On Thanksgiving Eve, La Hazel was happily running and playing. While racing around the yard with my other dog, she suddenly screamed and began limping on one hind leg. She tried putting a little pressure on it but would go right back to dragging it. By that night, she couldn’t get up at all—not even with help.

By Thanksgiving morning, things had gotten worse. She was now limping on both hind legs, and I knew she needed urgent care immediately. After hours at the ER, they still couldn’t help and urged us to get to a specialist as soon as possible since her symptoms had spread from one leg to the other. I rushed her to Gulf Coast Animal Veterinary Specialists, where they told me an MRI was urgently needed.

She’s only 4 years old—still so young—so giving up wasn’t an option I could force myself to allow. The unexpected financial strain forced me to apply for Care Credit and find any way possible to get her the treatment she needed. After the MRI, we learned she had a slipped disc and significant bruising on her spinal cord. She underwent surgery and is now being closely monitored to see if she’ll regain mobility in her hind legs.

Any help toward this unexpected financial burden would mean the world.