Rags Surgery Costs

Hi, my name is Jennie, and this is my best friend in the whole wide world, Ragnarok Destroyer of Worlds, Rags for short. She needs your help. 

 The first time I held Rags she was only a week old, and while I started that day with 0 intention of getting a dog, I knew she was MY dog. I took her home at 8 weeks, did training programs with her, bought her an excessive amount of outfits, she became a Canine Good Citizen, and we went off to college together. We’ve been on so many adventures together whether hiking, relaxing in a cafe, or pulling multiple all nighters during exams, she’s been there for me. I could not ask for a better companion on friend.

Rags is only 5 years old. She still has a long life ahead of her, but this last year has been rough. 

9 months ago she had her first incident. We had just driven 3hours to our new home, a few minutes before we arrived she started breathing strangely, and when I rushed her inside to take a look her tongue was purple. We took off for the nearest vet, where they were able to stabilize her, and she came home after a couple nights. All her blood work came back clear so we thought maybe it was just a freak incident. Everything returned to normal, and she was completely fine, acting like her normal self. 

Until about 4 months ago. This time we were out for a walk in the neighborhood when I noticed her breathing becoming strange, and off again to the nearest vet. She was stabilized, they took x-rays, again everything was clear, we went home that day. Again she returned to acting as if nothing ever happened, but I was terrified. They thought it was probably her trachea collapsing, something common among small dogs that also ran in her family. One month later, the same thing, a light walk suddenly turned into a medical emergency and getting to a vet was an ordeal. More bloodwork, x-rays passed on, they kept her overnight. She came home, and acted normal once more. Visited my normal vet, discussed the issues, anti-anxiety, and allergy meds were recommended. Another month, labor day, she didn’t even make it 5 minutes walking in the shade before it happened again. Stabilized, weight loss was added to the plan, and she came home that day. I was long past a mess at this point, trying to figure out what to do and how to keep her safe without taking away all the things she loves. I was looking into other potential factors, and the best way to keep moving forward while being strict with her medication, diet, exercise, and avoiding the heat as much as possible.

Then yesterday, 4th of July, the most recent incident. Her breathing became labored after a 10 minute drive to my friends house, which she had done perfectly fine the day before. An overnight, more x-rays, and an exam from a surgeon to confirm. This time the vet picked up on something new, the trachea isn’t the problem, the larynx is. One of her laryngeal flaps is totally paralyzed, and the other is barely moving. She needs surgery. Next Thursday they’re going to put in permanent stitches to hold one of her flaps open. It comes with its own risks of complications, and she may never bark again, but it’s better than the alternative of suffocation.

Rags is my world. I got her to be my ESA and to help with my disabilities, but she’s so much more than that, she’s makes my little apartment a home, and I don’t know what Id do without her. The surgery will not just save her life, but hopefully give some of it back, and she might be able to regain some ability to adventure. Rags is so full of joy for the world, and I can’t let that be taken away from her.

This campaign is to help raise funds for the cost of the surgery, and other medical expenses.

Please. Every little bit helps, and is appreciated.

Even if you don’t donate I hope any pics of Rags might bring you the same joy that Rags experiences from the world.