Im broke and my 3yr old dog needs to be neutered.?

Question

My boyfriend has recently tested posetive for HIV and it is my understanding that poz people should not live with unfixed pets due to the many diseases they are more easily suseptible to and able to pass along. My chiuaua is three years old and is not fixed for breeding purposes. We don't have the money to get him fixed in San Francisco... WHAT CAN WE DO?

Answer 1

if you cannot afford a less than $100 precedure then can you really afford the dog?? i mean, i work a part time job and go to school full time and i could afford the laser surgery! and that was almost $200.

i have never heard of an unaltered dog being able to pass germs easier either, you should really talk to your vet about that.

you just need to save some money up, thats all. $100 should be really easy to come up with. go out to dinner one less night, or buy a few less packs of smokes, or whatever it takes. you can easily come up with $100 in about 2 weeks, a month tops.

but i did find this article, but it says NOTHING about unaltered vs altered pets:
Living Safely with HIV and Pets

September 7, 2000

Pets can be a wonderful source of fun, companionship and comfort. Unfortunately, a lack of knowledge about zoonoses -- diseases spread from animals to humans -- has led some providers to suggest that people with HIV should not own pets. While it is true that people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to zoonoses, there is a lot that can be done to lower the risk, allowing most HIV-positive people to safely keep and care for pets. Patrick Sullivan, a veterinarian with a Ph.D. in comparative and experimental medicine who works at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, recently gave a talk on this subject to providers at Harborview Medical Center.

In his presentation, Dr. Sullivan outlined some common diseases that pets can carry and how to avoid getting these infections from pets. He joked that his message could be summarized in three simple pieces of advice: "Wash your hands, cook your food, and don't play with feces." Another important point emphasized throughout the talk was the importance of advocating with veterinarians for prompt and aggressive care of pets, especially when they are ill.

The illnesses mentioned that pose a pet-to-human transmission risk were Bartonellosis (cat scratch disease), Campylobacteriosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Mycobacteriosis (MAC), Salmonellosis, and Toxoplasmosis. Dr. Sullivan noted that for most of these diseases, pets are not the most common source of infection. Most exposures to MAC, for instance, are atmospheric (from the environment), rather than from animals. Only 3% of salmonella exposure is from pets. The vast majority of this illness is from contact with raw or undercooked meat.

Toxoplasmosis is a disease, like many other opportunistic infections, that is present in the majority of the population. In fact 70% of people show signs of exposure to "toxo." Most cases of cerebral toxoplasmosis that occur in HIV-positive people are probably re-activations of existing infections and are not due to new exposures from animals. A recent study of over 400 HIV-positive people in Florida found that developing toxoplasmosis was independent of whether or not a person owned a pet.

While the risk of getting any of these infections from pets is small, it is important to take some common sense steps to reduce the chance of contracting any disease from your pets:

Choosing a Pet

Avoid reptiles. Reptiles have a high rate of salmonella infection.

Look for older, calmer cats and dogs. Kittens and puppies are more likely to have infections, and to bite or scratch people.

Use caution when adopting pets from stressful or crowded environments.

Consider having a friend with a strong immune system keep a new animal for a while before bringing it into your home.

Look for healthy animals. Cats with FIV (feline immune deficiency virus) may be more susceptible to infections and be more contagious when ill.
Caring for Healthy Pets

Wash hands after petting or playing with animals.

Avoid all contact with pet feces. Have someone else (when possible) empty litter boxes daily.

Watch what your animals eat. No raw meat, no mice, no feces

Eliminate fleas. Some infections may be transmitted by fleas.

Use caution and wear gloves when cleaning aquariums and fish bowls, or have someone with a strong immune system do it for you.

Consider keeping pets indoors to limit their exposure to other animals or feces that may carry infections.

Get regular veterinary check-ups and disease screenings for your pets, especially new animals.
What to Do if a Pet is Ill

Again, avoid contact with feces and wash your hands frequently.

