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Post by cally on Jun 6, 2013 2:23:34 GMT 1
I thought as we all have 'issues' with our pets so much, we should have somewhere official to moan about them. Well, my gorgeous but mad 2 year old basenji X kelpie has been limping around for a few weeks, getting a lot worse in the last week or 2. Before it never lasted long and was transient but we took her to the vet this morning ($200+) and he said that she has the worst case he's ever seen of a slipping knee. One of the bony processes at the end of the femur that helps hold the knee cap in place is virtually absent so her patella and the ligament that holds a normal knee in place just slides around. SO, next Wednesday, a very major orthopaedic operation, involving saws, metal pins, stapling etc at a cost of $900+! THIS is after a trip out to Star last night where I noticed heat in his hooves again and red showing through the sole of his off hind hoof. So being stricter about the diet- no carrots at all- wheaten chaff and Pergolide, FounderGuard and Glucosoflex. He will probably refuse to eat it, he'll lose more weight, and it may reach the point where he has to be put to sleep. He hates me. Yesterday I drove up and he whinnied a welcome, ears pricked, head up, then he saw it was me rather than Phil and his ears went back, he wouldn't come to me and started to walk off. Even when I put his food down he didn't rush up and I had to push him through the gate. He's not rideable, he's never affectionate with me and if he was younger I'd sell him on. If he gets sick again it will mean lots of $ on top of the dog, and all of the money I'd saved for my dream trip to the UK will go. I've already spent $3000 on him last time and he hates me- probably from giving him his daily medicine, taking his temperature and being the 'bad' (strict) parent. I'm just numb. Have to get myself x rayed and blood tested tomorrow and I just don't care and can't be bothered. I'm so worried about Lizzie's big op: she's the happiest being I have ever encountered. She doesn't deserve all of this at such a young age. Gotta go- crying.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2013 11:49:57 GMT 1
Gosh Cally it never rains but it pours! I hope the op goes O.K. and Star doesn't get any worse.
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Post by foxglove on Jun 6, 2013 15:46:25 GMT 1
Sorry to hear the problems are all piling up at once. I guess Star is unfortunately associating you with pain and discomfort. I don't think horses are psychologically deep enough to actually hate anyone!
When veterinary treatment starts running into four figures, I think it's fair to take a step back and ask yourself if you can realistically afford it, and whether you are improving their quality of life, or just prolonging it a bit. You have already done so much for him, perhaps the last act of love will be to say a pain-free goodbye. Best of luck with the tough decisions.
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Post by Claire on Jun 6, 2013 20:34:31 GMT 1
One of the most heartbreaking things about animals is that you can't explain to them you are doing things for their own good. When I was cleaning and dressing Rosie's wound and shoving pills down her all the time I sometimes felt she was wondering why her previous loving mum had suddenly turned into a sadist! I think you just have to make an extra fuss of them the rest of the time. Its harder tho when its a horse you have to travel out to see so the only time you see them is when you have to give them their treatment. How far away is he boarded? Could you not fit in more visits just to go and make a fuss of him/give him treats so he doesnt just associate you with unpleasant things - I understand if thats not possible tho! I hope Lizzie's op goes well. She's such a cutie. I know how you are worrying. I was the same a few weeks back. It really helped to come on here and get support, so I hope you do too cally. Sometimes I think animal folk are just masochists - why else would we put ourselves through all this stress and heartache?
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Post by cally on Jun 7, 2013 3:16:57 GMT 1
Thanks, guys. Phil went and fed and rugged Star last night and he said he was perky and sweet. You are absolutely right about needing to spend more time just hanging out with Star, taking him for walks and even lungeing him, because part of the problem is I go out late afternoon and put Star in a yard and manage his feet while he eats. Then I have to go and rug up to 6 paddock mates and after that it's dark. Today my wrist is sprained/strained and I just had an ENORMOUS blood test: I made about 10 idiotic mistakes at the counter of the local shop in the space of 3 whole minutes so now I'm eating chocolate and waiting for 'Last of the Summer Wine' to start. Long weekend ahead so maybe I'll be able to spend some 'quality' time with Star. Mme Lizzie is lying on a comfy chair cushion (taken from my 'reading' chair in the so-called 'tack room') next to the oil fin heater, blissfully unaware of what's ahead, which is why many animals are so much happier than most of us.
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Post by jinglerebel on Jun 7, 2013 3:40:02 GMT 1
Lots of people around here take out pet insurance now as previous pets have cost them thousands in vet fees. Although getting the insurers to fork out is another thing! My dog goes into hiding when she sees the ear meds come out. Gets a treat reward though (well, a meaty worm treatment chew :lol !)
