Hi, my name is Kiersten, and in July 2024 I brought home the best gift I could have ever asked for—my golden retriever, Nash.

I got Nash when I was 18, during a really difficult time in my life. I thought a dog might help, and he ended up changing everything. Nash has brought so much joy, comfort, and love into my life. He truly is my best friend and my sidekick wherever I go.

Over the past few months, Nash has been facing some serious health challenges. In December, he developed kennel cough at daycare, which unfortunately progressed into an autoimmune disease called IMPA. Since then, he’s been on prednisone to manage it.

When we attempted to taper his medication in April, he had a setback—his joints became swollen, he developed a fever, and he wasn’t himself. Thankfully, he’s now back on his original dose and doing better.

Recently, we’ve also discovered a new concern. What started as skin irritation has developed into painful lesions and open wounds along his back. We took him to WVRC for further evaluation. At his primary vet clinic he’s already had bloodwork, x-rays, and additional testing.

The soonest appointment we could get with an internal medicine specialist is April 29, and we’re hoping to finally get some answers then. Right now, there are still a lot of unknowns, and it’s been incredibly hard watching him go through this.

As we continue this journey, any prayers, support, or donations would mean so much to us. We’re anticipating more testing and treatment, which can become very costly.

Thank you for taking the time to read Nash’s story. I’ll continue to share updates as we learn more.

—Kiersten & Nash