My dog is really sick!!! [Archive]

dapittbull69

Mon 9/6/04, 9:29AM

Well here's the story so far and Ihope it will end well. My dog began vomiting about 3 days ago and Ithought he might have just got into something. When he continued to do it on Sunday I decided to take him to the animal urgent care in escondido. They found what looks to be an intestinal blockage. After recommending surgery and telling me how this could be fatal if not treated they then handed me the estimated cost for the surgery. It was roughly $2,062.00; all of which had to be paid up front. Talk about feeling like a worthless piece of shit for not being able to part with that type of money at the moment, but needless to say I had them give him fluids because he was so dehydrated and brought him home to search for a different vet. So far I have had no luck at all and am growing quite desperate here. I love my Oscar almost more than life itself. He's been with my wife nad I since we got married and I do not want to lose him especially because of money issues. Whatever happened to treating a patient because you actually care. I dont know if I'll ever be able to forgive my self if Oscar dies because of this. Someone, anyone, lend me some advice here.
-A very saddened man right now!
Patrick

SVSRyder

Mon 9/6/04, 1:16PM

man, im really sorry to hear this. If i had the cash.. I think if any of us did, we would surely help. We all know the pain your going through here.

I can offer some suggestions. While I have no idea as to the safety or effectiveness of any of this.. hopefully something may help.

intestinal blockage.. im thinking like a very bad form of constipation or is something in there that he ate? eitherway, try to give him some laxatives. be sure not to do anything severe. it seems rash, but at this point I dont think it can cause any extra harm.

Im gonna do a google research real quick and come back with whatever I find for you.

I'm sorry man, but there is so little information on this subject online. I just wasn't able to locate anything usefull to aid in the situation :(

*prays for you*

dapittbull69

Mon 9/6/04, 1:25PM

i was thinking about laxatives as well..but i'm not really sure how effective they would be...theres got to be a vet on this board somewhere...i hate that money can cause so much stress in life and in this case take a life that shouldnt be taken...thanks svsryder

HoolieB

Mon 9/6/04, 2:11PM

Patrick -- any update? The only small animal vet I know on a friendship basis is in Florida; I'm not able to get through to ask him for a San Diego referral. I'll keep trying, though.

dapittbull69

Mon 9/6/04, 2:22PM

no luck yet hoolie...he looks so sad right now...and i feel completely helpless...i was trying to get a hold of the humane society but they arent open today...i'm open to all suggestions right now!

dapittbull69

Mon 9/6/04, 4:58PM

well they found it through an x-ray...i asked if they could do an ultrasound so that maybe we could get a better idea of what it was but they wouldnt do it without admitting him and paying another 400 dollars on top of the 200 that i had already paid...and still this wouldnt produce any remedy for the situation...i thought that only humans got ripped off when it came to medical treatment....naive of me i guess!

SVSmiles

Mon 9/6/04, 6:30PM

I'm guessing you may have already looked up these web resources, but fwiw:

http://www.pets911.com/organizations/organizations.php

http://www.hsus.org/ace/11833

http://www.hsus.org/ace/19937

http://www.pets911.com/partners/hsus/

If you find another place via the above links here are some other resources of info that might help education your decision process of what's best for Oscar...

> More Info Here (http://www.petco.com/search/article_results.asp?NUM=&QID=1&LAction=entry&IMG=&ALL=&AAE=1&APT=Dog&entry=Intestinal+blockage+in+dog&x=19&y=12)<

> And a wide range search (http://www.google.com/search?q=Treatment+of+Intestinal+blockage+in+dogs&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)<

Hope they can help too... ;)

dapittbull69

Mon 9/6/04, 7:44PM

thanks alot for the research help..alot of useful info there...as of 7:30 Oscar ate a little food and has vomited it back up yet...so i am going to keep my fingers crossed and hope that whatever was lodged in his stomach has been released...he wont eat dry food right now but as long as he eats i dont care...thank all of you for your support so far!

HoolieB

Mon 9/6/04, 9:41PM

Patrick -- has he pooped at all, or has his elimination been limited to vomiting? If the back end's producing, that's probably encouraging.

One thing you might try for Oscar to eat over the next couple days is diced chicken breast and brown rice. Really, really mild stuff and easy to digest. Hopefully he's drinking some too. If not, you might consider a big syringe to get some down his throat.

Also, something that helped a dog of ours years ago (and this is not for the faint of heart) -- a child's enema. We did it after the recommendation of a vet student friend of mine when the dog was bad off for a couple days of vomiting, no appetite, no poop. I'm not too proud to say that we couldn't afford emergency vet care then, and were more than willing to try something straightforward and simple. Fortunately it worked for us, but again, we undertook it only after a vet student suggested it.

Definitely call the Humane Society in the AM and hopefully they can give you a referral. Also, try the Helen Woodward Animal Center (www.animalcenter.org) to see if they can give a good referral. Maybe someone has a grant program...?

