Hello, my name is Olive and I haven't been feeling great lately! Here is my story about my current health issues and why I need your help to get out of the woods and back to living my best life!

 

About three weeks ago, Olive suddenly began having difficulty holding down her food and water. She would have days where she was sick all day and all night, and I couldn’t figure out why she was so sick. After two days of not being able to hold down any food or water. I decided Olive needed to go to the vet, where she was able to be seen immediately.

 

On March 24th Olive had her first of what would be many visits, She had x-rays taken of her abdomen, blood work, and urine analysis. Olive's x-ray looked normal and Dr. Alvey found Olive had a UTI. She sent us home with antibiotics and asked me to monitor Olive while we waited on blood test results.

 

Unfortunately, Olive was still unable to keep food and water down as well as her antibiotics. Olive went back to the vet after not having improved where she had an ultrasound on her abdomen. Everything looked normal but Dr. Alvey knew how sick Olive was and continued the ultrasound up onto her chest. Dr. Alvey found a lump in Olive's chest and called me right away. She was worried it was cancerous and wanted to take a sample. Olive got a needle aspirate sample taken and all we could do was wait. After anxiously waiting for three days, I found out Olive is cancer-free and her blood samples looked normal! Olive not having cancer was a huge relief. The unfortunate news was still not having the answers to what is making Olive so sick...

 

Dr. Alvey knows how sick Olive is feeling and suggested Olive come in again to get x-rays of her chest to further investigate where they found Olive's lump. Olive went back to Dr. Alvey and had a chest x-ray. During this visit Dr. Alvey saw Olive's esophagus is enlarged, a condition called megaesophagus. At this time, Dr. Alvey tells me Olive is a bit of an oddball case and her condition is out of her wheelhouse. Dr. Alvey referred Olive to a specialist and wants Olive to get a CT scan.

 

The next day, Dr. Alvey called me out of the blue. She did some of her own research on ME (megaesophagus) and put Olive's case on an online forum for other vets to look at Olive's case. Dr. Alvey said Olive needs a blood test to see if she has Myasthenia Gravis, an immune system disorder in which her immune system identifies muscle tissue as foreign and attacks it. Dr. Alvey suspects the mass in Olive’s chest is a thymoma, a tumor growing on Olive’s thyroid gland.

 

Dr. Alvey has been going above and beyond for Olive by calling the specialist vet to see if Olive can be seen as soon as possible and checking in on her often. Dr. Alvey wants Olive to be as stable as possible for her upcoming CT scan and surgery to remove her tumor.

 

If you have experienced a pet with health issues I'm sure you are aware of the costs accrued with multiple visits, tests, and procedures. I am grateful as Olive’s Mama to have been able to get Olive the care she needs in these past few weeks. Olive and I have been experiencing such a loving and caring community of friends, family, co-workers, and even Olive’s healthcare staff, making her feel like a celebrity when she walks through the door. Thank you for surrounding us as we go through this difficult time. If you are able to support Olive’s upcoming health costs in any way, Olive and I are grateful. Please donate only if you are financially able to do so. Olive and I care about your well-being as well.

 

Funds will be used for Olive’s specialist vet visits, CT scan, medication, surgery, and aftercare.

You can follow Olive's journey on [email redacted]e.dawg