This morning when I went over to Widget's House to let the dogs out, I found Kodiak laying in a pile of poop. It was smeared all over him and the floor. The poor guy just can't hold it overnight, so every morning I have to clean him and the floor. He tries to get out of his mess but can't, and generally ends up smooshing it around.
The alarming thing is that he could barely walk this morning. I'd hoist his rear legs up, he'd get going, but then he'd walk only about 10 feet before his hind legs would give out. I'd go over, lift him up again, off he'd go ... and plop! ... down he'd go. Usually once he gets going he can cover quite a bit of ground. Not today.
What's discouraging is we've had no visible response to the prednisone treatment. Today put the exclamation point on that. So I called our specialist in Missoula, Dr. Dave Bostwick, and asked, "Now what?"
Dave said the "what" would be a myelogram to determine if there's a lesion or tumor on his spinal cord. If we found one that was operable, he'd go straight to the operating room for surgery. Next I called our board-certified surgical specialists in Spokane, who would do that kind of surgery. I spoke with Dr. Howard Lawrence of Veterinary Surgical Specialists about our options for Kodiak.
Howard told me that a myelogram, even at Kodiak's age, would be feasible and might tell us what was wrong. But, he cautioned, it might turn out to be something that they couldn't fix surgically. Spinal tumors can be very problematic. He said that sometimes what they find isn't operable and the animal is euthanized while still under anesthesia. And there was always a possibility that the myelogram might show nothing to explain his problem. Yet it could be the only option we have.
I asked about costs. The myelogram would be about $800-$900. If surgery followed, the total bill would be about $2,000, including follow-up care in the hospital. I told Howard that Alayne and I would have to talk and decide what to do.
This is always the issue we wrestle with: How much can we afford to spend on one animal? We just spent nearly $2,000 on Pappy last month. And yet we have never made a medical decision based on cost.
Kodiak wasn't the only medical case we had today. Our wonderful cat Wobbles -- he has a neurological condition called cerebellar hypoplasia -- didn't look right last night. Sure enough, he had a temperature of 104 degrees. Wobbles had endured a bad case of pneumonia a few months ago ... he spent a week in the hospital before recovering ... and it started out this way.
We put Wobbles on antibiotics last night and today called our other veterinary internal medicine specialist, Dr. Britt Culver, of Montana Veterinary Specialists in Helena. Britt advised us to start him on Baytril, a high-powered antibiotic, and to keep checking Wobbles' temperature. If he stays at 104 for another day, we'll need to get him back to the hospital. His last stay ended up costing $825.
Is it any wonder we've already spent more than $22,000 in vet bills so far this year?
I like the name General for the new horse currently named Scout. He is large and reminds me of a leader.
Posted by: Billie | August 24, 2005 at 03:22 PM
What about Pet Insurance? At $30.00/dog per month, does it come out better? Maybe there is an insurance expert out there that deals in Pet Insurance that can study your situation. I know some insurance policys also include a little life insurance for the animal....I will in my little bit of free time see what I can find out for the ranch on this.
Where do we draw the line? Well, as long as each day you try your best to do what you can and make your decisions based on what you know at the time, you are doing alright. Is there a difference between a loyal, faithful pet suffering and a terminally sick person? Yes, of course there is, but in my opinion not a big difference. Many people die younger, or suffer more because of the lack of money or live longer because of money. One thing is for sure, Mother Nature will take her course, as beautiful or as cruel as that may be. Do not blame yourselves if you must do what you must, because we all know that you are only trying to do what is right and what seems best. Remember it is the love and care that will last forever as the spirit does. Not just the physical body we (pets and us) are in. So my best to Wobbles, and Kodiak and you both. You can post this or not, but I hope it helps. I have had to come to grips with this topic, and this is how I feel, and it is peaceful to me.
Posted by: Karen/TX | August 16, 2005 at 07:21 PM
Oh my heart goes out to Kodiak and Wobbles, you and Alayne. I wish I could help. I only have 9 animals and I know how much they cost, so I am not surprised how much your vet bills are.
Please let us know what you decide to do for Kodiak and how Wobbles is doing. They are lucky to have you.
Posted by: Leigh | August 16, 2005 at 03:26 PM
What about a veterinary school in Missoula or Washington State University maybe they can help?
Posted by: Karen/ TX | August 16, 2005 at 02:06 PM
Ok, this is tough. The question is can we buy more time. What about a sling, like they use with horses to keep them from laying down? Even a pair of shorts, a belt and some bungies? Feed p.m. feeding as late as you can to shift poop schedule to later in a.m.....keep up with Prednisone, and see. When the money is there, go for more treatment...? Hang in there, this is a tough business. Have you ever read Sylvia Browne's books? I really believe, as she does, that all the love and care between humans and pets continues for both in the afterlife in a very real way in heaven. They will all be there again when you are again. The point is, that it is the love and care between animals and humankind that makes all the difference forever, not just this moments results. It takes light years for this moment to travel in space, years from now it will be seen somewhere eles, so your love for kodiak is light years long. OK?
Posted by: Karen/ TX | August 16, 2005 at 01:37 PM
. . . and folks, as you read this blog, I hope you will dip into your pockets to add to Pappy's Fund which is for emergency medical care & a matching fund to boot. Since most of the animals at RDR are disabled, they require tons more of love and monetary help.
Thx,
Posted by: Jean/Nevada | August 15, 2005 at 11:56 PM