Asher cleft palate Newfoundland puppy surgery costs

My name is Ann and I am trying to raise funds to cover specialist vets bills for a 6 month old Newfoundland puppy who was born with a cleft palate which is not covered by insurance or by the breeder. The costs so far are just short of £12,000 between the surgeon and my vets.

ASHER is an amazing boy who has brightened up our world. He is part of our family and as such we would do anything for him. He is a fun loving puppy but like all puppies likes to put things in his mouth. This has to be watched all day long as he could as get things stuck in the gap in his mouth or worse make their way into his nasal cavity. If he got infections he ran the high risk of Rhinitis or Aspirating Pneumonia. Without these operations he would not have a normal life and grow into the amazing Newfoundland I know he can be who can just be a dog with no cares in the world.

Here is the background

My teenage son and I took in Asher at 9 weeks old into our home in Surrey. We were asked if we would offer him a home by the breeder who I had two other Newfoundland’s from. At the time I believed that she (the breeder) and I were in this together emotionally as well as financially as he was born with the condition so would be uninsurable, unsellable by her, and would be effectively like a rescue/welfare case where when they rehome dogs with medical conditions they would financially support the new owner in this way even if for only part of it.

Unfortunately I made a financial mistake not asking the breeder at the outset, before I offered him a home, if she would be contributing not after he had had this second surgery when she told me that it was my responsibility as his owner not that of the breeder.

Prior to visiting the specialist I secured a 0% credit card with the biggest limit they could give me so I could put the bills on there but the surgery cost well over the limit and so I walked out after the second surgery still owing a balance to them.

Despite the debt I am now in from this I do not ever regret giving him a home with us as he is a huge part of our world and we will do right by him and give him the future he deserves.

Before I offered him a home I did as much research as I could on cleft palate’s and found one not-for-profit place in the Midlands that had lots of information including an idea of costs which would be around £2000. This was a figure that I could manage financially so at that point I felt quite relaxed about it all. I discussed with the breeder the possible need for an operation and she had said that he might need an operation but that quite often they don’t unless they get infections. 

When my vet saw the severity of the hard and soft palate issues and sent it to a specialist near us for their opinion they were very clear for him to have a future he would need the operations and sooner rather than later. At that point told us that the costs would be in the region of £5000-£6000 with the hopes that this would be the only one needed but no guarantees. This was a vast difference to the not-for-profit but I have since discovered that the severity of the gaps is what raises the costs as does the size of the dog. 

He has had to have two operations so far within three weeks of each other with the second one coming just under £4000. He has also had vets bills for mild sedation almost weekly prior to the surgery to remove things from the hard cleft that I had not anticipated and even with their amazing generosity in reducing the cost to the bare minimum it takes the costs closer to £12,000 once he has seen the specialist in two weeks time for a check on the stitches and healing which will require sedation.

So this is how I have ended up asking for help for this beautiful boy. The financial worry and the concern for him means that I have barely slept in weeks.

I am hoping when Asher sees the surgeon in two weeks she says he won’t need more operations, but I have no idea what will happen if she says he may, as he grows.

Please help me fund Asher’s past surgery so he can look forward to a brighter, longer and happier future.

Thank you Ann.

Photos of Asher’s surgery and copies of the veterinary bills can be supplied, for verification, should anyone require them.