Otis' Medical Fund

Here's our story: 

Monday night Otis was acting normal. It was until he was running through the hallway with Finley and let out a painful scream like nothing that I ever heard before. He then ran to the couch, blinked proufously and hid his head in my lap frightened.  His timid and traumatized behaviour came out of the blue. We didn't understand what could have happened. Did Finley swat at him? Did he pull a muscle? His odd behavior continued into the night and Steve took him to the vet the next day.

Dr. Brooks at Powder Ridge Vet assumed it must have been his back. During his appointment, the doctor discovered Otis is completely blind in his right eye. We never knew this, he always seemed like he could see completely fine.  We tried to link this back with him clearly having an eye reaction that night he yelped. It was one of his symptoms. 

Later that evening, Otis' eye appeared red. The next day he had an evident hemmorage, it was becoming worse. We went back to the vet who ruled out it wasn't his back and began to focus on the eye. There was no trauma, no abrasian, no detachment of the retina, his eye looked normal. Otis was tested for glaucoma and we knew this either was related to his eye or something bigger was going on. He made an emergency call and to Animal Eye Care in Wilton, CT we drove to see an animal eye specialist. We were very lucky to get in last minute appointment due to a cancellation or we would be waiting until December to be seen.

Again, we had stumped another doctor. Otis was indeed blind in one eye but his eye pressures were normal and it wasn't glaucoma. We then started to discuss that it might be something bigger linking back to his optic nerve or the brain and we were refereed to an animal neurologist to take a closer look. 

We saw neurologist, Dr. Hammond,  at Pieper Memorial who examined Otis. In brief, upon our consult we were told that it could be a variety of different things. Worst case, his eye issue is linked to whatever happened that night that is affecting his optic nerve and his brain and there may be a mass or tumor. 

We just don't know. To find out, we'd have to do testing. 

The MRI and anetheisa is said to cost a few thousand dollars. Over the past week because Otis has been to the vet twice, an animal eye specialist and an animal neurologist: We have spent over $600 and dipped into our anniversary vacation fund which we are most likely calling off completely. We would never ask for the help of friends and family unless it was completely necessary. Everyone knows how much we love our little guy and how he isn't just our pet, but more like our first child. This week has been an emotional rollercoaster and we need to get to the bottom of what's going on with him whether it's good (please pray it is good news) or if it's bad and the next steps to keep him comfortable. 

We signed up for pet insurance but it's too late. He is already noted as having a pre-existing condition so nothing has been or will be covered. 

We are asking you to donate and help us find out what's going on with our baby. We appreciate anything you can contribute. We love you and thank you all. We are especially appreciative to all the doctors who have helped us this week, you've been amazing. 

With lots of love & licks, 
xoxo 
Otis, Finley, Steve & Erica