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Pug in Need: Help Belle Walk Again

  • Update (2 of 2)

      19 September 2025

    We can’t thank you enough for the love and support you’ve shown. Because of your generosity, Belle was able to be properly diagnosed and start on treatment that has already changed her life. The funds covered her diagnosis ($2,000), specialist consultations, and her first and second rounds of medication ($600 + $294). Thanks to you, she’s had weeks of relief and comfort we hadn’t seen in months, and we’ve been able to see glimpses of our old girl again.

    We’ll be keeping this page online until it closes on September 30th. Any further donations will go toward Belle’s next round of medication and exploring other ways to give her the strength and confidence to keep walking. Belle is still here, and she still has fight.

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  • Update (1 of 2)

      19 September 2025
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    Hi folks,

    A few weeks ago, we managed to book Belle in for her TPLO surgery. However, on the day, the vets discovered that Belle had been suffering from symptoms far more serious than just a cruciate ligament injury. They urged to cancel the surgery and opted to run diagnostics instead. After sedation, blood tests, and x-rays, we learned that Belle has been diagnosed with erosive IMPA (immune-mediated polyarthritis), an autoimmune disease that, in her case, is eating away at her bones, joints, and ligaments.

    It’s unclear whether this disease caused her original knee injury or was triggered by it, but in light of this news, it means she can no longer undergo the TPLO surgery. Our vets explained that even if she did, it would only treat the symptom, not the cause.

    There’s now significant damage in all four legs, and fixing them surgically would cost upwards of $20,000, with no guarantee of success. Even then, Belle would still need lifelong treatment for her IMPA. So for now, we plan to take things one step at a time and focus on keeping her comfortable and happy.

    Following the results, we were referred to a specialist and started Belle on immunosuppressant medication to regulate her immune system and reduce pain and inflammation. As of right now, Belle is in a stable condition. Already, we’ve seen encouraging changes. She’s been more willing to get up on her own, take herself outside, greet us at the door, and show glimpses of her old self again.

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