Help Save Roxy’s Legs
Donation protected
Hey you! Have you met Roxy, the friendliest, prettiest, sweetest shiba inu in the world? We'll just agree she holds that title in SoCal.
I mean - look at that face --->
This pretty lady is 5 years old, born on Valentines Day. She has a beagle brother named Bear. Roxy is a strong, independent doggo that only sometimes comes when called, requires you to bring the treat to her, and only fetches the ball halfway back to you - but she makes up for her princess antics by giving you the coveted and extremely rare lick on the nose. That's how you know she REALLY likes you.
Early last year I started noticing Roxy didn't seem as happy as usual. She also starting walking with smaller steps and laying down more frequently. Roxy seemed bloated, honestly I really just thought she was constipated. Even so I felt that something wasn't right, so I took her to our regular vet - Sandy Paws Animal Clinic in Carlsbad to see Dr. McClure, the most compassionate and caring vet I've ever seen. They sedated her and took x-rays, mostly to see check on her internal organs. Later that day I got the news that Roxy has severe arthritis in both hips.
Discharge notes from Dr. McClure:
"Her abdomen was tense and I do think this is secondary to back and hip pain. She was very tense in her lumbar area and she resented
extension of her hips which clicked on rotation. She did seem very painful when I started her rectal exam but she tolerated the actual exam well. She was
neurologically normal on her exam.
We gave Roxy an injection of pain medication before her radiographs. Her radiographs show severe arthritis in both hips and I believe a surgeon I have sent
her films to will recommend one of two surgical procedures for her left and likely her right hip."
She also showed me an x-ray of healthy dog hips, and then what Roxy's look like. The first picture below is normal & and second is Roxy. She was 4 when this x-ray was taken. (4/2/18)
You can see that Roxys hips don't really fit like they're supposed to. The left hip was much worse, and needed surgery as soon as possible.
Dr. McClure said something that absolutely broke my heart.
Roxy has probably been in pain for a while now, but now it's finally so bad that she can't power through it.
Thinking about how long my dog had to suffer while I was completely unaware of what she was holding in was the worst feeling in the world.
Since the left hip was much more deteriorated than the right, we went to the Sorrento Valley Emergency Vet Clinic to start the process of getting Roxy a full hip replacement surgery for her left leg.
She had the surgery on June 30th, 2018.
Her leg had to be held up right after surgery and she was not allowed to jump at all. Any small slip or fall could dislodge her healing hip. So Roxy and Bear had to be separated for a few weeks while she recovered.
Dave Oshry (Roxy's human dad) had her at his house and I kept Bear with me. He printed the vets instructions and had them on his fridge. He did a great job tending to her while her leg healed. You can see a twitter moment he created here:
Roxy's Recovery
Our surgeon - Dr. Pike - gave us the best and worst case after our first follow up.
The good news - Roxy's leg healed perfectly!
The bad news - Roxy will definitely need another hip replacement. We didn't know how soon, so we started doing what we could do slow down the deterioration of cartilage in her right hip. Roxy takes cosequin and phycox supplements everyday. I also recently got both dogs pet insurance through my job (I work part-time as a banker at a credit union in Northern San Diego). Unfortunately, this is considered a pre-existing condition and is not covered under the insurance.
About a month ago I noticed her walking gingerly again. I hoped it was just the weather (like elderly people's joints hurt when it rains). But it has gotten progressively worse. Roxy has an adorable, fluffy tail that always curls over her back. Her tail being limp always means she's either scared, or in pain.
Her tail has been down a lot.
Roxy's favorite thing to do is fetch. But even after a short play session she is in pain. My heart hurts everytime I see the sad look in her eyes. She was born like this, it's no ones fault, and all I want is for her to fetch her little heart out. She's 5 years old, way too young to suffer so much.
I'm asking for your help to finally give Roxy a pain-free life.
Hips are expensive.
Of course, all funds will go towards the surgery. Roxy, Bear, and I sincerely thank you anything you can spare to contribute.
Since you've read this far, here's some baby Roxy pictures that will absolutely melt your heart. The top one is the first picture I ever saw of Roxy. It was love at first sight.
