Is anyone here a Vet? or a Vet Student? Aide?

[Betwyn]

Back in February, my dog had an abscess, and it burst. She filled with blood and puss, under her skin, until the skin rotted and ripped open, causing her to leak all over my bed while I slept.

At the time, the Vet did some minor surgery, removing the dead flesh, cleaning the wound, stitching her most the way up.. Gave me anti-biotic's, N-saids for her pain..

The wound has never 100% healed.. It's gotten close, but just won't finish healing. I took her back to the vet tonight, and basically, they want to go back, in a more invasive surgery now that her flesh is more stable, and take everything that won't heal. They say it is presenting as a "foreign body reaction" and that it is likely something in there from before, like a piece of rotted skin or flesh that they couldn't take before because of the severity of the wound and her condition then.

I would really like to do this. I want her to be better. I need her to be better.

Problem is.. the cost of the procedure, and the medicines and after care, is more $$ then I make in a month, much less that I could actually spend.

I feel like I'm failing my dog.. that she is in pain because I am too poor to help her.. and I don't know what to do...

Is there anything I can do at home to help her heal better?

[Anonymous]

L-glutamine will help but I don't know how much. l glutamine is the food of our immune system. I used it in my heavy weightlifting days because of its power to heal wounds like microscopic muscle tears. doctors have used it for recuperation of body parts like surgery etc. it has a powerful effect on the immune system and I keep a bottle around if someone sneezes on me and for my dad so he doesn't get sick (hes old). google it. you can find glutamine in supplement stores. I'm not sure how well it will work on a dog. its the food of our immune system so it will help your dogs immune system. however if you take it too often the body temporarily stops producing as much as it normally does. for me after 2-4 weeks of 2+ heaping (full)spoons of powder. but I've never tested its limitations and benefits or my limits with it and I don't really know where to start with a dog. there are some web pages about people who have given glutamine to their dogs. if you buy it buy it micronized. you can put it in water. - don't heat it. its a powder. slightly sweet/sour your dog might like it.

the main benefit to your dog will be a stronger immune system.

link

there might be negative side effects.

the only negative side effects humans get is the body temp stop producing as much on its own.

[Opinion Owner]

youl be interested in googling glutamins effects on surgical (large) wounds healing etc.

[Leah1273]

My rabbit just at e 3 pieces of chocolate out my hand when I wasn’t paying attention , he’s 10 and is a Dutch lop so I’m terrified. I also wanted to ask the affects of ibuprofen on rabbits. help please 😭😭😭

[Cromartie]

No. If she has necrotic tissue it must be taken out. The only way you could do anything is to remove it yourself, which I would never advise, but since I can't help you from a medical standpoint ( thankfully dogs and other creatures [humans] have this basic biology in common ) I can attempt to help you financially. Where do you live? There are usually programs dedicated to helping people who have the sick and needy pets of the world that require care even if their owners can't really afford it. You could also negotiate payment plans.

I'm surprised they didn't give you access or information to financial aid for the ailing pet since it's generally present everywhere you go.

[Betwyn]

I don't know that we have that in Canada?

I looked into Pet insurance, but it wouldn't cover a pre-existing condition.

[Cromartie]

Let's start here: link with link as a resource as well. There is no country without charity; I will talk to a Canadian friend I have tomorrow, or try to if they are available, they will know more about it than I. They do work in this kind of thing.

[Anonymous]

I'm a veterinary technician and totally understand. Talk with your vet and let them know your money situation. They should be able to work out a payment plan, call in prescriptions for cheaper, and of for you care credit. Please please please ask them about care credit. I'm not sure if it's available in your state or the exact stipulations but it's a great alternative to animal money situations.

Your vet should understand and really should work with you. You clearly take your dog to the vet and have tried to do the best for your dog because you did the first surgery and want to do this one! Good Luck! :) I don't see how you couldn't do this surgery for your dog! :)

[Turtleluv]

I'm a vet assistant but your problem is unusual. I suggest getting a copy of your records and get a second opinion. You should be honest with your vet about it. Say what you said here. You don't have enough money and you want a second opinion before you make your decision. if they are respectable they will understand your choice.

In my area pet exams are around $35. Assuming bloodwork and other tests were done at your vet they shouldn't need to be done again.

Good luck I hope she gets better.

[Betwyn]

tonight cost me $51 with the tax...

and her last bloodwork was too long ago.

She is 88lbs, and 9 years old, so they have to allow for extra medicine and anaesthesia time.

They want to run the Histopathy (sp?) again, which is $150..

[Turtleluv]

I live in NE, here age and weight don't effect our prices. A surgery is a surgery is a surgery. The meds are always included in the prices.

I would still get a 2nd exam. There should be a vet that can look at it and get an idea. Find an older vet that grew up on a farm. They've seen crazy stuff starting at a young age. They don't want to run tests for every little thing unless they just want money.

[lace1228]

Is there away to get donations through family and friends that can help towards the cost? What about a payment plan? I think something like this needs to be treated by professional only. I don't think anything at home will work for the long run.

[Betwyn]

My mother wouldn't give me a single loonie to help my dog...

The friends I have that I could ask for help like this, are students or work crap paying jobs like me.

[Leah1273]

My rabbit just at e 3 pieces of chocolate out my hand when I wasn’t paying attention , he’s 10 and is a Dutch lop so I’m terrified. I also wanted to ask the affects of ibuprofen on rabbits. help please 😭😭😭