When Ashley Kilner visited the Cowra Veterinary Clinic last week she didn't dream she'd be leaving with the news that her much loved Rottweiler, Kovu needed life saving surgery that would cost $8000.
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Ten month old Kovu has been having dificulties eating his food and keeping it down since he was a puppy.
Knowing something was horribly wrong Ashley and her partner Jayden Gunn took Kovu to the vet where a contrast X-ray revealed he was suffering from Persistent Tight Aortic Arch (PRAA).
The condition is a congenital anomaly of the blood vessels of the heart that result in constriction of the esophagus which makes Kovu regurgitate his meals before they actually reach his stomach.
Ashley and Jayden have started a gofundme page in an attempt to save their much loved Kovu.
For Kovu just to see a surgeon in Sydney, Ashley and Jayden need to find $230 with the cost of surgery estimated at between $7000 and $8000.
"People have said to just 'put him down', but that just isn't an option for us as the condition is in fact fixable," Ashley said.
"Kovu is the closest thing we have to a child - we simply love and adore him.
"Unfortunately, we don't have the funds available to afford the surgery on our own so we have made a go fund me page and twitter account to help spread the word and raise the funds as well as public sharing on Facebook.
"The RSPCA NSW has also messaged me to offer to retweet our page," Ashley said.
"So far, our page has been shared 84 times and we have raised $200 from complete strangers willing to donate.
The Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) - Thoracoscopy which Kovu needs at the SASH hospital in North Ryde, Sydney is like a second chance at life for him.
"I would appreciate any help, no matter how big or small to go towards helping me live a long and healthy life and finally enjoy a meal!" Kovu says on his gofundme page.
"Words will never explain my gratitude from both me and my parents," he says.
If you can help go to Kovu's gofundme page at
