Help Achilles get the vet care to walk again

Hi, my name is Sheena, and I am raising funds for my sister's dog, Achilles. Achilles is a long dog - a mixed miniature dachshund and toy fox terrier. He's been in pain from back problems, and last night I got a call from my sister, Ara, telling me that Achilles could no longer move his back legs.

 

Although it's not uncommon for dachshunds to have back problems, Ara always hoped that the fox terrier in him would help - he does not have quite the long stature of a typical dachshund.

 

It all started a few days ago, when Achilles was having back pain and walking with a bit of a hunch - walking like he was drunk. This was not the first time - it has happened before, usually resolving itself with keeping him from much activity (and sometimes medication with anti-inflammatories and pain killers). But this time, he was just getting worse.

 

On Thursday, Ara was able to get Achilles in to see the vet. They had to sedate him for x-rays to see what was wrong. They found that he has some disc degeneration on his thoracic and cervical spine. Achilles was sent home with painkillers and told to rest until they saw him again early next week. (That bill was just under $600.)

 

Here is Achilles after sedation.

 

In the middle of the night, Achilles woke up in pain, and Ara realized that he could no longer move his back legs. Her vet was no longer open, so she called the emergency vet but they were backed up and it would have been several hours before he would get seen. Achilles fell asleep and she decided to stay awake with him to keep him comfortable until she could call her vet in the morning.

 

At the vet, they discussed his options. Back surgery would be between $8,000 - $10,000. This is, unfortunately, just not an option right now, financially. Other options include acupuncture, a back brace (which would require an MRI), or continue with keeping him still and on pain killers to see if it resolves itself. Achilles was treated with reiki and sent home with more painkillers, to have a follow-up appointment in a few days. That bill was just under $200. They will also be referring Achilles to another vet with more equipment to properly assess him.

 

Achilles back at the vet.

 

 

 

Achilles is going to need to continue to receive treatment, at the very least, several hundred dollars for medication as she tries to ease his pain in the hopes that he'll recover on his own. He may need other treatment, such as an MRI or acupuncture, which will cost more again.

 

Ara has already had to pay a lot on vet bills recently as her other dog, Beans, has been having heart problems. She says that her cupboard looks like a doggie medical dispensary.

 

Achilles and Beans when they're both healthy.

 

 

 

Ara doesn't feel comfortable asking for money, especially when it's such a difficult time for so many people. As a family, we like to help each other out when we can, but this year has been particularly difficult, both emotionally and financially.

 

Ara is the type of person who always likes to help others. She chose a career that is not high earning in an expensive city. She works in the downtown eastside of Vancouver on the front lines of the opioid epidemic. She loves what she does, but it's a highly stressful job. Her pups provide necessary emotional support. Unfortunately, due to the stress of her job and the losses that she witnesses, she has been on medical leave and currently unable to earn a full paycheck.

 

I had to quit my job a couple of years ago for cancer treatment, and only recently started doing freelance work. I had to take time off of this when my mom unexpectedly got sick and passed from brain cancer.

 

Our mom's passing came with some financial burdens, and also cut my dad's pension.

 

Our family's been trying to help out with Achilles vet bills, but unfortunately, we're just tapped out. We know how important Achilles is to Ara's emotional health (and we love him too!), so we want to do everything we can to prolong his life without pain and to help him be able to walk again. If you can spare any small amount, we would really appreciate it.

 

We will be posting copies of his vet bills, and I will soon be doing some fundraising with dog bandanas and perhaps collars.

 

Thank you so, so much!

 

Achilles resting at home.