Support Queso Gugin's Healing Journey

Meet Astra Gugin’s Spicy Tex-Mex AKA Queso. He joined the Gugin pack back in January of this year. He has gotten to enjoy all that a sporting dog should. He loves dock diving, sniffing out birds and playing with his three siblings. ( Mango, Tater the tri pod and Brisket) About a week, or so, ago he started to not feel well and Cassie immediately jumped into action taking him to two emergency vets in the Waukesha area. For those of you that have ever visited an emergency vet you know this can be costly. After not getting the answers Queso desperately needed, Cassie again took matters into her own hands and called the UW vet school in Madison. Unfortunately they told her she couldn't get an appointment until September. She told the receptionist that she didn't think he would live that long. After telling them what had been going on over the last few weeks they told her to come at 10 am the next day for an exam. (this was yesterday 8/1/24). Today they did a CT scan of his chest/lungs and immediately called Cassie to let her know he was going in for surgery.

Queso had 2/3 of his lung removed due to infection, draining tracts and 2 grass awns (seeds) that had made their way into his lungs. My best guess is that he was doing what he does best and sniffing, running, playing and inhaled some seeds.

As of right now Queso is still at UW waiting to recover and he has a long road a head of him. He is stable right now but has tubes in his chest helping him breath. Before he can come home to officially start his recovery he needs to be able to breathe on his own. Jeff and Cassie are hoping to bring him home Sunday or Monday.

For those of you that know Jeff and Cassie you know that their dogs are their children. There is never a question in their hearts when it comes to providing care for their babies. Back in September of 23 Brisket (on top of his on going heart issues) got a cancer diagnosis that they manage with costly medications. November of 23 Tater become a tripod when jumping off the bed at a hotel for Agility Nationals in Arkansas and shattered his elbow. And now Queso is hanging on and we are hoping for a full recovery. They will never be the people to ask for help but Queso needs it. His vet bills are now exceeding 10k. Prayers and good vibes help.

Please think about donating either directly to The UW vet school by calling (608) [phone redacted] (before Sunday 8/4/24) and making a payment to Queso Gugin's vet bills, sending money for queso to my venmo: @Jacki-Hinkes (I will make the payment to the vet school) or by donating to the go fund me.