The Story Behind RoxyCare: Lulu's Journey

After Roxy passed away, we thought Lulu was grieving. 

As a rescue dog, Lulu had already experienced more change than any dog should. Before finding us, she'd been rehomed several times. When she finally found her forever home, she also found Roxy. 

Although they only had a few months together, they were inseparable. They played together, explored together, and quickly became the best of friends. 

So when Roxy was gone and Lulu stopped being herself, heartbreak felt like the obvious explanation. 

She became quiet. She struggled to open her mouth. She stopped wanting to eat and drink properly, and with each passing day, she became more poorly. 

We thought she was mourning the loss of her best friend.

We never imagined she was fighting a rare autoimmune disease. 

As the days passed, we knew something still wasn't right. 

We visited vet after vet, searching for answers.  Appointment after appointment, we hoped someone could tell us what was happening to Lulu. Instead, we left with more questions than reassurance. Time was passing, money was being spent, and Lulu continued to get worse. 

Eventually, we finally had an answer. 

Lulu was diagnosed with Masticatory Muscle Myositis (MMM), a rare autoimmune disease that causes the body's immune system to attack the muscles used for chewing. For dogs with MMM, early diagnosis and treatment can make a significant difference. 

Treatment began immediately. Just two weeks later, we started to see glimpses of the Lulu we knew again. She's still taking medication and continuing her recovery, but her immune attack is now under control, and every day brings another step forward. 

Looking back, we don't share this story with regret. We share it because we know how easily changes in our dogs can be explained by what's happening around them. 

Sometimes they really are grieving or simply having an off day but sometimes, there’s something more. Lulu's journey became one of the reasons we started building RoxyCare. 

Not because an app can diagnose illness - it can't, and it should never replace your vet - but because we believe it can help owners keep track of the little things that are so easy to forget. Changes in behaviour. Symptoms. Medication. Vet visits. Health notes over time. 

Those little details can help build a clearer picture when you need it most and support more informed conversations with your vet. 

If Lulu's story encourages pawrents to trust their instincts, seek veterinary advice when something doesn't feel right, or start keeping a record of changes in their dog's health, then sharing her journey will have been worthwhile. 

Because every dog deserves to be heard, even when they can't tell us what's wrong.