This is Cirilla our one year old Boston Terrier. She has unfortunately been diagnosed with MPS 1. It is a very rare congenital disease. We really need help due to insurance not covering this. Help no matter how big or small will help her. We really do appreciate it. Cirilla deserves to live a quality and longer life.

We first noticed signs around nine months ago, she walked around exaggerated like stomping. She would also screech and cry at times when she would get picked up and even without being touched when she would move. She would dip her hind quarters as if there was lameness, she seemed defensive about that area. I would thoroughly check her over, feeling along her spine, legs, hips and stomach but I could never find a consistent spot that might have been hurting her. Then she started to struggle walking and began falling over and slipping. It would interfere with her eating and she would have to be supported while she ate. It was as if she was in a drunken state. She had loss of her balance and coordination. She couldn't even move her little tail anymore. The MPS1 disorder caused aa luxation and that's why she is currently bandaged up. The bandage splint is hopefully causing scar tissue to form to help stabilize the vertebrae. We have already spent at least $4000 already to get several tests done (bile acid, thyroid and mps1) and bandage treatment that created scar tissue to stabilize her cervical vertebrae(Prednisone and neck bandages every two weeks). It has helped her be able to walk without falling but this bandage and Prednisone treatment is temporary. We started to wean her off of Prednisone to see what dose works for her but she was in pain and not doing as well as she was when she was on a higher dose. She is still on prednisone and gabapentin daily.

We need to get her treatment asap. She is a fighter, so feisty and wants to play with her older sister Keira all the time. We think about Keira as well and that she would be absolutely devastated if she lost Cirilla. We are completely devastated by this, we adore her so very much and want to be able for her to get this treatment. She is the sweetest little girl and so young, her life just barely starting. It would mean absolutely everything to us. It is a life saving and changing treatment for her. It's her only hope for a quality life.

I certainly didn't expect to be going through this so incredibly soon with such a young dog. We got Cirilla to grieve the loss of my beloved dog, be able to heal and a friend for our other current dog Keira.

MPS 1 (Boston Terrier specific) is a rare inherited Lysosomal Storage Disorder. Affected dogs have insufficient activity of the Enzyme alpha-L-iduronidase, which is responsible for breaking down glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). GAGs are an important component of tissues throughout the body. Dogs tend to have to be put down or they don't live very long with this disorder.