My Poor Scruff Is Sick. RE-CHECK UPDATE 2/2/107 PG 3

[Reachoutrescue]

This is not good. My dog, Scruff, has been having trouble peeing, so I took him to the vet. The vet tried draining urine through a cathader (sorry not great at spelling) but could not get it through. They said he has stones and need surgery and without it, he could die. It will cost from $1800 to $3500 at my vet....I don't know what to do...that is so much money and I just don't have it. I am trying to find a low cost animals clinics, but it is so hard to find. I tried Animal Welfare League, but they could not give me a price with out seeing him. Anti-cruelty is based on income and is giving me a hard time because my income is less then my rent...I am a bartender, my income varies. Does anybody have any suggestions? If anybody knows any internet based organization that helps owners offset the cost of veterinary care, please let me know as soon as you can. I am emailing IMOM and HELPAPET. Thank you.

Look at this guy....I can't lose him.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n194/Reachoutrescue/Aug06_004.jpg

[Karen]

Just keep trying - and contact any veterinary schools near you, see if they have low-cost programs for practicing verterinary surgeons, etc.

[Reachoutrescue]

Thank you Karen, that is what I am trying to do now. There are very few veterinary schools in my area, if any. There has got to be something.

[critter crazy]

Awww...I am so sorry! Scruff will be in my Prayers!!!

[jennielynn1970]

is there a vet that rescues use in your area that offers discounts that maybe could work with you on a payment plan or something like that?? What about a personal loan or something like that, where it could be paid over time too (even if you had to have a co-signer, it would be a help to be able to pay off over time).

[Reachoutrescue]

is there a vet that rescues use in your area that offers discounts that maybe could work with you on a payment plan or something like that?? What about a personal loan or something like that, where it could be paid over time too (even if you had to have a co-signer, it would be a help to be able to pay off over time).
We asked the vet if they would take payments and they said they didn't. I am going to go to the animal welfare league...I have to get him in somewhere. I guess we will just take it one step at a time. Dave and I talked, there is no way we can afford an $1800 vet bill all in one lump sum, we will see what the league says and go from there. Fingers crossed please and lots of prayers for our Scruff.

Thank you everybody.

[doolittleky]

I would try out of the area vets even in neighboring states. You are close to Indiana right? Vet costs vary so much in different areas and states. For example, katie in NC vet costs seem to be double for things that are charged in KY. And I know if you go up north like NY they are even more expensive. I would try calling out of the area vet clinics and seeing their prices.
Melissa

[Donnaj4962]

I am so sorry to hear that Scruff is so sick. The cost is astronomical.... and is my greatest nightmare! I am so sorry that you are going through this.

I know that you are in Illinois, but I don't know where in location to Indiana. Purdue University (my alma mater!) has a wonderful Vet School. Maybe they could help. I am keeping you and Scruff in my thoughts and prayers.

Please keep us posted.

[Reachoutrescue]

I would try calling out of the area vet clinics and seeing their prices.
Melissa
Thank you Melissa. I am going to do whatever it takes to save him.


I know that you are in Illinois, but I don't know where in location to Indiana. Purdue University (my alma mater!) has a wonderful Vet School. Maybe they could help. I am keeping you and Scruff in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you Donna...I am going to look into Purdue.

I just got back from animal welfare. Oh my god!! The doctor there did x-rays and found nothing in Scruff's bladder or kidneys....so that was good. He tried doing a cathadur again...and he couldn't get through either. So he said there is a stone blockage in the urethra. He said he only has done the surgery on two other dogs and was not sure if he could do it again. He said he would charge me between $700 and $800 to "attempt" the surgery, but could give me no guarantee....How am I suppose to let him cut my dog open if he is not even sure he knows how to do it! I called another clinic called Lepar animal hospital and they gave me an estimate of $1218.64....still so much. I am not giving up hope, I just don't know what to do.... My heart is breaking from my Scruffers.

[dragondawg]

Thank you Melissa. I am going to do whatever it takes to save him.



Thank you Donna...I am going to look into Purdue.

I just got back from animal welfare. Oh my god!! The doctor there did x-rays and found nothing in Scruff's bladder or kidneys....so that was good. He tried doing a cathadur again...and he couldn't get through either. So he said there is a stone blockage in the urethra. He said he only has done the surgery on two other dogs and was not sure if he could do it again. He said he would charge me between $700 and $800 to "attempt" the surgery, but could give me no guarantee....How am I suppose to let him cut my dog open if he is not even sure he knows how to do it! I called another clinic called Lepar animal hospital and they gave me an estimate of $1218.64....still so much. I am not giving up hope, I just don't know what to do.... My heart is breaking from my Scruffers.

