Free vet help?? (Update post 16)

[SandrA9810]

I was wondering if any one knew how to get free vet help.
Kiani, my pup (well she's like 8 years old now), has some sort of growth on the underside of her belly. It showed up like a year ago about the size of a small rock (about as big as a quarter). It really didn't change much in size, occasionally I could tell it was getting to be bigger. But it never bothered her if I messed with it, sqeezed it, moved it around. Ever since we moved into this apartment at the end of April it's been getting really big, now it's as long as my hand and a couple inches wide.
A little back story... when we first adopted her from the pound, they did a bad job on the stitches from fixing her, but they refused to fix it. So she has a small hernia on her tummy. I've talked to two different vets about, and neither one is worried about it. Pretty much if an intenstine got trapped in the bubble it would block her up and then I would need to worry. For now it's pretty much fluid in that space. And both vets gave me an estimate of about 300-400 to have it fixed. Most the cost going into putting her to sleep.

I took her to the vet back in March because there was blood in her poop. (It kinda reminded of a menstrual blood, thick and gooey... not like there was a cut or something that caused her to bleed). I showed the vet the, at that time, small growth. He didn't seem that concerned with it, thought maybe it was a fatty deposit. All her labs came back negative for any diseases and the vet said that the blood was probably from an extreme amount of stress. Which was definatly true at the time. It only happened that one day, and no more problems since.

I know I need to take her to the vet, and the growth definatly needs to be removed, but there's just no way to pay for it. I've talked with like the ASPCA and pound of Orlando, but neither one will do free vet care, just "discounted". Which is a joke since her vet charges the same for a visit.
I want what's best for her, and I'm not just going to drop her off at the pound so they'd do the work and adopt her out to some one else. I could quite imagine finding her on my doorstep some time after that. She was ownder surrendered once, and she got totally freaked out during our last move that the only place she wanted to be was the car because that's where we were putting all of our stuff. She's definatly a smart doggie when she wants to be.

And she just like any other dog... whimpers about the little things, like not sharing your dinner with them, but acts perfectly happy or even more so when she's not really feeling well.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

I doubt you will find a free vet, but you may find a big difference in the cost from one vet to another. I know I have called around and found a big difference in what some vets charge. You maybe be able to take her to your vet for a visit and explain that you do not have the funds for the operations and they may do a payment plan. Or they may tell you she is not in pain and not to worry which would only cost the amount of the visit. You know if you were to surrender her they may put her down because of the growth. What breed is she?

 

[SandrA9810]

She's a samoyed mutt. She's only about 35lbs, but her personality fits her to the breed. The growth is on the inside of her left hind leg.
My vet used to offer payment plans, but now doesn't. But it really doesn't help me either, I don't think a vet would want to wait five years to get paid off, I'd be lucky to fit in an extra 10$ a month. (Don't worry about the doggie though, she still gets her premium brand food, I just make sure I use my 5$ coupon every month.)

I've started looking for a new job again, I haven't worked since last September, but who know when I'd ever actually get hired. Being out of work for nearly a year doesn't look so good on an application, and well Kari's already working crazy long weeks at work, I can't ask her to work 7 days, 6 is hard enough. And we did have the money, it only appeared to be a fatty deposit with nothing to worry about... Nothing happens when times are easy, but everything likes to crumble as soon as things start to get rough.

 

[BradyBz12]

Do you have any veterinary schools anywhere near you? They sometimes have super low cost programs and sometimes even have grant funds available to help cover the cost completely. And if they don't, they may be able to point you in the right direction.

I don't think a vet would want to wait five years to get paid off, I'd be lucky to fit in an extra 10$ a month.

Definitely can't hurt to ask. I know a lot of vets are just getting by themselves, but if you ask around you might find someone willing to help you out.


Good luck!

 

[SandrA9810]

Hmmm.... that reminds me, Kari's brother just got a job in Georgia as a vet tech. Maybe we could go visit her parents....

I'm looking online, but nothings coming up. I love how you can get them fixed for nearly free, but no one wants to help beyond that.

 

[2goofycampers]

There is this place in Nashville, maybe they know of some help in your area or will help.



http://www.browndogfoundation.org/

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

She's adorable; looks a little like an American Eskimo to me. Could you try the Eskie/Samoyed rescue clubs to see if they have any suggestions/leads on veterinary care?

I also agree with a PP about calling around. Our dog needed *two* knee surgeries (both blew at the same time...ouch). I called around and found a reputable vet who charged 1/2 what a local vet did. It was about an hour's drive, but it saved us plenty. Try calling around!

Good luck.

 

[LarryJ]

I was wondering if any one knew how to get free vet help.
Kiani, my pup (well she's like 8 years old now), has some sort of growth on the underside of her belly. It showed up like a year ago about the size of a small rock (about as big as a quarter). It really didn't change much in size, occasionally I could tell it was getting to be bigger. But it never bothered her if I messed with it, sqeezed it, moved it around. Ever since we moved into this apartment at the end of April it's been getting really big, now it's as long as my hand and a couple inches wide.
A little back story... when we first adopted her from the pound, they did a bad job on the stitches from fixing her, but they refused to fix it. So she has a small hernia on her tummy. I've talked to two different vets about, and neither one is worried about it. Pretty much if an intenstine got trapped in the bubble it would block her up and then I would need to worry. For now it's pretty much fluid in that space. And both vets gave me an estimate of about 300-400 to have it fixed. Most the cost going into putting her to sleep.

