Wicket the Pug
Donation protected
"There will always be that dog that no dog will replace, the dog that will make you cry even when it's been gone for more years than it could ever have lived." - Meghan Daum
Wicket is that dog for me. He is my companion, my muse, my baby, my "heart dog." Wicket is very sick. He has a mass in his chest and has approximately 2 months to live. Though I know dogs can't and don't live as long as we want, I am devastated. He is such a little fighter, surviving not only his crappy beginning in a puppy mill where he was so anxious and bored that he chewed on his metal kennel and had to have most of his teeth pulled, and then a mast cell tumor removal 2 years ago. Last summer, he was diagnosed with a collapsing trachea as well.
He is the sweetest, softest, most anxious and terrified dog I have ever met, and has come so far in the 7 years since I adopted him. He loves his 1 special nylabone (the only "toy" he plays with), cheese, oranges, and pumpkin. He loves his big brother Tucker.
Last week, Wicket had trouble breathing. I brought him to our usual vet, where they took x-rays. Something was obviously very wrong, so they told us to go to an emergency vet ASAP. I drove immediately to the U of M Vet Clinic. He spent the night in ICU, and I didn't sleep. They did more x-rays, bloodwork, and kept him on oxygen. They couldn't find the source of the issue, so he was referred to Cardiology. He had an echocardiogram, which came back clean. His heart is fine. However, using the x-rays and the echo, they could see a large mass in his chest.
We don't know what the mass is, but it is putting pressure on his lungs, which is why he is having difficulty breathing. It is most likely cancerous. He is on a couple drugs to help calm the inflammation and cough. I am monitoring his respiratory rates morning and evening, as well as giving him his medications every 8 and 12 hours. I have decided that I will not pursue any further testing or treatment for the mass. He is about 11 or 12 years old, and I don't want him to suffer through any more surgeries or to go through chemo.
The vet bills for the two days last week came to $2,543.42. The two drugs he will be on until he passes will cost $140.00 per month. When his breathing becomes unbearable, I will have to have him put to sleep.
I maxed out my credit cards and used my savings to pay for this care. I have my own health issues that have also cost me thousands of dollars, and this has pushed me over the edge. I am extremely embarrassed to have to ask people for money, but I hope you understand what Wicket means to me. He is my heart.
Wicket is that dog for me. He is my companion, my muse, my baby, my "heart dog." Wicket is very sick. He has a mass in his chest and has approximately 2 months to live. Though I know dogs can't and don't live as long as we want, I am devastated. He is such a little fighter, surviving not only his crappy beginning in a puppy mill where he was so anxious and bored that he chewed on his metal kennel and had to have most of his teeth pulled, and then a mast cell tumor removal 2 years ago. Last summer, he was diagnosed with a collapsing trachea as well.
He is the sweetest, softest, most anxious and terrified dog I have ever met, and has come so far in the 7 years since I adopted him. He loves his 1 special nylabone (the only "toy" he plays with), cheese, oranges, and pumpkin. He loves his big brother Tucker.
Last week, Wicket had trouble breathing. I brought him to our usual vet, where they took x-rays. Something was obviously very wrong, so they told us to go to an emergency vet ASAP. I drove immediately to the U of M Vet Clinic. He spent the night in ICU, and I didn't sleep. They did more x-rays, bloodwork, and kept him on oxygen. They couldn't find the source of the issue, so he was referred to Cardiology. He had an echocardiogram, which came back clean. His heart is fine. However, using the x-rays and the echo, they could see a large mass in his chest.
We don't know what the mass is, but it is putting pressure on his lungs, which is why he is having difficulty breathing. It is most likely cancerous. He is on a couple drugs to help calm the inflammation and cough. I am monitoring his respiratory rates morning and evening, as well as giving him his medications every 8 and 12 hours. I have decided that I will not pursue any further testing or treatment for the mass. He is about 11 or 12 years old, and I don't want him to suffer through any more surgeries or to go through chemo.
The vet bills for the two days last week came to $2,543.42. The two drugs he will be on until he passes will cost $140.00 per month. When his breathing becomes unbearable, I will have to have him put to sleep.
I maxed out my credit cards and used my savings to pay for this care. I have my own health issues that have also cost me thousands of dollars, and this has pushed me over the edge. I am extremely embarrassed to have to ask people for money, but I hope you understand what Wicket means to me. He is my heart.
Organizer
Molly Madrinich
Organizer
St. Paul, MN