Follow up with the Purdue Vet school. There is a technique where by they pass shock waves through water with the dog's urethra submerged in the water. It's called lithotripter. Presumably a non-invasive non-surgical technique to pulverize the stones would cost less. Although you can never tell with Vet schools. There might be other techniques available to sonicate the stones.

Obviously you need to get it taken care of ASAP before other problems such as kidney failure occurs. Assuming Purdue or another Vet hospital in the area with the equipment can get rid of the stones, then the follow up step will be to get consultation on future diet so as to prevent a reoccurance or at least minimize it.

[Reachoutrescue]

Follow up with the Purdue Vet school. There is a technique where by they pass shock waves through water with the dog's urethra submerged in the water. It's called lithotripter.
I called Purdue, they said it would range from $1100 to $2300...Ouch. I know I need to get this done...I am trying so hard to find somewhere some what cheaper. I don't have $1100. Another vet about 1 1/2 from me that said the surgery would be between $800 and $1100. Why do they give such big window on prices? I am still trying. I am calling around in Indiana now. Thank you everybody for your help. This is just killing me.

[Vela]

I'm so so sorry, I know you don't want to hear it but you are running out of time. I so hope you can find someplace to help him really soon before it causes rupture or kidney failure. Please dont' stop calling, maybe they can take half down and payments? I don't know. I can't beleive a vet you know well won't do that. I feel so bad for your situation. I'm so sorry!

[lizbud]

Don't you have a credit card? I don't know a bunch of people who could
come up with that amount of money overnight. You could pay it off with
more reasonable amounts.The first time I've ever gone into debt ( besides
my mortgage) was to get needed medical help for my dog Buddy. I do hope
Purdue can help you & if not, at least point you to someone who can. Best
of luck for Scruff. he's a sweet looking dog.

[Reachoutrescue]

I know I am running out of time...I have a few more places to call and a friend of mine if giving me some numbers of vets in Southern Illinois. There has to be something.

[dukedogsmom]

I hope that you can find someone to help him. Can you borrow money from friends or family? I'd be doing anything I could. I hope Scruff will make it through this. Have you heard from IMOM yet?

[doolittleky]

I called my vet to see how much they charge and they said since there are several surgical ways that it can be done they would have to evaluate the dig before they could give an estimate. But I am sure it can't be as much as the vets estimates that you have been given. I would take and get a second opinion I think.
Melissa

[Reachoutrescue]

I called my vet to see how much they charge and they said since there are several surgical ways that it can be done they would have to evaluate the dig before they could give an estimate. But I am sure it can't be as much as the vets estimates that you have been given. I would take and get a second opinion I think.
Melissa
Thank you Melissa for calling for me.

I have taken him for a second opinion. The vet said the same as the first. I found a vet in Plainfield, Illinois that will do it as soon as Saturday for between $800 and $1100. Every other vet had no openings till Monday...I don't understand that, or they were double the price. I am working on borrowing the money or part of the money even from my children's grandma. She said she would call me tomorrow and let me know if it is a go or not. I pray she says yes. I don't want to wait until Saturday, but I have to. I just hope Scruff can wait. Thank you again everybody.

[Catty1]

Tracy - is there anything you can give him that might help a bit? Cranberry capsule powder in some wet food? Something to increase the acidity of his urine?

It might dissolve just a tiny bit, and make him more comfy til surgery.

Anyone else here know about this?

[krazyaboutkatz]

Tracy, I'm so sorry to hear this.:( When Storm was blocked and needed surgery I just had to use my credit card. I think I ended up needing to use 2 credit cards because they needed the money asap. I hope that you'll be able to get the money that you need and that Scruffy will be okay. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent your way. Please take care. (((HUGS)))

Have you ever heard of Care Credit? I pm'd you about it but I'll also post it here so others can see the link. Care Credit (http://www.carecredit.com/). Maybe this will help.

[borzoimom]

I agree you are running out of time. If the blockage has been found by two vets, then the exploratory would produce something as apparently its obvious. Maybe they can give you a cap on worse case scenio how much. I know my vet does payments-

[ramanth]

Tracy, I second the Care Credit. I had a Visa but didn't want to risk maxing it out with Chipper's growing vet bill.

