Desperate woman’s last-ditch plea to save ailing pug as airway ‘size of a straw’

A woman who has had a series of ''life-threatening'' operations, including getting her skull re-attached to her spine, says that a pet pug who is now fighting for her own life ''has given me something to fight for."

Emily Lockwood, from York, has been in and out of hospital due to complications she has had with Crohn's Disease, and getting Florence the pug four years ago.

But now Florence is also having health problems and needs an operation to help with her breathing as her airway is the "size of a straw".

The 42-year-old told Yorkshire Live: "She's now having fits and cramps due to oxygen not circulating properly in her body and she gets short of breath when active. At any time she could have another fit and stop breathing so the vital operation is needed urgently."

Ms Lockwood said that she first met Florence when she was out looking for a new cat but she fell in love with the pug instantly.

Ms Lockwood has since been in and out of hospital with different operations and tests – during which time her parents look after Flo – and she said that the dog has helped her get through these tough periods.

"She's everything to me", she said. "She's really kept me going. She's given me something to fight for."

During the Covid pandemic Ms Lockwood had to have an operation to reattach her skull to her spine. She has also had to have her knees and hips replaced and had multiple other 'life threatening operations' as a result of Crohn's disease.

She said: "She (Flo) was really everything I had to get me through it all.

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"She's such a soft and gentle dog. Everyone who meets her falls in love with her."

Sadly, Florence has suffered health problems with her breathing and has already had an operation to widen her nostrils.

The latest operation needed is a bigger procedure though and will involve the vets removing her tonsils so that she can breathe easier.

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Ms Lockwood said that since buying Florence she has found out that pugs often suffer with complications due to over breeding and would not encourage this type of breeding.

Ms Lockwood's close friend Dan Stapylton has set up a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help her pay for Flo's operation, which could cost £2,500.

He said: "The money being raised is to pay towards that operation at West Yorkshire Veterinary Referrals.

"If the goal is raised then any additional donations will go towards Emily's ongoing pet expenses and anything else needed to improve quality of life with her disability – she's been through a lot."

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