Hello everyone, this is our boy Shadow's story. On August the 11th 2019 I went to a local dog sanctuary, I had no breed in mind I just figured since our home is small I would adopt a medium-sized breed. I was starting a new job the day after, and I was only there to have a look for possible pups to take home with me at a later date. Shadow was around 5 months then and was the first pup that came to me and my little niece. He was medium sized and his eyes screamed get me out I want to see everything. Long story short I adopted him on the spot. He was my first dog and his story was that he was found on the streets, then adopted and returned after 1 day. Nonetheless he was instantly loving with everyone young, old, dogs you name it he plays with it even a stone. He was also very bright and showed great will to learn, he learned to do his duties on the roof in a day, and is constantly learning new commands. A few months later he met my wife to be and she instantly became the best mother to him and his development and security increased incredibly. We hiked almost daily, we swam, we played and together with a friend started a dog group where pups can meet and socialize while we humans enjoyed our hikes with our pups. In a few months he went from being a 19 kg pup to a 30 kg goofy gentle giant.
In January he started showing signs of pain whenever he performed any sudden movement particularly in the neck area and back area. We went to the vet and they checked him, thinking he had a bone splinter in his gums they took an X-ray of his head and when they found nothing they gave him some antibiotics and that was that. 2 weeks later he started limping and crying every time he climbed stairs to do his duties or on the bed etc. Back to the vet and they prescribed antibiotics and vitamins. He got better and was back to normal in a few days. In the meantime I had left my job for another one for which I was selected. I attended a course as indicated and was waiting for a starting day. They needed to do some getting and the contract was not signed yet. Covid came by the job wasn't available anymore until further information. Both me and my partner lost our source of income for over 3 months (I still am) and had to move in with my mum as she was involved in an accident at work and needed help too(she did for us more than we can ever repay). By then Shadow has had another painful attack and was treated the same way. Fast forward to 3 weeks ago, shadow woke up and wasn't himself, he was staring at the wall refused to eat or drink or play. We went to the vet and since we had no appointment we waited for a couple of hours, upon the check up it turns out he had a fever of 41.5°c. They gave him a steroid and antibiotics and suggested he might have a chronic inflammation and that they would perform an x-ray. For some reason they said they did not need to do it as he was responding well to the treatment and we took him back home. A few days later. We were back at the vet's and they took a spinal x-ray, after 1 week they called with the results and suggested he might have, Wobbler's syndrome. They gave me some anti-inflammatories, and said we just had to wait for when the symptoms are back in a few months and give him the pills when they do.
The symptoms came and came worse and after a week. I administered very expensive
painkillers orally as instructed by the vet which had no effect (I learned later that this was mainly due to the painkiller being made to be injected under the skin). The vets then suggested a neurological check up at a different clinic. This was a Friday night and the appointment was for the coming Monday. Shadow was going through excruciating pain, constantly screaming to the touch. He could not sit or lay down due to the pain, basically he paced and stood all day. He still refused to do his duties inside, so I had to carry him up and down the stairs multiple times a day all the time he screams. We were helping him lay on his side, but it was so painful to flip him and lift him back up that he started to run away from any form of blanket or pillow as he was scared that we were going to flip him and hurt him more. He was constantly dozing off while standing so we couldn't leave him alone for a second. Some days we managed to surround him with blankets and pillows and basically fill in the gap so that he can rest while somehow still being on all fours. His mummy sat on the floor and held his body and his neck on her for 5 hours one night just so that he could get some much needed rest.
On Saturday we took him for an acupuncture treatment, however, he was way too sensitive and only the second patient that he had to stop the procedure there and then. By Sunday he got worse, he was completely refusing me touching him and was screaming and shaking in pain. He hadn't slept for over 24 hours as the painkillers weren't working but in the evening we managed to flip him on his side and he slept for an hour or so however, when he woke up, Shadow couldn't move. He was screaming to the touch and he laid there on his side for 16 hours.
Little side note, I live on a small island called Malta, we are nowhere near being equipped enough to deal with dogs especially when something out of the normal happens. I called an ambulance in the morning as the clinic opens at 9am, we had to carry Shadow on a stretcher down the stairs and he was so scared and in pain. After the vet performed the neurological check up, they decided that they need help from abroad, so her findings were sent to a neurologist vet outside the country. In the meantime they couldn't give him treatment as they were unsure to what he had, instead they gave the same painkiller again, this time ready in syringes. They showed us how to administer them and we just waited for the vet abroad, we also moved at my brother's house as it is equipped with a lift and we stayed for 3 days or so. The pain didn't really go away but he was getting around an hour or 2 of sleep daily. At this point Shadow was scared of everything especially myself and his mummy, as we were the ones handling him and giving him his medication, hence in his view, we were hurting him.
By this time, we had spent over 1000 euros on his vet visits etc. A few days later the vet from abroad got back to us saying that his tests were inconclusive and that shadow would need an MRI. Now in Malta there is no MRI machine for dogs, only for people, so this is done in the people's hospital after hours, and would cost 750 euros. Also his medication was changed to antibiotics and anti inflammatory, which were prescribed for 3 months minimum. Furthermore, in Malta there are no vets that are able to read the MRI results. The sanctuary, where I adopted him from, raised some money for him and thanks to them and the people who donated we found a slot for his MRI and we were able to cover it plus some extra for a month or two of treatment. Once again the results were sent abroad and we had to wait, what is sure is that whatever it is its serious and life changing choices need to be made. Surgery is a high probability outcome and hope that he will not need it, as again, in Malta there are no qualified vets that do, so we would either need to send shadow abroad or get a surgeon here, both of which would be very expensive. We are also scared that the pills he needs will need to be given to him all his life.
We got an update with regards to the MRI. They found a lesion in his neck area but do not suspect a spinal issue per second, they were unable to provide an answer about his bouncy right hind leg and abnormal movement of it. They suggested that Shadow takes Steriods for 1 month and a half (these will make him very hungry, thirsty might not be able to control his bladder and gain in weight) . After that he will need to go through another MRI and if the lesion would be gone then that indicates that he has Steroid Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis and further treatment will be decided, if the lesion remains there, they are not able to specify what he suffers from exactly.
Its one of those bad situations that just come as a chain reaction and everything in our lives spirals out of control.
The sanctuary also found us an apartment with an elevator to stay at for 2 weeks, that a kind person offered when she heard his story. We are going to have to move out completely and find a pet friendly apartment which is ground floor or has an elevator, and that, here is quite an expensive combination. Other than the fact that our car is run down, the vet suggest that we get an adequate car preferably some kind of commercial Suv where Shadow can climb via a ramp and not have to struggle for balance on the seat as the car is not large enough to hold a crate that Shadow fits in. I was trying to find an old land rover in order to minimize costs as much as possible but at the moment we can barely afford his treatment and rent. At the moment, Shadow is doing better and his pain is mostly being kept at ease. He is traumatized though and he jumps and barks for every sound that startles him.
I don't like asking for money or help really, but when I adopted him, Shadow rescued me, he showed me unconditional love and was a rock for my anxiety etc. We would do anything for our little boy and that is why we are here, to ask you guys to help us return the favour and rescue our Shadow. We understand not everyone can help financially, but you may also help us by sharing. We thank you so much.
