Help Aphrodite overcome foxtail emergency
Donation protected
Hello all,
Meet Aphrodite, my one-year-old Belgian Malinois who is not having a great weekend/week. Aphrodite has been in and out of the ER since 5/15/24 due to the onset of foxtail season, and it came in strong to claim one of its first victims of the summer. It all began with facial swelling and the inability to open his mouth fully. He was rushed to an ER where they determined he may have an oral or ocular abscess. He was given some pain management medications and received an x-ray that showed everything appeared fine after they removed a fragment of foxtail from the back of his throat. That same night, Aphrodite was rushed back to the hospital after his eye began swelling and the third eyelid was covering his pupil. He was given more pain management and a CT scan was recommended for further follow up.
Fast forward to Friday 5/17, Aphrodite was taken to Lenity specialty for a pre-exam for his CT scan and more pain management as the swelling persisted and he was still unable to eat. On 5/18, we were able to get the CT scan done, 3 more fragments of foxtails were found (2 in his cheek and 1 in his ear). The abscess was then drained after removing these fragments and we had hoped all was well. Unfortunately, we were not well and Aphrodite had to go back in for an ultrasound as the swelling persisted and he continues to have issues opening his mouth. There are confirmed additional fragments in his mouth and behind his eye that does call for surgery to be done.
Aphrodite does have health insurance by Nationwide but unfortunately due to the nature of the emergency (foreign oral objects) he is only covered for $500 of costs related to this incident. Meanwhile, we are well over $7,000 into this incident and potentially have another $6,000 surgery ahead of us. Any help is appreciated on all and every end (financially, sharing his story, or even just prayers). I am sure everyone on this app says this, but Aphrodite is a very special pup to me. He came to me during a very rough time in my life and I can’t imagine out of all the things to take this dog out, it would be a plant (a dead one at that). $1 or $5 is greatly appreciated and all helps with financial costs.
All donations go straight back to care credit and other cards that I had to financially pull from. Below are attached images of the progression of his issues as well as veterinary costs and the amount nationwide has covered for already submitted and processed claims.
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UPDATE:
Aphrodite has successfully made it out of his surgery. All fragments were found and removed. He had a in-house ultrasound done to confirm after the procedure. They were able to remove everything through small incisions inside his mouth.
Nationwide continues to decline his claims and subject them to “oral foreign object” benefits only.
Meet Aphrodite, my one-year-old Belgian Malinois who is not having a great weekend/week. Aphrodite has been in and out of the ER since 5/15/24 due to the onset of foxtail season, and it came in strong to claim one of its first victims of the summer. It all began with facial swelling and the inability to open his mouth fully. He was rushed to an ER where they determined he may have an oral or ocular abscess. He was given some pain management medications and received an x-ray that showed everything appeared fine after they removed a fragment of foxtail from the back of his throat. That same night, Aphrodite was rushed back to the hospital after his eye began swelling and the third eyelid was covering his pupil. He was given more pain management and a CT scan was recommended for further follow up.
Fast forward to Friday 5/17, Aphrodite was taken to Lenity specialty for a pre-exam for his CT scan and more pain management as the swelling persisted and he was still unable to eat. On 5/18, we were able to get the CT scan done, 3 more fragments of foxtails were found (2 in his cheek and 1 in his ear). The abscess was then drained after removing these fragments and we had hoped all was well. Unfortunately, we were not well and Aphrodite had to go back in for an ultrasound as the swelling persisted and he continues to have issues opening his mouth. There are confirmed additional fragments in his mouth and behind his eye that does call for surgery to be done.
Aphrodite does have health insurance by Nationwide but unfortunately due to the nature of the emergency (foreign oral objects) he is only covered for $500 of costs related to this incident. Meanwhile, we are well over $7,000 into this incident and potentially have another $6,000 surgery ahead of us. Any help is appreciated on all and every end (financially, sharing his story, or even just prayers). I am sure everyone on this app says this, but Aphrodite is a very special pup to me. He came to me during a very rough time in my life and I can’t imagine out of all the things to take this dog out, it would be a plant (a dead one at that). $1 or $5 is greatly appreciated and all helps with financial costs.
All donations go straight back to care credit and other cards that I had to financially pull from. Below are attached images of the progression of his issues as well as veterinary costs and the amount nationwide has covered for already submitted and processed claims.
***********************************************
UPDATE:
Aphrodite has successfully made it out of his surgery. All fragments were found and removed. He had a in-house ultrasound done to confirm after the procedure. They were able to remove everything through small incisions inside his mouth.
Nationwide continues to decline his claims and subject them to “oral foreign object” benefits only.
Organizer
Ruthy Evora
Organizer
San Francisco, CA