Hi, my name is Chloe, and last week our gorgeous sausage dog Sully suddenly stopped using one of his back legs on a walk. We rushed him to the vets and after some urgent x-rays, our worst nightmare came true and the results showed several serious health issues. He is only 1 year and 8 months old, and he has effusion of the ACL on both back knees, short ulna syndrome, hip dysplasia, and inflammation in his spine. At first they thought it was spinal arthritis, but now they suspect it could be IVDD. To confirm, he needs a CT scan, but the specialist vet has said that the potential IVDD is the least of his concerns.

Since his diagnosis, we’ve been giving Sully two very strong painkillers, and it’s been a complete game-changer. His reactivity and constant whining has dropped dramatically, and I now realize just how much pain he was in. He’s always been the most playful, energetic, and loving dog—he’s full of life and is the light of our lives. Everyone who knows him adores him, and seeing him in pain is absolutely heart breaking. We just want to see him happy and healthy.

Sully’s first and most urgent surgery is for his knees, which is going to cost £4,500 per knee—so £9,000 in total. We’ve already used £2,000 of our insurance limit for diagnosing him and managing his pain, but this remaining surgery cost is well beyond what we can afford. On top of this, he’ll need surgery for his short ulna syndrome, which is estimated to cost upwards of £3,000. He will also need a CT scan to confirm whether he has a slipped disc, and if that’s the case, IVDD surgery can cost anywhere between £6,000 and £10,000.

We have a £6,000 insurance limit, but after spending £2,000 already on diagnosis and pain management, we have just £4,000 left. This amount won’t even cover half of his first surgery, and the total cost of everything he needs could range from £12,000 to £22,000—this doesn’t even include potential complications, ongoing medications, post-surgery care, physiotherapy, or hydrotherapy. We are trying absolutely everything to raise money for him. We’re selling what we can, cutting back on all of our costs and any savings we have and we are still massively short.

I’m also sharing Sully’s story on social media, because I’ve learned so many painful lessons along the way. I missed so many pain signs that I now recognize, like his increased reactivity and constant whining. I now understand the importance of having good insurance with a high claim limit. For Dachshunds, the recommended coverage is £12,000, and I had no idea. I can only imagine how many other people are in the same position, not knowing the extent of what’s needed for our pets. I also want to help debunk the myth that sausage dogs "bunny hop" when they run—that’s not normal. If I had known this sooner, maybe we could have caught Sully’s health problems before they became so severe.

I’m sharing this because I’m desperate for Sully to get the care he deserves, but we simply don’t have the funds. All of the money we raise will go directly towards his surgery costs and aftercare. If you’ve read this far, thank you for taking the time to read this. If you’re able to donate even £1, we would be forever grateful. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this link or spreading the word would mean the world to us.

Sully is such an important part of our family, and we will do whatever it takes to make sure he gets the treatment he needs. We are incredibly grateful for any support you can offer—thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

If we’re lucky enough to raise more than Sully needs, every penny will be paid forward to help other dachshunds in his position. I’ll personally seek out as many cases as possible to donate towards and will also give to Dachshund Rescue UK, who have been incredibly supportive - especially Louise, who covers the Midlands.