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LAYLA’S VETERINARY FUND
My wonderful Red Heeler, Layla, is in need of desperate help and life-saving surgeries. Her specialist suggested this website, as I have exhausted all my funds to this point and don’t know where else to turn. She was bit by an aggressive dog in a fight that lasted only a matter of seconds, yet, has caused indescribable pain and damage. I was able to contain the fight immediately and thought Layla was okay since no injuries could be found in her thick coat. She wasn't bleeding, limping, or crying at all. Layla is an incredible loyal companion and her breed by nature (a.k.a Australian Cattle Dog) is very tough and independent.
She did not show signs of being injured until the pain became too unbearable a couple days later and she started whimpering – then I knew something was very wrong and immediately took her to the vet.
The vet examined her and found two puss-filled puncture wounds deep in her coat.
After several tests, it was determined that my strong awesome Layla had already become septic and the vet had little hope for her survival. Don’t tell her that! After five days in intensive care hooked up to a 24 hour antibiotic IV drip and several blood and platelet transfusions, she fought the odds and incredibly pulled through. The vet said that in his 31 years, he has never seen a dog fight so hard to live.
I’ve been going to the vet every day to tell her what an incredible dog she is and to keep fighting. Layla just turned 7 years old, loves life and was not going to give up. However, we weren’t out of the woods yet. While she pulled through, the infection was still spreading uncontrollably through her tissue and killing it. The vet said that he has never seen or heard of anything like this before and referred us to a specialist.
The specialist said that he would need to remove 1/3 of her body skin in order to save her. That very long and difficult surgery went well, however, now she is in need of costly skin grafts.
I just don’t have any more money for these life-saving surgeries. I have already spent $10,853.94 up to this point.
At this stage, she continues to get her strength back while the specialists change out her full body bandage wraps each day. She has another couple weeks of these wraps and they are not cheap ($150) per daily change - a painful process for Layla that takes well over an hour each time.
In two weeks, she will begin skin graft surgeries. The first skin graft will be tricky because about 80% of her skin on her front right arm is gone. They need to take healthy skin from her body and apply it to her arm. Her best chance for becoming mobile again is to go through this skin graft surgery. They need the skin around her elbow to grow back correctly. The specialist says that 50% or more of the skin needs “to take”. If less than 50% of the skin takes, then another surgery will be required. Other skin grafts on the rest of her body will follow once her front leg is successful. When this is all said and done, it will cost me another $10-15k on top of the 10k I’ve already paid. I have exhausted all of my reserves.
I am shocked with how expensive this has been, and it has left me feeling helpless at times because I don’t have the money - but if she isn’t going to give up, neither am I. Anything you can donate would be so incredibly appreciated. She has the skin graft surgeries and months of recovery ahead, but things are turning around and we are so proud of her!
My wonderful Red Heeler, Layla, is in need of desperate help and life-saving surgeries. Her specialist suggested this website, as I have exhausted all my funds to this point and don’t know where else to turn. She was bit by an aggressive dog in a fight that lasted only a matter of seconds, yet, has caused indescribable pain and damage. I was able to contain the fight immediately and thought Layla was okay since no injuries could be found in her thick coat. She wasn't bleeding, limping, or crying at all. Layla is an incredible loyal companion and her breed by nature (a.k.a Australian Cattle Dog) is very tough and independent.
She did not show signs of being injured until the pain became too unbearable a couple days later and she started whimpering – then I knew something was very wrong and immediately took her to the vet.
The vet examined her and found two puss-filled puncture wounds deep in her coat.
After several tests, it was determined that my strong awesome Layla had already become septic and the vet had little hope for her survival. Don’t tell her that! After five days in intensive care hooked up to a 24 hour antibiotic IV drip and several blood and platelet transfusions, she fought the odds and incredibly pulled through. The vet said that in his 31 years, he has never seen a dog fight so hard to live.
I’ve been going to the vet every day to tell her what an incredible dog she is and to keep fighting. Layla just turned 7 years old, loves life and was not going to give up. However, we weren’t out of the woods yet. While she pulled through, the infection was still spreading uncontrollably through her tissue and killing it. The vet said that he has never seen or heard of anything like this before and referred us to a specialist.
The specialist said that he would need to remove 1/3 of her body skin in order to save her. That very long and difficult surgery went well, however, now she is in need of costly skin grafts.
I just don’t have any more money for these life-saving surgeries. I have already spent $10,853.94 up to this point.
At this stage, she continues to get her strength back while the specialists change out her full body bandage wraps each day. She has another couple weeks of these wraps and they are not cheap ($150) per daily change - a painful process for Layla that takes well over an hour each time.
In two weeks, she will begin skin graft surgeries. The first skin graft will be tricky because about 80% of her skin on her front right arm is gone. They need to take healthy skin from her body and apply it to her arm. Her best chance for becoming mobile again is to go through this skin graft surgery. They need the skin around her elbow to grow back correctly. The specialist says that 50% or more of the skin needs “to take”. If less than 50% of the skin takes, then another surgery will be required. Other skin grafts on the rest of her body will follow once her front leg is successful. When this is all said and done, it will cost me another $10-15k on top of the 10k I’ve already paid. I have exhausted all of my reserves.
I am shocked with how expensive this has been, and it has left me feeling helpless at times because I don’t have the money - but if she isn’t going to give up, neither am I. Anything you can donate would be so incredibly appreciated. She has the skin graft surgeries and months of recovery ahead, but things are turning around and we are so proud of her!