Tucker Needs Your Help!

**** UPDATE***

My little buddy is back home! He's a little skinnier and he has silly looking shaved ankles (three of them!) and a shaved belly from his ultrasound but he is definitely feeling better! He's on a boiled chicken and rice diet.. which he seems a little too excited about. And Simon was happy to see him of course!

I wasn't able to speak with the veterinarian today when I picked him up but she seemed very confident when we spoke on the phone that he is on the mend. So fingers crossed that his liver values are down when we go to recheck them!

My friend Gabby looked at this page and just texted me "I love people" and that about sums it up for me, too!

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First of all - thank you for taking the time to read about my sweet pup and what he is going through. 

Tucker is a 5 year old dachshund, and quite the little charmer.  He has lived with me in three different cities and has been my best friend through so much.  He has a little brother - a cat named Simon.  They get along much like little human brothers and both beat eachother up and snuggle together on the couch.  Simon is definitely the boss, though.  Its been that way since the day Simon arrived as a tiny rescue kitten. They are the best.  I am constantly stopping myself from showing people their pictures. 

This past Tuesday (12/13/16) when I came home from work, Tucker was very obviously ill and didn't want to get up, much less eat or head outside.  I got to my regular vet and he was seen by our wonderful friends at Katy Trail Animal Hospital.   Unfortunately, when Tuck's lab work came back, we found out that his liver enzymes were sky high.   (Now, I am far from understanding all the information that I have been given this week, but I can tell you that his ALP level, which should remain between 5-131, is above 1400.)  Our regular veternarian referred us out to another clinic to have an abdominal ultrasound and to be evaluated by their doctor. 

They decided that Tucker needed to stay in the ICU through the weekend to determine whether antibiotics would improve his condition, which, at this point, is thought to be either infection or liver disease.  If his liver values do not improve, a liver biopsy will be the next step on Monday. 

Tucker's estimate for care through the weekend was $3,832.78 - $7,665.56.  The lower end being if everything goes as planned. 

I was required to put the "low end" down immediately, and could, thanks to care credit.  However, the $5,000 limit that I have is more than scary to me, when the possibility of a biopsy is looming in the near future, and they will again require full payment.

Tucker brightens my life and the lives of my family.  He has been my reason to get out of bed when I'm too sad. He has truly been my partner and only constant through my 20's and I have to give him the best care he can receive. 

I promise to pay it forward, giving when I am able.