Help Save Koa: Urgent Medical Care Needed

Update 7/18: He had a bone marrow biopsy yesterday under anesthesia. Today’s results were inconclusive and we are waiting for them to further test the sample. He is hypoglycemic and not taking any water or food by mouth. They will be placing an NG tube for nutrients. They will start on steroid therapy today. The next couple of days will be dangerous for his little body, as this lowers his immune system, allowing for a possible secondary infection to start. He is fighting but he is tired. His prognosis is very guarded. I’m going to go visit him today and I hope it gives him some strength he needs to keep fighting. His care to date has reached $10,000, with no end in sight. He’s worth every penny, any help is appreciated.

UPDATE 7/17: He was admitted to the ICU at WSU yesterday. He will be transferred to their internal med team this morning. His back is painful but spine x-rays were normal, Meningitis is at now higher up the list of possibilities. His labs arent getting better, but they’re not getting worse either. Praying for an answer today, I need my boy back home.

UPDATE 7/16 AM: He’s still fighting but we have no answers. His abdominal ultrasound and chest X-rays were unremarkable. His WBC count is still dangerously low and his fever is still 104.7, even with the 24/7 fluids and cooling procedures. He stayed at AEC last night and we are in contact with WSU about admitting him and having their internal med team try to get to the bottom of this. We will know more around 8am. If we are unable to admit him at WSU, he will go back and hangout with his favorite people at Union Animal Hospital for the day.UPDATE 7/16 AM: He’s still fighting but we have no answers. WBC count is still dangerously low and his fever is still 104.7, even with 24/7 fluids and cooling procedures. He stayed at AEC last night and we are in contact with WSU about admitting him there. We will know more around 8am. If we are unable to admit him at WSU, he will go back and hangout with his favorite people at Union Animal Hospital for the day.

UPDATE: He is still sick and we don’t have answers currently. His chest X-ray and abdominal ultrasound were unremarkable. His WBC count is still very low and his fever is still high but they are keeping it down with fluids. He is being referred to Internal Medicine at this time and still requires hospitalization. PEC does not have any openings, so now we are trying WSU. If we are unable to get him in to either, he will go back to AEC tonight for hospitalization until one of the clinics gets an opening.

UPDATE: The vet is very concerned about his WBC count being so low. They are doing chest X-rays and abdominal ultrasound now and we are awaiting the results. AEC was able to lower his temp to 103.7 last night, but he spiked back up to 105 this morning. I have added the estimate for today’s visit at Union.

If you know us, you know Koa. He’s the big, goofy, gentle boy who’s never met a stranger — only friends he hasn’t licked yet. He’s the dog wagging his whole body at the park, giving sloppy kisses at the vet, trotting around the neighborhood with his silly grin that makes everyone’s day a little brighter.

Koa has always been a fighter. When he was just a tiny pup, he almost didn’t make it. He was so sick and fragile, but this amazing community came together back then and raised the funds that saved his life. Because of that, he got a second chance — and he’s spent every day since then giving that love right back to everyone he meets.

Now, heartbreakingly, we’re back in a fight to save him again. And once more, we’re asking for help to keep our sweet boy here with us.

Yesterday, Koa suddenly wasn’t himself. He became extremely lethargic and wouldn’t eat — and when we took his temperature, it was a terrifying 106°F. We rushed him to the Animal Emergency Clinic, where he was admitted right away. Bloodwork has shown his white blood cell count is dangerously low, which means he’s fighting a bad infection somewhere — but the vets don’t yet know where it’s coming from. Right now, they’re worried about sepsis and his high fever putting his organs at risk or causing seizures.

Today, he’s being transferred to Union Animal Hospital for more advanced care and 24-hour monitoring. He’s got a whole team working to save him, but we need help to keep fighting for him. Emergency care, testing, hospital stays — it all adds up fast, and we can’t do this without our community behind us.

Koa has given this community so much love and more joy than we can measure. Now he needs us to rally for him the way he’s always shown up for everyone he meets.

If you’re able to donate, no matter how small, every penny will go toward Koa’s treatment and care. If you can’t give, please share his story. Your support, prayers, and positive thoughts mean everything to us right now.

Thank you for loving Koa like we do. We can’t wait to see him back home, doing zoomies, begging for snacks, and brightening everyone’s day just by being himself.

Any extra funds raised will go to Lilac City Pup Project to help other pups in need.

Venmo: peytonpitner

He will be at Union Animal Hospital and donations can be made directly to them at 5zero9-5three5-4nine0three

His bill for AEC last night is attached and he is being dropped off at Union Animal Hospital now.