Our dog, Baymax, a spunky little American Stafford, was full of energy and love, but he had been battling separation anxiety in the first year we had him. It was a struggle that we were working on, but nothing could have prepared us for what happened one horrific day.
That day, we had left Baymax alone for about three hours. When we returned home, something felt off. Baymax wasn’t his usual exuberant self. The next day, things took a terrifying turn when he couldn’t walk. We rushed him to the vet, only to discover the unthinkable: several ex-rays at $2,000 a pop revealed that Baymax had a broken femur, and his other leg was dislocated from the socket.
A Tragic Loss and Its Aftermath
Our hearts sank. How could this have happened? Thankfully, we had pet insurance to help cover the costs, but that didn’t ease the pain of what was to come. Baymax was admitted to the animal hospital for what would become the worst week of our lives. He underwent two operations, and just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse, he developed a fever while recovering. The fever delayed a third required surgery, and Baymax’s condition deteriorated rapidly.
Tragically, Baymax didn’t make it through the third surgery. The most heartbreaking part was that we never got the chance to say goodbye. Because of his fever, we couldn’t visit him while he was recovering, and he passed away alone in the hospital.
Even with 80% insurance coverage, our medical bills soared to nearly $20,000. But the financial burden paled in comparison to the emotional loss. How did this happen? We don’t know for sure since we weren’t home, but the signs were there: the twisted up crate, Baymax’s history of separation anxiety. It’s likely that in a desperate attempt to escape his crate, he injured himself so severely that it led to his tragic end.
Important Takeaways
I’m sharing Baymax’s story for two reasons. First, to highlight just how expensive pet accidents can be - seriously consider pet insurance! And second, to raise awareness about the dangers of separation anxiety. It’s not just an emotional issue; it can lead to serious physical harm for your beloved pet. Please, if your dog struggles with anxiety, take the necessary steps to keep them safe. We would never wish this kind of heartbreak on anyone else. To read more about owning a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, check out Paction's Breed Guide.
