02/24/2025
We're still closed, but once a No Surrender pet, always a No Surrender pet.
This is Nikita. We fostered her last summer while her person dealt with the aftermath of a bad domestic situation and waited for surgery for a serious health crisis.
They've been back together since October, and thriving. Until Friday night, when Nikita developed a twisted gut — also called GDV or bloat. Part of her intestine was wrapped around her spleen, constricting it.
Bloat is every dog-owner's nightmare, especially with a larger dog. In relatively uncomplicated cases, with immediate treatment, there is a mortality rate of 15-20% for GDV. If treatment is delayed by even an hour, the mortality rate starts climbing fast.
Nikita is a very lucky girl:
First, her owner got her into Alta Vista within about 30 minutes of her first symptoms.
Secondly, she had a fantastic surgical and ICU team.
Thirdly, she has pet insurance, and
Fourthly, she has us.
Major surgery on a large dog is EXPENSIVE: Nik's final bill was just over $7800.
Even with insurance, Nikita's deductible for her surgery and hospital stay came to about $1800.
She is still going to need special food, staple removal, followup to monitor her for pneumonia or any other post-surgical complications, and steps to stop her straining herself getting on and off the couch and bed.
Her owner is still working to recover and get back to full-time work. Nikita couldn't wait. So we covered it, and we'll keep covering it, because she is unutterably precious to him and to all of us.
But with our closing, we're no longer fundraising, and we are still caring for a few long-term fosters.
Can you help us make up some of the deficit? Nikita would be so grateful.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/nikitas-surgery-recovery