I mean - look at that face --->
This pretty lady is 5 years old, born on Valentines Day. She has a beagle brother named Bear. Roxy is a strong, independent doggo that only sometimes comes when called, requires you to bring the treat to her, and only fetches the ball halfway back to you - but she makes up for her princess antics by giving you the coveted and extremely rare lick on the nose. That's how you know she REALLY likes you.
Early last year I started noticing Roxy didn't seem as happy as usual. She also starting walking with smaller steps and laying down more frequently. Roxy seemed bloated, honestly I really just thought she was constipated. Even so I felt that something wasn't right, so I took her to our regular vet - Sandy Paws Animal Clinic in Carlsbad to see Dr. McClure, the most compassionate and caring vet I've ever seen. They sedated her and took x-rays, mostly to see check on her internal organs. Later that day I got the news that Roxy has severe arthritis in both hips.
Discharge notes from Dr. McClure:
"Her abdomen was tense and I do think this is secondary to back and hip pain. She was very tense in her lumbar area and she resented
extension of her hips which clicked on rotation. She did seem very painful when I started her rectal exam but she tolerated the actual exam well. She was
neurologically normal on her exam.
We gave Roxy an injection of pain medication before her radiographs. Her radiographs show severe arthritis in both hips and I believe a surgeon I have sent
her films to will recommend one of two surgical procedures for her left and likely her right hip."
She also showed me an x-ray of healthy dog hips, and then what Roxy's look like. The first picture below is normal & and second is Roxy. She was 4 when this x-ray was taken. (4/2/18)
You can see that Roxys hips don't really fit like they're supposed to. The left hip was much worse, and needed surgery as soon as possible.
Dr. McClure said something that absolutely broke my heart.
Roxy has probably been in pain for a while now, but now it's finally so bad that she can't power through it.
Thinking about how long my dog had to suffer while I was completely unaware of what she was holding in was the worst feeling in the world.
Since the left hip was much more deteriorated than the right, we went to the Sorrento Valley Emergency Vet Clinic to start the process of getting Roxy a full hip replacement surgery for her left leg.
She had the surgery on June 30th, 2018.
Her leg had to be held up right after surgery and she was not allowed to jump at all. Any small slip or fall could dislodge her healing hip. So Roxy and Bear had to be separated for a few weeks while she recovered.
Dave Oshry (Roxy's human dad) had her at his house and I kept Bear with me. He printed the vets instructions and had them on his fridge. He did a great job tending to her while her leg healed. You can see a twitter moment he created here:
Roxy's Recovery
Our surgeon - Dr. Pike - gave us the best and worst case after our first follow up.
The good news - Roxy's leg healed perfectly!
The bad news - Roxy will definitely need another hip replacement. We didn't know how soon, so we started doing what we could do slow down the deterioration of cartilage in her right hip. Roxy takes cosequin and phycox supplements everyday. I also recently got both dogs pet insurance through my job (I work part-time as a banker at a credit union in Northern San Diego). Unfortunately, this is considered a pre-existing condition and is not covered under the insurance.
About a month ago I noticed her walking gingerly again. I hoped it was just the weather (like elderly people's joints hurt when it rains). But it has gotten progressively worse. Roxy has an adorable, fluffy tail that always curls over her back. Her tail being limp always means she's either scared, or in pain.
Her tail has been down a lot.
Roxy's favorite thing to do is fetch. But even after a short play session she is in pain. My heart hurts everytime I see the sad look in her eyes. She was born like this, it's no ones fault, and all I want is for her to fetch her little heart out. She's 5 years old, way too young to suffer so much.
I'm asking for your help to finally give Roxy a pain-free life.
Hips are expensive.
Of course, all funds will go towards the surgery. Roxy, Bear, and I sincerely thank you anything you can spare to contribute.
Since you've read this far, here's some baby Roxy pictures that will absolutely melt your heart. The top one is the first picture I ever saw of Roxy. It was love at first sight.
Fundraising team (3)
Julia Marchak
Organizer
Carlsbad, CA
Dave Oshry
Team member
Becky Taylor
Team member