$1200 and counting...

[quadfather]

i feel your pain , my wife and i have 3 yorkies. our youngest was in the animal hospital for 2 weeks . the total was around 2800.00. this was only after having her for 3 days . and paying 2100.00 for her. anyway she had pnuemonia. and her blood suger got so low she was having seisures. but we got asked the same question by the doctor. about a spending limit and even after only having her for 3 days we said get her healthy do what ever it takes. well now she is 2 years old healthy, and worth every penny. so i hope yours story has a happy ending also.

[Hdesign]

Sorry to hear that. We're huge dog fans in my house and it's always tough to be faced with those decisions. Hope all turns out well!

[jimhamptons]

Sorry to hear about that Steve, I hope everything works out.

[Payton King]

I have a lab that my wife found as a puppy when we were dating...I named it.

She is 14 now which is old for a lab. Anyway we took her to the vet because she is losing weight. Basicially she is in kidney failure and may live 2 months or 2 more years.

My other dog had cancer on his leg 2 years ago, he is 12 now. We had the cancer removed but did not want to cut his leg off or do chemo. They gave him 6 months to live as they said it would come back...he is beating the odds and doing great.

Hate to hear that about your dog.

[clill]

Are you missing any car parts ? Need a spare dog ?

[Slick]

Hope everything works out, and I know how everyone feels about their dogs. My girlfriend and I have no kids...but we have 5 dogs between us (I have 2, she has 3) and everyone makes fun of us for treating them like our kids...they are like out kids, and my best friends at the same time We say we're done for awhile and 5 is plenty..but the minute my girlfriend sees a sick dog needing a home it will be on it's way home with us....the last one had 5 tumors removed 2 days after she brought it home to "foster" it until they found a good home for it...yeah right, she's a best dog now

[markss28]

Sorry to hear about your dog Steve. I pray that God heals her and that she return sakely home.

We have 2 boxers and 2 baset-hounds and we love them all very mouch. Our youngest hound was born in a litter of 3 and the father killed the first one, the second one died 2 days later, but the 3rd (Duke) is still kicking. We had to baby him for about 45 days keeping him in warm blankets, feeding him with a bottle, and the best bed money could buy. He was so litte then now hes 9months old and 70 pounds.

Keep believing for the best. A miracle will happen.

[DRJDVM's '69]

Hey Steve
Sorry to hear about your dog.

Does you're vet have access to an ultrasound machine ??? In my experience barium series are very expensive and usually dont tell you very much. It usually ends up costing alot and you still have to do other tests or do a surgical exploratory to get an answer or correct the problem anyway. I prefer to spend the $$ in other ways that have a better cost/benefit ratio.

See if your vet can have a radiologist do an ultrasound for you. There are mobile radiologists or possibly somewhere close that you take your dog to to have it done and return to your local vet. In my opinion you're better off spending the $$ that way. Theres nothing wrong with a barium series per se, but they are getting to be considered "old school" and for the cost tends to eat up alot of an owners budget for an often small yield on results.

Let me know if I can help answer any questions etc. Obviously your vet is going to be the best source since he/she is in direct contact with your dog and knows the whole situation, but I may be able to clear up any confusion you may be having.

I am a vet by the way..... DRJDVM's '69

[jonny51]

We love our dogs also,"do what's necessary" about sum's it up.