I took her to the vet back in March because there was blood in her poop. (It kinda reminded of a menstrual blood, thick and gooey... not like there was a cut or something that caused her to bleed). I showed the vet the, at that time, small growth. He didn't seem that concerned with it, thought maybe it was a fatty deposit. All her labs came back negative for any diseases and the vet said that the blood was probably from an extreme amount of stress. Which was definatly true at the time. It only happened that one day, and no more problems since.

I know I need to take her to the vet, and the growth definatly needs to be removed, but there's just no way to pay for it. I've talked with like the ASPCA and pound of Orlando, but neither one will do free vet care, just "discounted". Which is a joke since her vet charges the same for a visit.
I want what's best for her, and I'm not just going to drop her off at the pound so they'd do the work and adopt her out to some one else. I could quite imagine finding her on my doorstep some time after that. She was ownder surrendered once, and she got totally freaked out during our last move that the only place she wanted to be was the car because that's where we were putting all of our stuff. She's definatly a smart doggie when she wants to be.

And she just like any other dog... whimpers about the little things, like not sharing your dinner with them, but acts perfectly happy or even more so when she's not really feeling well.

I don't really have any words of wisdom here, but the four legged furry "children" become just like the two legged biological ones once you get attached to them emotionally and you have to just do what is best for them and worry about $$$ after wards. There is a limit to this, but IMHO it's in the thousands of $$$ for just a few month fending off the obvious end which is then a quality of life issue and I've put down 3 dogs because they both told me in the look in their face that it was time and it was the hardest decisions I and the DW have had to make.

Larry

 

[SandrA9810]

Well she's still got plenty of life left in her. She still runs around, eats, sleeps, and poop. I'm guessing though that after it's removed they can determine if it's something worse that would need further treatment.
I would go so far as to put it on a CC, but even then, those are all maxed out. And like every one else, lines of credit are shrinking.

Thanks for the website... I'll look into it. Kari's parent's live in North Georgia, on the NC border, so if anything we would just have to pay for gas to get up there.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

Can they just aspirate it first to determine if more needs to be done rather than going through the expense of removing it just to find out that it's just a fatty tumor? Or do you already know that it's more than that? I have a 12 year old golden retriever and he has more tumors than I can count, some quite large and they are all just fatty tumors. He had two very large ones removed several years ago but now because of his age and heart problems surgery is no longer an option but since they do not bother him much we are just leaving them alone.

I know this probably doesn't help much - just our experience. I wish you the best. It's so hard when you want to do what's in their best interest but are unable to do so financially.

 

[AuburnJen92]

The closest vet school to you is UF. I can't get you the number because for some reason, their site won't load, but I would certainly give them a call. My alma mater also has a vet school and just saved my sister's bulldog. I would think that would be too much of a drive for you though. Gainesville is not that far from you. Keep us posted!

 

[flsurfergrl]

This is a great resource to help float the cost for awhile. I definitely agree with calling around for the best price, and maybe someone who will take care credit.

http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/testimonials.html

 

[SandrA9810]

I doubt if we'd get approved for that card... we had one CC closed and sent to collections. It's since been paid off, but it only happened a couple years ago.

It doesn't seem to bother her, but she sits a little funny now. And it's pulling on her skin when she stands up. Like I said it's about as long as my hand (my best description is a bit odd..... it seems like a guy's hard on stuck under her skin. It's just rapidly grown in the past few months since she last saw her vet, it was about the size of a rock then.

Can I ask where you found the vet info on UF's site?? A google search turned up only that. I've been looking for something a bit closer, but I'd still spend the gas money to get to Gainsville, I've been that way before.

Thanks so much for the help.

 

[SandrA9810]

So I'm visiting my aunt out of state, and Kiani has stopped eating all together. Except for things she shouldn't like cheese or pepperoni off pizza. Things that I'll sometimes let her have, but I don't think she should be eating it on an empty stomach like that.
So in any case, I called a CC company that had been paid off and got a replacement card. Kari took her to the vet today. It cost about 150$ for the biopsy and visit, and we'll know in about 5 days what's going on with her.

 

[2goofycampers]

I hope this is the start of a quick and cheap recovery.

 

[SandrA9810]

Good news. Sorta...

The lump is not cancerous. There's two options, one is just a mass growing and needs to be removed, the other is it's another hernia (she has had one almost from the time we got her, but it's never changed in size and it's many fluid in the cavity). The hernia could be filled with something that helps hold in the intestines, causing it to be harder than the other. Or it could be the intestines but it's not cutting anything off yet, so she still pees and poops.
The best option is to go in surgically to remove the skin to see what it is, and the best option to go with it. If they go in for a biopsy, if it's the intestine it could tear a hole in it causing bacteria to get into the rest of the area.... and well that'd be a bad thing.

I'm waiting for the vet to call me back with some pricing options.

Right now it's not an emergency, if she starts vomiting after eating and stops pooping, then that means that the intestine has been cut off entirely and she can't pass the food. Which is something I have paid attention to for a long time now.