Daisy and pups emergency vet bills

I’m torn about posting here for the second time in the month, after people so generously donated for the funeral costs after the heartbreaking death of my sister Naomi (https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-fund-naomis-funeral-after-tragic-loss).

As some of you know, I inherited Naomi’s 7-year old, VERY pregnant shih tzu, Daisy. My sister, who was disabled and very cloistered during the pandemic, had only a couple close friends and her animals around her during those hard days. Later on as she recovered from surgery, we would sit on video calls for hours, chatting away, Naomi with Daisy on her lap.

In the days following my sister's death, Daisy gave me an unexpected amount of comfort and even joy. I never had a lap dog before. She and I were going through the same loss and could comfort each other. I saw her as one of my sister’s closest and most reliable companions as well as one of the very few to be there, with my sister, during her last waking moments. Maybe she heard Naomi in my voice or saw her in my spirit. I don’t know, but this dog touched me and all I wanted to do was sit and cry and give her a cuddle.

Daisy gave birth last Wednesday, August 20, my partner Nick was her doula, and although we lost the first puppy, four were born healthy and happy.

By Friday, Daisy herself wasn’t so healthy and happy. I knew something was wrong with her and we consulted with our own vet and the ER vet. Both told us to hang on, whelping pups is a lot, like any delivery is! Keep an eye on her, make sure she is hydrating and eating. When she stopped eating, we changed her diet to boiled chicken and rice; she readily gobbled up. But the next day was different. She was wobbly and gaunt. She wouldn't eat. We packed her and the puppies up and rushed to the ER.

Daisy was septic. She needed fluids and antibiotics. She couldn't nurse any more, even if she recovered. The puppies would need to be bottle fed every two hours starting immediately!

The vets told us we did nothing wrong, in fact we did everything right! Even still, her health declined between yesterday and today. She needed to stay overnight in the hospital. One night has turned into two, two will possibly turn into three.

How could it be that Daisy, so healthy and happy through the delivery of her pups, was declining so quickly?

That aside, I had taken this week I took off from work to properly grieve the passing of my sister. I haven't had the time. My days are now split between the care of my own child and family, visiting with Daisy in the pet hospital, and nursing and caring for the four pups.

So much is happening in the world right now, I don’t know if asking for monetary support for this little dog is the right thing to do but the idea of losing her is breaking me.

Her hospital bills are already over $11,000. The puppy care is adding up…

If this GoFundMe makes you think of other life supporting efforts you believe in, please support them with your dollars. If you might be able to understand how much this little life means to me and my family, if you could spare even $5, we would be forever grateful.

Big hugs…

Melissa