A Campaign for the Sweetest Dog in the World

UPDATE:  5th June, 2014 

Thanks so much to the people who joined in to help me with my campaign!  I decided to cancel the campaign, mostly because my health worsened and I am no longer able to keep up with the necessary updates. 

I am truly grateful for the feedback and donations.  Ruthie is doing pretty well.  We haven’t figured out the best diet yet, but she’s hanging in there with my home cooked meals, mixed with the canned Hill’s ID.

Honestly, I wish Ruthie could get sponsored.  I mean, I wish somebody who could afford it, would literally buy her the Hill’s ID, or if there is another diet that will keep her stool normal, her weight up, and her comfort well, then that would be a miracle financially.  I’m having a hard time affording the canned food, which is so far, the only food that treats her tender tummy the best.

In Gratitude,

Michelle, and sweet Ruthie Mae! 

(PS  I tried inserting a “read more” tag, so this post wouldn’t take up so much space, but I don’t think it worked.  If you are visiting this blog and want to read other posts, keep scrolling down).  Thanks for your visit!

Ruthie Mae is definitely one of the sweetest and surely, most tender dogs in the world! 

Ruthie is a great friend to people, but she is Michelle’s very best friend! 

Ruthie is also Michelle’s Medical Companion Animal.

She helps Michelle every day, in so many ways, but especially, Ruthie helps Michelle to live better with long-term chronic illness and disability. 

Ruthie Mae has developed a severe intolerance to food.

Ruthie Mae ~ The Sweetest Dog in the World!

Status and Prognosis

Ruthie Mae is doing well on a prescription diet and at only eight years old, has a long healthy dog-life ahead of her!

Ruthie had her annual exam on March fourteenth, 2014, and came out with an excellent medical report!

Michelle needs help paying for the medical care Ruthie has received since September, 2013.

The Love of Dogs

Background on Ruthie’s digestive troubles:

Late August, 2013 

Ruthie joined Michelle and her son on a camping trip to the mountains of North Carolina.  She had eaten dirt, and a can of food she wasn’t used to eating.

Early September, 2013

Ruthie became seriously ill with bloody diarrhea and vomiting.  Michelle took her to their veterinarian, but Ruthie’s condition quickly worsened. 

The veterinarian suspected a rare Canine digestive disorder, Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis (HGE), which is life threatening and requires emergency treatment. 

Michelle took Ruthie to a nearby veterinarian teaching hospital.  Ruthie was hospitalized, where she received fluids and medications, along with an x-ray of her tummy. 

Ruthie improved and the bleeding stopped.

The hospital saved Ruthie’s life! 

Ruthie was sent home with several medications, including a prescription diet, which is food made to be especially digestible. 

Michelle later tried to put Ruthie back on her regular food, but Ruthie had another episode of HGE.  Ten more days of medications!

The prescription diet was intended to be temporary, but the vets said Ruthie has a tender tummy and might need the prescription food a bit longer.  

Ruthie continued on the prescription diet. 

November, 2013

One morning, Ruthie ate Michelle’s fresh poppy-seed muffin.  Two days later, Ruthie had another episode that they thought again, was HGE.

One time of HGE is scary!  

After losing their other dog in January 2013, who was Ruthie’s very close friend, and having seen Ruthie so terribly sick the following September, Michelle became frightened of losing Ruthie too.

She contacted folks about grant funds to help with the visit to the vet hospital, but because it was late in the day and just before the holiday, she ended up at the emergency clinic with Ruthie on Thanksgiving Day, without access to a grant and/or teaching funds. 

Ruthie remained stable.  The vet suggested she return on a week day for a full exam and consultation in the Internal Medicine department. 

Michelle took Ruthie for the consultation. 

The vets did more blood work, much of which had already been done, along with an ultra-sound of Ruthie’s tummy. 

Again, tests were normal, except for the one that they said may indicate an allergy or parasites. 

Without further and more expensive tests, they decided to deworm Ruthie over the course of three months (to be on the safe side), and continue with the prescription food, which is Hill’s canned ID.

Ruthie has such a tender tummy.  Each time Michelle tries adding a food other than the canned ID, Ruthie has symptoms, even with the dry ID.  Michelle is having a difficult time affording the special diet.

Currently:

The vets have suggested that Michelle meet with the nutritionist at the veterinarian teaching hospital, so that she may learn more about Ruthie’s dietary needs.

The nutritionists teach people how to prepare home-cooked dog food that they say could be substantially less costly than the prescription diet.

Michelle would like to see the nutritionist, but a lack of funds has prevented her from being able to go.  

Michelle went into debt saving Ruthie Mae.

The hospital stay was expensive, followed by several veterinary visits, medications, and the ongoing cost of prescription food is a lot.

The bills accumulated and Michelle is making monthly payments toward them, while continuing to buy the Hill’s ID.  This has become a serious financial hardship. 

Michelle lives with a chronic illness and is disabled.  She takes good care of Ruthie Mae, but she needs help getting back on her feet.

Ruthie is doing well and Michelle does not want to interrupt what is working, however, the cost of the food is high. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP MICHELLE and RUTHIE MAE

1.  Make a donation to Michelle’s campaign, “Help the Sweetest Dog in the World” at: GoFundMe.ruthiemae

2. You can give any amount. 

All donations matter! 

Your gift will go directly to Michelle.

Any amount donated to help buy Ruthie’s food and continue exploring an affordable healthy diet will help! 

Please contact Michelle for further information and details.

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Ruthie eats 2 1/2 cans per day of the ID.

4.  You can also make an offline and/or anonymous donation to the campaign.

Funds or gift certificates for food and/or a consult with nutritionist will help one family, who loves sweet Ruthie Mae!

Thanks for reading and feel free to comment.

Post has been edited and updated.