Hi, we’re Mel and Nate, and we never imagined we’d be reaching out to the community for help, but we think our sweet Shaq deserves the best care we can provide. Shaq has been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, pulmonary fibrosis, and hypothyroidism. As two young working pet parents, the costs of his ongoing treatments are becoming overwhelming, and we’re hoping you can help.

We received Shaq in December 2023, at the age of 4. Before that, he had a rough upbringing, due to neglect during his early years. We initially knew him as a mellow cuddly dog, but as our bond strengthened, he revealed his goofy, lovable, and sweet personality. Shaq has truly become our best buddy, and we can’t imagine life without him.

What happened:

When we first brought him home, Shaq had a persistent cough. He was initially treated for kennel cough, but when his condition didn’t improve after a few rounds of treatment, he got some x-rays which led to an initial diagnosis of asthma. When multiple rounds of treatments over 6 months proved ineffective and the coughing worsened to the point where he could barely breathe, we took him to a specialized vet.

After intensive examinations, we discovered that Shaq was incorrectly diagnosed with asthma. He actually has an autoimmune condition that is causing his severe coughing. This has led to pulmonary fibrosis—irreversible/incurable scarring of his lung tissue that we can only treat symptoms to improve his quality of life. To top it all off, Shaq’s bloodwork also revealed that he has hypothyroidism, which has caused him to gain weight and lose nearly all his body fur.

Now:

We’re currently treating all of Shaq’s conditions under the supervision of a specialized vet, and while we’re seeing improvements in his coughing, breathing, and weight, it’s likely that these treatments will need to continue for life. The medical costs are adding up quickly, and we currently have a bill of about $5,000. We would deeply appreciate your help to cover these costs as well as future expenses that we anticipate:

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. We would be incredibly grateful for any contribution, no matter how big or small. Your kindness and support is deeply appreciated by Shaq and his loving parents.