The #JonasForever Fund

Hi everyone, Jonie's mummy here.

As some of you might already know, Jonas has been dealing with a chronic and recurring cough over the past couple of years. At first, his coughing fits were tentatively diagnosed as chronic heat-induced bronchitis, and we started using a once-daily inhaled corticosteroid (puffer) to try and manage his symptoms.

In September of 2022, I took Jonas in for a dental cleaning. The veterinary surgeon, however, felt that the risk of anesthetizing Jonas was too high based on his breathing pattern and intermittent coughing. Instead, we did a full set of chest x-rays which were then sent away to IDEXX Laboratories for further analysis and reporting.

His report came back with nothing "remarkable", however the veterinarian was concerned with Jonas' severely narrowed and constricted airway.

Over the next several weeks, Jonas' cough started to become more consistent throughout the day, and eventually started to creep into the night. After three consecutive all-nighters together with him, I brought him back into the clinic.

Jonas was prescribed an additional oral corticosteroid (Prednisone), which seemed to help a little bit over the next several weeks as he started to sleep peacefully through the night again. In addition to setting up a cool-mist humidifier for him and administering his puffer as needed, I thought we had hit the sweet spot with symptom management, even though we still had no definitive answers or diagnoses.

Just over a week ago, Jonas' coughing returned, at first consistently throughout the day and then once again into the night. This time, our trip to the clinic included additional follow-up xrays, a targeted ultrasound and electrocardiogram to check on Jonie's heart, and prescriptions for Theophylline (a bronchodilator medication), Doxycycline (an antibiotic), and a bottle of Hydrocodone cough suppressant syrup, with some Pepcid AC to help keep it all down. All of this is in addition to lung and respiratory-supportive supplements prescribed by our holistic veterinarian in Calgary.

Jonas has been on these medications for a few days, now, and his cough has become the most severe it has ever been. It lasts consistently throughout the night with no breaks, and Jesse and I have been up all night with him just waiting for the morning to arrive. Jonas will also experience periodic fainting spells that he eventually recovers from, seemingly due to not being able to draw in enough air to breathe.

Nobody is able to officially diagnose whether Jonas is experiencing symptoms of an obstructive airway condition (such as collapsing trachea), if this is related to chronic bronchitis and ongoing inflammation, or if his symptoms are related to his heart. The clinic here in Nelson has told me that if these last medications don't help Jonas, that there is nothing else they can really offer, and a referral over to a team of specialists in Calgary would be the only thing they would be able to do.

The other night, as I was holding Jonas in my arms while he wheezed gently in-between coughs, I thought he might pass away right there with me in bed. I've been considering making the trip back to Calgary with Jonas and his sisters to stay at my Mom's for support and access to mobile in-home veterinary care, just in case it's time to let him go. However, I would still like to see if there is anything else we can do or try for Jonas before making that call.

I am in the most excruciating position I think there can be when it comes to senior dog caregiving - in limbo where there are no answers, so many unknowns about what each day will bring, and in a position where making important decisions with such a small amount of information puts me into a state of constant second-guessing and confusion.

On top of everything, there is a mounting financial strain of ongoing tests, medications, long-distance travel, time off of work and a hard stop on everything for around-the-clock caregiving, and looming future costs as we continue to figure this out and try to come up with a solution, whatever that looks like for Jonas and our little family.

Just like anybody else in our community going through a time like this with their pug, I felt hesitant and uncomfortable about starting up a GoFundMe for Jonas. I know we all feel like we should have this under control, that it's our responsibility as a pet parent and caregiver to be able to carry all aspects of this hardship and the financial burden it imposes on us as caregivers. I am in awe every day of the amount of joy that Jonas has brought to the world through our sharing of him, his sisters Fern and Ivy, and our lives together out here in the Kootenays. Jonas may never reach the level of "fame" of some pugs online, but the community we've brought together through Grumble Farm and invited into our lives is fiercely loyal, loving, and understanding. I know how much you guys love Jonas and want nothing but the best for him, and I also know how much you guys love & know me as his mum and caregiver.

With Jesse's encouragement, I decided it was finally time to start this GoFundMe for the road ahead. Funds raised will go towards covering any travel from our village to our veterinary clinic Nelson (about a two-hour drive round trip), and potentially long-distance travel to and from Calgary to stay in the comfort of my Mom's place and closer to a wider variety of clinics and specialists while we go through this. Any funds raised will also go towards the costs of Jonas' current medications as well as any future medications and treatments we come across. Funds raised will help ease the increasing financial burden of mounting veterinary bills regarding any further testing of Jonas' heart, consulting with specialists (if necessary and appropriate), and any appointments made with our holistic veterinarian for integrative and complementary care. Funds raised will also help to create a safe and supportive mental space where I can be fully present with Jonas as I navigate this time with him.

I have so many thoughts and so much writing to share on the intimate process of pet loss grief, from the initial days until the final moment. For me, this is a deeply spiritual and transformative process as I believe there is more meaning and significance to the relationships we have with our dogs, pets, and other animals beyond this physical realm. I expect that as time goes on, there will be a lot of reflective sharing and expression as part of this experience.

Jesse and I are so grateful to have all of you by our side. #JonasForever