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Post by cally on Jun 7, 2013 7:38:20 GMT 1
Pet insurance is not worth it unless you have valuable animals. We just have a savings account and just put as much as we can in it: at least you get a smidgen of interest and if you don't need the money for pet expenses and something else crops up (i.e.: last year my mother-in-laws funeral, the travel, accommodation etc) then you can use that. I try and keep money matter as simple as possible, which is quite easy when you're poor! The less fingers getting in your pie the better because none of these insurers are offering their services out of altruism, they're purely out for profit. And I mean, trying getting your pet insurer to fork out the cost of taking your chook-replacement value $14- to the vet for anti-inflammatories: Bill= c.$100! I don't think so....
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Post by jinglerebel on Jun 9, 2013 2:37:56 GMT 1
yeah, these are people whose dogs have cost thousands in vet bills, so for them it's worth it.
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Post by cally on Jun 9, 2013 4:44:15 GMT 1
Star's Cushings / laminitis bout cost all in all c. $2500-$3000 including vet fees, special diet, yard fees and so on, and Lizzie will cost c. $$2500 probably, including the 2 operations and anti biotics etc. But they're worth it- it has crossed my mind that if Star kept foundering it may not be 'worth' it but the only reason to euthanase an animal in my opinion is if it is in pain and unhappy and it's quality of life has gone. Star's seeing the farrier next week, and has his bi annual check up next month so another $300, and both cats need vaccinating- another $200+. And I have to get my teeth 'fixed' and can't afford to 'cos it'll mean wisdom teeth out, all fillings probably need replacing and root canal is a possibility and I LOATHE dentists- not personally, just professionally.
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Post by Claire on Jun 9, 2013 12:21:36 GMT 1
Thats a lot of dosh cally! I have spent between £800-£1000 on vets fees, medicines, dressings, etc for Rosie since the tumours started appearing, but before that she'd hardly been to the vet at all. My other cats I probably spent even less on, so overall I think I would have been worse off if I had insured them. (Have never insured any dogs or cats) Horses I think are a different matter - the vets fees are so high it can be worth it. Pah thats reminded me, time to look for a new house insurer. Such a greedy lot, putting the premiums up every year once they have you as a customer. Well I just go elsewhere each year!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2013 13:59:27 GMT 1
goodness that is a lot!
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Post by kunuma on Jun 9, 2013 18:53:21 GMT 1
Cally you have my sympathies, I'm having the same problem with my pony, compounded by the fact that she is away on livery and I'm not the one caring for her, so I feel even more guilty that she is suffering because I have been unable to find anywhere near home to keep her. For the first time I do have one of my animals insured, her breeder started it and I kept it up, and I agree, the list of what they will not pay out for includes just about everything, but I did choose the one that didn't pay out anything if you lose your animal, as I don't want money for that!! I'd hate the feeling of being paid for losing an animal. In my girl's case, nothing to do with her being female is covered!! I'll be OK if she gets run over by a bus, but strangely I go to a lot of trouble to avoid that! Pretty much anything else and it's no go!
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 9, 2013 21:22:53 GMT 1
Cally you have my sympathies too, been there and bought the t-shirt too.
Jade cost us thousands with her on going joint issues, cancer and the general medication she needed from her arrival to the day we lost her. She was insured but quickly used up the set limit dogs here can be insured for before the cancer came along just on medication and x -rays etc to track how she was doing- she was on over £100 of medication alone a month the last few years - she was worth ever penny mind and if we could have her back i wouldn't begrudge her a penny of it but my bank balance has certainly noticed a difference!
I do think you have to way up the quality of life issue but the medication was for her arthritis and with it she was happy and comfortable right until the end, which was when we had her pts as she was no longer happy- we always joked she funded the new equine unit our vets set up! You know your a good customer when you arrive and they say hello jade, as you come through the door.
The ponies are no longer insured for vets fees either...it may bite me, but murph had a list of exclusions as long as your arm and when colic was added it seemed hardly worth paying the premiums. Now i just have the free liability via my BHS gold membership and what i save each year goes towards any vets bill that i may occur.
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Post by Claire on Jun 9, 2013 21:27:52 GMT 1
Bloody hell horse insurance has certainly gone downhill since my day - colic on the list of exclusions!
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 9, 2013 21:42:22 GMT 1
lol, they exclude individual limbs too!
