Help Save Roxy, The World's Most Breakable Dog

This is Roxy. She is a 3-year-old German Shepherd with epilepsy who is in need of specialized vet care due to a series of multiple injuries and illnesses (including, but not limited to: four surgeries, a plate in her right front leg, a cancer and possible amputation scare, a torn cruciate ligament (acl for dogs), and now a MRSA infection complicated by side effects from her antibiotics) over the course of almost two very long years.

She is now "failing to thrive" and has been urgently relocated to Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (See full story below). We are humbly requesting help with the cost of this transition to help Roxy as the hospital figures out what is going with her. She is our world. Please help us get her back on her feet. We are willing to do whatever it takes, but we could use your help. Any amount would be so greatly appreciated. From our Hearts to Yours to Roxy's. Thank you for the support. <3




A heartbreaking 40 days ago, we took her to the vet, and she hasn't come back home to us since. She has had one problem after another, and her health has only continued to decline, and we don't know why.




Today, March 2, on our vet’s recommendation, we relocated her to Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, a 3-hour round trip. She was admitted as an emergency case in a desperate attempt to find out exactly what is going on and to help her thrive. There, she will have 24/7 care and never be left alone to suffer through her seizures or pain without comfort, and pain medication if needed. Our vet did their very level best, but it became clear when she began to fail to thrive that Roxy requires a higher level of care than they were able to provide being a small clinic with limited hours.  




Having Roxy in our life is one of our greatest joys, and I can't tell you how much it breaks my heart to see my rambunctious girl barely able to lift her head and wag her tail when she sees me. We've struggled for 2 years and invested over $10,000 and countless sleepless nights working with Roxy and trying to make her whole again. A&M has already begun to problem solve her issues, and we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel, but the financial aspect has become overwhelming.




Please help us as we continue to do our best to get Roxy the vet care she needs!




Roxy, before she broke -- the first time




The full story started when Roxy was a year and a half old. We took her to the dog park, and she chased a toy down a hill and hurt her right front leg. After many vet visits, and many misdiagnoses ("it's just a sprain") it was determined that she needed to have a surgery called Carpal Arthrodesis. A quick google search will tell you that it is the surgical elimination of joint motion and, ultimately, bony fusion of joint surfaces. Carpal arthrodesis is considered a salvage procedure for patients in which other surgical or medical treatment will not restore normal, pain-free joint function.  (http://www.michigananimalhospital.com/page/490663702).




We arranged her surgery, but soon after, Roxy had her first seizure-- one of the scariest moments of my life. The surgery was put on hold and she was diagnosed with epilepsy. Following vet visit after vet visit, medication after medication, we finally identified a medication that would help to reduce the frequency of her seizures without dulling her spark that we love so much.We provided 24/7 supervision since. We've carried her 100 lb body down the steps for bathroom breaks, slept with her on her dog bed to make sure we would be aware if she started seizing so that we could take steps to protect her injured leg, and always, always made sure that one of the two of us was home with her. We never left her side. Months and months later, the surgery was back on. We were excited at the prospect that soon she would be back to her playful, happy self.  She's truly one of the most energetic dogs I've ever known. The time prior to and her surgery recovery was hard on us due to the risk that her exuberant personality would injure her leg even worse, but the surgery appeared to be a success.




Roxy months after her first surgery and  was healing as expected. At this time, we thought all her troubles were behind her. We were encouraged to have her begin to use her leg.




However, week after week and month after month went by, and Roxy's leg wasn't healing. Many more trips to the vet, carries down the steps, another surgery to remove the plate, a cancer scare, a biopsy, another surgery, and she continued not to heal.

In the interim, the worst happened-- she injured her back left leg, leaving her with only two legs that could bear weight. Another surgery. Still not putting weight on her feet. Test after test, and she was finally diagnosed as having MRSA. We made the hard decision to board her at a local vet's due to the level of care she needed-- down two legs, an active infection, and still experiencing the occasional seizure. (Her vet joked that she needed to live in a bubble to keep from breaking anything else!) The vet started a new antibiotic, one that was better-suited for fighting MRSA, but Roxy's health rapidly went downhill, to the point that she could barely react when we came to visit her. I can’t tell you the gut-wrenching feeling of seeing our once healthy, happy, loving life, dog - barely able to lift her head when we walk in.


Visiting Roxy two days ago. She was so weak. This is not our Roxy. She is full of life and so loved. She wants to feel better and get back to her happy life.  She just needs the experts to figure out what is going on with her.




She had been at the local vet's for over a month, with all the expenses and uncertainty that go along with that. Our vet finally sat us down and recommended that we transfer her to the A&M Vet Hospital to help figure out why she isn't healing as expected, and why her health has deteriorated so abruptly. Today, 3/2/19, we made the move--it is expensive, and we're willing to do whatever it takes to help her, but we could use your help!  

 

Any help would be so incredibly appreciated. When Roxy wriggled into my life, I didn't realize the profound impact she would have on not only me, but my family. I've spent most of my life with rescued animals and didn't expect anything different when I brought her home the first night, but I was in for a massive surprise. I'm now convinced that she is the sweetest, most intelligent entity on this Earth. She's changed my life in more ways than one,
and I didn't realize the profound effects she would have on me as a person.




For two years, we've struggled with her, fought for her, encouraged her, and cried for her - through thick and thin, with no price being too high, no time being too much. As a graduate student, it has not been an easy fight, mentally or financially. However, we're determined to get her the best care that we can, because for all the bad, she has been worth every single second. She is family, and we would do absolutely anything for her.




We want to get our Doodlebop home, back with her fluffy kitty siblings where she belongs. She is missed by all of us. She has a big bed, a fat steak, and numerous toys awaiting her return!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We can't imagine a world without her.

- Brett & Cat

*We will keep you updated on Roxy’s recovery, and will stop the gofundme as soon as we have met the financial needs of her hospital care. We hope to hear from the hospital on Monday as to what the best course of action will be for her! Thank you so much for your support, prayers, and contributions. If you cannot contribute, prayers are appreciated, as well as sharing our page.

Again, thank you so much for the support! Roxy thanks you, too!