My name is Tony and I hope that you will help me save my best friend, Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, more affectionately known as Ted or Teddy. Ted is a 4 year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever that my daughter I brought home when he was 8 weeks old. Originally, I wanted to train him as a service/hunting dog for assistance with me being in a wheelchair, but the costs were highly prohibitive and he decided he didn't like guns. As a puppy, he was more than two handfuls, literally and figuratively. Chessies are known to be very spirited, and he embodies those traits. It was a challenge to train him on my own from my wheelchair, but with a lot of repetition, encouragement, and most of all love, he eventually settled into a great dog and has been my best friend for the last four years. Other than when my daughter visits for the summer, I live on my own with him as my only companion. He's the first one I see when I wake in the morning, he greets me with big Chessie smiles when I come home from work, and he keeps me company with everything I do. He's not a certified service dog, but he's been my assistant and sidekick for the last 4 years. He's had chronic issues with ear infections and I knew that one was becoming onset, so I scheduled an appointment for him. This past week, on Tuesday July 11th he began vomiting and refusing to eat. I called the vet the next morning and since his appointment was for Thursday morning, we decided to keep that as scheduled. He was evaluated and treated for his ear infections, then released so I could keep an eye on him. On Saturday he began vomiting again, so he was taken to the Emergency Veterinary Hospital for X-rays and further treatment. His X-rays were inconclusive, and he did show some symptoms of a blockage, but blood tests showed his white blood cell count was normal, but his electrolytes were out of balance from lack of nutrition. They sent him home with medication after being diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer, and gave instructions to return in 24-36 hours if he didn't improve. 24 hours later there were no signs of getting better, so I took him back to his regular veterinarian at 7:30 am on Monday, July 17th for a re-evaluation. New X-rays showed a distended intestinal tract even though no definite object creating an obstruction was seen, and the decision was made to do exploratory surgery to remove the obstruction. I really hate having to ask for help with anything financially, but with the health issues I've had the last 2 years preventing me from working my full hours, and taking time off to have surgery and recovery for myself from the end of April to the middle of June, I'm not in a good financial position to cover the costs of his evaluation and surgery. If you would be willing to help save my best friend, I'd be forever grateful! 7/17/23 @ 6pm - Update on the Colonel: Ted's surgery was a success and the veterinarian was able to remove a small, hairy, organic mass from his small intestine about 6 feet past his stomach. He was unable to identify it, but it wasn't very dense, which is why it didn't show up on his x-rays. Teddy is definitely moving slowly and is pretty groggy, but he needs to remain calm and quiet while the incisions in his abdomin heal. He'll be restricted to the leash for the next 2 weeks and he's on a soft diet of multiple small meals for a little while. He should make a full recovery and be back to his normal rambunctious self soon. Thanks for all your words of encouragement, thoughts, and prayers. I am absolutely blown away by how many of you have already donated to his LFEBridge. Without your help, it would take me 8 months of work to earn enough to cover the expense. Ted's more than just a dog to me, and I'm glad he's going to be around longer. We now have matching scars.
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