Help Bruno live his life- liver shunt surgery
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Hi everyone, I’m fundraising for my precious 3 month old puppy that was born with a Liver Shunt. A liver shunt is a congenital disease where his portal blood vessel bypasses his liver and in turn leads to toxins being built up in his tiny 3lb body. A liver shunt not only causes symptoms such as throwing up, diarrhea and lethargy but also neurological symptoms such as seizures and blindness.
I got baby Bruno from the same family breeder in Maryland that my parents got their Mini Schnauzers that I grew up with- Choco and Latte. Choco is 16 and Latte is 10. My dad was so sweet to fly to Maryland and bring me Bruno on March 25th (I live in Los Angeles, CA) When I got him he was perfect. I took off some time off of work to spend time with him and get him used to his new home. He was full of energy and extremely smart. He learned how to sit and lay down in the first few days of having him. He also learned to jump up the stairs to my apartment within a few days and mind you he’s a tiny boy! I fell in love with him instantly and so did my boyfriend and entire family. Everyone that knows my parents dog- Choco, would tell me that Bruno is his twin. Which is very true they look so similar!
On April 6th, almost 2 weeks after I got him, I woke up to him barely being able to walk. He walked through my kitchen banging his head on the cabinet with his every step. It was heartbreaking. Then he had diarrhea and threw up multiple times. I rushed him to the emergency room and they ran multiple tests. The vet told me that his white blood cell count was high and his blood pressure was low and he was extremely dehydrated. She mentioned his liver function being off but told me that all of this could be from him throwing up and having diarrhea. He stayed overnight and the next morning she said he made a recovery and was completely back to his old self. I picked him up and was excited to see him feeling so much better but in the back of my head I was concerned because I still didn’t have any answers. They did a fecal test and were waiting on the results because they thought he might have a parasite. They sent him home with parasite medication so I thought that maybe he had a parasite.
The few days following April 7th, he was doing amazing. He was eating and drinking and being his playful, barking self! I was so happy.
On Monday April 11th, my boyfriend and I noticed that he was extremely tired and lethargic. I called the vet and they told me that because he was still eating and drinking and was not throwing up and no diarrhea that I shouldn’t bring him in. I was concerned but figured he was just tired from his walk the night before.
On Tuesday April 12th. I woke up to him throwing up and again super lethargic and tired. I rushed him to the animal hospital and they informed me they would have to run the same tests over again plus more to figure out the problem. I was frustrated because they shouldn’t have released him without giving me answers. Which by the way, his parasite results came back negative. They ran the tests and found through a ultrasound that his liver was extremely small, 2 small stones in his bladder, and out of range kidney functions. All symptoms of a liver shunt.
He needs to have Liver Shunt surgery. Without the surgery he will be unable to live a normal life and will likely not live past 10 months old. The surgery has a high success rate and most puppies that receive the surgery are able to live happy, long lives. In the 3 weeks that I have had Bruno, I have spent the money that I had been saving for a new car. Now, with the surgery I will need another $15,000. I need your help. He is my baby and everything to me.
Thank you for your support and for reading Bruno’s story. If you cannot contribute please share his story.
The first picture is the first day I got him.
I got baby Bruno from the same family breeder in Maryland that my parents got their Mini Schnauzers that I grew up with- Choco and Latte. Choco is 16 and Latte is 10. My dad was so sweet to fly to Maryland and bring me Bruno on March 25th (I live in Los Angeles, CA) When I got him he was perfect. I took off some time off of work to spend time with him and get him used to his new home. He was full of energy and extremely smart. He learned how to sit and lay down in the first few days of having him. He also learned to jump up the stairs to my apartment within a few days and mind you he’s a tiny boy! I fell in love with him instantly and so did my boyfriend and entire family. Everyone that knows my parents dog- Choco, would tell me that Bruno is his twin. Which is very true they look so similar!
On April 6th, almost 2 weeks after I got him, I woke up to him barely being able to walk. He walked through my kitchen banging his head on the cabinet with his every step. It was heartbreaking. Then he had diarrhea and threw up multiple times. I rushed him to the emergency room and they ran multiple tests. The vet told me that his white blood cell count was high and his blood pressure was low and he was extremely dehydrated. She mentioned his liver function being off but told me that all of this could be from him throwing up and having diarrhea. He stayed overnight and the next morning she said he made a recovery and was completely back to his old self. I picked him up and was excited to see him feeling so much better but in the back of my head I was concerned because I still didn’t have any answers. They did a fecal test and were waiting on the results because they thought he might have a parasite. They sent him home with parasite medication so I thought that maybe he had a parasite.
The few days following April 7th, he was doing amazing. He was eating and drinking and being his playful, barking self! I was so happy.
On Monday April 11th, my boyfriend and I noticed that he was extremely tired and lethargic. I called the vet and they told me that because he was still eating and drinking and was not throwing up and no diarrhea that I shouldn’t bring him in. I was concerned but figured he was just tired from his walk the night before.
On Tuesday April 12th. I woke up to him throwing up and again super lethargic and tired. I rushed him to the animal hospital and they informed me they would have to run the same tests over again plus more to figure out the problem. I was frustrated because they shouldn’t have released him without giving me answers. Which by the way, his parasite results came back negative. They ran the tests and found through a ultrasound that his liver was extremely small, 2 small stones in his bladder, and out of range kidney functions. All symptoms of a liver shunt.
He needs to have Liver Shunt surgery. Without the surgery he will be unable to live a normal life and will likely not live past 10 months old. The surgery has a high success rate and most puppies that receive the surgery are able to live happy, long lives. In the 3 weeks that I have had Bruno, I have spent the money that I had been saving for a new car. Now, with the surgery I will need another $15,000. I need your help. He is my baby and everything to me.
Thank you for your support and for reading Bruno’s story. If you cannot contribute please share his story.
The first picture is the first day I got him.
Organizer
Brigitte Courbe
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA