As most of you know, sweet baby Moose is very very sick.  :(   As the new year began with high hopes for a great 2020, on January 13th, we took Moose to his primary vet after noticing him urinating blood. We discovered that he had a severe urinary tract infection and kidney infection. Considering these are quite uncommon in male dogs, we were told it was just a fluke and not really to worry about it. Thank goodness! So, we treated the infection with many meds, including antibiotics, and he was back to his goofy self... at least for a bit. Phew!  (Or so we thought...)  What we later learned that this was only the beginning of a very long and arduous road for Moo. Less than a month later, on February 18th, we rushed him to our primary vet again after seeing bloody urine. We learned via X-rays and careful examination that Moose was in dire straits.  He had multiple large kidney stones stuck in his bladder and one lodged in his urethra.  He was becoming septic due to contaminated and infected urine, recycling in his bladder and kidneys due to the blockage. Knowing this was intensely painful and time sensitive, I rushed him to the emergency vet (VERG) where the worst news was received.  Moose needed to be rushed into surgery and there were no other options.  After a tearful goodbye, Moose underwent major invasive surgery, where they had to fully open his abdomen, including his bladder to remove the stones, flush his infected kidneys, bladder, urethra, and clear the blockage. Considering the kidney stones could possibly be caused by hormones, they also had to neuter him.  Upon waking up from surgery, we were still not permitted to see him and he needed to stay in the hospital for monitoring. The next few days were absolute hell for us as his parents.  We were absolutely worried sick about how negatively impactful this hospital stay would be for our empathetic and sensitive baby boy, who has never spent a night away from home. When finally being told that we could come visit, Moose was an absolute shell of the sweet, happy-go-lucky pup that we all know and love. Shaking uncontrollably, unable to walk, and absolutely traumatized from this harrowing experience— he did not make eye contact or wag his happy tail.  We needed to make sure he was medically stable, but ultimately knew that what he needed most was to come home and be with us. Unfortunately, he was not yet stable and ended up being rushed back upstairs to the ICU to be treated for bloat- another life-threatening illness in giant breed dogs.  Leaving him yet again was excruciatingly gut-wrenching, but we knew it was necessary. He was in the best hands and was getting the medical attention needed to save his life. When finally medically stable on the 21st, we put our baby in a cab, and brought him home! Without all of the love, healing vibes, hugs and kisses, etc. you have sent him along the way, he would not be where he is today on his road to recovery.  So thank you!  However, the medical bills for sweet baby Moose have totaled approximately $10,000.  Obviously no cost would deter us from getting him the best possible care, but this is a financial burden we absolutely cannot bare alone.  Any help you can send along would be so (so!) greatly appreciated and go directly towards the medical care that Moose continues to need.  Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your continued love, care, and support for Moose.  We couldn’t do it without you!  All our love, Kira, Jarett, and Moo