He does not have $3000 for the surgery and does not want to amputate the leg or put the dog to sleep. Are there trainning hospitals that offer lower or free services anywhere in the Fort worth,TX area????
2006-11-07 02:25:29 · 13 answers · asked by cgmgeb 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
You won't be able to find it for 'free'....but has your friend sought a second opinion? There is often more than one way to fix a broken leg. The $3000 surgery might be the BEST option, but there may also be others that could cost less. Keep in mind that even with the best option, there's always the possibility that the leg won't heal properly, or will develop other unforeseen complications that might add to the cost later. Every case is different. A second opinion is ALWAYS the thing to do when faced with this situation, even if you have the money upfront.
Go to this thread (here in YahooAnswers) for several good ideas for funding emergency surgery: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiwECHXaI3UljYTrVBlkhRnsy6IX?qid=20061021090428AAVUN24
The options I listed in my answer there would be the fastest ways to raise funds. The answerer at the end listed several links to charitable organizations which might also be able to help, but they might take too long. Your friend could also buy a (just ONE) lottery ticket and say a prayer. Only a dollar, and can't hurt. You just never know.....
(If he wins the big jackpot, will he help fund my retirement? LOL)
If he just can't afford it, however, amputation might be the best option. In many cases, it's a lot cheaper to amputate a leg than to fix it, and dogs do just fine on 3 legs. The dogs don't care...they don't experience the emotional loss that people do, and they don't need things like prosthetics, crutches, wheelchairs, etc. Many 3-legged dogs can outrun a lot of 4-legged dogs....and unless you look closely, you often won't even notice it's missing. I've had many people come back to hug me and thank me profusely because I talked them into that rather than letting them put their dog to sleep.
Good luck!
2006-11-07 03:00:47 · answer #1 · answered by A Veterinarian 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree that if he can't afford the surgery amputation is the way to go.
Our lab mix once got loose and had his shoulder smashed by a car. We were told we could repair the shoulder, which would be very expensive and there would be a six month recovery time after which the leg probably would not work as well as it had before. Or we could amputate the leg, which cost less and the dog would recover more quickly.
We opted for the amputation and it was the best decision. He was quickly back to normal, running, jumping, catching frisbees and even swimming.
2006-11-07 16:42:23 · answer #2 · answered by DaBasset - BYBs kill dogs 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have had several tripods in our program and half of them you couldn't even tell when you first met them and none of them had an issue with missing the leg. Just happy to be alive and with people that cared. We have a puppy right now that had surgery on a leg but as he grows and more weight is put on he will probably have to have it amputated.
2006-11-08 09:21:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about any hospitals, but check out a humane society or an animal shelter nearby and see what they can do. How bad is the leg broken? If it's just a bone, find out how to make a cast, get the materials, and make one for it. If its leg is supposed to be amputated, the humane society or whatever should be able to handle it. I don't know much else, I'm only 16. None of my animals ever got hurt, and I have pitbulls. Lol.
2006-11-07 10:29:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dogs deal very well with a missing limb, so like it or not, this may be the best option for your friend's pet. It won't take long for the dog to get used to walking on 3 legs and before you know it, the dog will be running around like he's always had 3 legs.
2006-11-07 10:35:19 · answer #5 · answered by Nasubi 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Look into something called a "carecredit card" if they are available in your area. Its basicaly a credit card specificlly for use at vets offices in case of an emergency. No matter if you have poor or good credit they will offer you a card with a decent credit line at a fairly low interest rate.
Might be another option to think about.
2006-11-07 10:42:37 · answer #6 · answered by falling_down23 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This happened to me once.
Call the teaching university (vet) they perform surgeries on pets for such a inexpensive fee, it is worth the drive. I had to drive 40 miles, to get to mine. My vet set this up for me.j
check it out ( the surgery was wonderful) all is well.
2006-11-07 10:41:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can either pitch in by saving spare change and going to the bank to get money for it, or you can ask your neighbors to help by doing the same! TELL THEM TO COLLECT LOTS OF MONEY! For the dog, do it. Good luck!
2006-11-07 10:56:15 · answer #8 · answered by VICTOR L M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call around to all the vet listings in the phone book and if all else fails, see if the vet will take payments.
2006-11-07 10:28:08 · answer #9 · answered by OOO! I know! I know! 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Check with local vet schools, they may give a dicount and use his situation as a learning tool?
2006-11-07 10:41:01 · answer #10 · answered by Just a Q or 2 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