Help Edwin & Remi enjoy the time they have left

Remi, a 7 year old, playful and adorable Doberman, has been Edwin's boy, his everything, for almost 7 years.

He came home with Edwin almost 7 years ago, when he was about 6 months old and the last of his litter to go to a home. All of his siblings were show dogs, and he wasn’t, so he was left behind. Edwin had just move back home from New York 2 months after having a bit of a mental breakdown and he has been at Edwin's side, ever since.

Early on Remi was an expensive boy, finding out shortly after bringing him home that he is allergic to every primary ingredient in dog foods. He would get flare ups all over his skin (itchy bumps), his coat was warm to the touch, itchy and uncomfortable. Edwin took Remi to the vet every week for months, trying to figure out why he was so itchy. He’s been on anti-itch and allergy medicine ever since.

In January, he came home from his first day of dog daycare and started coughing that evening. The cough persisted throughout the night, waking them up every hour or so. On Sunday morning, thinking he had kennel cough, they proceeded to the ER for treatment.

Unfortunately, when they left the vet 3 hours later, they had learned that Remi has a heart condition and the cough was from congestive heart failure. The next morning, they went to their normal vet and got the recommendation to bring him to a cardiologist.

Three weeks later....Edwin got the confirmation from Remi's cardiologist that he has a heart condition called Dilated Cardiomyopathy. This disease, once symptoms are seen, will cause the dog to die within 6 to 12 months.

During these months, they will see the cardiologist regularly, getting x-rays and echocardiograms done to monitor the heart disease progression. He will also be taking medications 3 times a day to help his heart beat regularly, beat stronger, and help keep fluids from his lungs—6 pills in the morning, 1 pill in the afternoon, and another 6 in the evening.

The cost of ongoing care as Edwin and Remi continue to navigate this critical illness will only continue to snowball. It is my hope that we can raise the necessary funds to help pay for Remi's medical expenses, so that Edwin can enjoy this time with his best friend, without the financial burden looming over their heads.