Help Minnie Heal From Esophageal Blockage

Kendra Sollars is organizing this fundraiser.

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On Tuesday, March 5th, Minnie had a small piece of a chicken jerky dog treat (one that she had had before) that led to a serious esophageal blockage. The bill came to just shy of $4200. These past few months have been quite the rollercoaster as I was laid off from my job on December 6th, and my fiancé Lance survived a massive 100% blockage widow-maker heart attack on December 17th, which meant we were both now unemployed along with a long road of healing ahead for Lance. I’ve since started a new job but have yet to receive my first paycheck. We are getting married in 16 days and it’s been a chaotic time to say the least. I hate asking for money but friends have encouraged me to reach out for help. For anyone who donates $20 or more, I would like to mail you a “Be chihuahua, do m*rder” sticker that I designed and made in my home studio. I’ve not done this before, so if you are unable to include your mailing address here, please dm me @kendrasollars on Instagram with your name and address to mail the sticker to. Below is more details of the story. Thank you in advance for your kindness. Our dogs are like our children to us and this was a really terrifying moment ❤️

After having this small bit of jerky treat, Minnie began to throw up very soon after and continued to throw up foamy liquid 6 or 7 more times. She was wide-eyed staring at me telling me that something was really wrong, and she couldn’t get comfortable. She kept trying to do a deep swallow over and over. I immediately called our regular vet and they got us in right away. Unfortunately (as many of you know) little Minnie made her best attempt to m*rder the the vet and he was unable to examine her. He determined that most likely the treat passed and she just had some irritation that should resolve by the next day, but we could sedate her tomorrow if symptoms persisted. That next morning I fed her 1 tiny nugget of soft food and she threw up 5 seconds later and returned to the attempted deep swallowing. I called our regular vet again, and they suggested we take her to the ER (even if they sedated her there and found something, they’d have to transfer her to the ER which had the proper tools for removal, and if we went this route she would not have to be sedated twice). Since I’d just started a brand new job, Lance brought her to the ER and spent the majority of the day there with her. An initial evaluation was done, including sedation, blood work, and radiographs, and the blockage was found in the mid thoracic esophagus. That meant she needed an endoscopy with full anesthesia for removal. They thankfully were able to push the jerky treat into her stomach, and upon waking from anesthesia I was told that she was as feisty as ever, in true Minnie fashion. In addition to the treat blocking her esophagus, she is healing from esophageal bruising and mild pressure necrosis.

Minnie is now home with her 3 rescue dog siblings, grumpy, but recovering. I have notified the company who makes these treats of the incident and will let the seller know as well (Costco). This was caused by a brand new bag of the Farmland Traditions Dogs Love Chicken jerky treats (please be careful with these or consider not buying these at all).

Any amount of donation is truly appreciated. If you are unable to donate, it would

mean the word to us to spread the word. Thank you ❤️

The Minnie sticker I would like to mail anyone who donates $20 or more (PM me your mailing address on Instagram @kendrasollars or on Facebook if that’s how you found this fundraiser ❤️❤️)