For the last month Gina has had her period and not being going to the beach as she's been on heat. She's 2 years old. Since she hadn't been to the beach I've noticed she is often very hunched and appears uncomfortable to stand or to sit. She also finds it uncomfortable lying down or to sleep. She has been sleeping in a "C" shape curving her body a bit like how cats do. After her period finished she returned to the beach where she swims 2-3 times per week the condition seemed to improve so I didn't think much of it.

As a precautionary matter today 17.07.2025 I took her to the local vets in Palma de Mallorca where we live to have an X-ray to make sure everything was ok. 

Unfortunately as per the X-ray photos on the Fundraiser page, she has IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) which is the the first circle which explains why she's arching her back. This is a degenerative condition.

She also has a secondary condition called "Hip dysplasia" which is the second circle on the Xray, again degenerative which inevitably without surgery will result in paralysis.

We are not only very upset as it's come as quite a shock but there is surgical recovery time, on-going physio and of course significant costs involved for us to ensure she won't be paralyzed.

The general vets we took her to couldn't give me a time frame for how long it would take for her condition to deteriorate to the point of needing surgery. I'm waiting to send the X-rays to a specialist in Madrid for an opinion which I'm sure will undoubtedly require flights visits, pre and post surgical care.

So What Does IVDD Surgery Cost?

The cost of IVDD surgery for dogs includes the:

-Consultation

-Complete physical and neurological examinations

-Blood tests

-X-rays

-Anesthesia

-MRI

-Surgery

-Pain medications

-3-4 days of hospitalization

-Physical therapy

-Follow up examination

-Our “all in” IVDD surgery cost can range from $10,000-$15,000 depending on the size, circumstances, and needs of the individual patient.

Additionally the required operation for the Dysplasia

Surgical Options and Approximate Costs:

-Total Hip Replacement (THR): $3,500 - $7,000+ per hip. 

-Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO): $1,200 - $2,500. 

-Double or Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (DPO/TPO): $1,200 - $6,000+ per hip. 

We can only work with estimates until we get opinions from the specialist but it is in total looking around the $20k-$30k mark. We do have a basic Pet insurance but it doesn't cover operations as such as this. And even if they didn't, they would only cover 40% of costs.

I will be updating this fundraiser with new information on specific diagnosis, costs etc as things progress. It would be amazing if anyone in these hard times would be generous enough to donate. For those who can't we totally understand. We would appreciate anything anyone can do at this point. Even sharing this on your social media would be a help.

Many thanks for reading.