Toughie's Dog Attack Vet Expenses
Toughie, a sweet little disabled Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, was brutally mauled by a pit bull mix (which was unrestrained and running loose) on October 19th while he was being walked.
His life was saved by the neoprene vest and harness he wears to protect his neck and torso. It is riddled with puncture marks from the bites he sustained.
Toughie was born with congenital hydrocephalus or “water on the brain” due to a defect which kept this fluid trapped deep in his brain. Two very expensive neurosurgeries were done when he was young to save his life. This included the placement of a shunt, a device implanted to move fluid out of the brain. X-rays taken immediately after the dog attack showed that the multiple bites he suffered to his neck caused his brain shunt to be separated from the embedded drainage tube that is in his neck. The shunt itself is in place, but the drainage tube has been damaged and it’s unclear if it’s properly draining at this point.
Sadly, just last night Toughie had a seizure which may be an indicator that the tube is not draining. He urgently needs an MRI to have the damage evaluated and then surgically repaired. He also sustained some painful bruises to his shoulder and thigh in the attack however he is recovering nicely from those injuries but the shunt connection is a serious problem that needs immediate attention.
Although Toughie's hydrocephalus left him permanently disabled, he has no idea that he is a disabled dog and he doesn’t let his limitations stop him. That determination is one of the things that made his pet parents, Cathy and Steve Rose, work hard to save him.
"Tough Nut" Toughie has learned to compensate for significant balance problems and weakness in his front legs. He has done beautifully since his two surgeries – he is now 10 years old, healthy with no heart issues. Cathy and Steve are beyond devastated that this has happened to their happy little boy. He deserves medical treatment. He didn’t deserve to be attacked.
Even though the pit bull mix owner acknowledges fault in the incident, she is not taking financial responsibility, even for Toughie’s emergency vet care on the night of the attack.
If the police or animal control had done their jobs and charged the pit bull owner, they COULD HAVE included all of these vet bills in the charge(s) and the judge COULD HAVE ordered the pit bull owner to pay them.
It's easy to say 'I'm sorry" while not handing over one red cent to the victim.
This has left Toughie’s family in a difficult position as they are currently not in a position to pay for this level of care outright. Previously, Toughie’s family had spent a substantial amount of money for his surgeries and post-operative care for the shunt. They would do so now, however Cathy herself has had two recent surgeries and is undergoing radiation and chemotherapy for leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer.
Saving Toughie is as much about him as it is about helping Cathy to reduce her stress level and save her strength for her own battle. She says, “I can’t imagine giving up on Toughie at this point in his life and my life. He is my heart dog.”
Toughie truly is her “comforter spaniel.” Toughie is affectionate. He loves to cuddle and watch TV with Cathy. Judge Judy is his favorite. He watches that show intently and comes running if he hears her theme tune. Toughie is smart. He knows if he hits the remote control that he can change the channel, which he does repeatedly if there’s something on TV he doesn’t like, (see photo of him guarding the remote). Toughie loves life and loves to dance.
If more money is raised than is actually needed for Toughie’s care, or if his family actually manages to get some reimbursement from the pit bull mix owner, they want all the extra funds gained to be donated to University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, for research, half to syringomyelia (common in Cavaliers) and half going to Prada's Fund for research specifically to fight Mitral Valve Disease in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Posted on October 26, 2016 by Myra
TOUGHIE UPDATE: Toughie has an appointment at the University of California, Davis Veterinary School of Medicine. Originally the earliest appointment Cathy could get for him was in December. It has now been bumped up to Nov 16th and he is at the top of the list for any cancellation slot. The neurology coordinator at UC Davis is aware that Cathy's local vet had to put Toughie on gabapentin because he had a seizure. A seizure could mean that Toughie's shattered tube connected to the shunt in his brain is not draining properly. Cathy and Steve have been told that if Toughie has any more seizures or his condition deteriorates, such as struggles with eating or drinking, they are to bring him in through the emergency room.
In the meantime the UC Davis coordinator is aware of the times of day that Cathy is having radiation and is trying to find a slot that works. THANK YOU for your donations and kind words.
PLEASE if you haven't done so, post it to your FaceBook page and encourage your friends to post it to theirs and share it on twitter! We are currently averaging $10 for every time it is shared. So sharing is a big help because someone who sees it somewhere may donate.
THANK YOU so much for all your help! It does take a village! Cathy has always been so generous with her knowledge and her kindness to those who have dogs struggling with Mitral Valve Disease or Syringomyelia.
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