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alternatives to surgery? My dog has
Hi. My two year old border collie mix named Rory who is very (adorable and special!!) sneaky, with an obsession with eating just about anything. We try our very best to keep things from her, but she is particularly obsessed with socks and recently ate one along with another ??metal object. She threw up for 3 days, food and then just water. For the next 2 days she didn't eat anything, but has started to drink again. Last night i took her to the e.r. because she wasn't herself. She had a temp. of 103. the xrays showed an object (likely a sock) and a thin metal object (maybe a paper clip, about 2 1/2-3 inches long) in her small intestine. After some IV fluid and a $300 bill, we went home and she vomited today brown stool. I brought to her regular vet today. xrays show the object may have not moved and her temp. decreased to 102.5. The vet stated that she either needs to push the objects out herself ($1,000 vet. bill) or will need surgery which will cost at least ($3,500). My husband has asked whether or not a stool softener, muscle relaxer, epsom salts (which helps incr. fluid in intestines), aloe vera (to increase contractions), or some other alternative is possible. The vets said that it an OBSTRUCTION and that it cannot be handled that way, because it is not simply stool that is stuck. I am so concerned. Rory has unfortunately ingested and passed these objects in the past (literally I have seen a whole pair of rolled up mens sock vomited and/or excreted in stool), so i had hope that we would not be looking at surgery. I know there is a "window of opportunity", given concerns with infection, etc. I am just wondering if there are any alternatives? I am a true dog lover and it breaks my heart to think she is suffering. However, I am 9 1/2 months pregnant and while I can't fathom putting her down, the idea of spending almost $4,000 for surgery is beyond my comprehension or capability financially. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!! sincerely, deborah
Help me. My son's service dog has an obstruction nd we have no money for surgery. What can I do?
Obstructions that go untreated result in death. End of story. The affected section of intestine will die, the infection gets into the dog's bloodstream (sepsis) and organs quickly fail and the dog dies. You have two choices: surgery or euthanasia. That's it.
The other members have great suggestions for you to find either a cheaper clinic or a line of credit (carecredit.com). If you have anything to sell, sell it. I sold my car to save my dog's life and it was worth every penny. Give your local Humane Society, SPCA, or other shelter a call to see if they can recommend a low-cost clinic. Just make it fast!
The other members have great suggestions for you to find either a cheaper clinic or a line of credit (carecredit.com). If you have anything to sell, sell it. I sold my car to save my dog's life and it was worth every penny. Give your local Humane Society, SPCA, or other shelter a call to see if they can recommend a low-cost clinic. Just make it fast!
Kate certainly has recent experience with this, with her dog!
CareCredit (you can google it) is a great program.
Some vets will work with you in regards to payment, especially if you have been a client for some time. The very first time one of our dogs had an obstruction (he ate half a bath towel) our vet allowed us to give him postdated checks for the $3000 total. We had to make them all out at once and give them to the vets office to deposit once a month.
This protects the vet to an extent. They can be reluctant to bill you, but if they actually have postdated checks in hand, they may feel more secure.
CareCredit (you can google it) is a great program.
Some vets will work with you in regards to payment, especially if you have been a client for some time. The very first time one of our dogs had an obstruction (he ate half a bath towel) our vet allowed us to give him postdated checks for the $3000 total. We had to make them all out at once and give them to the vets office to deposit once a month.
This protects the vet to an extent. They can be reluctant to bill you, but if they actually have postdated checks in hand, they may feel more secure.
Oh my goodness, I completely understand the predicament as I just brought my own boy home today after surgery for an obstruction (same as you, he has, in the past, passed a 14 in scarf, so it was hard to believe dental floss and some twigs and leaves could possibly be the culprit this time).
The window you mentioned is just that: a window. An obstruction is not something to wait on. My vet explained my dogs obstruction well: his intestines are trying desperately to push the object through, with no success, rubbing and twisting on each other, which is where the danger really sets in and they can rip (this is fatal). So the longer the intestines are working this hard on a stubborn obstruction, the worse the outcome will be. It's very tough to hear...
Absolutely call around tomorrow and explain the situation to as many clinics as you can to see who can work with you. Also, you may or may not know about care credit . It's instant approval, so you can call in the morning and have your kiddo in surgery by noon. No interest rates to pay it off, which is a gigantic relief.
I do hope you find a solution. I understand how hard it is to see your pup feeling so miserable. Please keep us updated.
The window you mentioned is just that: a window. An obstruction is not something to wait on. My vet explained my dogs obstruction well: his intestines are trying desperately to push the object through, with no success, rubbing and twisting on each other, which is where the danger really sets in and they can rip (this is fatal). So the longer the intestines are working this hard on a stubborn obstruction, the worse the outcome will be. It's very tough to hear...
Absolutely call around tomorrow and explain the situation to as many clinics as you can to see who can work with you. Also, you may or may not know about care credit . It's instant approval, so you can call in the morning and have your kiddo in surgery by noon. No interest rates to pay it off, which is a gigantic relief.
I do hope you find a solution. I understand how hard it is to see your pup feeling so miserable. Please keep us updated.
It's not likely that she will pass an entire sock on her own. The paper clip, perhaps, could be brought out through the mouth using a scope, but not the sock. What they could do is to feed her a barium dinner and take films of her, and then keep her overnight and take more films the next morning. If it has not moved from the previous night, chances are better than average that it's not going to and surgery will be necessary.
Make it your project tomorrow to call around to as many vets as you have within driving distance of your home and explain your situation with regard to you being VERY pregnant and tight on money, and hopefully one of them will agree to work with you. You can even try calling your local SPCA and explaining the situation to them, and perhaps their own vet will work with you to do the surgery at a reduced rate or agree to let you make payments or even maybe pay some of it off by volunteering at their facility until you have paid your debt to them. Understandably, you will be busy with your baby, but perhaps your husband could go on weekends and either clean cages or volunteer at adoption days or something. There are any number of possibilities, and I think if you can convey to them how badly you want to help Roxy, they may agree to work with you.
Please post back and let us know how things go. In the meantime, maybe one of our other members will come up with an idea that will be helpful. Above all, don't give up!
Ghilly
Make it your project tomorrow to call around to as many vets as you have within driving distance of your home and explain your situation with regard to you being VERY pregnant and tight on money, and hopefully one of them will agree to work with you. You can even try calling your local SPCA and explaining the situation to them, and perhaps their own vet will work with you to do the surgery at a reduced rate or agree to let you make payments or even maybe pay some of it off by volunteering at their facility until you have paid your debt to them. Understandably, you will be busy with your baby, but perhaps your husband could go on weekends and either clean cages or volunteer at adoption days or something. There are any number of possibilities, and I think if you can convey to them how badly you want to help Roxy, they may agree to work with you.
Please post back and let us know how things go. In the meantime, maybe one of our other members will come up with an idea that will be helpful. Above all, don't give up!
Ghilly
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