Help Danny the Diabetic Dachshund

Hello Everyone, my name is Stephanie and I am creating this account to help be able to sustain my dogs' medical disease.

Danny is a six-year-old gorgeous dachshund sausage dog, who has a little heart and incredible love for her family. She loves eating cucumbers, walking around the European Parliament, watching TV and cuddling her octopus teddy bear. Her best friend is her cat friend Patapuff who she has been living with ever since she was born. When I got Danny never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have a dog who required extensive medical care. When we get pets we always think they will age and only then will there be some medical intervention.

Three years ago, Danny was diagnosed with Diabetes, coming back from a trip I found Danny frail, shaking and unable to control her urine. She was refusing to eat and could barely hold her head. Danny is an incredibly strong dog and hides her pain, and as soon as we walked into the vet she did what she did best, hid her symptoms. I had to convince the vet that my dog was not well and they needed to take me seriously. Some analysis later it turns out she was in hypoglycemia and at risk of a comma. She was hospitalized for three days with a bill of 600 euros, this is JUST the vet bill not including medication, syringes, or special food. I could not let this get in my way, I was gonna do my best to make Danny live to old age and give her the best quality of life. Since then I give Danny two shots of insulin per day, if she misses a shot or I am late on time, her life is in danger. My life revolves around Danny and managing her diabetes.

Over the few years of Danny's life, she has been sick multiple times, sent to the ER multiple times and bills are wracking up 1,000 euros a pop. I have at times had to give all my salary from work in one go just to sustain her life and quality of living. Why do I do this? Because I love her, I adore her, she is my best friend and what do you do when the vet tells you “Pay this amount and I ensure I can treat what’s happening, and Danny can be alive for few more years”. I hate that this all comes down to money, but it becomes ethical, what amount of money is the price I put on something I love?

For a few years, I managed to keep Danny's diabetes under the best control I possibly could, but living in fear that maybe she may have a crisis and will I able to afford it, can she make it through, will she make it quick enough. I have lived in fear for years that when I leave the house there is a chance I come back and Danny is not responding. But, this hasn’t happened yet, and I was optimistic.

Unfortunately, last week Danny was not doing well. I woke up in the middle of the night and Danny was peeing on herself, she was releasing stools that were filled with blood. She was restless and could not stay still, she was having panic attacks searching for any food possible. I called the emergency vet she said for her basic exam it would be 500 euros and if I wanted to do a further analysis it would be more. I opted for what I could afford, she was slightly hypo and with symptoms of gastroenteritis, the vet told me if her medication for the symptoms works, GREAT otherwise something more sinister.

She did improve with the medication and she was back to normal. Until yesterday.

Danny could no longer move her head up, she was releasing bowel stools and fluids on herself. She was panicking and had anxiety, I saw fear in her eyes. I felt she was gone have a diabetic attack, I tried to give her sugar to revive her but she started to have a small seizures. In my pajamas I ran to the hospital with Danny in our arms wrapped in a blanket, as she urinated on herself, shaking.

At the hospital, they told me if it was hypoglycemia they can treat it immediately. Thirty minutes later, they tell me it was under control and we need to think of our options ( quoting me 400 euros already just for the treatment), that is if she stays in the hospital more which I honestly cannot afford or will she come back home and the high risk this happens again. As we speak with the Vet, Danny begins to shake again, slowly more and more and more, eventually leading to me and my partner holding on to her body as we struggle to control the shacking. Her jaw locks into place, her body goes rigid and cold and she begins to foam from her mouth. The vet runs to get medication, and I am left holding her body and screaming for help, she is having a full-on seizure. I step away from this scene as my brain cannot take in what is happening in front of me. I feel defeated, I have done everything in my power, paid all the bills, get the food, the injection, and the medication and here we are, I’m going to lose this little soul in such a horrible way. I was lucky, I was in the hospital and they could revive her out of this state immediately (charged once again for this revival). This was followed shortly by it being very obvious she needs to remain there, so they can try to stabilize her. I am forced to sign a paper saying I need to pay up to 400 euros for this hospitalization and if she dies I am responsible for payment of the cremation.

I am not a fool in medicine, and I work within the field of neuropsychology and neuroscience. I ask the vet about realistic options here, what happens after? And I suspect she has pancreatitis, she tells me for an additional cost I can have the ultrasound for that and an extra cost for more blood work. If I was a millionaire I would pay it all trust me but I am not.

This is an emotional, psychological and financial burden, but I need to try and see what I can do so I can save my dog. I cannot give up on her like this, and I refuse to let money come in the way.

I am trying everything to figure out a plan so I can keep her longer, and get her stable and live a happy life. She is only six years old, it is too early for her to leave us. I am willing to fight.

I am praying, that if I make this crowdfunding I can raise enough funds to get her the treatment she needs and cover the expenses, being able to ford the treatments possible. If you can help, I would appreciate it.

Danny is in the hospital now and I am praying she makes it until tomorrow, and I have no idea what kind of bills will I be quoted for the next steps, but whatever it is, I have paid thousands over the past two weeks to keep her alive and I am exhausting my personal manpower.

Before you ask did I think of insurance? Insurance does not provide anything for diabetic dogs after they have been diagnosed, the case for Danny and many other dogs who are statistically more likely to be diagnosed after puppyhood.

Any money not used whether Danny makes it or not, will be donated to research to the Defeat Diabetes Foundation.

This crowdfunding is about Danny and other animals that are suffering and support families who will do anything for their animals but are being halted by the astronomical quotations received by vets they can no longer afford.