Update 08/08: Thank you all for your overwhelming support so far!! I updated the goal amount to reflect what the final bill was ($5,330). It was less than initially estimated because there were luckily no complications with surgery or recovery. A combination of factors allowed Odin to get the life-saving care he needed as soon as possible. Additionally, my background as a veterinary technician made the doctors feel comfortable releasing Odin into my care early, I will continue to keep this page updated as Odin recovers. Here is a photo of Odin yesterday when I brought him home. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, my name is Haleigh. I am 26 years old and a recent college graduate in Animal Science currently moving back from Washington D.C. to my family in California with my best friend Odin, a 7-year-old half Saint Bernard and half Golden Retriever mix. Last evening on August 5th, about halfway through our drive in Texas, Odin started dry vomiting and had a distended stomach. Knowing something was wrong I immediately took him to an emergency veterinarian to find out that he had Gastric Dialation-Volvulus (GDV), commonly known as bloat. This a true medical emergency that requires surgical intervention and critical care monitoring. He was immediately taken in for emergency surgery to correct the torsion and have a gastropexy to prevent this from happening in the future. GDV is a life-threatening condition most common in large or giant breeds of dogs resulting from an accumulation of gas, fluid, or a combination of the two in the stomach. Mortality rates of this condition span from 10-60% but early diagnosis, medical stabilization, surgical intervention and post-operative monitoring are all key factors to help reduce the mortality rate. I got Odin when he was 7 weeks old with the intention of raising him to be my personal service dog, which he was for 3 years until I learned to manage my disability without assistance. Since his retirement, he's been living his best life as my personal pet. Odin has been my partner in crime from hiking mountain peaks to swimming in the Mississippi River, as well as keeping my feet warm on late nights completing college assignments. Anywhere Odin goes he captures the hearts of everyone he meets. Odin has been through a lot of life changes and challenges with me including currently an on-going divorce case. As of the 6th, when this is being posted, Odin is reporting as stabilized for the time being, but this has put me in a rough spot. I have been saving money over multiple months to afford all the expenses that come with moving across the country. When hearing Odin required treatment for this life-threatening condition, I did not blink an eye to make sure he was treated for properly, but the $10,000 estimate to pay for his treatment puts me in a tighter spot then I am comfortable to admit. Losing a family member was never an option for me and I would go to hell and back for my dog. If you are reading this and can find it within your means to support, I could really use any assistance from anyone who can afford to help pay for his treatment. I currently set the goal to $7,500 dollars to assist in paying for the bill. Every dollar and every cent will mean the world to both of us. Any extra funds will be given to an undetermined fundraiser (at this time) that will support animals and giving them a chance, much like you all are giving me. Thank you all for your support, I will make sure to continue providing updates on Odin's health as time goes on.
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