Support Leo's Journey to Health and Happiness

Hello! Thank you all for taking the time to read Leo's story. Leo is my precious lovable baby boy! I would do anything to help him feel better. It all started about a month ago when I noticed Leo was not acting himself. He kept hiding under the couch all the time and would come out to eat, but then go back under. He always would hangout with me, follow me around, and just be his adorable active self. He would sleep with me in bed every night, but that stopped, so I definitely know something was up regardless of every other sign that was going on. Eventually he stopped eating too, act like he wanted it, but then would sniff it and go back into hiding and purring louder than ever like something was bothering him. So, took him into the emergency vet after hours and they did some test and said he was dehydrated and gave him some medicine and sent him home. About $550 for that vet bill. Brought him home and he seemed more alive, walking around hugging things and following me. He went upstairs and started eating some food and slept with me that night. Then a few days passed and he started acting strange again. Took him to a vet specialist and they did some test and an xray. They noticed his GI tract is slowing down and on the verge of constipation and wasn't sure what was causing it to slow down because food was in the way and seemed like he hasn't had any bowl movements for some days. They gave me some medicine to give him at home to help out his GI tract and to help him go to the bathroom easier and gave him some medicine before he left. $990 for that vet bills. Brought him home and seemed to be better again. Was eating for about a week, but was still hiding after eating, but then stopped eating again. So, another vet visit again to the first vet he went to. Other vet sent over his results and they went from there. Could not find anything wrong and did a bunch of test and everything came back good. He started staying at the vet for monitoring and more test since Tuesday 5/20/25. So, the vet suggested a ultrasound. They did the ultrasound and found there has been food sitting in his stomach for quite a while near the end. I came in to visit him after the ultrasound on Thursday 5/22/25. He was not eating for the vets. When I came in he started eating some food and seemed a little better and moving around after receiving fluids and all the past two days. Poor baby needs an IV in his front leg the whole time I was there visiting him. Bill is at $1,500 at the moment. The next day Friday 5/23/25 they did another ultrasound for free since seemed like some food went by and they found a large mass growing in his stomach. They told me from how big it was it may be cancerous and wanted to do a biopsy to get it checked out. Later that day they called again and said the surgeon looked over the ultrasound with her and said from the area where it's at it looks like it will be unable to be removed and the next option would be chemo therapy which would be way too expensive and wouldn't want to put him through that. So, they went into surgery to get a sample and guess what? Turns out it's a massive impacted hairball inside his stomach which also got entwined with his intestines. They said it will be a intensive surgery to get it all out which will cost $3,000 on top of the $1,500 already owed that has been accumulating since Tuesday 5/20 and still rising. I love him too much and said go ahead with the surgery to save my baby and help him feel better. They completed the surgery Friday night. Called me to let me know how it went. Said they got it out, but his stomach lining is inflamed since the big fur ball was irritating it this whole time. Now he's in recovery and hoping his stomach lining goes back to normal. Not sure how long he has to stay, all depends of his recovery to if he heals.

Thank you for reading my story about my baby boy Leo, he means so much to me. He is only 8 years old. I feel so bad that this happened to him and hurt my soul seeing him in pain. I'm glad they finally figured out what was going on and helped him out. Anything will help. Thank you so much!

Update: 5/25: After surgery Leo developed a slight fever, but vet said he's recovering very well and eating like a champ. Just hasn't have a bowel movement yet. Before he leaves they really want him to do it couple times.

Update 5/26: Leo still hasn't had a bowel movement, but overall is doing well. Vet said it's normal for the GI tract to be a little slow after the anesthetic from Friday's surgery. He's going to be staying at the vet until he has a bowel movement.

Update 5/27: Leo was able to come home today! He still has a cone on his head. It can come off in 14 days from the surgery day when the stitches can come out. Still need to be giving him medicine until it's gone.