Hi, our names are Jamie and Lauren, and we are raising money to help with the costs of our rescue dog Obi’s veterinary bills and ongoing care costs.

This is not something we ever wanted to do, and we are heartbroken. Obi has been diagnosed with osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer. With proper and timely treatment, we have been told the average prognosis is around 10–12 months of good quality life. We are doing everything we can to make Obi as comfortable and happy as possible during that time. The vets have reassured us that once his treatment is completed, he should still have a good quality of life. We would never allow him to suffer unnecessarily.

So Far

About three weeks ago, Obi was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at the top of his leg, which came as a shock to everyone. His only symptom was a very slight, occasional limp, and he does not have any of the usual risk factors. Both we and the vets initially believed it was a pulled muscle, but when it didn’t improve, we took him for an X-ray, which showed possible cancer. We then booked a CT scan and biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Thankfully, it has not spread to his lungs. Even on the day of his biopsy, the vet at the referral centre commented that his limp was barely visible.

Last week, Obi had his leg amputated. This was advised as the best course of action, as this type of cancer can spread quickly. He came home earlier than expected because he was doing well and has adapted incredibly well to life on three legs, he was already jumping on the sofa , eating, and trying to run (but not in a straight line). Despite being sore, he is already independent and remains his usual sweet self.

Cancelled Chemotherapy

Obi was due to start chemotherapy on 24th December. He will have four sessions in total, one every three weeks. The vet explained that this would help reduce pain and potentially give us an extra couple of months with him.

Unfortunately, the chemotherapy was cancelled because Obi was suddenly in a lot of pain. After further tests, it was discovered that he has pancreatitis, which can be triggered by general anaesthetic. Obi has had three general anaesthetics in the past three weeks.

Future Treatment

For now, Obi is on painkillers to manage the pancreatitis. He is eating and drinking well, but he is not very active and the medication has left him tired. Once the pancreatitis flare up has passed, he will hopefully begin chemotherapy on 2nd January and start feeling more like himself again. At that point, we can focus on making happy memories and enjoying our time with Obi, as well as supporting any further care he may need in the months ahead.

Why We Need Help

Obi is only around six years old. We adopted him from Pet Pals when he was about two, and since then we have done everything we can to care for him as responsible owners. It feels incredibly cruel that he is facing this at such a young age. He has already been through a lot, he was rescued from an unsuitable home, came to the UK from Gran Canaria, and was ill shortly after we got him with a condition called diabetes insipidus.

We are lucky that Lauren works at the vets, and he has always had regular veterinary checks, maintained a healthy weight, and remained friendly, gentle, and happy. Even when he is in pain, he has never snapped or shown anything other than a sweet nature. He is the calmest and most chilled out dog we have ever met.

We have had Petplan insurance since we adopted him, which covers up to £12,000 a year for veterinary bills and medication. Some of this allowance is already used for his diabetes insipidus medication. Unfortunately, with the X-ray, CT scan, biopsy, leg amputation, medication, and upcoming chemotherapy sessions, we will exceed the policy limit, and we do not yet know what additional costs the coming months may bring, including this new condition of pancreatitis.

On top of this, there are expenses that insurance does not cover. We both work full-time, and some of the time spent travelling to and from the referral centre, attending appointments, and caring for Obi during his recovery has to be taken as unpaid leave. This will have a knock-on effect on rent and household bills, particularly as we move into the new year. We've been really lucky to have had the help of my mum to take him to the referral centre which is an hour to two hours away depending on traffic.

We are also purchasing everything recommended to support Obi’s recovery, including specialist food and compression clothing, and we will continue to do everything we can to help him based on what the vet recommends. We want to give him the best time remaining possible.