Set up a support network of friends, family and kennels to care for pets with diarrhea.

Pets with diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

It is important that veterinarians test a sick animal's feces to determine if there is an infection.
To conclude his talk, Dr. Sullivan presented encouraging data from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) on the benefits of pet ownership for people with HIV. The study found that owning a pet decreased the chance that someone with HIV or AIDS would experience depression, especially for people without a lot of human support.

It is possible, and beneficial, for most people with HIV to safely own pets. Open and honest communication with your healthcare provider and veterinarian can help you live safely with your pets. For additional information about pet-ownership by people who are HIV-positive, check out the CDC's website at: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/brochure/oi_pets.htm or call the AIDS Clearinghouse at [phone].

***
good luck with everything tho. *hugs*

Answer 2

I question the logic that un-neutered animals carry more germs, but regardless, you pet should be neutered irrelevant of whether you boyfriend has HIV, but at least this is a good reason to do it. The cost of neutering should be worth it for the sake of your boyfriend, even if it is not for the sake of your pet. The San Francisco Humane Society has a program that will neuter dogs under 40 lbs. for $70. I know that's probably a lot of money, but, the next time you go to buy a six-pack of beer, put that money in a jar instead. The next time you decide to go out and eat, put that money in a jar and stay home. The next time you want to buy that cute little top, put that in the jar. If it's worth it, you'll find the money.

Answer 3

Hooray for you taking control of such an unfortunate situation. I would just check with a vet weather or not there is any truth to what you said about them being more suseptible to human diseases... . I do know that they are far more likely to develope tumors... when not neutered. But if you do want to continue breeding, check that out with a vet before you do that. By the way, I will say a prayer for you and your boyfriend. Good Luck!

Answer 4

The concept you describe sounds a bit far fetched concerning the dog. I am not aware of any unusual illnesses a dog will get that is unfixed except for cancers of the sex glands. And we do fix our dogs for that reason as much as not breeding!!!

Check out the source of this info first of all!! Even call and discuss with a vet. Not aware of any canine illness that affects a immune compromised person. Fixing a dog only cuts back on chances of cancer, males/females.

Now if you really get better info on this and it is a fact then I would proceed. Obviously, as a rescuer I would love for you to quit breeding and making more dogs and would hate for the chi to develope prostate cancer! Call and find out how much and then save up/yard sale/ etc. Yes, a local rescue, humane society, ASPCA might be willing to help out IF this info is actually fact and not fiction.

Answer 5

Check with a local vet or pet clinic......I live in NY and here you can get a certficate (if you qualify of course) to get a pet spayed or neutered from the Humane society I believe. A vet or clinic should be able to get you the necessary information to get the forms to fill out.

Answer 6

I would try to find a low cost spay/neuter program in your area (check at your local ASPCA or shelter). I have never heard of fixing your pets if you test HIV positive, but I am no expert.

Answer 7

Look for a low cost place that works with people on fixed incomes. In a city that big, there must be something like that around. Get on the net and search for it.

Answer 8

He needs to be fixed regardless, you can try contacting the ASPCA, they may be able to help you. But what you are saying makes NO sense! Why will taking his testicles have anything to do with his immune system. It doesn't. Also, people can't get anything from dogs, its VERY RARE that things like that happen.

Answer 9

pawn something
have a yardsale or a indoor yardsale
take a loan from a next payday place.
or ask the vet for payment options
AND DONT GIVE YOUR DOG TO THE POUND!
if you cant get it fixed right away keep it in and away from other dogs till you can get it fixed

Answer 10

Go to the Humane Society most of them offer this service on
a basis of your ability to pay.

Answer 11

If it's absolutely necessary to get him fixed give him to the pound, they'll fix him. Then you can have a friend "Buy" him back for you. It's cheaper than going to the Vet. They'll charge double that, especially for a 3 yr old dog. It may seem sneeky, but if you're broke, what else can you do. The pound is looking out for the best intrest of the animal. So you can look at it as getting a discount and still taking care of your dog.