Hi, 

This isn’t something I ever imagined doing, but here I am, humbly asking for help. 

My name is Alex and I’m a single dog dad to Swish—a 6-year-old goldendoodle who’s slightly anxious, full of personality, and completely obsessed with two things: fetch… and me(in that order). If you’ve ever met him, you know he’s more than just a pet. He’s my child, my best friend, and my constant through life’s ups and downs. 

Back in early spring, Swish began limping on and off. I chalked it up to muscle fatigue with revving up his playtime coming out of winter; but then one morning in May, he couldn’t even stand up. After an emergency vet visit, the diagnosis was hip dysplasia with bone spurs. 

We followed the treatment plan—pain meds, supplements, strict rest—but his condition only worsened. Within weeks, he stopped using his left leg entirely and began hopping on his other back leg. I was terrified, fearing it might be neurological. 

Seeking a second opinion, I reached out to a family member who passed along Swish’s X-rays and videos to a vet friend. After reviewing them, he suspected a torn cruciate ligament—not hip dysplasia. With that feedback, we returned to Swish’s primary vet for more testing—and sure enough, the original diagnosis had been wrong. 

We finally had answers, but we’d lost a lot of time. 

Last week, I drove Swish five hours south to a top orthopedic vet for TPLO surgery. They were not only highly recommended but also much more affordable than any clinic in the Chicagoland area. The surgery was a success—but they found more damage than expected. Because of the delay in diagnosis, Swish had developed a medial buttress(a bony thickening on the inside of the joint), his meniscus was torn, and he had severe muscle atrophy from not using his leg. All of that had to be addressed during the procedure. 

Swish is now recovering but the road ahead is long and expensive. He’ll need hydrotherapy, rehab, and close monitoring over the next few months to regain his strength and mobility. 

⸻ 

Financial Breakdown: 

• Over $1,000 spent on initial vet visits, scans, and misdiagnosis 

• $3,600 for surgery and joint repair 

• Around $1,000+ expected for rehab and recovery care 

• Not including travel, supplies, or any setbacks 

⸻ 

This journey has been emotionally and financially overwhelming. I’ve stretched everything I have to get him to this point. 

If you feel moved to help Swish get back on his feet—literally—any amount makes a difference. Even just sharing this means the world. 

With gratitude, 

Alex & Swish