[todd00]

with a pyro infection they will spay the dog that generally takes care of the problem. she will get sicker if you do nothing. if you had a sick child youd have to get her seen, same in this case.

here are some resources i found for you. call the closest one to you. that might be silver lake animal rescue. be sure and tell them you think the dog has a pyro infection. if they cant take your dog there, ask if they know any low cost vets closer to your home. i cant call or take your dog there, this is the best i can do to help you. please call them today!

spay and neuter resources in michigan
-----------------------------------
C-SNIP (Community Spay/Neuter Initiative Partnership)
Serves Kent County and adjacent counties
Grand Rapids MI 616-455-8220
Web: C-SNIP Home
Low cost mobile clinic for pets of people with low income.

West Michigan SPCA
Muskegon MI
231-788-5933

Silver Lake Animal Rescue League
Dixie Highway
Waterford, MI
248-545-6583, extension 5 This organization has a program for spay/neuter of pets of low income people in metropolitan Detroit.

Long Lake Animal Hospital
5044 John R Road
Troy, MI 48098
248-689-8899

Humane Society of Huron Valley
Ann Arbor, MI
313-662-4365

Kalamazoo Humane Society
4239 South Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI
616-345-1181
Provides some assistance for the spay/neuter of pets of qualifed low income people.

Animal's Best Friend
PO Box 443
Oshtemo, MI 49077
616-624-1090
For pets living in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties, ABF provides small subsidies at particular veterinary clinics each month. Call for details.

Zimmer Foundation
PO Bx 130944
Ann Arbor MI 48113
734-663-8000
For feral cats in Washtenaw County.

[JGatti]

Thanks for all of the input everyone. I'm amazed so many have had such good luck finding cheap care. But there are a few things that still create problems.

She has not been diagnosed, so nobody is going to treat her unless they know what is wrong. This will require an appointment and how this dog is she MUST be sedated for an exam. Our vet told me when we were there last time " that dog is wired wrong, that's all there is too it". To go to a new vet you have first time visit fee's and they also require a downpayment if they even do a plan. As I stated, I'm not just broke I'm flat broke. I don't have it.

Also the dog is about 10 years old and has a problem in her back. This was what our last BILL was about. They could have done surgery for $5,000 and we spent days trying to find some place that would help with bill's then. We did not find any vet, in fact every one we called other than ours would NOT even do a payment plan. Even the Humane Society required the credit insurance thing. The pet care credit.

My wife knows from our last visit that this can't happen. We just cannot afford it.

Todde- In regard to if my child was sick I am not and will never be one of those people. My children are human a dog is a dog and I don't, can't and won't ever put them on the same level. In fact my youngest son has type 1 diabetes, diagnosed at 3 years old. Even with insurance his medication has gotten hard to afford it's that tough right now. There is now way I'm going in debt for a 10 year old mean crippled dog right now and making life harder.

[todd00]

most likely they would have to do a quick basic exam, but her symptoms are clearly pyro. there are short term sedatives that act fast so they can look her over if need be. just because your vet said that about your dog, does not mean another isnt capable of handling your dog through an exam. i understand your worrying about the money, but i have had a dog with the exact same symptoms as your dog. i called my vet and he said that it sounded like pyro. i made an appointment for her to be spayed, that takes care of the infection source.

so you are looking at 60 bucks to spay her at the first source i gave you, plus possibly an exam fee. thats not 5k dollars. i have dogs with arthritis. i can give you an excellent website on alternative care methods that are cheap and do have a history of helping arthritis. prednisone is an excellent low cost medicine for easing the pains of arthritis. and as i say there are natural things that can help too.

you may see a difference between your children and the household pet, but both depend on YOU for care and to do the right thing when they are ill. doing nothing isnt right. getting her fixed just doesnt cost that much, especially at these low cost places that take into account ones situation. why not call and find out??? frankly, if you wanted to give her up and i was nearby, i would take her, and get her spayed, and tend to her arthritis problems best i could.

