Chattanooga Family Rallies Community Support to Save Beloved Dog, Tucker

A local family is reaching out to the Chattanooga community with an urgent plea to help save the life of their beloved Goldendoodle, Tucker.

Jaxon McClure, Tucker’s owner, has launched a heartfelt campaign through social media and a GoFundMe page to raise the necessary funds for a life-saving surgery.

Tucker, a one-year-old Goldendoodle, has already faced significant challenges in his young life. According to McClure, Tucker came from a difficult background before finding his forever home with the McClure family, who promised him a life filled with love and stability. However, that promise is now threatened by a serious medical condition.

Recently, Tucker began exhibiting alarming symptoms, including vomiting, confusion, lethargy, seizures, and a severe loss of appetite. After numerous veterinary visits and diagnostic tests, Tucker has been diagnosed with a Portosystemic Shunt (PSS), also known as a liver shunt. This congenital condition causes blood to bypass the liver, leading to a dangerous buildup of toxins in his body and brain.

“His bloodwork came back with a reading of 164, when it should be below 13. That’s how serious this is,” McClure shared in a recent Facebook update.

Tucker has been referred to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine for specialized care and surgery. The surgery is critical for his survival, offering him a strong chance at a full, happy, and healthy life. Without it, his condition will continue to deteriorate.

However, the path to surgery presents its own set of hurdles. According to a recent update from McClure, before Tucker can undergo the liver shunt surgery, he must first be on a strict low-protein prescription diet and medication for 4-6 weeks. This is a new policy, and the family is working to determine if Tucker’s shunt is intrahepatic or extrahepatic as quickly as possible.

“The goal is to see improved energy, appetite, no seizures, and better stool,” McClure explained. “If he responds positively, after surgery he could live a completely normal life.”

While surgery slots are currently booked approximately two months out, Tucker will be prioritized if he shows significant improvement during the pre-surgery treatment. If his condition doesn’t improve, the family will need to immediately reassess options with the veterinary team.

Adding to the financial burden, McClure noted that thousands of dollars will be needed for testing and imaging, such as additional scans and bloodwork, even before the surgery can take place.

Despite the challenges, the McClure family remains hopeful. The vet emphasized that Tucker is a “1 in a million dog” and worth fighting for.

To cover the costs of specialized diagnostic testing, the surgery to repair the liver shunt, and post-operative care and medications, the McClure family is aiming to raise $10,000 through their GoFundMe page. Click HERE to donate!

“We’re doing everything we can to give him a real chance,” McClure stated on the GoFundMe page. “Any donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to saving his life.”

For those unable to donate, the family is asking the community to share Tucker’s story to help them reach as many people as possible. All proceeds raised beyond Tucker’s medical expenses will be donated to a local animal rescue organization.

The Chattanooga community is encouraged to support Tucker’s fight for life by donating to the GoFundMe campaign and sharing his story. Every act of kindness brings Tucker closer to the life he deserves.

SOURCE: Go Fund Me