Porkchop's IVDD Surgery

Porkchop is my 3 year old French Bulldog. Since day 1, Porkchop and I have always had a special bond. He loves to cuddle, snuggle, and be held... and when I moved to NYC in 2013 I don't know how I would have made it without him. He truly is such a kind little soul.


I absolutely adore Porkchop. I had literally just said out loud yesterday afternoon, as Porkchop sat staring at me waiting for me to pick him up, that I don't know what I would do if I ever lost him. I never imagined that a few hours later I would be faced with the possibility of losing him.

Porkchop was in my room last night around 10:30pm when he suddenly screamed. I thought that maybe a bug bit him, or that he had slipped on the hardwood floor, but I wasn't able to find a bite and he seemed fine, yet shaken. Over the next two hours, Porkchop's back legs showed visible signs of weakness and pain. I jumped online, for fear of hearing about Frenchie's injuring their spines, and found a blog written by a fellow Frenchie owner. He described the exact symptoms Porkchop was showing, and said that his baby was diagnosed with IVDD, or Intervertebral Disk Disease, and required surgery ASAP. Thank God for that blog, because I was online searching for a Neurologist in the next breath. 

 Upon trying to move Porkchop to the car, he became incontinent and screamed several times. It became clear that he was losing more and more feeling in his back legs. When I got to the Emergency Vet, Porkchop was diagnosed with IVDD and I was told that he had two options: to go home with pain medication to see if he would be able to heal on his own, or to stay in the hospital to await a CT scan and surgery. Porkchop's surgery was quoted at $4300... and that didn't include rehabilitation.

However, shortly after his initial examination, Porkchop became completely paralyzed in his back legs. His neurologist told me that Porkchop's options had changed due to the rapid pace of his decline. Either he could get the surgery or I would have to consider putting him to sleep. 


I was devastated. The neurologist told me that with surgery, Porkchop stands a 50% chance of a complete recovery. However, if he does not recover, he will require a wheel chair from this point on. IVDD is not fatal, and I knew the second I saw him again after speaking with the Vet that he was not ready to go. I couldn't imagine giving up on him simply because he might not be a "normal" dog. 

I never thought I'd be asking for donations, but this hospitalization hit me really hard and I really wanted to see if a gofundme campaign could help. The opportunity to have some of Porkchop's medical bills covered would be such a huge blessing.

Any excess money I recieve will be donated to the vet's office that saved Porkchop's life, so that another family hit by an unexpected tragedy can have a little bit of financial relief. Any amount would be so much appreciated, but even if you can't give, please send positive thoughts and prayers Porkchop's way and maybe help spread the word. 

Thank you!