Cat food is NOT suitable for dogs. Cats need a much higher protein diet, and generally have completely different dietary requirements than dogs. It's not so much that eating a few bowls of cat food will kill him, but given a kitty diet only over time will result in malnutrition issues. Dogs who are in a lot of pain will also go off their feed. Your dog's injury sounds like a really painful one, so this issue won't go away until the pain is treated.
Most dogs who become picky eaters are just bored and unsocialized. You've got a huge problem with the leg injury because dogs MUST have exercise not only for physical health, but for mental health as well. Please check into Care Credit which offers low to no-interest credit for exactly these situations. Is it a TPLO procedure that is needed? My dog had that done (and it was more like $3,500!) and she had a spectacular recovery. She went from being a crippled tripod to running and jumping like her old self within a month after surgery.
You could also try contacting your local Humane Society or SPCA for advice on lower-cost surgeries, or for help in finding a vet who will set up an affordable payment plan. I really hope your husband relents on this issue, because your dog just has to have this injury treated. End of story. I've had to sell assets in the past to pay for unforeseen dog injuries and astronomical vet bills. It's just one of those things you have to accept when you have animals in your life. You wouldn't deny a child medical treatment because it's too costly, right?
I would never deny this sort of treatment to any of my pets, unfortunately, once a person gets married, things change (
Hugs and thank you for your reply,
/sigh
Miyo
Things should not change for your dog just because you are married. Their needs are the same, regardless. If your dog is in pain and needs surgery, then that is a fact that is not influenced by a ring on your finger.
BTW, $700-800 dollars is DIRT CHEAP for any surgery--especially ortho surgery! The last dog we had neutered was over $300 total.
Did you know that if your dog is in pain and you do nothing to treat it (and well established medical/surgical treatments are available, in some states you can be prosecuted? I am in no way judging you or being critical of you, but there are laws to protect animals from suffering unecessarily when veterinary treatment would help them have painfree lives.
I understand how hard it is to afford treatment, but if your husband won't approve (and for some reason you feel like you have to have his "OK", and you won't look in to Care Credit, and you won't make a payment plan with your vet, then you have an absolute RESPONSIBILITY to surrender your dog so it can be treated appropriately and not live his life in pain.
Or the dog must be euthanized.
The choice that is best is to try to get the surgery done and have the dog remain in his family. The choice that is NOT acceptable is to let the dog live in pain.