Pet owner makes online appeal to help fund Great Dane’s op

BILL: Owners have to find £15,000 for operation to get Great Dane mobile again

A Facebook appeal has been launched to raise £15,000 to help a family’s dog — believed to be the largest in Scotland — walk pain-free after he was diagnosed with a debilitating illness.

Great Dane Zeus, a former dog show legend measuring a gargantuan 3ft 3in from paw to shoulder, has a disease of the spine called Wobbler Syndrome.

The five-year-old has had a number of scans, consultations and surgeries, including a referral to Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, of Channel 4’s Supervet.

With the bills mounting up to a skyhigh £15,000, Kerry Stewart of Dundee is doing all she can to fundraise on behalf of her mum Veronica McLeod and her mum’s partner David McKellar, who own Zeus.

He now has his own Facebook page where the family post updates about his journey to health.

Kerry said: “Zeus is a gorgeous fiveyear-old great Dane and more importantly, he is an amazing and massive part of our family and loved by everyone.

“He began having problems walking last year and was referred to the Glasgow University Veterinary Hospital, who diagnosed him as having a slipped disk in his back.

“After many scans and consultations they operated on him just before Christmas and it was more likely that he would not recover than he would get back on his feet again.”

Zeus survived the operation but unfortunately it was not a success and earlier this year his mobility worsened.

He had to be to be lifted with a sling and could go no more than a few steps without falling, while vets said there was not much more they could do for him.

That’s when the family decided to ask for a referral to the “super-vet”.

Kerry added: “On April 28 a member of Prof Fitzpatrick’s team gave Zeus the good news that they could operate on him to correct his Wobbler’s Syndrome.

“We received a call to say Prof Fitzpatrick wishes to have a personal consultation with Zeus urgently.

“This is to discuss the imminent surgery and to explain in further detail how he will fit Zeus with metal screws and plates to straighten his spine to correct the wobblers.

“We would do what it takes to benefit his health but this is such a huge cost to find immediately and so we are reaching out to everyone who has a heart to help Zeus have the surgery.”

To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/ help-zeus-walk-tall-again.

Great Dane Zeus enjoys some petting – but will need an operation to cure his Wobble Syndrome.