Hi everyone,
My name is Valentina and I am here because my sweet dog Kahlua–my heart and companion for the past 11 years–urgently needs help. I humbly ask for support from the community.
On August 20th, I noticed Kahlua showing signs that something was wrong; she was fearful and subdued, not at all like herself. By the next day, her health had taken a frightening turn. She was stumbling around, barely able to move and in increasing pain (panting, struggling to breathe comfortably, crying out when standing, and holding herself hunched in obvious distress). She was seen by the vet, and despite being on pain medication, her symptoms worsened and she was admitted to the veterinary hospital.
One week later, she was back at emergency again, still in severe pain. An ultrasound showed she has serious gastrointestinal disease (currently being treated), but this does not explain her current neurological symptoms.
“This is a complicated case”, I kept hearing from different veterinarians.
On top of the pain, she has lost 1 kg in one month (the equivalent of 30+ lbs in a human), and markers on her ultrasound could possibly link her GI disease to cancer.
Kahlua has now been seen five times in less than three weeks.
Today, she is on strong pain medications, plus 8 other medications for pancreatitis and liver disease, and is waiting to undergo a $5,000 MRI to determine the cause of her neurological pain. A specialist believes the pain is coming from her neck, which may require vertebral surgery, a spinal tap, or further advanced testing.
The veterinarians are working hard to figure out what’s happening, but each test, scan, and round of treatment adds to a rapidly growing bill. To date, I have already spent $7,800 on emergency visits, medications, and diagnostics.
Kahlua means the world to me. She is my family, the one constant in my life for the past 11 years. I want to do everything I can to give her a chance at recovery and relief from this pain. Unfortunately, the costs have already become overwhelming, and I can’t manage them on my own.
What your support will help with:
- Hospital admission and monitoring
- Pain management
- Advanced imaging (MRI, repeat ultrasound, and possible follow-up testing/surgery)
- Ongoing veterinary care and treatment, depending on diagnosis
Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference. Even sharing this campaign helps more than you know.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for caring about Kahlua and helping me fight for her comfort and health.
With gratitude,
Valentina & Kahlua