AN UPDATE [7.30pm, Friday the 2nd]:

Sadly.. the update is. It was not a slipped disc but a tumor in Simba's spine. We are choosing to try the meds. See how he goes on them.. but if he just deteriorates more. I will be making sure everyone gets to say goodbye to Simby. He deserves all the love from his friends and seeing them before he goes.

ORIGINAL POST:

Hi. My name is Mike.... And this is on behalf of our loving pup, Simba.

Simba just this week... suddenly developed some problems, and was rushed to the vet, then surgeons to help him.

In the past 48 hours, Simba went from a happy, walking, run at the dog park, playful pup.. to one, who was showing quite some discomfort two nights ago. So I booked him into our usual vet for a 2pm checkup to see if he was okay.

This quickly became a situation of having to rush him to the local vet, when his symptoms worsened.

He was struggling to sit down and balance. The first vet (who Simba stoically impressed, by appearing all well and good) believed Simba to just have arthritis, and gave him a jab and some Meloxicam for the next few days.

Simba appeared at first to be okay, but signs were there .. that something was seriously wrong. He started limping on one leg.. and his balance was all over the place. I gave him some rest in a friend's pool, but he wasn't well. Over night it got worse to the point that I re-booked him into his usual vet.

This morning (40 hours after initial signs) I took him to his usual vet who investigated further, followed by X-rays. My initial thought that it was his hips, and that he might need hip replacement .. was well off. His hips are fine! The scans seemed to indicate it was a disc in his spine.. And because the X-rays couldn't get a clear image of that area, a CT scan was needed.

That's where we are at present. Simba has to go under anesthesia, then the liquid and CT scan takes place. From there, his chances of success - If caught early enough.. will result in just 6 weeks rest & recovery... off his feet for that duration.

But if it's worse, then surgery is required to repair the disc (80% success rate of returning movement to his legs) and a quicker recovery.

Ofcourse, this is all costly. Far beyond my wages can handle at present. My mates suggested I start a GoFundMe to help out.

So if any friends of Simby are able to help out. Will be greatly appreciated. And I won't soon forget. The costs involved just for scans are up around $4,000 .. (not including other fees) and if surgery is required, double that.

If Simba was of poor health, physically and mentally. I would just make him comfortable for what time he has left. But, because his blood work came back perfect, and he's completely fine. I feel it's not my right to rob him of a chance to keep living a better life!

You can imagine, I'll be eating just noodles for the foreseeable future. And picking up additional shifts just to try cover this all. I'll be discussing payment plans with the vet this afternoon or Monday (surgery may be then if not today... if it's needed)

And if we hit our targets, making excess $$. I'll be donating such funds to other animals in need on GoFundMe, etc.

Thanks to all those who are able to help out! I know Simba means a lot to so many.

ESTIMATES provided by vet surgeon

IV Catheterisation - $152.00

Premed/Sedation - $143.50

Induction - $127.1

Spinal CT Scan (each) - $1,659.36

Professional fee - $60.20

Myelogram - $915.16

Anaesthetic Management - $290.00

Hospitalisation (x2) - Medium dog - $456.43

Discharge Pain Relief Meds - $163.99

Packed Cell Volume - $31.65

Additional Costs to be decided...