Good luck. Oscar's in my thoughts.

dapittbull69

Mon 9/6/04, 10:02PM

thank you hoolie...yeah i have a couple of connections at petco that i am going to hit up in the morning also...oscar did eat some more today but and didnt vomit it back up...he still hasnt pooped though and after i talk to my connections at petco about the enma thing that might be the next attempt to get him normal again...situations like this make me want to keep working harder so that money wont ever be an issue...damn our capatalistic society...anyways...i'll give you guys an update tomorrow..thanks again for all the support!

NukleoN

Mon 9/6/04, 11:33PM

Man...too bad there isn't health insurance for pets you can buy..or IS there? Sorry to hear about this...

I'd suggesting taking him to a vet and get him fixed the correct way and just charge it on your credit card, or get a new credit card if you must. Figure out how to pay it off later. At least you could make minimum payments on a credit card if you're really strapped for cash. Maybe sell one of your bikes or something...keep the one you like better and put it toward the pup.

Actually, the vet student Hoolie mentioned is a great idea...you could always take him to a local University vet program and see if they can help for free...call first perhaps? Maybe a fellow SV rider and vet student will see this.

Good luck man...hope everything works out well. You may also inquire about financing with several vets in the area, but a low interest credit card would be even better and you won't waste precious time.

BioTek

Tue 9/7/04, 5:02AM

Chrissy works for the VCA in Hillcrest and she says you might want to get a second opinion, she wants to help but cant get any kind of a deal for you, she could maybe schedule you for a visit and estimate with her favorite Doc there.
There is something called Care Credit, www.carecredit.com, apply online or at a vet's office.
VCA Hillcrest 619 299 7387
Incidentally,Bobby (vet748) is a vet.
I dont see that it's gonna be cheap anywhere, pet insurance would of been the way to go man.
I hope things can get worked out.

HoolieB

Tue 9/7/04, 9:12AM

Originally posted by NukleoN

I'd suggesting taking him to a vet and get him fixed the correct way and just charge it on your credit card, or get a new credit card if you must. Figure out how to pay it off later. At least you could make minimum payments on a credit card if you're really strapped for cash. Maybe sell one of your bikes or something...keep the one you like better and put it toward the pup.

Hindsight being 20/20, that's what I should have done in the similar situation twenty years ago. (Providing I could have qualified for credit, considering my age, etc.) Sometimes home-treatments make a problem worse, and the vet has to work that much harder to get the pup back to good health.

But a second opinion can never hurt, especially from a highly-recommended vet. Like human medicine, it's not foolproof.

How did Oscar do through the night? Thinking of him, I gave my dog an extra hug this morning when I left for work.

dapittbull69

Tue 9/7/04, 2:41PM

well just to let you guys know i finally found a vet that would work with me...gonna run oscar up there in about an hour...he was doing a little better for a while but just went completely down hill this morning...and selling one of my bikes was really coming into play right about now...oscar means alot more to me than riding...but i think everything should work out for the best..thank you all again for the help...i'll let you guys know how it went at the vets when i get back home...

P.S. there is pet insurance...just found that out...a little bit too late..they wont pay for any pre-existing condition..but you better believe we're getting it after all this is over!

HoolieB

Tue 9/7/04, 2:45PM

I'll be wishing for the best, Patrick. Thanks for keeping us posted.

GMAN

Tue 9/7/04, 6:58PM

I spoke with my mom who has basic insurance for her pets and she says that the VIP insurance program at Petco covers pre-existing conditions. It's more expensive than regular coverage and I believe they require you to pay for a year's coverage up-front.

Give 'em a call and find out. Hope this helps.

dapittbull69

Wed 9/8/04, 4:43PM

just a little update here....oscar had surgery last night and is recovering fine...gonna try and bring him home tonight as long as everything is going ok...they found two different blocks in his intestines...the doc said it looked like carpet or some other very similar fiber...how carpet got in him i cant figure out for the life of me...but i am glad that hes still around to continue to bring joy in me and my wifes lives...the money is just a small sacrifice to give up for him...and once again i cant put a price tag on his life...thank you all so much for all the advice...its nice to know that in tough times there are still people out there who care about strangers (i do know some of you!)...dont think i'll be riding for a little while though...i really want to spend sometime with him now...i see alot of doggy parks in my future:groove:

HoolieB

Wed 9/8/04, 5:10PM

Great news!!! Dog be praised! :p

When Oscar's up to it, our dog would be happy to come to a SoCalSVRiders Dog Park Day.
:hug:

NukleoN

Wed 9/8/04, 6:45PM

CONGRATULATIONS! Glad you took care of things and glad your pup is ok! :D

SVSmiles

Wed 9/8/04, 6:52PM

Originally posted by dapittbull69
just a little update here. >>> dont think i'll be riding for a little while though...i really want to spend sometime with him now...i see alot of doggy parks in my future:groove:
:D That makes my day. Very glad to hear you'll have him around for sometime to come. I can appreciate the time you'll have to visit the parks with him...

