Help with Vinnie’s Vet Bills for Surgery and Recovery

Hi my name is Izzie and I am desperately trying to raise funds for my 3 year old French Bulldog called Vinnie. He was a very fit, bonkers, happy and agile young dog with no previous issues. However in a space of hours on a Sunday evening, without any warning he became paralysed and unable to use his back legs. We rushed Vinnie to the emergency overnight vets who hospitalised him immediately and urgently referred us to a specialist centre for diagnostic imaging and treatment.

On the advice of the vet we took Vinnie first thing the following morning to the specialist centre nearly an hour away from us and the neurology vet suspected a herniated disc/IVDD. We had been told it could cost up to £10,000 with no other options than to have him put to sleep if we couldn’t afford it. This whole situation is completely heartbreaking as he’s our baby, such a young dog full of life.

Vinnie at this point had no feeling or movement from half way down his back and his legs are completely paralysed. We were quoted up to £7000 for an MRI, bloods, 3 day hospital stay and surgery as long as there are no unexpected extras. With the emergency out of hours vet cost and this we are currently up to a £7800 bill.

Our insurance if they pay out will cover up to £8000 which will be a huge help but we have used some of this already for his other health issue, an Auto Immune Deficiency Disease which is still ongoing. So there is already a shortfall.

This cost will continue to rise moving forward. The MRI showed 2 areas of herniation in his spine and his spinal cord was compressed by over 50%, He is a grade 5 the worst it could be.

It’s been 4 weeks now since his op and we have been given the prognosis that he will probably not walk unaided again and he is now permanently doubly incontinent. But I refuse to give up on him as long as he is happy and isn’t giving up. Me and my partner do both work but with the general cost of living and Vinnie likely to need follow ups, medication, further care, physiotherapy (£40) hydrotherapy (£50) and a wheel chair (£400) we need some help. I never thought we would be in this position and it feels so uncomfortable to even set up a go fund me but with his insurance pretty much maxed out and we are honestly desperate for any help at all, we would be so beyond grateful to give our boy everything he needs to get and live a normal-ish life. Thank you so much for even taking the time to read this. ❤️❤️❤️❤️