Help Rollo Rebuild His Knees

It all started back in April (above are examples of a couple of the many invoices we’ve accrued thus far. The first is his original X-rays and the 2nd is what we pay, on average, every week), actually there were warning signs before then, but I thought it was going to get better.

My silly ever-loving 3 yr old 100+pound baby boy Rollo began having issues with being stiff after getting up from his dog bed. Then it quickly progressed to having difficulty keeping up with Ivy & I on our walks and crying to have us help him up onto the sofa or bed. I took him into Ada Veterinary Hospital where they sedated him for X-rays and sent us home with doggie Tylenol (Carprofen). They said his knees had inflammation and should get better in time. It didn’t. So, thankfully Dr. Hunter opened up her practice and we quickly went to her for some healing. She had the other vet send over the X-rays and she saw very clearly that Rollo had much more than just inflamed knee joints but spine issues as well. We started him on Adequan injections and acupuncture/laser therapy in May. It seemed like it was working, till it didn’t. He’s been going in for treatments every Saturday since May and has been on a variety of other supplements and medications. I even ordered a vet verified red laser light so I could treat him at home in between his Saturday appointments (which I cheerfully call them his “spa days” because he loves going in and visiting with Jen and Dr. Hunter. Just seeing him get so excited is worth it). Getting him in/out of the car is also an issue in and of itself because of the pain he’s in. Last Saturday was a big blow for us as Dr. Hunter suggested that Rollo may need to have TPLO surgery on both knees. But first, I need to get an orthopedic consultation set up with WestVet. I tried to set up the appointment for him today but when I was told that it was going to be $190 for the consultation, $120 or more per knee to X-ray since they’ll have to sedate him, and the list went on and on… I told her I’d have to call her back and then I sat in my car and cried for a good 30 minutes. I’ve maxed out my credit cards on not just his medical treatments but mine as well (but this is about him, not me). To be as transparent as possible I’ll be uploading his bills so you can see what his weekly costs have been and that’s been compounded by the need to schedule an orthopedic consultation. If they deem it necessary for him to have surgery, that can be upwards of $3000 per knee. Right now I’m requesting $1000 to cover the WestVet consultation and tests they require and hopefully afford to continue his Adequan injections ($140 for two vials and due to his size that’s about 3 injections and we’ve cut him down to once a week). If he needs surgery, I may increase this request along with figuring out other ways to raise money and reaching out to charity organizations. I completely appreciate that these are very difficult times financially for everyone but if you could donate, share and send prayers of healing to my dear Rollo, we would so gratefully appreciate it. I’m not great at writing so I apologize for the grammatical errors and emotionally I’m having difficulty expressing myself clearly. It’s heartbreaking to see him deteriorating and suffer. There are days when I’m able to take him out by himself where we can go a short distance and walk as slow as he needs to AND there are times where he does charge out the doggie door to chase a squirrel with Ivy, which he pays for dearly later and I don’t have the heart to restrict him but I know I should.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and by doing so, putting good intentions out there for my Rollo ♥️