Within a week of each other, what felt like the worst happened.
Dudley suddenly couldnt use his back legs and was in a lot of pain. I rushed him to the out of hours vet, and the next day got an emergency referral from our local vet to a neurology specialist in Ringwood. Dudley has slipped a disc in his spine, which then compressed the nerves to his back legs. He was examined and spent two days there, and thanks to their attentive approach to Dudleys care he was able to come home without needing an MRI or surgery, which would have cost thousands and been an awful lot for a 14 year old babe such as he to deal with. He responded well to the pain meds in their care, and over the last few weeks I've had to watch him like a hawk, but I'm so pleased to say he's recovering steadily. Thats not to say anything could go wrong at any moment, but he's happy in himself, even if still a bit wobbly. He's constantly asking for treats. In 4 days I'd racked up £1650.14 worth of vet bills.
A few days after I got Dudley back, Darcey suddenly had two very closed very swollen eyes. It was a bank holiday Sunday so I rushed her to the emergency out of hours vet, where they found a growth in her left eye that needed urgent investigation. Our local vet then referred us back to Ringwood, this time to see a ophthalmologist vet. Darcey has a growth/tumour in her eye that could either be localised to her eye or worse, could have spread from elsewhere. She is due to have her left eye removed tomorrow, Monday 2nd September 2024, as well as a radiograph of her chest and an ultrasound of her abdomen to see if there are signs of any other dangerous growths in her body. Usually, they'd just remove the eye and send it off for testing to see if it was likely localised to the eye or dangerous, however during her eye examination a small fleck was spotted in her right eye. This could be a freckle that she's always had, or it could be the start of a spreader tumour hens the extra examinations she's having tomorrow. Darcey's vet bill so far has been £719.75 and I haven't been invoiced for the Surgery, Pre surgical bloods, Radiograph, ultrasound or post op care meds yet. I anticipate this to be in the thousands.
We dont have pet insurance, and please believe me when I say this isn't out of ignorance. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but when my parents purchased Dudley and Darcey, they were told by our current pet insurance provider that they wouldn't insure a dachshunds spine, and they were already refusing to pay for our other dog at the times meds, even though she was insured. So my parents decided to leave it and look into it again later down the line, when they did, the amount to insure dachshunds not from pups was something we simply could not afford.
My mum isn't in the financial position to contribute at this stage, she is one fo the many suffering the housing crisis in Cornwall and trying to find somewhere to rent for herself that hasn't been jacked up price wise because of tourism. I have had to be with the dogs solidly, to keep them under observation and to medicate them every few hours, and because of this I have lost my job. I will of course get another one, but for the time being I am the only person who can stay at home with the dogs during the 24 hour supervision part of their recovery.
I have listed almost every possession I own on Vinted, Market place, Ebay, etc to contribute towards the existing, and upcoming veterinary costs. I have borrowed money from friends and family towards this, even though they know I'll struggle to pay it back.
I was reluctant to do a crowdfunded, I am trying to give things in return for money instead of outright asking for it. I dont expect to raise £1000, I just wrote a number down. I cannot express how heartbroken I have been the last few weeks, and it is out of desperation that I request donations of any amount towards my situation. I've learned by selling clothes on Vinted that even a couple of pounds can add up, and at the moment literally every penny counts. I try to do my best my people, and by animals, and I try to give when I can without asking for anything in return. If you are able and willing to help me, and Dudley and Darcey right now, I'd be ever so grateful.
Thank you if you read this far.