Help Blu with his surgery

Hello,

My name is Bella and I am fundraising for my fur baby Blu. Blu is a Siberian Lab who just turned one in April. He needs a $7,000 surgery to remove bone fragments from his elbow and shoulder joints.

He was diagnosed with fragmented medial coronoid process (FMCP) and Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) in March of 2021. FMCP is a form of elbow dysplasia (a congenital disorder, or something he's born with) where the medial coronoid process (a bone in the elbow) separates from the ulna. In Blu's case, both of his elbows are affected. DJD is an inflammatory process, that occurs as a result of FMCP, where the cartilage at the end of the bones gradually wears down over time. Simply put, the free floating bone fragments in Blu's elbows are wearing down his cartilage. In order to preserve his joints, and prevent further damage to his bones, he needs to have a surgery to remove these fragments from both his elbows and shoulders.

(FMCP is an underlying congenital disorder. It usually present at 5 to 8 months of age with lameness. Here is Blu on the beach at 4 months.)

It has been a very long journey for us so far. I rescued Blu in July of 2020 from Texas. He and his litter were abandoned and in need of a home. One of his litter mates was very ill from Parvo. Luckily Blu did not have Parvo, but he did have a number of gastrointestinal bugs and problems. The two of us were visiting the veterinarian multiple times a week in the first month together. We had a month of calm before the storm hit.

(Blu's first week home!)

Starting on October 12th, 2020 Blu began to limp. He was only seven months old at the time. The veterinarian recommended we rest him for two weeks. Two weeks went by and nothing improved. The veterinarian then saw Blu and prescribed him an anti-inflammatory to take for two weeks with rest. A month later, and Blu was still limping. I then began to worry. He was cooped up in the house and in need of socialization and exercise. If you've ever met a husky, you know they need exercise!

(Blu on his first hike, pre-injury. Sun's out tongue's out.)

(Our last hike together in October. The day Blu started limping)

We then saw another veterinarian who recommended that we sedate and crate rest Blu for two weeks while taking an anti-inflammatory. The thought was that Blu had a soft tissue injury, like a tendon strain, and needed further rest. This was the hardest period of time for Blu and I. He spent 20 hours a day in his crate sedated. Only being let out for bathroom breaks and food. Despite the fact that he was sedated, he would cry for hours. As a puppy, I am sure he felt that he was being punished. It didn't help that we had another puppy in the house at the time who was not experiencing the same crate rest. As a dog mom, I couldn't wait for the two weeks of crate rest to be over. There was no way I could console my baby in his crate and it made me feel helpless. I was counting down the days, more hopeful with each day that passed, he would heal. After two weeks, we began to take short walks together. Unfortunately, two days in to walking again and his limp was back. The veterinarian wanted me to continue to crate rest him for another two weeks, but I knew something else was wrong. Two months had passed since October, and my puppy was still limping.

Eventually, the veterinarian suggested we get X-rays of his elbows to see if something was broken. The images did not show anything noteworthy. X-rays are sometimes not detailed enough to diagnose FMCP. We were referred to a specialist in February, now five months since the onset of Blu's injury. The specialist recommended that we get a CT of his shoulders and elbows, a more fine-tuned imaging device. I wanted a definitive answer as to why my baby was limping, so I proceeded with the procedure. Between his X-rays and CT alone, I spent $3,000. At this point, six months had passed. Over two times the length of Blu's life with me had been "rest time" than time spent playing and exploring. In March of 2021, Blu was diagnosed with FMCP. Finally, I had an answer as to why my baby was hurting. The excitement of finally having something tangible to hold on to was quickly taken over by disappointment. Upon receiving the results of Blu's CT, the specialist told me he would need a $8,000-$10,000 surgery with physical therapy (quoted at $2,000-$6,000) and long-term management of his DJD.

(Blu taking in his first snow fall.)

As a single-dog mom, and young working professional, the cost of this surgery was too much. I was guilt ridden that I would have to put my baby up for adoption because I couldn't afford his care. I was also struggling to make meaning out of our journey together. The thought of having dedicated half a year to searching for answers, only to have to give him up, was heartbreaking. He was the only consistent companion I had during COVID. I work as a Neonatal Intensive Care nurse taking care of the sickest babies in our country. My job on a normal year is stressful. Then add the stress and isolation of COVID, and I was severely depressed. All of the normal coping mechanisms I utilized to keep a healthy work-life balance were compromised. Suddenly, I felt a huge shift in my energy. All I was doing was working or staying inside, and it was taking a toll. I'm a super outdoor and active person, and it was unfathomable to me that the outdoors could be closed. Most days I had to talk myself out of bed to go to work. It was at this point in the pandemic that I started looking for a dog. After being matched with Blu, I was already beginning to feel better. Although there were many sleepless nights and vet visits, I had his unconditional love to pull me through, and a new purpose as a dog mom.

After Blu's diagnosis settled in, I began to look for another veterinary hospital that could preform the surgery he needed. I couldn't accept that this was the end of our story together. It took a while, but I am excited to announce that Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Oregon will be performing his surgery on May 18th, 2021. The cost of the surgery is still daunting, but every penny is worth the cost. Blu will be able to play without pain. Together we'll be able to enjoy an active life together.

As my friends and family know, I do not like to ask for help. However, in looking at my financial resilience, I feel the time has come to phone a friend. Any donation, no matter how small, will go towards making a big improvement in Blu's life. All funds will go towards his surgery in May. Your donation will ensure that we'll be able to stick together, through thick and thin, and enjoy life together. I plan on providing updates after his surgery, so that everyone who has donated to his cause can see his progress. Thank you all for taking the time to read and consider donating to Blu's surgery.

Sincerely,

Bella & Blu