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I feel pretty awkward doing this, but at this point I need a little help. As many of you know, my 2 year old golden retriever Ruca has been sick off and on since the beginning of last June, almost 1 year ago. It took 6 months (and thousands of dollars) to figure out he (probably) has immune mediated meningitis. While prednisone usually takes care of that pretty quickly, Ruca did not react well to the steroids and I had to change him to a different immuno-suppressive (cyclosporine) which is about $250 a month.
Although it's definitely been a stressful experience, I've been managing the expense on my own (with some initial help from Eric). And it's been worth it. Ruca is my best friend, and with all the new changes and stresses of the last year for us, if I didn't have him by my side I really don't know what kind of shape I'd be in. Many of you have seen glimpses of what that would look like.
While the meningitis is still under control, Ruca is now being troubled by a mass under his tongue (which we've known about since December but wasn't urgent at the time) that is now getting caught between his teeth, causing him pain when he eats. I've been using a coffee grinder to grind up his kibble mixed with canned food so it's possible for him to eat, but ultimately he does need the mass out and biopsied, for which I've been given an estimate of $1,000 (that's the family vet price; the specialty hospital where we've done all the meningitis stuff quoted me double that). Meanwhile, weaning him off cyclosporine is going to take some time, but as we decrease the dosage it should get cheaper. I'm hoping to raise $500 (2 months worth of medication) for that.
I'd be grateful for anything y'all can give, even if it's just $20. I've already gotten so much emotional support from you, my friends and family, who have followed Ruca's struggles over the past year. It really does finally look like we're getting out of this difficult time of being "regulars" at the vet--he's finally my happy puppy again!--just not without one last big punch. Thank y'all so much for the love and support you've given us already, and please forgive me for asking for a little bit more.
Although it's definitely been a stressful experience, I've been managing the expense on my own (with some initial help from Eric). And it's been worth it. Ruca is my best friend, and with all the new changes and stresses of the last year for us, if I didn't have him by my side I really don't know what kind of shape I'd be in. Many of you have seen glimpses of what that would look like.
While the meningitis is still under control, Ruca is now being troubled by a mass under his tongue (which we've known about since December but wasn't urgent at the time) that is now getting caught between his teeth, causing him pain when he eats. I've been using a coffee grinder to grind up his kibble mixed with canned food so it's possible for him to eat, but ultimately he does need the mass out and biopsied, for which I've been given an estimate of $1,000 (that's the family vet price; the specialty hospital where we've done all the meningitis stuff quoted me double that). Meanwhile, weaning him off cyclosporine is going to take some time, but as we decrease the dosage it should get cheaper. I'm hoping to raise $500 (2 months worth of medication) for that.
I'd be grateful for anything y'all can give, even if it's just $20. I've already gotten so much emotional support from you, my friends and family, who have followed Ruca's struggles over the past year. It really does finally look like we're getting out of this difficult time of being "regulars" at the vet--he's finally my happy puppy again!--just not without one last big punch. Thank y'all so much for the love and support you've given us already, and please forgive me for asking for a little bit more.