Help save Cooper
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Please help save Cooper.
Over the weekend, my Grand dog Copper started acting like he wasn't feeling good. We thought maybe he'd eaten something that upset his stomach, he didn't want to eat, but was at least drinking. Normally he never leaves, 3 year old, Payten's side, and has to be involved in anything and everything she's doing, but by Sunday afternoon Tara noticed that Cooper had gone into the playhouse and was just laying on the floor watching Payten and Presley play, he looked listless. This morning he wasn't any better, his eyes were mucousy and his legs seemed weak. They rushed him to Blue Pearl Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Jacksonville. With Covid protocols in place Tara and Cooper waited in the car for staff to come out, they took one look at him and rushed him inside.
When someone finally came out to update her she knew that something was seriously wrong. The tech said that Coopers diastolic blood pressure was 34, his systolic was undetectable. They started an IV to push fluids and ran stat labs. His potassium is dangerously high, his sodium low, his liver function is a mess.
Dr Martinez says that Cooper is in adrenal crisis, they've given him a drug to protect his heart and started IV corticosteroids. He's doing a ACTH Stimulation test to confirm what he suspects is Addisons Disease, but that doesn't totally explain his liver function. Right now Cooper is in critical condition and they're working to stabilize his blood pressure. Tara has already given them a $2,800 deposit but she's been told that if they can't stabilize him they'll have to transport him for more intensive care from a specialist. They said to expect at least another $2000 for that if it becomes necessary.
Situations like these are so hard, Cooper is family, how do you just give up? He's been such a blessing to his family since he came into their lives as a scruffy, matted and malnourished 8 month old pup. It was mothers day 3 years ago, when my daughter came across the ad on Marketplace. They weren't looking for another pet, they already had a houseful, with a dog and 4 kids, the youngest just a few months old, but Tara couldn't stop thinking about him so she called. On the phone the woman said she was rehoming because the dog was hyper and too much for her to handle.
Justin definitely wasn't on board, especially when he heard that she wanted a $500 rehoming fee, but he agreed to go with her to look. When they got there, the dog looked nothing like he had in his pictures. He was matted to the skin, dirty and malnourished, almost to the point of being emaciated. When they arrived, the woman was attempting to get him cleaned up, it was evident that the poor dog had been kept crated and was forced to lay in his own waste. She told them that she had to keep him crated because he didn't behave and pooped all over her house.
My son in-law didn't want another dog, but he wasn't leaving this one with that person another night. He handed over the money and put the dog in the car.
They got him into the vet and the groomer the next day. That 8 month old Doodle weighed only 37lbs, he should have been almost twice that by then. Once the mats were gone you could really see how under weight he actually was.
Tara and Justin had some concerns about how he'd be with the kids, especially the baby, but those concerns faded fast. Cooper immediately was fascinated with Payten and the feeling was mutual, from day one they've been inseparable. When she cries, he cries.
All the kids love him and he loves them but every body can see that he and Payten have a special bond.
And even 14 year old Willie loves Cooper. How do you just give up on an animal whose given you such unconditional love? We can't, and that's why we're asking for help to save this very special boy's life.
And my son in-law... the one who didn't want another dog? Every morning, on his way out the door for work, he kisses his family goodbye, and never leaves without kissing Cooper.
We understand that times are hard and not everyone can help financially, but you can still help by keeping Cooper in your prayers and by sharing this post. Thank you
We'll be updating this as information becomes available.
Over the weekend, my Grand dog Copper started acting like he wasn't feeling good. We thought maybe he'd eaten something that upset his stomach, he didn't want to eat, but was at least drinking. Normally he never leaves, 3 year old, Payten's side, and has to be involved in anything and everything she's doing, but by Sunday afternoon Tara noticed that Cooper had gone into the playhouse and was just laying on the floor watching Payten and Presley play, he looked listless. This morning he wasn't any better, his eyes were mucousy and his legs seemed weak. They rushed him to Blue Pearl Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Jacksonville. With Covid protocols in place Tara and Cooper waited in the car for staff to come out, they took one look at him and rushed him inside.
When someone finally came out to update her she knew that something was seriously wrong. The tech said that Coopers diastolic blood pressure was 34, his systolic was undetectable. They started an IV to push fluids and ran stat labs. His potassium is dangerously high, his sodium low, his liver function is a mess.
Dr Martinez says that Cooper is in adrenal crisis, they've given him a drug to protect his heart and started IV corticosteroids. He's doing a ACTH Stimulation test to confirm what he suspects is Addisons Disease, but that doesn't totally explain his liver function. Right now Cooper is in critical condition and they're working to stabilize his blood pressure. Tara has already given them a $2,800 deposit but she's been told that if they can't stabilize him they'll have to transport him for more intensive care from a specialist. They said to expect at least another $2000 for that if it becomes necessary.
Situations like these are so hard, Cooper is family, how do you just give up? He's been such a blessing to his family since he came into their lives as a scruffy, matted and malnourished 8 month old pup. It was mothers day 3 years ago, when my daughter came across the ad on Marketplace. They weren't looking for another pet, they already had a houseful, with a dog and 4 kids, the youngest just a few months old, but Tara couldn't stop thinking about him so she called. On the phone the woman said she was rehoming because the dog was hyper and too much for her to handle.
Justin definitely wasn't on board, especially when he heard that she wanted a $500 rehoming fee, but he agreed to go with her to look. When they got there, the dog looked nothing like he had in his pictures. He was matted to the skin, dirty and malnourished, almost to the point of being emaciated. When they arrived, the woman was attempting to get him cleaned up, it was evident that the poor dog had been kept crated and was forced to lay in his own waste. She told them that she had to keep him crated because he didn't behave and pooped all over her house.
My son in-law didn't want another dog, but he wasn't leaving this one with that person another night. He handed over the money and put the dog in the car.
They got him into the vet and the groomer the next day. That 8 month old Doodle weighed only 37lbs, he should have been almost twice that by then. Once the mats were gone you could really see how under weight he actually was.
Tara and Justin had some concerns about how he'd be with the kids, especially the baby, but those concerns faded fast. Cooper immediately was fascinated with Payten and the feeling was mutual, from day one they've been inseparable. When she cries, he cries.All the kids love him and he loves them but every body can see that he and Payten have a special bond.
And even 14 year old Willie loves Cooper. How do you just give up on an animal whose given you such unconditional love? We can't, and that's why we're asking for help to save this very special boy's life.And my son in-law... the one who didn't want another dog? Every morning, on his way out the door for work, he kisses his family goodbye, and never leaves without kissing Cooper.We understand that times are hard and not everyone can help financially, but you can still help by keeping Cooper in your prayers and by sharing this post. Thank you
We'll be updating this as information becomes available.
Organizer and beneficiary
Tamie Olmsted
Organizer
St. Augustine, FL
Tara Bryant
Beneficiary