Help Dutch Overcome His Health Challenges

**UPDATE** Dutch’s fecal scans showed he is hookworm+, after hearing that it made a lot of sense considering everything that is wrong with him points to hookworm parasite infestation. The shelter is going to give Dutch the medicine he needs to be dewormed and thankfully I will not need to pay for anything other than the $815 from the last vet visit, and then probably another $150 for his next visit for one more test to ensure the hookworms are gone.**

What can I say, we went to the vet for little rash Ditch had and things didn’t go as planned… My sweet, happy boy hasn’t been doing as well as I thought.. Today at the vet it was identified that Dutch has extremely swollen lymph nodes, this wasn’t good to hear considering the only reasoning for this could be 1 of 4 things : parasites, limes disease, cancer, or bacterial infections. All of these things do not sound great.

The shelter I adopted him from indicated he has no sign of heart worm considering they did one round of dewormer, but unfortunately no fecal scan was done on Dutch. This helps identify parasitic infestation, and it worries me because he does show strong indication of a parasitic infestation after i’ve been more educated... On top of the swollen lymph nodes Dutch has had amounts of blood in his stool, hasn’t been eating, has a strong ear infection and the rash on his thighs we were first going in for.

I can’t imagine what his past looked like, but I can make sure his future is bright :)

I’m asking only for what’s needed for Dutch’s medical bills, nothing more. And I’m making this goal low considering ANYTHING HELPS. The bill is already put onto a care-credit card, which I needed to open up at the vet because I couldn’t pay out of pocket that much, I wish I could haha. Thankfully that was an option.

But as most of you know - if you know me personally, I self support, always have. I try my best and just trying try to do the right thing always.

I denied a 4DX scan which is ultimately what Dutch needs the most considering it can eliminate the idea of Limes Disease or other parasitic infection, I don’t have the money genuinely right now and it was the most expensive thing… I’ve called the shelter I adopted him from to see if they’d do it for me considering they never did a fecal scan on Dutch, but I really doubt they’re going to because they have so many other dogs to care for and I’ve had him about a month now.

The cost today for treatment without the 4DX scan was $815. But unfortunately if the shelter won’t do the 4DX scan i’ll have an even larger bill. I’m asking for your help because I need it. I’ve always been the one to help others, and help out the less fortunate animals. My boy was found as a stray and came into the shelter timid and so underweight.

He did great starting his treatment today with shots of Kenalog (steroid for itching) and Norocillin (for bacterial control) at the vet! but will need to go back for another round. Dutch’s treatment also consists of Osurnia (ear gel treatment), Cephalexin (pill for killing bacteria) and Apoquel (pill for itching).

Thank you for reading if you’ve read thus far, my boy will get fixed up regardless TRUST THAT. But this really does put me in a jam considering I have other bills and expenses of my own. I was never expecting this outcome after the vet, I was well prepared to spend the money to get his rash fixed, but this whole thing has really shook me for a loop and makes me very concerned for my boy.

Thank you again,

Ariana Coscia.