And now it's my dog

[minkydog]

Dear Universe, I could really use a break about now.

My very old Minkydog had some elevated liver function tests last month, so we've been giving him Milk Thistle and SAM-e to try to improve that. We cannot afford the meds the vet recommended. Our med copays just for us humans is over $3500/year and this medicine is about $130/month.

We had more labs drawn last week and the vet called me today. The lab results are high. Way higher than before. So now we've got to wean him off his phenobarb (for seizures) and get him acclimated to potassium bromide. I'm worried because he's an old gent, almost 11yo, pretty old for a big dog. We're going to have to put him on a special food for liver support too. I see $$$$ flying out the window.

I hate to sound so mercenary. I really love my Minky and i'm very protective of him. I wish i had a lot of extra money to pay for all the things he needs. With all that he has going on he's actually pretty peppy, if a little bit creaky.He's eating well, a little too well--lately we've caught him eating tissues, shredded checks, a bag of coffee and various candies that he's found.

 

[DizFan101]

awww.
poor baby. i hope he gets better.

 

[meliss8599]

As much as we love our dogs, it IS hard to decide when enough is enough money-wise. Our vet told us we have the option to take our dog to a canine neurologist for an MRI to see if his partial loss of control in his back legs is strictly neurological or if there's something that could be helped with spinal surgery. When I researched, I saw costs of anywhere from $5,000-$15,000. Do I love the dog? Of course. Does it kill me to fathom spending that amount of money when it could be put toward a college fund/mortgage payments/etc.? Of course. No one can make the decision for us and it's an extremely tough one, especially when they're all there mentally and in personality.

 

[lakelandgal70]

Our cocker, Anna, had the same issue. The phenobarb usage actually gave her liver cancer and they gave her 3-6months to live but she lived another 3yrs. We yanked her off the phenobarb and I think we did the Sam-e for a little while. Have you researched any other natural remedies for dogs. Maybe there is something just as good but maybe cheaper. And you probably can get Sam-e cheaper from another source? Just an idea. Hope your doggie gets to feeling better.

 

[minkydog]

Our cocker, Anna, had the same issue. The phenobarb usage actually gave her liver cancer and they gave her 3-6months to live but she lived another 3yrs. We yanked her off the phenobarb and I think we did the Sam-e for a little while. Have you researched any other natural remedies for dogs. Maybe there is something just as good but maybe cheaper. And you probably can get Sam-e cheaper from another source? Just an idea. Hope your doggie gets to feeling better.

I picked up the SAM-e and the Milk Thistle at our grocery store, BOGO, so it's about as cheap as it's going to be. There are prescription drugs that the vet suggested that are very expensive, about $130/ month for one of them and $60 for the other (I can't recall their names right now.) The food costs about twice what we're paying now, but it includes some of the liver support supplements. I think that's about as much as we can do now. At least he seems to feel good. He's smiling and trying to get in my lap, all 80-lbs of him.