Originally posted by HoolieB
When Oscar's up to it, our dog would be happy to come to a SoCalSVRiders Dog Park Day.
:hug:
I'd come just to visit with some K9 buds, but I'm afraid I'm not exactly in the neighborhood... ;)

GMAN

Wed 9/8/04, 6:52PM

Great news! :)

Thanks for the update.

sandie

Wed 9/8/04, 8:26PM

omg! i jsut now read this! i'm so happy oscar is ok! i was about to loan you my credit card :rolleyes: i'm such a sucker for dogs

anyway, i'm so glad everything worked out for you

dapittbull69

Wed 9/8/04, 10:18PM

well my oscar is home now with a pretty cool battle scar...i'll have to bust out the digi cam and post some pics up...thanks again everybody...i cant say that enough...the socalsv family is forever in my heart...

Total cost of Surgery: $2133.00
Pain medication and Antibiotics: $120.00
Having my Oscar back and kickin: PRICELESS!

bwarbiany

Thu 9/9/04, 9:38AM

So glad to hear that everything is okay... So many people don't understand how we can go to such lengths for "just a pet", but those people are obviously not dog owners... My little Guinness battled pneumonia when he was a pup, and that was hard, it pained me to even read up until you said Oscar was okay, because I can't imagine how I would respond to the same thing...

Guinness and I would be happy to attend the SocalSV dog park day as well... Anyone else go to Central Bark in Irvine?

SVSRyder

Thu 9/9/04, 2:33PM

Outstanding :) I am very happy to hear of his recovery and your ability to provide this for not only him, but for your families happiness.

Best of wishes. Here's to one more frisbee in the park for you two :)

dapittbull69

Thu 9/9/04, 4:57PM

last post for this thread...a socalsv doggy day is definitely in the near future...tons of thanks from my family to all of you...

Dominus

Fri 9/10/04, 12:47AM

Just joined the board this evening, so it's probably a bit late, but my girlfriend and her mom just started vet school at UC Davis, and their family also used to own a vet clinic so they may have contacts/connections somewhere in the vet world. I also have pet insurance for my dog, I assume that you're going to go with VPI since I don't know if there's anything else. But feel free to contact me if you have further problems with Oscar.

SVSmiles

Wed 10/20/04, 3:02AM

Patrick, I was checking up on this thread to see if any pics and/or update info was here regarding OSCAR!

Is THAT a POST-VET event/recovery pic of him in your avatar? =D>

Regardless, WHAT'A character he must be! Sometimes a pic can tell all you need to know about them... ;)

jamsuh

Wed 10/20/04, 10:05AM

glad to hear the little guy is ok:D

Tillers_Rule

Wed 10/20/04, 10:00PM

Very cool. you seem so happy now. We definitly need to have that "So Cal doggy day". It'll give us a chance to get together and a chance to meet him:).

dapittbull69

Wed 10/20/04, 10:47PM

yep..thats my oscar...definitely need to have that socalsv doggy day...thanks again to everyone...i cant say that enough!

motokat

Thu 10/21/04, 3:49AM

Originally posted by dapittbull69
yep..thats my oscar...definitely need to have that socalsv doggy day...thanks again to everyone...i cant say that enough!

Oscar, Patrick and family,

I'm just seeing this for the first time [I really should keep up to date on these things...]

I am happy that all is going well with you, Oscar! I agree with the folks who stated in this thread, that sometimes people just don't understand what a pet means in our lives. Oscar, you are adorable!!

Our pets are as priceless as their love for us is unconditional.

Now, about that SoCalSV Doggy Day.... this sounds like yet another GREAT reason to visitSoCal!!!!
Allow me to introduce Barley, my American Staffordshire Terrorist, as her breeder calls her. She is 100% love and ENERGY . Anyone want to put us up for a night or two? :D :p

2002SV650S

Thu 10/21/04, 8:37AM

I wanna steal Barley from you Kat... but I am not sure Jenson would let me try.....

Looking at Barley keeps me thinking that her breed is something I may look into when I build my house and have somewhere to house a puppy :D

motokat

Thu 10/21/04, 2:51PM

Originally posted by 2002SV650S
I wanna steal Barley from you Kat... but I am not sure Jenson would let me try.....

Looking at Barley keeps me thinking that her breed is something I may look into when I build my house and have somewhere to house a puppy :D

Not to steal Oscar's thread but.....

AmStaff's (as they are called) are VERY high engergy, absolutely the sweetest and love to lick ears. Barley is built like a sofa - and the weird thing is she doesn't bark - never did. I don't know why.

I would recommend an AmStaff to anyone with lots of patience. When Jenson was 2 we got Barley so they grew up together. They love each other...

OK, back to Oscar....:D

dapittbull69

Thu 10/21/04, 6:40PM

katze....barley is absolutely gorgeous....kinda looks like my wifes pit-bull though...dont think i have ever seen that breed before!

lisa

Tue 10/26/04, 4:55PM

for future reference, I'm a veterinarian - happy to help anyone out who has a question or needs advice - sorry I didn't see this post a long time ago!! Glad to know every thing worked out o.k.

btw a doggy day would be fun !