Rocky’s Pelvic Surgery & Rehab

Our beloved Rocky was accidentally hit by a car on Wednesday 5th April at Noosa National Park in Australia, and currently suffers multiple fractures and dislocations on his pelvis including his tail, with apparent nerve damage indicating a potential permanent loss of bowel and bladder control.

The specialist vet warns us that this is a major operation, with lots of complications including post surgery, suggesting that putting him to sleep now will also be a viable and appropriate option given the circumstances.

The cost of the operation itself is already costing us $15,000 Australian dollars ($2,500 for the initial x-rays, blood tests, ultrasound and ct-scan, $11,500 for the surgery, and $2000+ for at least two post op recovery stays during the easter holidays where they charge +20%). To add to this, post surgery care and ongoing rehabilitation over the next few months, we are expecting the total expense to be well over $20,000.

Even if the surgery was successful, it is not guaranteed that his anal tones (nerves around his bum) will recover, which may mean that he may have trouble peeing and pooing by himself, greatly affecting his quality of life, where some may argue that he will be better off being put to sleep than to suffer for the remaining years... especially being at the old age of 13yrs old. However on the bright side, if everything goes well after the surgery, he will be able to walk again, and we believe that his nerves will have a good chance of coming back within a 30-day window, where he will be on his way to full recovery to lead a happy life again.

We are determined to give him this chance to fight back despite the odds and the risks involved, and the enormous bill, to go ahead with the surgery. As we are currently travelling and living inside our van, we will cut our vanlife trip short and drive back to the family home in Melbourne to recover and rehabilitate, and care for him over the next few months.

Video of Rocky before going into surgery:

We seek help from the bottom of our hearts, to all our friends and family and to anyone reading this, to help us help Rocky lead a happy life again. If you are in a position to help, any contribution of any amount is much appreciated. Thank You.

Love

Rocky and Family