So I applied right at the animal hospital, got approved, and had his bill put on that.

If you give me your address, I can send a little something to chip in.

If the X-ray didn't show a bunch of stones like the first vet claimed, isn't there a medicine he can be given to disolve the one stone?

Give Scruff some love for me.

[Reachoutrescue]

Scruff spent the night in our bed with us last night. When we woke up there was a big wet spot where he was laying. I let him outside this morning and he urinated a little better then he did yesterday. He didn't seem to strain as much. I just let him out again and he urinated in a small stream, stopped, walked around and urinated a little again. I am thinking, but don't want to jinx anything, that he may have passed the stone. I am taking him into another vet at 11:45 am CST for a quote and to see if he may have passed it. Fingers crossed please!! I pray he is okay now. If not, I am awaiting a phone call from my kids' grandmother about lending me part of the money. I tried care credit, was denied. I contacted IMOM, but nothing yet. Thank you everybody...I know there is hope somewhere.

[Catty1]

Fingers crossed and prayers and everything else.....!

[ramanth]

Ohhh Scruff!! I hope you passed that stone! Pee boy! Pee!!! :D

[Marigold2]

I just e-mailed my niece who is a vet in CT. She graduated from Ohio State which is the best vet college in the country. I will let you know what she says as soon as I hear back from her. Monica

[Reachoutrescue]

I just e-mailed my niece who is a vet in CT. She graduated from Ohio State which is the best vet college in the country. I will let you know what she says as soon as I hear back from her. Monica
Thank you so much. Please let me know.

[Vela]

Oh I hope he passed it and maybe now it's just swollen from having it in there and irritated. I hope it passed and he will be okay!

[borzoimom]

Oh I hope so too! Keep us posted!

[gwen]

I Know this is a bit after the event, Im from england and I have pet insurance, I know how awful it would be if my dog got ill, but I know no matter what I wont have to worry about vet bills as he is covered. I do hope your dog gets better.

[Reachoutrescue]

Well, we are home. Scruff is doing great. The vet said he seems to have passed it. Which means.....NO SURGERY!! YIPPY!! He did not do a cathader on Scruff. He said the vets yesterday attempted it twice and sometimes bacteria can be inserted with the cathader. He did not want to irrated Scruff urethra anymore. I have to get a urine sample from Scruff and bring it to the vet's office in the morning. They want to check to see if he as a URI. The vet also said that it could've been a URI all along and he was swollen, that would cause him not to beable to urinate properly. The vet saw a small spot on the x-rays that I brought with me at the bottom of the bladder. He said that could've been the stone, but he can't be 100% sure because it was so small, but that could've been the blockage and what Scruff may have passed. I was told just to keep a good eye on Scruff for the next few weeks and make sure he is urinating properly. I was also told not to change his diet. He is on Innova and the vet would like him to stay on that. I liked the vet and so did Scruff, so we are keeping Lepar as Scruff's new vet. I made an appointment for Scruff's shots that are due in Febuary. Thank god everything is okay....it really was a much needed miracle!!

Thank you everybody for all your help and support! Oh, Help-A-Pet also called me after I left the vet. I told them what happened and they said if it comes back or anything else happens I can reapply. Angels are on my side today. Thank you again everybody, you guys are great! :)

[lizbud]

Great news about Scruff. :) Maybe when he's feeling 100%, you can
post more pictures of your boy. He's a cutie. :)

[Reachoutrescue]

Great news about Scruff. :) Maybe when he's feeling 100%, you can
post more pictures of your boy. He's a cutie. :)
Okay, here you go!! Major cuteness overload!! Oh, my date was a day in advance on my camera, sorry!

Scruff is hearing something outside. He loves to jump on our window ledge and let everbody know "THIS IS MY HOUSE"!
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n194/Reachoutrescue/SruffandDozer1-19-07019.jpg

Here he is listening to the noise outside now!
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n194/Reachoutrescue/SruffandDozer1-19-07026.jpg

Scruff on his favorite spot on the couch with is rope.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n194/Reachoutrescue/SruffandDozer1-19-07025.jpg

As many times as I tell him not to, he still eats the snow off the table!!
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n194/Reachoutrescue/SruffandDozer1-19-07028.jpg

Again with the snow!!
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n194/Reachoutrescue/SruffandDozer1-19-07029.jpg

Here is my best guy, just looking so handsome!!
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n194/Reachoutrescue/SruffandDozer1-19-07027.jpg

I hope you enjoyed the pics. More soon. Thanks again everybody!!

