Support Ollie's Surgery Expenses
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On a sunny afternoon six months ago, I walked into an animal shelter in Houston to visit a 3-year old pekingese mix female posted on their website for adoption. Imagine my surprise when I found her cuddled up with a male dog in her kennel, with a sign posted outside that read, "Please adopt together, these siblings are bonded." While she was more cautious and reserved, her brother excitedly came over to me and wagged his tail. After some play time, they curled up in my lap and fell asleep. I felt an immediate connection to Ollie and by the end of my visit with Sophie as well. The next day, my boyfriend and I officially adopted them and brought them home.
Ollie (above right- post surgery) and Sophie (above left, patiently waiting her brother's return) have brought so much joy into our lives. They are truly inseparable and constantly chase each other around, steal each other's treats and cuddle together. Last week, Ollie was walking up some stairs and began crying out uncontrollably. We initially thought he injured his leg because he was limping. Although I brought him to the vet shortly later that morning, Ollie was no longer moving either hind limb at that point. I was terrified and heartbroken watching him struggle. Our vet suspected that he had a ruptured disc and referred him immediately to a neurology veterinarian for further analysis.
I drove straight from one vet to the other in a state of panic. Ollie's condition had worsened so quickly and he was distraught. Although Ollie was alert and able to wag his tail, he was paraplegic and cried out in pain when his lower spine was inspected. I felt helpless and at fault, although the vet assured me that Ollie had a genetic disposition that made him more susceptible to spinal injuries and normal every day activities culminated in the herniated spinal disc.
The vet gave us two options 1) try to treat the injury with steroids to decrease inflammation- basically pain management or 2) proceed with imaging analysis to confirm the herniated disc, followed by surgery to remove the disc nucleus. Ollie was given a good prognosis for regaining mobility in his hind legs because he was still able to feel pain. However, if we prolonged surgery and he lost the limb sensation, the surgery was less likely to be successful. He may even lose bladder control. At that point I knew we had to choose surgery over pain management. Ollie underwent successful surgery that day for a hemilaminectomy and remained under veterinary care for four days undergoing rehabilitation. Ollie is a spirited and adventurous rescue pup with many years left to live. He is a loving and affectionate dog who was bounced around from shelter to shelter before we adopted him and his sister. He loves running through grass, chasing frogs (and his sister) and playing with squeaky toys. Most of all, Ollie is determined and spirited as demonstrated by his continued improvement every day since surgery.
Ollie has regained mobility in one leg and his other leg is becoming stronger daily (see video). He has a long recovery ahead of him and we are so proud of his progress so far. He is activity-restricted and confined to his kennel most of the day while he recovers. He will be visiting the vet in a couple of weeks again to remove his sutures and to re-examine his improvement. We have been overwhelmed by the loving support and encouragement received by friends and family. Some have asked whether we were accepting donations for Ollie's veterinary expenses (totaling almost $6,000). This outpouring of love inspired us to create this gofundme for those who would like to contribute to his bill. Any amount is helpful and sharing this campaign or leaving kind words/messages are just as important to us. We appreciate all those cheering on Ollie during this time.
Follow Ollie's progress (and say hi to Sophie) on their instagram (@twopekachus):
Ollie & Sophie @twopekachus IG
Ollie (above right- post surgery) and Sophie (above left, patiently waiting her brother's return) have brought so much joy into our lives. They are truly inseparable and constantly chase each other around, steal each other's treats and cuddle together. Last week, Ollie was walking up some stairs and began crying out uncontrollably. We initially thought he injured his leg because he was limping. Although I brought him to the vet shortly later that morning, Ollie was no longer moving either hind limb at that point. I was terrified and heartbroken watching him struggle. Our vet suspected that he had a ruptured disc and referred him immediately to a neurology veterinarian for further analysis.
I drove straight from one vet to the other in a state of panic. Ollie's condition had worsened so quickly and he was distraught. Although Ollie was alert and able to wag his tail, he was paraplegic and cried out in pain when his lower spine was inspected. I felt helpless and at fault, although the vet assured me that Ollie had a genetic disposition that made him more susceptible to spinal injuries and normal every day activities culminated in the herniated spinal disc.The vet gave us two options 1) try to treat the injury with steroids to decrease inflammation- basically pain management or 2) proceed with imaging analysis to confirm the herniated disc, followed by surgery to remove the disc nucleus. Ollie was given a good prognosis for regaining mobility in his hind legs because he was still able to feel pain. However, if we prolonged surgery and he lost the limb sensation, the surgery was less likely to be successful. He may even lose bladder control. At that point I knew we had to choose surgery over pain management. Ollie underwent successful surgery that day for a hemilaminectomy and remained under veterinary care for four days undergoing rehabilitation. Ollie is a spirited and adventurous rescue pup with many years left to live. He is a loving and affectionate dog who was bounced around from shelter to shelter before we adopted him and his sister. He loves running through grass, chasing frogs (and his sister) and playing with squeaky toys. Most of all, Ollie is determined and spirited as demonstrated by his continued improvement every day since surgery. Ollie has regained mobility in one leg and his other leg is becoming stronger daily (see video). He has a long recovery ahead of him and we are so proud of his progress so far. He is activity-restricted and confined to his kennel most of the day while he recovers. He will be visiting the vet in a couple of weeks again to remove his sutures and to re-examine his improvement. We have been overwhelmed by the loving support and encouragement received by friends and family. Some have asked whether we were accepting donations for Ollie's veterinary expenses (totaling almost $6,000). This outpouring of love inspired us to create this gofundme for those who would like to contribute to his bill. Any amount is helpful and sharing this campaign or leaving kind words/messages are just as important to us. We appreciate all those cheering on Ollie during this time. Follow Ollie's progress (and say hi to Sophie) on their instagram (@twopekachus):
Ollie & Sophie @twopekachus IG
Organiser
Amanda Rodriguez
Organiser
Houston, TX
