Unlucky Zeus needs a little help

Hi guys,

My name is Zeus and I am a 18 month old Bullmastiff. I need your help not only for me but for my human parents Hamish and Jeannie.

I have been with my family from the day I was born. My mum and dad were there in the delivery room when I arrived and helped care for me when I was growing up until they were able to take me home at 10 weeks.

I have a very happy home, my own house, back yard and my very own seat in the car. But, a few weeks ago I felt sick, I wasn’t hungry and started to lose weight.

I am normally 74 kilos and full of energy but I was not my normal self. So my parents took me to the Vets and after a few tests I was found to have a very rare sickness, which is called a Chylothorax which is a ruptured Thoracic duct.

The vets drained 6-7 litres of chyle (fatty liquid from food) out of my chest cavity. All this liquid was making it hard for me to breathe because it was pushing against my lungs. The vet said this is why I didn’t feel hungry anymore.

I came home with my family later that day but I still had the drain stuck in my side just in case more liquid built up in my chest. My dad stayed up with me all night to make sure I was okay.

The vet told us that the only surgeons in Auckland who could perform the operation were too busy and on holiday. So we went on a road trip to Palmerston North to visit the vets at Massey University.

The vets told us that I had to stay in Palmerston North for a week while they ran some tests on me. I was on my own away from my parents while they did CT scans, put needles in me and other tests were completed. From some of the tests, it was found I also had a lump in the chest area and it is still inconclusive as to what that lump is. The vet believes it is likely to be a reactive lymph node.

The main surgeon was not available after they finished doing the tests so I was sent home for a week until other test results could come back. I love being at home and especially with my mum and dad. Last time I was on the scales I weighed in at 65kilos, I look very skinny. I’m now heading back to Palmerston on Sunday for an operation and a final set of tests, I am over this now but hopefully after the operation I’ll have a speedy recovery and be home again.

What I’m asking for is help, not only for me, but for my parents Hamish and Jeannie. They are the most loving parents, owners any one could have. They are a young couple and they are struggling with the costs of my medical bills, travel and medicines. I do have medical insurance but this will only cover a set portion of the costs.

So I’m hoping that there will be some helpful others who will give a little towards all the financial strains my health is causing. I don’t want to leave my mum and dad or my aunties and uncles, and I will not leave them with a burdening debt. I have heard the costs are already high and including the upcoming operation it is estimated the final cost will be $12,000. I’m not asking for much, just a little to help out my parents as any family member would.

My mum and dad are hoping we can raise up to $6,000 to help with all of my medical costs. If anything more than this is given it will be donated to my friends at HUHA (Helping You Help Animals). and Mastiff Breeds Rescue & Rehome Charitable Trust.

Will you help me?