If you give a Moose a Grain

Howdy there, and thanks for stopping by!

 

 

Short Version:
Recently, our rescue pup Moose was diagnosed with DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy), which means his heart is too big and has stretched and thinned and made it more difficult for his heart to pump blood throughout his body.
Moose was hospitalized for five days and will need medication and monitoring for the rest of his life. Our total bill was just shy of $10,000, and we have about $3,200 left and could use some help with that, as well as continued care, which is why we are asking for $4,000.

Lots more pictures and information include below! Thank you for your time!

 

Moose's (5yo German Shepherd rescue) parents here, Marissa and Casey, and his brother Mage (8yo Dutch Shepherd rescue) and sister Lucy (12yo Dorkie rescue).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full Version: There are lots of pictures if you make it through this :)

From Friday, February 11th until Tuesday, Febraury 15th Moose was hospitalized in the canine ICU to receive aggressive cardiac medication, fight off advanced pulmonary edema, and receive a plethora of other drugs such as Lasix, diuretics, and oxygen therapy.

 

The outlook over that weekend was abysmal, but Moose fought his tail off to make it to Monday to see the canine cardiologist. The cardiologist vet completed an echocardiogram to see his heart function, which revealed he has poor heart systolic function (the ability to pump blood from the heart to the body). Not the best news, but the lesser of two evils compared to diastolic dysfunction.

 

Moose responded incredibly well to the medication and oxygen therapy, significantly reduced his pulmonary edema, and was able to fight his way back home on Tuesday and continues to prove that miracles do exist.

 

 

 

 

Moose is now on Pimobendin (a heart medication), Furosemide (a diuretic), and Taurine (to assist the work his heart does and improve cardiac function), among a few other supplements to help his body do the job it needs to for healing and continued care.

 

Our miracle furbaby has shown us that he wants to fight and deal with this disease as best as we can manage it. The frustrating part is that there is no curing DCM, only symptom management to avoid advanced congestive heart failure. The vets believe that this was due to a combination of predisposition and a grain-free diet. We have always been told grain-free was the way to go, but vets recently discovered that certain large breeds have a higher chance of developing DCM when paired with a grain-free diet.

 

 

 

 

So now, thanks to the power of modern medicine, love, prayers, and the massive support we have received, Moose is home and healing. We have a follow-up with the canine cardiologist for x-rays and more blood work on Thursday, February 24th and see how Moose's recovery progresses. We will have another echo done in 3-6 months and check overall heart function.

 

 

 

 

 

We have been blessed with some financial support from both of our families but still have a few bills that we could use a bit of help with. Moose's hospital bill was $9500, continued appointments, procedures, and medications through the 24th another $500. With what Marissa and I had saved and the assistance we received from our families, we are still short about $3200 and need some help with medications and future appointments, imaging (x-rays and echos), and blood work, costing around $1000.

 

We paid $1200 from savings, put $2000 on care credit, and another $1000 on a financing plan called VetBilling. We currently plan to put the rest of the appointments on credit cards, but that's where you can help us. We are asking for $4,000 to assist us with the bills and interest associated (Care Credit and VetBilling) and some of the continued care to ensure Moose stays stable.

 

 

 

 

Moose has proven that miracles exist and that he has a lot of fight and, hopefully, life left in him.

Our plan if we do not raise the total amount is to use the amount we do make to help us with the monthly payments and medications Moose will need for the rest of his life.

 

 

 

 

We are asking for a lot, and that was a lot of information, so please feel free to reach out and ask questions. If you cannot support us with money, please send love and prayers to Moose and his healing and share this with others who can also do the same.

 

We are so blessed and grateful for the support, love, and attention that Mr. Moose and his recovery have gotten, and we cannot emphasize enough that Moose proves miracles exist.

 

Thank you for your time and attention,

Love from,

Moose, Mage, Lucy, Marissa, and Casey.