One of our babies is hurting.
A week ago Thursday, our mama Mona started to display signs of weakness on one side, was crying out in distress, and was suddenly tender in her movements. Something was wrong.
A trip to her veteranarian provided meds at the end of the visit, after a diagnosis of possible IVDD (intervertebral disc disease). It's a degenerative condition of canines, where the cushioning discs (between the bone sections) of the spine degrade, and then can "slip" out of alignment (a "slipped disc" if you will), causing symptoms like the ones Mona was displaying. It can, in addition be more severe, with syptoms of paralysis, incontinence, and such.
The medicines were panaceas, and Mona remained tender, as we tried to ascertain what to do, beyond taking care of her pain, her comfort, keeping her fed and watered. A week passed, and her condition remained consistent, and seemingly un-improved, though she had enough vim and vigor, once we set her down on the edge of the grass, to trot out into the yard and do her "business", without assistance and without distress. This we took as a very hopeful sign.
However, after the house rose Saturday, she started to waver a little more. Her movements became more laborious and difficult; her eating at the bowl (which until now had been pretty good) started to wane; she refused to trot out into the yard when taken to the edge of the grass, and toppled over in a heap on the ground when attempts to coax her onto her own feet failed.
So, another call was made midday Saturday to the vet, who graciously talked to us for nearly a half-an-hour, helped us to explore our options, and Mona's prognosis. It was disheartening ... but glimmers of light remain.
The meds are making her comfortable... but alleviating what's causing her pain is likely going to be a surgical solution. And only after further costly test proceedures, such as an MRI. The Vet-doc laid it out for us... the solution is thousands of dollars away. Treaments typically range anywhere from $3000-7000.
Anyone who knows Susan and I know that our fur kids ARE our kids. Cost is never a factor. But... sadly, it is.
The COVID situation has left us in our home treading water now more than ever. I still have my work, but Susan was unceremoniously bounced out of her 11-year (!!!) position in retail a year-ago last month. Some money continues to trickle in, and she supplements her income working for the Insta-Cart services... but we are "under-water" as they say, every month. The out-going is greater than the incoming, for us both, and collectively. The "what-bills-get-paid-first?" dance gets played out every week, as they arrive.
Unforeseen difficulties, in times like these, are crippling for us all. But again, when it comes to our kids (you all can relate, whether human or other), deserve all we can do for them. Not doing anything for Mona (or any of the others) is NOT an option. We will do all that we can, and we will willingly accept the burden that the veteranary proceedures put upon us.
But we are asking for help. It's as simple as that. We cannot do this alone.
Few agencies exist that can help. We're looking into all options. However, Susan took advantage of the "down-time" and began some credit-consolidation during the year since she was laid-off, and that has rendered us unable to apply for lines of credit. This will put us in a situation of financial hardship, but it MUST BE DONE.
So, we come to you, friends, to ask your help with whatever you can do to help us care for our dear Mama Mona. At 9 years, she has many more still in her (Shih Tzus average 15 years). We've chosen to go with this crowd-funding route, as it's seemingly the best option to a solution.
But we will face the road ahead with Mona with all the fight that we have, and she has, damn the cost. Susan and I continue to work, and pay our bills, and will have another when Mona is treated further. But whatever you can offer will go to her treatment, and nothing else. We have chosen this particular crowd-funding platform for some of the conveniences it offers, though you all may not be familiar with it.
We're also asking our friends who are more financially sound, for more direct loans of a personal nature, with promise of re-payment for these potentially larger gifts. Please reach out to us personally, if you can loan us a big chunk, which will be, over time, returned.
The Surgery Mona faces has a success rate of approximately 90-95%. Untreated, the only other option leads to declination of condition, leading to eventual euthanasia. The Vet-doc also said time is also of the essence, so we are not waiting, and tomorrow, will forge ahead with the next phase of Mona's treatment.
We will keep you posted on all the particulars regarding Mona's on-going care on our personal Facebook pages.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you GREATLY in advance, for what ever you may be able to offer, be it donation or loan.
Mona thanks you... we thank you, as do the rest of the pack, who are feeling the tangible melancholy of the current situation in our home.
These are not just dogs. They are our babies.
And you always take care of your babies.
