Help Foxy Walk Normal Again: Support TPLO Surgery

Hello everyone. I’d like to start off by thanking you for taking the time to read this. My dog Foxy, a chihuahua/German miniature spitz mix, just turned 11 years old this last July 2024 and as much effort and care I have put into both her health and her sister’s, there’s no beating aging and the health related issues that come with it. So here it goes:

Finding Foxy - How She Came Into My Life

Foxy has always been there for me since I got her as a young pup on October 1, 2013. I’ll never forget the day. My ex had found a listing for dogs for sale that were $25 each and had wanted to get me a dog; an accidental litter on a family farm out near Tracy, CA. The mom of the house didn’t want to put them up for free for fear of someone taking the dog and then maybe dumping the poor pup. So we made plans to meet and drove out to meet her with the kids and puppies during her kids’ softball practice out near Tracy. I was specifically looking for a girl dog and it was 4 boys and 1 girl pup. She opened the cage door and they came running towards me and all but one of them ran past me. One of them stopped at my feet, sniffed me, then stood up on its hind legs and wanted to say hi and play with me. It was the girl pup. It was my Foxy girl. She quite literally chose me. I was in love and had to have her in my life. We got her, took her home, gave her a bath, and got started training her and loving her. She was going to be named after a Greek goddess, but she looked so much like a baby arctic fox that I couldn’t not name her Foxy.

Becoming My Support

I have long suffered with depression and anxiety issues so I learned how to train Foxy to be my emotional support animal and to say she has done amazingly would be an understatement. During some of my worst moments, she has always been there for me. As soon as she hears any sniffles or sees tears, she runs up and starts licking your face and giving you kisses until you stop crying. When she sees the emotional distress she tries to help it as much as she can and I am forever grateful to my little girl for all she has done. To this day she still is my rock on my bad days.

Foxy’s Injury & Why We’re Here Asking for Help

In last days of August about a month and a half ago I got up to go to bed and called Athena and Foxy to follow me as usual. I got into the bedroom and noticed that Foxy still hadn’t followed behind me and jumped up onto the bed, which was odd. So I went back out into the living room to see where she was. My heart and stomach sank and dropped. She was limping towards me, something clearly wrong with her right hind leg. So we rushed her off to the ER (Veterinary Emergency Group - VEG) and had her examined, X-rayed, given pain meds, etc. We were told that she tore her CrCL (Canine Cranial Cruciate Ligament) which is the doggy version of the human ACL in the knee. For more information you can take a look at this page from Colorado State University about the CrCL. The only solution for it is to have surgery to have it fixed.

I have spoken to both the ER doctor and I have had her seen by her primary vet. Based off discussions with them, the surgery will range from $2200-$3500 (give or take) and then there will be physical therapy, after care, rehab, medications, braces/medical equipment, and I will also need to invest in a couple more doggy ramps around the apartment to help her get up and down.

Any remaining funds if it comes out to be under what is raised will go directly towards continued veterinary care (regular doctor visits, vaccines, preventative care, etc.) for Foxy as well as all the extra (and unfortunately expensive) vitamins and supplements for her age the vet is now recommending. For her pain she is currently on Carprofen and Gabapentin multiple times daily.

I’ve always fed my girls the best quality food and treats I can find and been consistent with brands, but as she ages there will be more things I need to add to her diet to keep her healthy and happy - which is all I care about.

Seeing that doggy smile on her happy face is all I want and seeing her limping like she has been is breaking my heart. I just want her to be pain free again.

Any help is more than greatly appreciated from us, especially Foxy.

Thank you so much and may all your furry loved ones live long, happy, and healthy lives.

-Pasha & Foxy