doing nothing about this problem is simply not right or humane. and this is not a case of 5k to correct her present problem. putting her down, is also not the right solution, unless she is in great constant pain from the arthritis. but i feel every avenue should be explored before putting an animal down. im not rich, im a disabled vet, so i realize money constraints. at the same time her current health problem is one seen by many older dogs. its a fairly common thing in older dogs that havent been fixed. 10 yrs old, is an older dog, but ive had that size live to be as old as 16. sheps are prone to arthritis problems, but as i say there are inexpensive supplements that can help her getting around.

im sort of wondering why you made this thread, because you sound like you dont even like the dog. you seem to be making excuses not to make a few simple phone calls. ive even given you some sources for infor on getting these services based on income. remember, this is making her life harder TOO, by being sick and not feeling like eating, a temp, etc from this present problem. if you dont want her, i maybe able to find someone that would take her and tend to her problems. im trying to be helpful to you, but i dont think you care much about this dog. believe me i understand costs. i take in strays, i pay for their food and vet bills, i get no help. but at the same time this is not a complex problem as far as medical conditions go. this requires getting her spayed, and that is all. isnt she worth 60 bucks? pet ownership is a responsibilty, you may not think of them on the same level as your kids, but they do depend on us as a young child would for food and when they are sick to make appropriate decisons.

how are you able to make your rent or house payments, food for your family and the dog, etc if flat broke. i mean with nothing coming in at all, unemployment etc? i can give you a couple sources that list real at home work opportunities, no get rich quick things or scams. but pple do make a couple hundred here and there on things like taking surveys etc. im not trying to be nosey, just trying to understand your situation better. in hard times things like cable, internet, cell phones are usually the first to go.

please tell your wife what i have written here about sources and projected costs. this dog apparently means more to her.

arthritis link
Arthritis

other websites i mentioned regarding home income
It's Free! - Home

Free Survey Place free paid survey list!

Katies Hugs Work at home free! Free work at home

before you think of trying something at home
consult. scams - report the scam here

[chiroptera]

I don't think it's productive to make JGatti feel guilty, although I understand the intent is well meaning. Todd, do you have a clue, really, how much some veterinary care can cost?

I have no kids and yes, I did spend about $5,000 for a dog's cancer treatment this spring. Had I opted for chemotherapy at OVRS, it could easily have run $20,000, $30,000 or more. Easily. The $5,000 was a stretch for me; $20,000+ would have been out of the question. Check the cost of cancer treatment for large dogs, I'm not making this up. Chemotherapy is dependent on the size of the dog...depending on the chemo protocol used it can cost several grand a month for a Great Dane sized dog. And that does not include surgery and special diets and meds and complementary treatment and all.

Everyone has their limit and capabilities...I know someone who spent over $50,000 keeping a medium-sized lymphoma dog alive (and doing well) for three years; I know someone else whose dog (same breed and same cancer as mine; we met on a local dog cancer discussion group) cost her $17,000 at OVRS and maybe, just maybe, she got a few extra months. But the dog still only made it seven months past diagnosis. Diagnosis and amputation, plus four months of chemo.

Todd, maybe you're pretty well off and can afford that sort of money for a dog but honestly, most people can't. Good for you if you can. Yes, we are responsible for our dogs - but to the best of our abilities. Someone going heavily into debt or losing their home because they're paying vet bills? That's not even close to being rational.

Edit: OVRS: http://www.ovrs.com/

[Southernkomfort27]

Your local humane society probably offers a discount spay/ nueter program. I went through them to get my 4 cats nuetered, at a cost of 30.00 each. A female dog will be more, but it is still inexpensive. Is your wife aware of the aforementioned options? She may want to look into resources to care for her dog since she is obviously more attatched.

It sounds like you've already made up your mind.

[chiroptera]

A ten year old large dog may be at risk for severe complications, including death, for major surgery like a spay. She would need a complete blood work up to make sure she can physically handle it...it's not easy for a senior dog. A lot of physical stress, much higher risk, not to mention the mental stress on a poorly socialized or mentally wonky dog.