I wouldn't have minded the colic exclusion if i'd claimed for colic surgery or something but it was a claim for a virus and " colic like symptons" was on the vet bill - we weren't happy with him the evening after vet came to see him/treated via antibiotics in the morning, he was literally looking at his stomach and nothing more, the vet came back and to be on safe side treat as they would mild colic but of course the word colic was there in black and white!
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Post by Claire on Jun 9, 2013 21:51:54 GMT 1
Crikey colic like symptoms is even worse. Is there anything left they do shell out for? In the unlikely event I ever get another horse I don't think I'll be bothering with insurance now!
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Post by cally on Jun 10, 2013 2:58:51 GMT 1
There are more things excluded than included which is why we have one savings account for everything (to maximise interest) but it still all gets spent on the furries and the feathers!
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Post by cally on Jun 12, 2013 2:57:33 GMT 1
Lizzie having her big op today: grey and rainy day (nice!) but feel anxious about how Lizzie's coping. She doesn't do well away from her family- another feature of her breed according to the vet. Can't wait to pick her up at 5.30pm after we've rugged the horses. I'll be stuck in the house for the next few days trying to keep Lizzie quiet, i.e.: stop her chasing her tail and dancing. I regret not having got her a tu tu and taken film of her dancing when she could.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2013 6:31:47 GMT 1
Hope the op is a success cally.
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Post by cally on Jun 12, 2013 9:36:24 GMT 1
Oh my poor puppy!!! She has a 10cm scar down her left hind leg and cannot put ANY weight on it at all. She's got a massive Elizabethan collar on- god knows how she's going to eat and drink, we're feeding her cat dry food one piece at a time at the moment. She is SO doped up and miserable looking, though she wags her tail slowly when we talk to her. Such a shock to see her like this- she is a really hyperactive dog usually. We have to keep her quiet for 10 days (HA!), the poor wee girl. I'll try and put some pics up tomorrow or Friday.
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Post by Claire on Jun 12, 2013 11:23:01 GMT 1
Oh poor little girl. I know just how you feel cally, its awful to see them when they first come out and are so shaky and dopey. But I'm sure she will be back to herself pretty quickly. Animals do seem to have amazing powers of recovery. But then of course you have the problem of trying to stop them leaping all over the place! You can buy those softer e-collars on the internet. They are similar in design but more comfortable and you can turn them back so the dog or cat can eat. I was going to try one of those until I made the home-made doughnut collar.
Anyway all hopes for a speedy recovery for Lizzie x
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Post by trixiepony on Jun 12, 2013 12:35:28 GMT 1
Oh poor baby hopefully all will go well and she will get better quickly.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2013 14:19:06 GMT 1
Glad to hear it all went well even though she's miserable at the moment. Fingers crossed she feels better soon.
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Post by darkhorse on Jun 12, 2013 14:44:19 GMT 1
Get well soon Lizzie
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Post by cally on Jun 13, 2013 4:13:09 GMT 1
Thanks guys- I'll pass on your kind thoughts when she wakes up! She is managing with the collar but it is huge and bulky. I think it'll have to stay on because she is very 'mouthy' and flexible and if she got at these stitches she could die- it was a really complex op and involved arteries, cartilage, pinning ligaments to other muscles, sawing the bone down....you get the picture. The vet said to really watch her and bring her back immediately if a single stitch rips.
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Post by kunuma on Jun 13, 2013 13:51:32 GMT 1
The poor little soul! That is a major op. It's really difficult with a dog too as they get so mentally stressed when confined, my old lad did his cruciate ligament in when he was about two, he would never have tolerated the op, so we went the long route with recovery, and though he is better I am always still careful. Seems to be all the pumble pets in the vets at the moment!
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Post by cally on Jun 14, 2013 12:03:59 GMT 1
Lizzie's acting like nothing's changed and bumbles around on 3 legs, bashing into things with her cone collar. The cats are most amused and the chooks happy that they can roam the whole back yard safe from Lizzie's teeth!
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Post by Claire on Jun 14, 2013 21:07:48 GMT 1
Go on there Lizzie!
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Post by cally on Jun 15, 2013 3:53:07 GMT 1
Her leg is very swollen and quite hot today but she seems happy- too happy, actually: she's chasing her tail which is how she got into this mess in the 1st place. She's on anti biotics and anti inflammatories but we'll keep a close eye on her.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2013 11:14:52 GMT 1
As I said in the "Rosie" thread it's a pity you can't tell them it's for their own good and to chill out until they are better!
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