Save Draco

Please help me keep my fur baby Draco alive and healthy. Draco is a long-haired Dalmatian who adopted us on 06/05/2021. I instantly fell in love with his curly hair surrounding his ears. On 06/12/2021, Draco suffered a Grand Mal seizure which lasted about one minute. I was in shock, and didn’t know what to think. One minute he was napping and the next he was seizing. I took him to the emergency vet who immediately performed a toxicology exam. Because of Draco’s age, it was very unusual for him to have suffered a seizure without something very seriously wrong, whether it be hereditary, or something he got in to.

Five hours and $800.00 later, Draco was acting like his usual, playful self. I had convinced myself that he must have eaten something which triggered the seizure.

I brought him home, to his fur family which consisted of my short haired Dalmatian, Luna (I think you know by now, I’m a Harry Potter fanatic). He was so happy, and showed no signs of his most recent trauma.

One week later, on 06/18/2021, Draco was once again struck by a seizure in his sleep. This one lasted about one minute and I immediately rushed him to his primary veterinarian. She was gravely concerned as a puppy should not suffer from any seizures, let alone two in one week. She took urine and scheduled Draco for a fasted blood panel the next day.

On our way home, less than six hours after his second, Draco once again suffered from a seizure. My heart broke as I watched him convulse uncontrollably and foam at the mouth. Another minute gone, and he was back with me. Confused and crying, as if he didn’t know who I was or where he was. It brought tears to my eyes. I called our veterinarian, who immediately referred Draco to an emergency clinic.

Anyone who has ever had to go to an emergency veterinarian, most assuredly knows the insurmountable costs associated with taking their fur babies there.

I arrived and they took him back immediately. I sat in the parking lot, emotions running high, fearing the worst at this point. Three seizures in one week, that cannot mean anything good.

Finally an hour later, I get the phone call from the veterinarian. She explains how Dalmatians are sometimes predisposed to liver issues as they have the inability to break down certain enzymes. She suspected a liver shunt was the affliction and it would be costly to treat (estimated costs for the procedure are at $10,000.00 or more based on the needs for certain interventions or medications).

To start, she wanted to hospitalize him for the weekend and start treatment with medication; first to control the seizures and then to see if the liver disorder is as severe as it is, or if medication will be the only necessary remedy.

My viewpoint is this, Draco has been a member of this family for a very short period of time, however I’m not in the business of euthanizing an animal because it has an illness. I firmly believe Draco will pull through this and he will thrive.

That being said, I would absolutely be devastated, but open to helping Draco move on from this life if his quality of life here would not be one that he deserves.

He is such a sweet, loving pup who gives the best kisses. Please help me give Draco a life worth living. As cute as he is in the photographs, he is so much cuter in person. They don’t do him any justice whatsoever.

Anything and everything helps. I will provide updates as I get them and would be absolutely transparent with the bills.

Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart. Draco thanks you too.