Help Dax Overcome His Bladder Stone Battle

December 2nd UPDATE: As of December 2nd Dax is officially stone free! After concerns were raised when more blood was found in his urine his vet was able to wedge his surgery in two weeks early! This wouldn’t have been financially possible without everyone’s outpouring of support, we can’t possibly give enough thanks Dax is home and resting and the quite large stone removed from his body is getting prepped to be sent off for analysis! We’re hoping once those results are back our vet will have a better indication of how and why it formed, as well as plans for the future to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

When adopting animals, everyone always says there's a moment you know when you've found the right one, and I felt that after Dax, the shy, timid little thing curled up in a ball at the shelter, gave my hand a little head butt- in that instance, I knew we were meant for one another.

Little did I know the shy little thing would turn into such a goofy, cuddly, chatty cat, fully converting me, a self-proclaimed "dog person," into a full-blown cat mom, spending my days tossing crinkle balls for him to fetch, fighting over the rightful owner of my (now his) favorite sweatshirt and cuddling up to decompress after a long day. I was also unaware of all the tummy issues he would acquire, earning himself the title of "IBS Prince." While his tummy troubles have been under control for the time being through a new round of medication and prescription food, a new, much more severe issue has reared its ugly head.

Late last week, Dax started peeing blood, and after multiple back-to-back vet visits, blood draws, urine samples, and an x-ray, it was shown he has a bladder stone that, instead of the usual smooth oval shape it's spiky and 'star' shaped. Because it's a star, a change in diet or medication will not help dissolve the stone; instead, it must be surgically removed. The shape also leaves open the heightened possibility for infection, increased irritation of the bladder, and a blockage, which any male cat owner knows can quickly turn deadly within the hour if left untreated.

I'm not ready to say goodbye to my baby boy, who's only 6 and still has a lot of life left to live, so I am asking for help with paying for a last-minute surgery to have his stone removed. Whether through a donation or sharing this page, your support means the world to us.

While we wait for his surgery date, Dax has been put on a round of antibiotics as well as pain medication to keep him as comfortable as possible and hopefully avoid any complications.

The Cost of Saving Dax's Life

The surgery and necessary care are pretty significant, and I'm asking for your help to give Dax a chance to heal and live a long, happy life.

Below is a breakdown of the expenses we need to cover:

(Dax's surgery will be done December 16th)

What the goal of $4,000 is going to help cover:

(All quoted by multiple vets we've worked with during this endeavor)

Initial ER visit: $864.91

Ionized Calcium test to determine the possibility of future issues before they happen: $150

Initial surgery cost to remove the stone, quoted: $1,200-$1,600

Testing of the stone, quoted: $400-$800

Misc follow-up visits, medication, aftercare: $400+

If anything is leftover or the goal goes over, ALL extra money will be put into an account solely used for any/all future medical expenses.

Thank you for helping my baby boy get the care he needs.

With love,

Willow & Dax