Maddox is a 7-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier in Schertz, TX, who needs $1,400 for diagnostics and testing.

I am the wife of a retired and medically disabled United States Army veteran. I came into the picture well after Maddox was adopted but I do not love him any less. The VA will not cover anything since Maddox is not a service animal. We live in a camper currently as finances are very strained. Our dog is very loved and this is just an unfortunate circumstance.

Maddox enjoys walks and hikes to the creek or local waterfall where he will bathe in the water on hot summer days. He is super loving, gentle and protective. Our dog is very motivated by play and it is his favorite way to engage. When he tries to play now he just coughs so hard and so much its very heartbreaking.

Finances are very strained as my husband is a retired disbaled Army veteran. Trying to keep things going from day to day has been a struggle and there is no extra to even get Maddox to the vet. He is getting worse and his cough is turning into a hack. Heartbreaking.

Maddox has worms. We cannot afford a vet visit but he coughed up a really long white worm one day. We have been treating him with dewormer from the store but he is getting worse. He is constantly wheezing, coughing and panting. His belly is so bloated and he licks his paws until they are bright red. Watching my baby in pain is killing me. He needs vet intervention and aggressive treatment.

He will grunt and huff t just about anything! Maddox is sassy but listens very well. He turned me into a dog lover and I don't know what we will do if we can't help him get better. The vet costs are beyond budget breaking we are a family on a very limited income. Asking for help is very humiliating but I love our dog and am willing to set my pride aside to exhaust every option for me boy.