Rudie's Life Saving Surgery

Two days ago, Rudie started showing signs of severe nausea and lethargy and ended up at the ER Vet Hospital that evening. After some x- rays it was quickly determined that he had a serious, and very life-threatening condition called Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV). GDV causes a dog’s stomach and GI tract to bloat causing the stomach to twist and flip on its short axis resulting in blood restriction to vital organs, veins, and arteries- resulting in organ death, tissue death, toxic shock, organ ruptures, potential blood poisoning from excess gas entering the blood stream, heart arrythmias, plus a bunch of other complications. It’s very deadly if not caught within just a few hours of the stomach twisting on itself- and its deadly if not treated. Luckily, I was able to catch his GDV quick enough to get him in to the ER- which was when the doc told me that we needed to do emergency surgery *immediately* because every second counted towards his survival. In order to get this surgery, I had to pay up front, a minimum of $5,701.31, and that there may be additional charges I will need to pay once he is released from the ICU in a few days depending on his post op- treatment. In situations when you can’t afford to pay upfront for an intensive surgery like GDV the only other option is to Euthanize, and that wasn’t an option I was willing to accept for many reasons. So, I pulled every resource and dime I had available in the moment and I got my best bud that surgery.

The surgery went well and he didn’t lose any organs or have any tissue loss, Rudie is currently still in the ICU and recovering well except for a fever he started last night that the Vet is currently trying to figure out what from, which is worrying considering he went from doing very well to “no t as well”. I’ve been visiting him often and I get to sit with him and feed him and ice his belly till he sleeps for hours at a time.

I’m REALLY not the kind of person that likes asking for help, in fact I hate it, but I also believe that it’s important to ask your loved ones for it when you need it. I’m a senior at BSU taking well over a full-time course load, and I’ve poured a majority of my finances into my education. Because of my class load- my free time to take on more work is limited. I will most definitely be working my ass off more then I already am, and selling some of my more expensive items very soon. The humbling truth is: I could use some help with this unexpected situation and all the financial issues I am facing because of it.

Sometimes we have these truly life changing creatures that come into our lives that really give us, in my opinion, some of the purest connections to the world, emotions, and earth around us. These creatures become more then just a companion, because you share with them something much more spiritual and deeper that I think a lot of people have lost touch with. Rudie has very much been that for me. He came into my life during one of the most difficult situations I’ve ever gone through as a DV survivor. He helps me every day with my PTSD, has traveled the US multiple times with me, and been my best friend and partner in crime for the past 4 years on every single adventure I’ve taken. If any of my friends or family would like to donate any money to help fund these costs that are growing so that this random situation could be a little bit easier to stay afloat from I would be extremely grateful. I will also be posting the bills and receipts for accountability- as I think that’s incredibly important. Thank you for all the kind words and support from everyone who has reached out. <3