Buddy’s “Rainbow Bridge” Fight

  • AU$720.00
    raised of AU$2,500.00 goal goal
28% Funded
7 Donors
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Buddy is my little Jack Russell x Fox Terrier who I rescued from "death row" two years ago. He is approx 17 years old now, and currently very sick. He does not have long to live, and I am only asking for help to care for him during his final weeks - to give him the best quality of life for whatever time he has left.


BUDDY'S STORY:

Buddy was born with a heart-murmur and other issues, but his original owners seriously neglected his medical needs. Even though they had owned him since a puppy, at 12 years old they didn't take him travelling around Australia with them and had my friends look after him. When they returned from travelling 2 years later, they no longer wanted Buddy (at 14 years old) and were going to have him "put to sleep". As I had pet-sat Buddy for my friends on occassion, I pleaded with his original owners to not have him "put down" prematurely and instead to give him to me to look after until he was ready to "travel over the Rainbow Bridge". They eventually agreed.

When I took him to the vet, he was diagnosed with a Serious Heart-Murmur, Serious Periodontal disease, Poor hearing, Separation Anxiety, Arthritis, Floating kneecap, Multiple fatty-lumps, and Multiple food/skin allergies. Over the last 2 years, I have spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on him - aside from the usual Food, Treats, Leads, Walking Harness, Car Harness, Dog-bed, Grooming supplies, etc; I have also made accommodations for his health conditions (Medicated shampoo, Mini steps for getting on and off the couch, Extra seat cushions for the car, etc) as well as having bared all the costs for his Council registration, Microchipping, Vaccinations, Flea and Worm treatments, Monthly nail clips, and Dental work.


BUDDY'S FIGHT:

In July 2017 (just after my 70yo mother suffered a stroke), the vets told me his Heart Murmur had escalated to a "Grade-6" - the final and worst stage of his disease. They said most animals that reach this stage of Congestive Heart Failure have approximately 6-8 months left to live (expectation being Jan-Mar 2018). He was immediately put on medication to help reduce excess fluid on his heart and lungs and to help his heart to pump more effectively.

He was doing quite well until early last week (25th Sep 2017). Over a matter of days, he became very lethargic, was coughing more, eating less, and was definitely not himself. I took him to the vets on Wednesday where the vets said he was in "Critical" condition. He was admitted to the vets that afternoon, then transferred to the 24 hour Emergency Vet for overnight care, then transferred back to the local vet the next day for further monitoring and treatment. By Thursday night he had improved, and we decided I could take him home for the night (as he seems to do better at home - more relaxed, more comfortable, etc). He seemed to be on the mend (as much as he can be) and kept improving at home, so that's where he stayed.

Buddy has fought all his life, and continues to fight against expectations. Therefore, as long as he continues to fight, I will fight for him also.

UPDATES: I have and will post updates as time goes on - Please click on the "Updates" tab at the top to read more about how Buddy is doing.


BUDDY'S NEED:

As you can imagine, his many vet treatments and medications cost a lot of money. My main source of income is actually the Disability Support Pension and over the years, I have paid as much as I can towards Buddy's care, and even had friends and family help me pay for his costs. However, it has reached the point where I have no money left for his vet treatment. The last few weeks alone have cost nearly $2500, and there are still the on-going costs of his medications, check-up appointments, etc. Therefore, I am humbly asking for you to help chip in for Buddy's foreseeable medical costs, in the hope I can give him the best quality of life possible, for however long he has left, as well as help pay for his "end of life" costs (euthanasia, burial, etc), when the time comes.

Please, if you can help, even just a few dollars, it would be so very much appreciated.

Thankyou for all your support and prayers. Bless you all heaps,
Debra (Buddy's mum)


Organizer

  • Debra Marriott
  •  
  • Campaign Owner

Donors

  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Oct 21, 2017
AU$50.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Oct 13, 2017
AU$150.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Oct 13, 2017
AU$50.00
Oct 21

Thursday 19th Oct 2017

Update posted by Debra Marriott at 02:18 pm

Buddy had been doing okay this week, and even though he had a couple of Syncopes, they were shorter in duration and less intense. I assume this was due to increasing his diuretic medication, which was now going to cost $270/month due to having such a high dose so frequently.. . . . .

See update
0
Oct 21

Sunday 15th Oct 2017

Update posted by Debra Marriott at 02:03 pm

I was woken up this morning by Buddy coughing, and then silence. I jumped out of bed to see him collapsed on the floor again, having another seizure. He regained consciousness within a minute or so but I was concerned as it had been less than 7 hours since his. . . . .

See update
0
Oct 21

Saturday 14th Oct 2017

Update posted by Debra Marriott at 01:30 pm

Just before midnight, Buddy had another seizure. This time, it seemed to be triggered by him walking up the back stairs (understandably, it is a full flight of stairs). He again recovered within a minute or two. It seems these seizures are happening every few days.

See update
0
Oct 13

Thursday 12th Oct 2017

Update posted by Debra Marriott at 04:08 pm

Buddy had another seizure this morning. I resisted doing CPR this time as I realized that if it his time to "go over the Rainbow Bridge", I cannot keep forcing him to stay by intervening. So for about 30 seconds he wasn't breathing, and his heartbeat slowed down to approx. . . . .

See update
0
Oct 13

Monday 9th Oct 2017

Update posted by Debra Marriott at 03:54 pm

I took Buddy to the local vets today for monitoring (as I have a funeral to go to and won't be able to keep an eye on him). UPDATE: He cam back home tonight! He keeps doing these "sudden crashes" and then he perks up and seems fine. Arghh!

See update
0
Oct 13

Sunday 8th Oct 2017

Update posted by Debra Marriott at 03:45 pm

This previous week has involved follow-up appointments and phone-calls to the local vets in an effort to balance out his medications and stabilise him. He seemed to be responding to treatment.Then tonight, Buddy had another seizure. He stopped breathing and his heart stopped beating. I instinctively gave him CPR and. . . . .

See update
0
Oct 13

Monday 2nd Oct 2017

Update posted by Debra Marriott at 03:44 pm

Overnight, Buddy needed a lot more care. He is not stable and his condition is again "Critical" so he is going to stay at the vets for the day in the hope that he improves, but if he doesn't, then I will bring him home so he can spend his

See update
0
Oct 13

Sunday 1st Oct 2017

Update posted by Debra Marriott at 03:33 pm

Until on Sunday afternoon (1st Oct 2017), Buddy's breathing rapidly deteriorated so I rushed him back to the 24 hour Emergency Vet. The vets rushed him into an oxygen box and he was again in "Critical" condition.

See update
0

Donors & Comments

7 donors
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Oct 21, 2017
AU$50.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Oct 13, 2017
AU$150.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Oct 13, 2017
AU$50.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Oct 13, 2017
AU$400.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Oct 06, 2017
AU$40.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Oct 06, 2017
Amount Hidden
  • Sharon Heal
  • Donated on Oct 06, 2017
  • I lost my 18yr old Cat recently. I understand how much pets mean to you. Hope Buddy makes a recovery.

AU$10.00

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AU$720.00
raised of AU$2,500.00 goal
28% Funded
7 Donors

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