Meet Coco — plushie lover, biscuit thief, and the heart of our home. His little quirks—like proudly presenting a plushie whenever someone arrives—are part of what makes him so lovable. But one day, those quirks vanished.
That’s when we knew something was very wrong.
Coco got sick. He was in pain. And because of a misdiagnosis, he almost lost the chance to be himself again.
When Coco first became unwell, we trusted the vets. But for over two weeks, he was treated for the wrong condition. His real illness quietly worsened. Then came a devastating choice: £6000 surgery or euthanasia.
What Coco really needed was rest and anti-inflammatories.
Thankfully, Coco survived — and now we share his story for all the pets who can’t speak, and the families left feeling helpless.
💔 When Things Went Wrong
In January 2024, Coco was four years old — happy, healthy, and full of life. He’d only ever seen the vet for routine check-ups. But one evening, something felt off: he was shaking, looking at us with eyes that said something wasn’t right. His abdomen felt tense, and he yelped when I gently touched his side. He wasn’t being sick, he didn’t have diarrhoea — and he was still eating. No symptoms at all, apart from the shaking.
As it was already late evening and with some comfort he settled down we decided to take him to the vet the next morning.
🩺 A Sudden Diagnosis
At the appointment, the vet noted the tense abdomen and said it could be pancreatitis or a spinal issue. A CPLI blood test was taken for pancreatitis, and we were sent home. Strangely, Coco perked up almost immediately when back at home, and we began to wonder if we’d overreacted.
But then the vet called — the test was positive. We were told to bring him back in urgently for emergency treatment with IV fluids.
We were terrified, but we followed their advice.
💉 Days of Treatment, No Real Answers
Coco spent two days on IV fluids and pain relief. Each evening we collected him, he was groggy — but not worse. At home, he ate the prescribed low-fat food and showed no new symptoms apart from the occasional shaking episode.
He seemed okay over the weekend. But by Monday night, the symptoms returned.
🌀 A Painful Cycle
We took him back on Tuesday. Without any reassessment, he was given fluids and pain relief, but this time there was no improvement. On Wednesday, I mentioned he was arching his back — the vet said it was likely due to pain from the pancreatitis. He went back again on Thursday, still no better.
By Friday, he was sent home with medications — Tralieve and Pardale — and we were told to manage his pain at home.
😔 Left to Cope Alone
That weekend was awful. Coco was clearly in distress. We returned to the clinic on Saturday to get more of the special food (they had none) and asked to speak to a vet because the pain medication wasn’t helping. We were told no one was available.
By Monday, we finally got a call back. The advice? Continue with the same meds and return Wednesday if things hadn’t improved.
🚨 A Cruel Turning Point
On Wednesday, the vet said that if it weren’t for the CPLI result, they’d suspect a spinal issue. An X-ray was mentioned, but they weren’t sure it would help. We were asked to return the next day for a second opinion on the x-ray — and warned we might have to consider euthanasia.
That day, Coco was prescribed Metacam for the first time. Within an hour, he was more comfortable than he’d been in weeks. He actually perked up a lot and even wanted to play. But we weren’t fooled, we knew that this was false hope, that it was just the Metacam working and we were right. As Metacam can only be given every 24 hours, the relief didn’t last. The pain came back, just as intense.
🗒 Missing Notes
Thursday was the first time Coco was thoroughly checked over since he first got sick—two whole weeks later. For the first time, they examined his spine closely, which was something no one had done properly before. An X-ray was discussed, but they couldn’t actually perform it because the clinic was short staffed, and there was only one vet on duty that day. We were advised to continue with Metacam, but oddly, no detailed notes were recorded for this day. The only record is that Coco was there and prescribed both Metacam and Pardale. It felt like a moment that should have meant clarity, but instead, it was just another step lost in the fog of uncertainty. And then the very next day he began to lose the use of his legs.
😢 Decline and Desperation
By Friday, Coco was worse than ever. He started hiding — something he had never done before — and then his back legs began to give out.
We rushed him back in. This time, when the vet saw him try to walk, they finally recognised the issue was spinal. We were told he needed an emergency MRI and possible surgery — or he would need to be put to sleep. The estimated cost? £6,000.
🏥 A New Vet — A Lifeline
We were devastated. We had already spent our savings treating what we thought was pancreatitis. But we couldn’t give up on him. With help from family, we scraped together the funds and were referred to Rowe Referrals, over an hour away.
As soon as we arrived, the specialist took one look at Coco and suspected a slipped disc (IVDD). In fact, in our opinion he seemed annoyed at the state that the previous vets had allowed Coco to get to. After an exam, they explained surgery might not be necessary — but an MRI was needed to be sure.
🌈 A Real Diagnosis — and Real Treatment
The MRI confirmed it: Coco had IVDD, a slipped disc. But instead of surgery, the specialist recommended conservative treatment — anti-inflammatories and strict crate rest.
From the moment he started the correct medication (Metacam and Gabapentin), Coco began to recover. The pain was finally under control. He still struggled with walking and bladder control due to the nerve compression, but at least now he was on the right path.
And he hadn’t needed surgery. Or IV fluids. Or to be put to sleep.
🌱 The Long Road Back
Recovery wasn’t instant. Coco faced a tough six weeks of strict crate rest. He still struggled to walk and had trouble going to the toilet due to nerve compression. It was slow, careful progress — tiny steps, lots of patience, and all the love in the world.
But slowly, he began to heal. His nerves started to come back. And then one day, there it was — a moment we’ll never forget.
He stood at the bars of his crate, chewy bone in mouth, tapping for attention — ready to show the world that he was back. 💖
Watch the video. It says more than words ever could.
🛑 Why We’re Telling This Story
Coco was lucky. He survived — not because of the system, but in spite of it.
For over two weeks, we followed every instruction. We trusted the diagnosis. We did everything we could. But the treatment was wrong, the pain worsened, and there was no accountability until it was nearly too late.
Unfortunately, there is no real protection for pet owners in situations like this. The complaints process is slow, opaque, and often weighted in favour of the professionals. Organisations like the Veterinary Defence Society, for instance, exist to support vets — but there’s little consideration for the animals or their families when things go wrong.
That’s why we’re sharing Coco’s story.
That’s why this campaign exists.
Because pet owners deserve to be heard.
Because animals deserve better care — and real protection.
Because this shouldn’t happen to anyone else.
🐾 If this has happened to you, you’re not alone.
We’d love to hear your story. Whether you want to share what happened, support the campaign, or just follow along — you’re welcome here.
Together, we can push for change.
For Coco. For your pets. For all of us.
💬 This is a brief summed up version of what happened to Coco. If you’d like to read the full timeline — including vet notes, treatments, and everything we went through — you can find the detailed version here