Pancake's emergency spinal surgery and aftercare

Hi, I'm Bronwyn and I'm raising funds for my dearest friend Michelle and her dog Pancake. Michelle adopted Pancake and his sister Belly when they were just 5 months old, and on 3/23/23, they turn 6 years old.

Yesterday, 3/21/23, Pancake started showing worrisome physical signs like panting, shivering, and a limping/stiff-legged gait. Michelle initially thought it might be an allergic reaction to the vaccines he received the day before, but when the symptoms started progressing to Pancake not being able to stand or move his back legs without falling, Michelle took him to her local Emergency/Urgent care vet that afternoon. Unfortunately, the symptoms and rapid deterioration point to Intervertebral Disk Disease, which is common in long-bodied breeds like dachshunds. Below is his discharge paperwork from the first ER vet visit. He was sent home with pain meds and Michelle was told to monitor closely for signs he was getting worse.

Overnight at home, Pancake was kept on painkillers, a muscle relaxer, and a steroid. First thing in the morning on 3/22 Michelle took him back to the ER where the decision was made that he was going to have spinal surgery. Putting him down when he's only 6 and otherwise completely healthy was just not an option--he deserved the chance. At about 2pm today, his surgery began. Below is the estimate from today with a high-low potential cost breakdown.

I'm asking for your help in covering Pancake's surgery. Michelle has applied for Care Credit, but she is a freelance writer and is publishing her first novel, which does not lend itself to high income. Sweet Pancake deserves the chance to recover and spend the rest of his life at home with his doggy sister and human mama.

He has a long road ahead with weeks of crate rest and physical therapy, but we hope that he'll be able to walk again after healing from surgery. Worst case scenario, if he's not able to walk with his back legs again, we'll outfit him with some stylish back wheels and he'll be a handsome stretch limo. But the most important thing is, he'll be out of the intense pain he was feeling before surgery.

We'll update this page as he recovers from surgery and throughout his physical therapy process. Any funds received above goal will go towards his physical therapy and aftercare needs like puppy pads and potentially a wheelchair if needed in the future.

We love you, Pancakey!