Give Raider his best chance

Dawn has graciously committed so
much time, energy, and funds to a sweet Labrador Retriever  boy who deserves her efforts but she also deserves ours .. Her words about Mr Raider -

On May 2, 2021, I volunteered to try and save a 14 wk old Labrador puppy named Raider, who was living out of state an suddenly became ill with puzzling and scary symptoms and had Vets baffled and was misdiagnosed multiple times. He had lost 8lbs in 10 days and was regurgitating and having difficulty breathing when he would have an episode, while eating or within a couple hours of eating. When he wasn't having episodes, he appeared perfectly healthy, but became terrified to eat. I asked that barium xrays be done and chest xrays to rule out aspirate pneumonia, Mega Esophagus, etc. I was told the families Vet said his lungs were clear and the Vet was not comfortable doing a barium study, because of what was going on. His family feared he would die before being properly diagnosed and knew I was experienced in tubefeeding and thought if he needed that, I could do it and keep him alive. They hoped after I saved Scooby-Doo, my cleft pallet puppy, that I could save this baby too. Long story short, his family drove him to me and relinquished all care to me on May 5th. His family just wanted me to try and save him before a decision was made to euthanize him. He arrived here a happy, energetic pup and appeared healthy and normal. Within 2 hours he was making a honking noise, regurgitating and having problems breathing. When we picked him up and attempted to put oxygen on him, he began to really struggle and completely stopped breathing, tongue and gums went pale, and his body went stiff and pupils fixed and dialted. After performing rescue breathing for what seemed like a lifetime, he was revived and was given oxygen and a breathing treatment. We listened to his lungs and they sounded raspy. While enroute to the ER, he stopped breathing again and had to be revived. Once at the ER, they discovered he had Aspirate Pneumonia .I have had him hospitalized on IV fluids and antibiotics and Oxygen. After 3 days of 24/7 hospitalization and oxygen and thousands in medical bills, he was discharged back to my care. He beat the aspirate pneumonia, which is life threatening in itself. I ordered numerous supplies and even made an oxygen chamber if he needs it. ER Vets thought he had some type of sudden onset Laryngeal Paralysis or an issue with his Esophagus that is causing these episodes either right after eating or within a couple hours of eating. They also suggested Mesenia Gravis as a possible diagnosis. They said he needed to be seen by a Specialty hospital for further testing and fluroscope procedure for a possible diagnosis. He has been home now from the hospital for 1 month and is doing great with stomach coating medications, antibiotics and nausea medicine, we refill weekly. I hand feed him numerous small meals one bite at a time of special can food (3-6 cans a day) along with Fresh Pet cur in small pieces fed in a maze puzzle bowl. He has had several episodes when he gets too much of the Fresh Pet out of the puzzle dish, where he has difficulty breathing and is so terrified he will defecate or urinate. This beautiful pup never has an accident in the house or in his crate. He also had 1 episode after eating some kibble (2 bites) that was unkowingly left in a bowl from another dog. About 3 wks ago we paid for some additional testing that included a PCR test sent to a Labratory, that involves sticking a swab down his throat to get some cultures. He also had a complete blood panel. The blood panel came back perfect and the PCR test came back positive for Mycoplasma (bacterial infection) and Adreno Virus 2. The Vet decided to treat him with 2 weeks of Doxycycline for the Mycoplasma. He has finished the Doxycycline and his symptoms remain unchanged. During research, it was discovered that a pup up in Northern California had the exact same symptoms and ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and a PCR test on that pup,, came back positive for Mycoplasma and Bordatella. That pup was treated with Arizthromiacin for 7 days and was completely cured. So Raider is currently on Arizthromiacin. So far no changes. This baby is so beautiful and sweet and otherwise healthy, he is well behaved and so loving and appreciative of the care he is getting. He is no longer terrified to eat and acts like a normal pup, other then the hoarseness sounds and the fact he can't eat on his own without choking. My goal for this sweet pup is to get him with an expert in Laryngeal Paralysis, Esophagus and Trachea issues and surgery named Dr Jana Norris at Veternarian Specialty and Emergency Center (VSEC) in Thousand Oaks CA. The issue is now finances as I have already spent thousands trying to save this beautiful boy and this week my own 11 yr old Labrador Retriever under went Tie Back surgery at VSEC for her Giariatric Onset Laryngeal Paralysis Polyneuropathy (GOLPP). A scoping on my 11 yr old revealed her GOLPP was advanced and she needed surgery ASAP to prevent her suffocating. So Raiders diagnosis and treatment has been delayed.

Please consider donating to this beautiful dog’s well-being. We believe all dogs deserve the care that they need and the best chance at life.