FU Fund

One of our own needs our help.  Those of you who know Kelly, know her kindness, generosity and general bad ass abilities.  And those of you who know FU know she is Kelly in canine form.  I’ll just let Kelly’s FB post explain what is happening:

For the past 8 weeks I have been struggling emotionally and something has been weighing on me heavily. I have kept something from many of my closest of friends and only a handful of people have known what has been going on with FU and I. I have been trying to go about my daily life of trying to run a household, working two jobs, being the present mom, while coaching baseball. But I have been dealing with many downs and no answers to the health of FU, my best friend, best Momma Bear and my greatest agility partner.

Around 8 weeks ago I decided to give the dogs topical Frontline, since we have been camping and hiking so much lately I wanted to try and be preventative. I rarely ever give my dogs flea and tick medications and it has been well over 2 years since I have given it last. I gave the dogs treatment on a Sunday afternoon, they were all fine but by Monday late afternoon FU was extremely lethargic, moping, eye discharge, lack of appetite and just not her happy self. I was concerned with her actions so I called to take her in Tuesday to her primary vet and the suggestion was to treat for eye allergies and she could be experiencing a false pregnancy (since she finished her last heat 3 weeks prior). Wednesday she worsened and wasn’t eating at this point along with her other symptoms getting worse one including sensitivity to being touched on her head. By Thursday things were going downhill and I took her to another GP Vet for a second opinion and his suggestion could range from possible poisoning, allergies, maybe a false pregnancy but not likely or who knows what really. He ran bloodwork and did full panels on her and everything came back normal. He didn’t want to put her on antiobiotics until he knew the actual cause so did a more extensive panel that was sent out. By the weekend I saw no improvement and things were declining especially her vision.

By Monday she was completely without any vision and acutely blind. I had to carry my FU around because she was running into objects hurting herself further, and I was having to act as her constant guide. She was scared, confused and completely disoriented. To see my best girl struggling broke my heart. I had no explanations only heartbreak and disbelief at what was happening. I had to work that Monday morning so I tried rushing her to the vet before I had to go in, leaving her with them for them for the day to try and help answer question of what was going on with her. FU was kept under observation all day until I got off work, had more extensive full panels run along with any airborne, flea, tick or fungal abnormalities they would try and find. They also ran fluids on her.

I picked her up as soon as I got off work Monday then rushed her to the Emergency Eye Clinic. After being at the Emergency Eye Clinic the doctor diagnosed her with Optic Neuritis. The Optometrist said she hadn’t seen many cases only about 1 a year, and that it was very uncommon. I from there decided to go to her regular Optometrist in Los Angeles to get a second opinion . She also said the diagnosis is Optic Neuritis once again something not very familiar or common. Neither could explain why, especially since all the blood tests and lab work were coming back normal. But also could neither rule out it possibly being caused by Frontline. The only consensus any of the doctors could come up was that her body for whatever reason was attacking her ocular nerve endings almost leading to a similarity of menagitis around her optic nerves. SARDS has been ruled out along with any hereditary or genetic diseases. All her bloodwork and panels for any airborne illnesses have all come back normal as well.

Originally FU started on Doxycycline, Atopica and Prednisone. Both Optometrists had similar treatments of Auto-Immune medications (Atopica), along with Prednisone and another Anti-Fungal Medication(Ketozonacal). The doctors told me the medications that she was currently on she would have to be on for the longevity of her life that cost easily over hundreds a week. I have seen over 5 doctors, 3 being specialists, and tried getting into UC Davis but they are booked through July and I can only get an emergency appointment if they are called by a vet requesting it. FU currently has a small portion of vision in her left eye and nothing currently in her right eye. I have completely expended my resources trying to find a currently unsolvable answer between 4 different doctors and the medications. FU has shown no response to the auto-immune medication in over 5 weeks now, in fact the combination of meds are making her so sick she refuses food and her medications even while being on the prednisone the last few days.

So here I am still at a loss. I haven’t wanted to post up to this point because I don’t have many answers, I don’t have an actual prognosis, and still have hope in my heart for her. I seem to be able to do everything except make my girl right and heal her. I don’t know what else to do except to post, and pray that someone here might have insight or answers for me where I have not been able to find one up to this point. I realize the more time goes on the more my window closes for her. I love my dogs just as much as I love my children (sorry boys its true) and there is nothing I have been able to do up this point to make her better and it literally breaks my heart. I really don’t want sympathy because no matter what is presented to us I will make her life the best damn one ever regardless of the outcome. All I want is an answer. Just praying there is someone that might be the key.

I want to thank you those small handful that have known, and for those have been a huge help in the process and for friends and professionals that are trying to be an advocate for FU and I, especially Dr. Andy Miller. And to Ryan for getting her to needed appointments when I can’t, you prove to be the best.


Okay, it’s Mia again, traits of Kelly that FU does not share are pride and stubbornness, but love of her dogs override those traits.  Thousands of dollars later, there are still avenues that can be explored and need to be explored quickly to give FU the best chance to have the highest quality of life possible.  These avenues are also coming with great cost and Kelly’s dog fund has been depleted.  Kelly’s top priority has to be the security of her three human boys, so we have an opportunity to help her with her most special, in all the best ways, FU.    Thank you to everyone in advance.