Help Sitka Get Surgery

Purpose

We're fundraising to help fix Sitka's leaky bladder through a laser surgery that removes the ectopic ureters causing her to leak urine each time she sits or lays.

 

Why Donate? - Sitka's Story

Last August, Sitka (at 1.5 yrs old) was found on the streets and given to a local shelter that I used to foster for. She was considered a very fearful dog and was high priority for a foster home. After a month at the shelter, I was informed of her behavior needs and decided to take her home. Her behavior improved quickly! She went from being incredibly scared, wary, and timid to being trusting, energetic, and more confident.

 

Unfortunately, I also started to notice little puddles of urine every time she sat or laid down for more than a couple seconds. After a series of tests, the shelter's medical team suspected ectopic ureters but did not have the tools to confirm. They eventually said they were either going to put her down or I could adopt her since I had already proven that I could care for her. Having bonded with the pup, I didn't have it in my heart to let her be put down. But I also am not in a place where I'm able to care for a pup like Sitka long-term. So I came up with a plan. I decided I would adopt her, get her medical issue resolved, and help her find her forever home.

 

This is where you come in! and the wonderful doctors at the UC Davis center in San Diego. We're hoping to get Sitka a laser surgery that can remove her ectopic ureters and eliminate or significantly reduce her level of urinary leakage. The cost of the surgery is $4,500 -- money that we need to raise for her appointment for the procedure on Friday, January 28th. The total fundraising amount is set at $5,500 to include the amount I already spent on her first and second ultrasound test and other tests required to officially diagnose her.

 

Medical Diagnosis: What exactly are Ectopic Ureters?

Ureters are the tubes that run from our kidneys to our bladders. Ectopic ureters are additional and abnormal ureters; for example, they can be longer or thicker than normal. Sitka's two ectopic ureters create additional pathways for urine to pass through and exit her urinary system. These unconventional pathways make it so that the sweet pup can't hold it in.

 

Treatment

The treatment for Sitka's ectopic ureters is a laser surgery that will essentially remove them. The surgery is to be performed by UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center in San Diego. This center has a department that specializes in removing ectopic ureters. On a typical procedure, the success rate is 70%. Although one of her ectopic ureters appears to be relatively straightforward to remove, the second one is a bit more precariously positioned and the doctors were therefore uncertain of what the success rate for removing that ureter may be. Given this, Sitka will also likely be prescribed monthly medication following the surgery to eliminate any leakage or to keep it minimal.

 

What else could happen?

If the surgery is unable to fully remove both ectopic ureters, there is one other surgical procedure they may be able to perform -- the details of which will be determined after they have a more nuanced understanding of the ureters from the laser surgery.

Best Case Scenario
Sitka has the surgery, the ureters are successfully removed, her leakage ends, she gets to stop wearing diapers indoors, and finds her forever home! All thanks to your generous support!