[todd00]

do i "have a clue"? i find that insulting after all i have written here and my stating ive taken in strays for more than 20 yrs. do you think i have gotten my vet care for these animals for free all these years? i pointed out several times in my post that i understand hardship and limitations, i have and am living it, at the same time i cannot understand letting a dog suffer. if i gotta go sell a pint a blood or two, or whatever, i wont let my animal im responsible for lay there sick. i know about cancer too, i just lost a dear pet to cancer, i had to put him down, it was spreading, and i didnt want him suffering. ive had many pass with various kinds of cancer over the yrs. i know about chemo costs and other treatment options as well. but we Arent discussing his dog needing chemo are we? we are discussing an infection that can be solved by spaying the dog. there is a great difference in cost of the two. one many or most cant afford. spay or neuter most pple can afford, those that cant, there are places that will help, such as i listed. my attempt was to help by pointing out the dog is sick and they must do something about it. and if it goes on untreated the dog will become very ill from it and they may lose her.

chiroptera, i dont understand your attitude towards me. i have tried to be helpful, beyond anyone in this thread, giving him places to call that help pple that arent making much, and sources for making a few bucks at home too. but its not wrong to point out that its just not fair to let a dog suffer with something so easily as corrected. disabled veterans pensions are not alot, do you realize that? i am unable to work do to my problems now, but if i try to make something on the side, ill lose part of what i make. im not some fat cat, being crass and rude to the op, and offering no potential solutions. you show me no respect for the positive things i have said in my posts. i find it just sad that even when trying to be of help listing sources to assist with problems. i get met with a negative post. it leaves me shaking my head about pple. this is what i get back for trying to be helpful.

"Todd, maybe you're pretty well off and can afford that sort of money for a dog but honestly, most people can't". what sort of money? 60 dollars to spay a dog? we arent talking about major surgery to try and correct arthritis, or chemo are we? this is something of relative low cost.

as far as the surgery, usually they will examine the dog, listen to the heart, make a physical exam of possible lumps etc. a cdc blood work up would be used when the heart shows its not working well, murmurs, irregular heartbeat etc. in that case they like to know how the kidneys, liver are functioning too. if the dog is in good general health apart from her arthritis, they will generally do without the tests.

[Driller1]

Years ago I had a problem with vet bills. I paid for the meds and worked off the services of the vet at the clinic. I cleaned, cut grass and did a little filing.

[chiroptera]

Todd, I acknowledged that your posts were written with good intent and well meaning; I made a point of saying so. I certainly didn't insult you, don't know what "attitude" you're referring to and I'm sorry you took it that way. If you want to point out the "negative" parts of my posts I'll be happy to reconsider.

My point was that everybody has a cut-off for what they can afford. For some people it might well be $60.00. For other people it's maybe $5,000, or $50,000. For JGatti, who has mentioned in other threads being out of work and really hurting financially and having some other stresses going on, pretty much any amount might be too much. My only "it's not helpful" comment was directed at that; not saying you weren't being helpful generally. You were, OK?

And for what you list as associated costs with a spay, regular vet costs would far exceed $60.00. CBC alone is $35-45. Unless the dog is on HW meds and recently tested, a HW test is pretty much mandatory as well. They can do that with the same draw but it's still a separate test. Anesthesia alone on a dog that size will run about $100. Plus antibiotics (because open pyo is an infection and quickly goes systemic if not treated) and pain meds. Plus the cost of the surgery, fluids, aftercare, etc.

This dog needs to be treated now, as in this morning, as in two days ago. Good luck with finding low-cost help for emergency vet services. I'm secretary of a rescue, our VP is an emergency vet tech, we get calls daily from desperate people with sick pets and no money, it is NOT easy to get free or cheap or payment plan treatment vet care for a dog in a day! We help and refer people to many of the organizations you list (and some others) but none of them deal with emergencies that I know of and won't help with this dog.

One other thing - JGatti I am not sure what antibiotics you have on hand, and which would be useful for a dog in this situation. Many human and dog antibiotics are the same. A spay surgery may not even be necessary right away to save her. Hefty doses of the right antibiotic might. You'd need to find out what the appropriate antibiotics would be, shouldn't be hard to do with some googling.

[Driller1]

This should be on the "dog" forum. At the top of that forum, it plainly states to see a vet.