A Belfast couple are reaching out to dog lovers with a warning and a plea after their pup Toby was struck down with a mystery illness leaving him hanging on to life.
Chris Greenlee and Niamh Gilligan want Northern Ireland dog lovers to understand the critical situation their 11-month-old pup is now in, hoping it will act as a warning to seek help quickly if they suspect the illness strikes in their home.
The intensive care vet bill has now pushed through the £7,500 mark and the couple are using the money they have been saving for their first home to handle the pressure.
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Chris said: “It’s what we want to do. He’s our responsibility and we’d do anything for him. We had been saving to buy a house but now the money has gone to trying to save Toby. Money can be earned back but there’s only one Toby.
“We’ve set up a funding page in case the costs get too high for us to handle in the hope that people understand. Any money donated that was not used directly on Toby would be given in full to a dog charity in Northern Ireland who could help another family like ours.”
Toby, a Long Haired Dachshund is now in intensive care at Earlswood Veterinary Hospital, Belmont Road after walking in Ormeau Park almost two weeks ago.
He is being looked after round the clock with nutrition and medication drips helping fight an infection that has taken him to the edge of life.
Toby's family, Chris Greenlee and Niamh Gilligan, want dog lovers to know the critical situation their eight-month-old pup is now in as a warning to act quickly if they suspect the illness strikes in their home.
Chris said: “We’re are living moment to moment waiting to hear how Toby is. He is a fighter but he’s very young and he’s small, just seven kilos when he was well and now much less, so he’s in critical condition.
“He’s in a very bad place at the moment but he’s a wee fighter and he’s got so many rooting for him to get better.
"The vet teams who have looked after him, firstly at VetsForPets on Boucher Road, an emergency vet and then Earlswood have been fantastic and kept us up to date on everything.
"But we couldn't get in to see him until Friday night because he's been cared for in a sterile unit and we just couldn't risk another infection getting to him. It was hard but we had to take the advice of the experts.
"When we saw him on Friday he was very thin and quiet but he responded to us and we hope that's a good sign.”
Toby's Timeline
- Sat March 12 morning: Toby starts vomiting, unwilling to eat and unable to drink without being sick.
- Sat March 12 lunchtime : Toby given a nausea shot to curb vomiting
- Sun March 13: Toby sick again and given antibiotic and anti-reflux medication
- Sun March 13, evening: Condition deteriorates and is taken to emergency vets and stays overnight
- Mon March 14: Toby returns home but goes back to emergency vets for anti nausea shot, sent home again
- Saturday March 19: Toby rapidly deteriorates, rushed to vets for abdominal investigation to find cause
- Monday March 21 : Toby goes to his own vet, is admitted to specialist vet clinic for more intensive treatment
- Tues march 22: Toby admitted to Earlswood Veterinary Hospital diagnosed with Acute Haemorrhagic Diarrhoea Syndrome and pancreatitis.
- Saturday March 26 : Toby remains in intensive care.
Chris said: “We thought he was getting better but on Wednesday morning however he threw up again and we went back to the vets where he was given antibiotic and anti-reflux medication.
"The week was spent back and forth with vets and injections in the he would come round but he just got better. In the end we had to take him for very intense treatment.
“Toby has been in the care of Earlswood Veterinary Hospital ever since last Saturday and is suffering from Acute Haemorrhagic Diarrhoea Syndrome and pancreatitis. The symptoms are vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and severe inflammation of his pancreas.
"We are so worried for him. His condition is critical. We just want to see him and hold him again, we just want to bring him home.”
Niamh and Chris say they have no idea where or how Toby picked up the infection that now threatens his life, but say his last walk before falling ill was at Ormeau Park, Belfast.
Chris said: “He was taken for a walk in Ormeau Park the day before the vomiting started. There’s no known cause for this gastro bug however one of the theories is that it’s picked up via other dogs faeces. Toby would sniff other dogs scent marks and we believe this might be how it has been passed on to him.
“We hope people spare a thought for our wee man this weekend, I think it will really help. We just want other dog owners to be made aware of this bug so they don’t have to go through the hell we’re going through.
"But especially we don't want other dogs going through what Toby is coping with, he really is fighting for his life. We really appreciate everyone helping us spread awareness of this horrible illness.”
If you would like to support Chris and Niamh you can follow this link.
