Lilo IVDD Recovery Journey❤️

Hi everyone,

I have set up this go fund me as my little dachshund (sausage dog) Lilo has recently had some health issues and has been rapidly deteriorating.

Lilo is 6 years old and is usually a happy, healthy, loving hyper little dog. On the 18th of December things started to change, she was struggling to move, lying in the one spot, trembling profusely and tensing her stomach. She wouldn’t walk and was even refusing treats which she has never done.

I took Lilo to the vets and they told me they think she pulled a muscle so therefore put her on 2 weeks antibiotics and metacam for pain relief but after finishing her course and only getting worse and becoming incontinent I took her back. In total I have been back and forth to the vets with Lilo 5 times between 20th December and 20th January not including the house calls from the vet.

I had expressed multiple times at each visit my concerns of it being IVDD (Intervertebral disc disease) but I was dismissed each time until I rushed her back up on Monday 20th January when she had lost complete control of her back legs and was falling and had no balance.

This is when the vet finally agreed that it seems to be IVDD when they put her down to walk and she couldn’t. They pulled her legs back which is usually the way to tell if IVDD is present, if they don’t have it a normal dog will move them back but if they have IVDD they won’t have the reflexes to move back. Unfortunately Lilos little legs stayed which confirmed what I already knew.

I asked where we go from here and they said although we know it is IVDD I need an MRI to confirm the diagnosis and which grade she is (grade 5 being the worst) unfortunately very limited vetinary clinics have the facilities to do this. With the constant pain, barely eating/ drinking and the incontinence I am assuming she is at quite a high grade.

She was referred to Earlswood Vetinary Clinic in Belfast, the MRI is costing £2,000 to confirm and surgery is being quoted at £4,000 before knowing which grade she is at.

£6,000 (€7,000) total for my baby to be treated. It is a lot of money in such short notice but I have looked down many avenues, rang numerous different clinics and tried alternative methods but to no avail.

I know times are so tough and everyone is struggling but I would be so grateful if anyone could even donate £1. I understand anyone who can’t donate, even a share of this link would mean the world to me.

I know a lot of people will say she is just a dog and it’s not worth it but Lilo is more than that. She is my baby and my whole world and I will do everything I can to help get her better.❤️

I want to thank you for taking the time to read Lilos story and I would appreciate any help at all thank you,

Caitlin xx