Eiger has chronic immune mediated hepatitis, an unpreventable and silently progressing condition, with all signs unfortunately pointing to late-stage or end-stage liver damage. There’s no clear prognosis, it could be weeks or it could be years, as liver issues in dogs are unpredictable, incedious and under-researched.

The only thing we do know for sure is that right now he’s still full of life and energy, just as he always has been, and for as long as that’s true, we will do everything in our power to keep him that way.

Why we need help

Although Eiger was insured, our claim has been denied with the insurer arguing that an unrelated minor symptom Eiger has experienced for his whole life is evidence of a pre-existing condition; despite our vet’s belief that this is not the case. We are actively challenging their decision, but right now, time is not on Eiger’s side.

We’ve already spent over £6,000 on emergency vet care, imaging and diagnostics, not including the £550 per month we’re now paying for his ongoing medication, plus any additional costs for specialised diets, regular vet visits, ultrasounds, blood tests, and any unpredictable future costs as his liver injury progresses. Our insurance won’t cover anything they deem to be related.

Eiger is not ready to give up, and neither are we. With the right care and a bit of luck, his condition may be manageable, but we can’t do it alone. We are doing everything we can to manage this ourselves, but the financial blow of the insurance rejection, and unpredictability of ongoing and future costs has left us struggling.

This may not save him, but it will help us to give him more good days.

Eiger isn’t just our dog, he’s our shadow, our joy and our chaos. He’s the kind of dog who brings people over with a tail wag and sprints after a ball like it’s the greatest thing he’s ever seen. He cuddles like a lapdog, runs like a rocket, and still has no idea anything is wrong. We want to keep it that way for as long as we can.

There’s likely no cure for what Eiger’s going through, but there is comfort, care and love and while he’s still living with such joy and energy, we want to make sure that continues, with as many happy, comfortable, love-filled days as possible.

⸻

If you can donate, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And if you can’t, please share this page. Every little helps.

£5 - will buy him a comfort ball to take with him to his check ups

£20 - one weeks worth of supplements

£50 - two weeks worth of specialist food

£100 - one weeks worth of medication

Thank you for reading and for helping give Eiger the life he deserves; for as long as he has left.

With love and hope,

Benjamin, Jenna, Petra and Eiger