Please help Nellie

Hello our names are Katie and Daniel

We have 2 beautiful dogs, Jeffrey and Nellie. They are our family and our everything.

On Sunday 25th August 2024 our 3 year old dog Nellie wasn't herself, she was lethargic and unusually not mischievous. Late into the evening we noticed her breathing become rapid, we drove her straight to the emergency vet. They carried out blood tests and an ultrasound and advised it was an infection. She had a an IV of pain relief and antibiotics and we were advised she would be back to herself my morning. Come the morning she was no better and was a little wobbly on her back legs. We persevered and hoped the antibiotics would soon kick in and maybe this was a reaction to the medication. The next day Nellie was unable to stand on her back legs and we rushed her to our own vets. By the time we arrived she was unable to stand and I was bundled into a consultation room as I was distraught. The vet spent a long time checking her and carried our further testing. We were advised it was neurological and we would need to be referred to a specialist hospital. We were sent home with gabapentan and pain relief, Nellie was in such a state that we didn't think she would make it. We have been syringing fluids into Nellie and carrying her out carefully into the garden to be able to go the bathroom, seeing her like this is truly heartbreaking for us both.

We have spent hours googling of reasons why our beautiful bouncy girl was now unable to walk and screaming in pain. She is as confused and distraught as we are. Her symptoms are those of IVDD (intervertebral disc disease). Which she has unfortunatly been diagnosed with. All the current tests have come to the sum of £1500. Nellie is insured up to £3000, the price of a needed MRI is approximately £3000 and the approximate cost of surgery is £8000. We have some savings but it will not come close to this cost. Nellies insurance will only take us so far, I have reached out to all animal charities (RSPCA, PDSA etc) and as we do not claim benefits we are not eligible for any financial help. Unfortunately we fall in the middle of not receiving benefits and only just getting by on our current wages.

If anybody anywhere is able to help, all we want is to give our gorgeous beautiful girl the best chance possible. We know it sounds cliche but Nellie really is one of a kind. She is caring, cheeky and loves all the people and animals she comes into contact with.

Any help we would be eternally grateful for.

Thank you

Katie and Dan xxx