Juniper’s Last Chance: Stem Cell Treatment for His Only Back

Juniper’s life didn’t start easy.

He was found as a tiny, injured puppy on a building site in Bulgaria—barely two months old, scared, and in pain.

What Happened When Juniper Arrived in the UK

When Juniper finally arrived in the UK, everything we’d been told about his condition began to unravel.

He wasn’t weight-bearing on his operated leg at all.

We rushed him straight to the emergency vet.

Despite sending his X-rays off to a top orthopaedic specialist, we were told what we feared most:

The leg couldn’t be saved.

It was infected at the surgical site, and the original operation done in Bulgaria had failed.

Juniper’s condition was even worse than we were prepared for.

He was bald across his face from mites, and he experienced intense muscle convulsions in his sleep.

Blood tests were urgently needed to rule out a deadly parasite common in the area he came from.

All of this happened within days of him arriving home, before we’d even had time to set up proper support.

Our savings were gone almost overnight—and because every issue he faced stemmed from before we adopted him, insurance wouldn’t cover any of it.

It’s been an uphill battle since day one.

We’ve done everything we can to give him a good life, but now his only back leg is failing, and we’re facing another heartbreaking and expensive decision.

We’re raising funds to get him stem cell treatment that could save his remaining leg and give him the life he deserves—free from pain.

But Juniper didn’t give up.

Once he came to us in the UK, we began his healing journey. We started hydrotherapy to help him adjust to life on three legs—but during the initial assessment, something wasn’t right. Vets were concerned about his only back leg.

We did further imaging and found the heartbreaking answer:

A fractured hip, likely from the same accident that caused the original injuries, had already begun to turn arthritic—and he was just five months old.

Imagine losing one leg, only to find out the last one you have left is already breaking down.

The Treatment That Could Change Everything

Juniper’s been fighting ever since. We’ve done everything we can to manage his pain and give him a quality of life—hydrotherapy, pain relief, joint support—but the deterioration is catching up with him. He’s starting to struggle more every day.

We’ve been offered a stem cell treatment plan through his specialist vets, which could:

• Reduce pain and inflammation

• Rebuild cartilage and joint tissue

• Slow or even reverse the progression of arthritis

• Give Juniper a real shot at long-term mobility

But here’s the hard part:

We were originally quoted £4,500, then £7,000, and now, as his condition worsens and the practice has changed hands, it’s likely to be £9,500 or more—just for this treatment cycle and supportive care.

Insurance Won’t Help—So We’re Asking You

Because Juniper’s injuries happened before he came to us, insurance won’t cover anything. Every attempt we’ve made has been denied, with the cause traced back to “pre-existing trauma.”

So now it’s down to us—and hopefully, with your help, we can give Juniper the future he deserves.

We’re raising funds for:

• His full stem cell therapy plan

• Specialist consultations and imaging

• Ongoing physiotherapy

• Pain management

He Deserves a Pain-Free Life

Juniper is goofy, stubborn, sweet, and so full of heart. He’s already been through more than any dog should have to. And despite it all, he still wants to run, to play, to chase toys and steal snacks like any other dog.

But time is running out for his only working leg. Without intervention, he may lose the ability to walk entirely.

Please, if you can—donate, share, or spread the word. Every pound and every post makes a difference.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

– Katie & Juniper