Dear friends, family, and fellow dog lovers,

Our sweet, loving, patient, playful, friendly, loyal and so caring dog, Saga, needs to have urgent surgery on Wednesday, March 6th!! We are reaching out to you with a heavy heart to ask for help. Saga has been part of our family for the last 6 years and it hurts to see her suffer! 

While joyfully bounding through the snow, Saga twisted her leg, resulting in debilitating hind limb lameness—a common ailment among our beloved canine companions. After a thorough examination by our veterinarian, it has been determined that Saga requires urgent surgery. Without this surgery, she will continue to suffer, and her quality of life will be greatly impacted.

The journey to this point has been challenging for Saga. Since November 2023, has intermittently exhibited signs of lameness, with the severity increasing over the past 3-4 months. Just this past week, she has become non-weight-bearing on the affected limb, indicating significant discomfort. Despite her resilience and spirit (she still wants to run outside after the cats and deer) the pain persists, hindering her ability to play and enjoy life to the fullest.

During her recent examination, the veterinarian noted a few concerning findings. Alongside the cruciate ligament injury, Saga also bears a heart condition, marked by a detectable murmur persisting for over two years. Despite these challenges, Saga remains alert and in relatively good spirits, but the weight of her condition is evident in her demeanor.

The recommended course of action is surgical intervention, specifically a Tibia Plateau Leveling Operation (TPLO). Given the chronic nature of the injury and Saga's weight, conservative management is not considered a viable option. TPLO surgery offers the best chance for a successful outcome, restoring stability to her knee and alleviating her pain.

The total cost of the surgery (54.000 NOK), including pre-operative tests, the procedure itself, post-operative care, and medications, is estimated to be 75.000 NOK. Our insurance is covering only expenses up to 20.000 NOK per year. As much as we want to provide Saga with the care she needs, this financial burden is more than we can handle alone.

In our time of need, any support you can offer is invaluable. Your contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to ensuring Saga receives the care she desperately needs.

After Saga undergoes surgery, she may need to take a well-deserved break for a few weeks. But rest assured, she will bounce back stronger than ever. Soon enough, she'll be back on her feet, ready to jump, play, and shower you with big kisses, just as she always has.

With love,

Harald, Claudia, Anna, Inger and Saga

P.S. Please find the vet's evaluation and link to the video about the surgery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsCq353sy14&t=5s&ab_channel=TPLOInfo