This was Dixie.



And this is Dixie now.




I'm probably going to catch a bunch of flack for this, but that's okay. I have thick skin.

In July of this past year, I noticed Dixie's mouth was swollen up. I opened her mouth and she had a stick wedged into the roof of her mouth, with the ends of it stuck in her gums. This wasn't the first time this had happened, and so like normal I pulled it out. And that was the start of it.

What followed was 6 months of nearly bi-weekly vet trips and now nearly $2000 worth of vet fees. Her mouth is still swollen. She has been to 2 vets. She's had an X-ray, bloodwork, biopsies, and 2 exploratory surgeries (looking for a splinter of wood). She's been on 4 antibiotics, which do nothing, and Prednisone, which initially eliminated the swelling completely, but now only reduces it.

Both vets she's been to, and 2 others I've spoken with, do not know what is going on.

Both vets she's been to suggested that the only thing left to do, other than putting her down, is to take her to MS State University vet school.

She has an appointment there on the 25th of this month. It is for diagnostic testing... a CT scan, a rhinoscopy and I don't know what all else. The estimated cost is 2-3K. That is just for the testing, not the fixing.

I've been saving money for awhile to buy a side by side, so I have a few thousand dollars saved up but it's going to go on this first round of testing, leaving not much for treatment.

And so, here's where the flack comes in.... I created a GoFundMe to try to raise enough money to pay for her treatment.

If you want to blast me for asking for help for her, go for it. If you want to donate, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! If you want to donate but can't, please copy the link and share it to your social media accounts, as maybe you have a crazy dog lady on your friends list who will donate. And lastly, if you don't want to donate, maybe just say a prayer that things turn out okay for her?

Thank you all in advance.... whichever way you lean, lol.

https://gofund.me/4bbd6f62

I'll say a prayer for you to do the right thing. Although I'm sure if the animal has been suffering you'd know in your heart what must be done. If not and you want to spend your money on her, I say go for it for both your happiness.
I do have a couple "crazy dog ladies" and I will let them know of your plight

I completely understand. Lost my best lil gritty dog 2 weeks ago. I guess something from her last coyote or coon was passed to her. She was about 45 lbs of determination, would not give up a track and go head first in to a coyote and not let go. I miss her but would never spend another $1000 on a dog vet. They are dogs. Yes, I love them. But when you take care of 11-15 sometimes you lose one. I had brought my dog in the house for her last few days while I treated her and she still passed. I have no regrets of not taking her to some vet.
For your dog - it appears she still has something infecting her mouth. it needs cut out, drained, and treated. Learn how to cut, drain, sew and give shots to your animals and it will save you tons. Worst part is most of the good medicines even for animals requires a presciption - but there are still a few good vets out there that understand not everyone will pay thousands to treat animals. Above all, I would say pray God gives you wisdom on what to do. I have a $1000 wrapped up in two redbone (all GrNT though) and I thought that was ridiculous. Remember they are dogs, not your kids, not humans....

I hope it gets figured out. She looks like a good girl. I disagree with the above post as I've got a very spoiled golden retriever here along with a spoiled cat. To my wife and I they are our kids and companions that give nothing but love and are happy to see us. It's easy to get attached and I know both of us are especially my wife.
Our golden is on seizure medicine that costs $75 a month and although it hasn't stopped all of her seizures it has reduced the frequency. She's worth every penny to us.

Good luck to Dixie and you.
Give her a hug from me.

I get it Ang. But you outlive a lot of dogs if your lucky. If your going to keep hounds it happens.

Prayers for her and You.

Sorry to see that. Dogs can be heartbreakers.

Definitely will be praying for u and ur situation Angela.

Hope it turns out OK. Just a thought, as I understand it, Locust thorns are toxic, do they occur in your area? Good luck.

Paul leading the charge. I'm not surprised, what a guy.

I'll bet they missed a piece. Couple years back our dog ran a stick into her chest while running through the woods, took her to vet "removed" the stick gave her medicine & sent home. Month or 2 go's by never healing, vet says takes time due to all the tissue damage. Finally they decide to do surgery didn't find anything except infection, removed tissue, put in drain, gave medicine & sent home. Fast forward another month or 2 still not healing, she's losing alot of weight and just miserable, after multiple calls they decide to do another surgery. This surgery they find a piece of stick still in her the size of my pinky, removed that and she healed and was back to normal in no time. I was livid she suffered for months due to their negligence (a highly regarded vet surgery center not a country vet). I was also jacked we had to pay for the same thing 3 times. Good luck & prayers she makes a full recovery.

Snyde901, I got more confidence in the do everything from live stock to hamsters vet. I have suspected a splinter of locust or hedge since Ang first told me about it. An MRI will show a splinter

I agree Danny, didn't clarify our first visit was to the country vet, next two trips he referred us to the animal hospital.

As long as she can eat and not getting blood poision I'd pay what ever it took. My bassett hound had food alergies Her hair ALL fell out before we could find what it was. 3 cancer operations and 14 years later she passed. Low balling it I bet me and my wife spent north of 20,000 on her. WORTH every penny........

This ^^^^ common x-ray wont show wood..

Sorry to hear about Dixie, prayer sent for all y'all.

I totally understand. Lost a dog about 8 years ago and the depression (which I did not figure out at the time) caused me to be so sick I could scarcely get around for a while.

Can't afford to help much, but did send a little. Best wishes!

MRI will though jbyrd63, After that diagnostic is done, if it does not show cause, if it was my dog, I would quit spending money

Thank you very much to everyone who has donated.

Yes, a regular X-ray will not show wood. CT Scans, Ultrasounds and MRIs will.

Yote30

I wish you luck and hope you find out whats causing this, I've seen stuff like this in the mustangs and after months what ever it is works its way out.

Prayers sent