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Pepper needs urgent life-saving surgery!

  • A short update

      12 May 2026

    Sorry guys, no substantial update as expected.

    Peppers appointment got rescheduled from 12.30pm until 2pm initially, as her specialist was still in surgery. Then we took her in but had to rebook for next week (😭😩 the earliest availability) due to emergencies with their other cases.

    I have a few friends who are vets so I understand they work really hard and often without any breaks during a chaotic day. I know today wasn’t their fault… It’s just upsetting when we’re worried about her taking a turn for the worst in the meantime or potentially not being as strong for the surgery due to the delay. So I had a little cry to get it out (😅😳) and got on with the rest of the day.

    As soon as we know anything more, I’ll update you again.

    Thank you so much for all of your support, donations, words of encouragement and good vibes for Pepper. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. ❤️

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  • Specialist updates

      8 May 2026
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    Peppers’ referral was sent off to Vet Specialists Aotearoa (“VSA”) Christchurch branch this week. As noted on her main page, it’s a specialist surgery so she’s referred out to Dr Alister Coomber. We have met him before for Dottie and our foster girl, Peaches. He is a wonderful and caring vet so I know she’s in safe hands.

    We have her first appointment there next week (12/05). I presume that’s also when we will schedule the date and know a bit more about things timeline wise. I’m hoping we can also narrow down the estimate a bit better, because the $15k is super daunting! 😱😫

    I am all too aware that time is ticking for us to raise / finance as much as possible so we can just proceed with this operation and not have to worry about sourcing funds while she deteriorates further. The longer she has to wait the weaker she becomes and it makes an already risky situation worse. We’re regularly checking her eyes to make sure she’s not jaundice.

    Thank you all for your support. ❤️ The kind words and check ins. Please send all your positive vibes to little Pepper!

    Pepper is a much loved part of our family and also the Chihuahua Rescue Family. We have to do all we can to save her and give her the best chance possible.

    If she makes it through surgery and the risky post-op phase, she will be likely to have a better quality of life afterwards too. 🥹

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  • What’s “wrong” with Pepper exactly?

      8 May 2026
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    I will document Peppers updates here, so it’s all in one place as I know lots of people adore her.

    Images are from her latest abdominal ultrasound + x-ray 04.05.2026. The vet notes are too technical for me 😂 but when I consult ChatGPT it summarises it pretty clearly as:

    “Pepper’s gallbladder disease has progressed significantly since her last scan. She has a large amount of sludge/stones within the gallbladder, along with inflammation, irregularity, and thickening of the gallbladder wall itself.

    The scan confirmed a partial obstruction of her bile duct, caused by multiple sludge/stones sitting near the outlet where bile drains into the intestine. This means bile is not flowing properly from her liver and gallbladder, which explains the elevated liver values, pain, nausea, vomiting, and shaking episodes.

    Unfortunately, the inflammation has also affected her pancreas, with ultrasound changes consistent with pancreatitis secondary to the biliary obstruction. The drainage opening where the bile duct and pancreas empty into the intestine was also enlarged and inflamed from ongoing irritation.

    Also several very small nodules seen within the liver, which have been sampled for testing. Tiny traces of abdominal fluid were noted as well.

    Pepper’s gallbladder was drained again and samples sent away for testing.

    Despite treatment and drainage, repeat imaging has shown that the obstruction is still present, which is why a specialist referral is necessary.”

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