SavingServiceDogBatman

Batman is our eight year old Chiweenie service dog, about two months ago he became sick with what we thought was G.I. related and at that time he was hospitalized and we were told to switch his food to grain free due to some signs of heart related issues. A few weeks later, I noticed while holding him a rattling in his chest, I took him back in and he had pneumonia and bronchitis, however, still not seeming the same, but thought it was because he had been hit with the G.I. and the pneumonia only to start having severe, diarrhea and vomiting I needed to take him back in. Unfortunately, his main vet clinic was closed for construction, but I was able to get a hold of the vet on his personal cell phone. He met us at the clinic and administered treatment while we were down in Denver at the Children’s Hospital with Maverick, Batman returned home again and within 24 hours became extremely ill but now at this point the clinic was completely closed and his vet could not treat him at all because of the stages of construction. I have been in contact with numerous different Vets including Colorado State University veterinary Hospital. However, we were very thankful that a local vet would see him on an emergency basis. He was admitted into their hospital for an obstruction in the stomach after they had administered two different sizes of balls into the stomach and them not passing through. We were only able to visit him there because of him needing immediate intervention.  After being released, Batman continued having all the signs and symptoms that he has had over the past few months, which was no eating and drinking and sleeping an intense amount, obviously not performing his service dog duties, and truly just wanting to be left alone, however the vomiting and diarrhea has stopped, but that certainly could be from not eating and drinking. He was seen again and this time is when in all came down, everything prior was masking the true underlying issue. Batman has degenerative valve disease somehow in the grace of God we caught it soon enough that he needs surgery. He should have an 85% to 95% recovery and survival rate.  Batman has the most loving and kind spirit, yet he actually snapped and went to bite the vet which is what set them off to search for more because it clearly showed them he was in pain. His stomach has been extended which now we know is ascites from the heart if you know our family funny but not funny we always say if we didn’t have bad luck we wouldn’t have any luck however, there are not many veterinary hospitals that do the surgery. So how we got so lucky that our hospital is one of the few and ranked as one of the top ones to do the surgery.  Normally the surgery cost between $35,000 and $50,000, because Batman is a service dog once again for bad luck has turned to good luck and we were given a grant that if all goes well give or take we are looking at around $14,000. However, we do have to expect extra nights, extra medication’s or anything extra due to the severity of the surgery. I understand that some may feel uncomfortable with this amount of money, or that the alternative is to put Batman down. If at any time, a doctor told us that he was in great pain or that his future was grim We would have considered that. However, I cannot express enough what Batman means to our family and to Maverick not only is he his service dog but he is his very best friend and I honestly do not know that at this point in time Mavericks, Mental Health tolerate losing Batman. I am not looking, nor will I tolerate any negativity. I also cannot stress that service dogs don’t just come and go, service dog training is not cheap to purchase and train. Another service dog would cost double the amount that we would be paying for the surgery. But the bond between Maverick and Batman is priceless. Batman also is only eight years old and because he is a small breed he has excellent chances of living easily another 10 years. My life is surrounded by medical I live day in and day out, fighting for my sons life we are moving to a whole other state to give him the best life to help ease the pain that he lives physically, so please believe me that it anytime I believed that if Batman was suffering even if it broke our hearts we would do right by him.  We have chose to ask for your help in creating this platform that the hospital suggested, and we will be forever thankful if you help us save Batman. If you follow Prayers for Maverick, you will know that Maverick is very sick and is in the fight for his life and he desperately needs his buddy, his service dog, his best friend, and I certainly need my sidekick, my second eyes and ears, WE NEED BATMAN!!!! No donation is too small, no share goes unseen, and no comment goes unread!!!!