[borzoimom]

Can you take scruff back in for a recheck to make sure this is gone?
Loved the pictures!!!

[Reachoutrescue]

Can you take scruff back in for a recheck to make sure this is gone?
Loved the pictures!!!
I did. The vet said that as long as he is urinating there is no need for surgery. We just have to monitor him. I have to give them a urine sample too, as I posted in post #30. I really do hope all is okay.

[lizbud]

Scruff looks like a big fella in his pictures. he has an adorable and very
expressive face. Hi Scruff. :D

[dukedogsmom]

I am so glad he's ok and he didn't need surgery! He is a very cute dog. Loved the pics. Give him some PT love from all of us.

[kuhio98]

Tracey ~ I'm so glad that Scruff is doing better. More of the IMOM website is back up and they are not accepting applicants until January 26th. But, they do have a list of other organizations that may be able to help -- should you need them. http://www.imom.org/fa/

[Joannie]

Try carecredit.com. Joann

[Catlady711]

I called Purdue, they said it would range from $1100 to $2300...Ouch. I know I need to get this done...I am trying so hard to find somewhere some what cheaper. I don't have $1100. Another vet about 1 1/2 from me that said the surgery would be between $800 and $1100.

Why do they give such big window on prices?


Vet prices can vary a great deal, from hospital to hospital, even within the same town.

The reason for surgeries they give such a wide range is, until they actually get in there, they never know for sure what they're going to run into. Even with all the best x-rays, lab results, ultrasounds, you can still never predict everything or how long it will take (vets many times charge based on time taken).

As to why one hospital is different priced from another by such a big degree has to do with overhead (ie. equipment, utilities, payroll, taxes etc.). A hospital with 4+ vets, a large building, state of the art equipment which they may still be paying for, late open/weekend hours, full service grooming/boarding, and many employees (particularly ones with specialties) are mostly always going to cost alot more. Since they have more bills to pay out, and offer more services, they have to make that income back somehow and it's the clients that pay for it.

A 1-2 doctor general practice with a small building, several year old basic but paid for equipment, shorter hours open or no weekends, don't do boarding/groooming, and have less staff are usually less expensive becaue they have less overhead to pay for. However they usually have to send extensive lab work out and may refer you somewhere else for x-rays, ultrasounds, or late night ER's etc.

Of course that's not accounting for those vets that are out just to get rich quick, which unfortunately, just like in human medicine, sometimes happens.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Tracy, I'm so glad to hear that Scruff is doing much better and that he won't need surgery.:) Hopefully it wasn't a stone at all but just a UTI.

[Reachoutrescue]

Well, I took Scruff's urine sample to the vet today. They called me about a half an hour ago with the results. There is bacteria in his urine and some signs of crystals. The crystals can form into stones they said. So Scruff is on an antibiotic called Primor for the bacteria and was put on an all wet food diet. They want me to hydrate him as much as possible so he can push the crystals out. Another urinalysis will be done in ten days to see if everything is gone. If it is not, then he will be switched to a different brand of food that breaks up crystals. Last resort, very last is surgery. But we are going to try everything to avoid that. Let's just hope this works!!

[Reachoutrescue]

I brought in a urine sample for a re-check on Scruff. The vet called and said Scruff's crystals are gone. He still has a high white blood cell (I didn't know they can check that with urine), so they are refilling his Primor. They beleive he has some kind of infection still going on. I updated them on his diet. They said that feeding him a Raw Diet is great. Especially adidng in the Missing Link Vitamin Supplements. I am so glad he is getting better. I just hope this infection gets cleared up soon!! Thanks everybody for your help and advice.

[borzoimom]

Sounds great- keep him on the cranberry too.. At least a half a capsule with each meal- or a whole one at night when it is in the system the longest..

[cyber-sibes]

Great news! Give your handsome boy a hug from me. Your situation is a good reminder that it's a good idea to sock a little away each paycheck...just in case! (writes note to self)
The suggestions about finding a vet clinic at a college is a good one- when my cat got a major blockage and had to have a section of his colon removed, there was no way I could afford it either. (I was laid off at the time) My vet directed me to the vet clinic at Ohio State, where students did the operation for about 25% of what the vet quoted. They did a fantastic job, too - my cat lived for another 12 years!