GoFundMe launched as Wodonga Headspace dog Hendrix fights for life

A popular pooch who works at Headspace Wodonga has been put on a ventilator after a tick paralysed his entire body. Find out how you can help.

The Albury Wodonga community has started a GoFundMe to help raise money for Hendrix, the therapy dog at Headspace Wodonga after a tick paralysis left him stuck on a ventilator. Picture: Supplied.

A beloved community therapy dog is fighting for his life as he battles a grave tick paralysis.

Hendrix, or Heni, is a two-and-a-half-year-old wolfhound cross who has helped many teens and young adults in Albury Wodonga at a mental health facility.

The pooch went camping at the beach with his owner Nicola Hutton just before Christmas.

But the trip turned into a living horror when Heni lost sensation in both his hind legs.

After being taken to the vet, Hendrix’s paralysis spread through his body resulting in him being put on ventilation as his respiratory system failed.

“He can’t blink, swallow or wag his tail anymore, something we all know he does so well,” Ms Hutton posted to Hendrix’s social media account.

Hendrix, who works at Headspace Wodonga as a therapy dog, is fighting tick paralysis, which has put him on the ventilator.

“Hendrix requires a nurse to constantly monitor his stats in this critical state, costing approximately $4000 per day.”

Ms Hutton’s friend organised a GoFundMe which has so far raised more than $14,000 of the $20,000 goal.

Hendrix, through his work at Headspace Wodonga, supports young people to feel more comfortable at the centre and does animal-assisted therapy activities.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to all those who have already donated — it has been a huge relief to have some space to make decisions based on Hendrix’s health rather than purely financially,” Ms Hutton said.

Hendrix’s health is headed for the better, with his stats improving.

Ms Hutton told the Herald Sun Hendrix was now off oxygen and doing better, but his breathing was still laboured.

“He was on life support for about 20 hours over the weekend. He couldn’t swallow, blink or breathe with the ventilator; it was terrifying,” she said.

Ms Hutton suspects the tick was picked up when the family went away to Bingie for camping over Christmas.

“We can only assume the tick was picked up there, but symptoms didn’t start to impact Heni until days later,” Ms Hutton said.

Paralysis ticks jump onto dogs and cats and attach themselves anywhere on the pets’ bodies but prefer to attach to the front half.

Early signs of tick paralysis include lack of co-ordination of the hind legs, change or loss of voice, gagging or coughing, vomiting and dilated pupils.

Signs can be seen three to nine days after the tick attaches.

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