Please help me give Simon the chance at a life free of pain.

I’ve agonised for weeks as to whether or not to reach out for support this way. But ultimately I decided that my boy is worth my discomfort. I’m in need of support to help my 8 month old assistance dog prospect puppy, Simon, through a difficult and uncertain medical journey.

When I brought Simon home on September 12th, I envisioned a future where he would become my assistance dog, helping me manage psychiatric tasks and providing a sense of safety as I explored the world. After years of caring for my high-needs anxious rescue dog, Cleo, I was lucky to be able to experience firsthand the impact of an assistance dog whilst spending 7 months caring for a friend’s Assistance dog in 2024. I realised how beneficial it would be to my own health to have a dog that was mentally and physically healthy. A beautiful poodle pup became available and I was excited to give Simon the training and love he needed to thrive.

Unfortunately, Simon’s health took a sudden turn. At just 5 months old, he began showing signs of serious illness, and despite multiple treatments, his condition continues to worsen. Specialists now suspect he has an immune-mediated disease, along with several other ongoing issues.

Simon’s care expenses/diagnoses so far:

Class 3 Malocclusion: A severe misalignment of his teeth that caused painful sores in his mouth, requiring surgery. His behaviour immediately changed after the surgery, he was enthusiastic to take treats and do training for the first time ever.

Severe Dry Eye (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca): Resulting in chronic inflammation and discomfort in his eyes.

Chronic Ulcerations: Painful lesions in his nose and mouth that persist despite treatment.

Inflamed Skin Lesions: Random patches of skin (including the fatty layer beneath the skin) that have swollen up and have abnormal follicles and cells on his toes, feet and body.

Chronic Tonsillitis/Tonsillectomy: Red, enflamed and visible tonsils that have been this way for 3+ months and have not responded to any treatments resulting in the need for them to be completely removed.

Hypercalcemia: Elevated calcium levels in his blood, potentially linked to his underlying condition.

Suspected Immune-Mediated Disease: Recurrent ulcerations, inflammation, and pain, affecting his eyes, nose, and overall health.

Round after round of treatment have not been able to improve these symptoms, which have come back persistently.

The Latest steps taken for Simon:

Simon’s wonderful specialist vet team and multiple other specialists recommended urgent diagnostics to identify the underlying cause of his symptoms and develop a treatment plan. These included:

Biopsies of Ulcerated tissue

CT Scans

Radiographs/Ultrasounds

We were hoping these tests would provide the critical information to understanding Simon’s condition and ensuring he gets the care he needs to live a comfortable and pain-free life.

He also went through a tonsillectomy to remove chronically enlarged/inflamed tonsils that have been present for at least 3 months.

What's Next for Simon:

We are currently waiting on the last few test results to come back, as well as extra tests that have now needed to be run on the samples that were taken. The CT scan showed inflammation of both his mandibular and chest lymph nodes as well as inflammations along his skin and fatty layer (the layer underneath the skin) and his feet. I have been told it is most likely an Autoimmune condition.

Unfortunately, so far the results we have have not yielded any diagnosis or treatment plan as of yet and he is still in a lot of discomfort daily which we are sort of managing with painkillers. Pathology are currently further investigating the biopsies that were done as well. We are most likely going to be referred onwards to Dermatology specific specialists in the hopes we can stop his body from continuing to do this to itself and find a treatment plan that works.

How You Can Help

I am so thankful that I had obtained the highest level of pet insurance cover available when I brought him home. But unfortunately far exceeding what his pet insurance covers. Simon’s medical expenses have already reached thousands of dollars, I have done everything I can to support him financially, but I am at the point where I need help to keep fighting for his health.

Your donation, no matter how small, will go directly toward covering Simon’s diagnostic tests, specialist care, and ongoing treatments. If you’re unable to donate, I understand. Even sharing this with others would mean the world.

Regardless of whether or not he is able to be my Assistance Dog, Simon is so much more than just a dog; he’s my light in a challenging world. Despite his health struggles, he has moments of joy, playfulness, curiosity, and teenage cheekiness that remind me of the vibrant puppy he can be. Please help me give Simon the chance to live the happy, healthy life he deserves.

Thank you so much for your kindness and support.