Someone please lend me a helping hand?

Question

I have a 2 year old dachshund and she's very sick. She has blood shot red eyes, shes shivering, she so tired she can't move, she's not eating or drinking. (though i'm trying my best to give her more water)

I went to the vet, and it cost me 150 just to have them tell me three things
1)Your dog is sick
2) she is 80 percent dehydrated
3) its going to be 800 dollars for one night of intensive care.

We had no choice but to take her home, we don't have that kind of money. i think she contracted a parasite from out Pond in the back yard (she likes to chase the fishes around). i have 2 other dogs. Can someone give me any advice? I don't have a choice, but i'm still trying my best.

she has,
blood shot red eyes
low breathing, not alot is going on
shes really tired and weak
diarrhea
she is really warm
he gums are pink and when i push it it won't turn white,(i don't think i'm pushing hard enough)
tongue is white

PreTjenE do you have email that i can email you at about this?

Answer 1

Find another vet. Ask the vet to teach you how to give sub-cutaneous fluids.

Answer 2

Well, if it's a worm, bug or parasite, then there is the very real danger that your other dogs can get it. Depending on what it is, the humans in the house can get it too (generally presents as diarrhea). You can try calling the local SPCA and asking if they can work something out with you financially. Most vets will work out a payment plan of some kind.

It is your responsibility as a pet owner (and to your family and other dogs) to get your dog treated. Not treating a sick dog can get you brought up on animal abuse charges, even if you love your dog and are doing everything for it you can.

I'm SO sorry to hear about your ill dog and your financial difficulties. I know what it's like, really. But, just like a child, you do whatever you have to do to take care of your dog. Make the calls to the SPCA and find out if they can help you. My sisters dog got hit by a car and broke two legs, a rib and a hip... imagine the cost! They worked something out with her. She paid $300 down, now she pays $40 a month (plus more when she can). My mom and I kick her down some money when we can, too. Ask your family about a loan, maybe.

Answer 3

Thats all the vet told you? I would seek another opinion and explain the situation. Your needs dog SERIOUS care, 80% dehydrated is not good. Like other suggestions try some pedia-lite, but Do seek an other opinion. You can even call an animal shelter and ask for names of vets in your area that will make payment arrangements. She cannot drink enough water to rehydrate on her own. Sometimes if an owner cannot afford the bill they will let you surrender the dog to them just so the animal gets the proper care. Sometimes they also call a rescue group for help in the payments.

Answer 4

I am sorry but she sounds like she has been poisoned, has ANYONE had any antifreeze out? First of all she will not live through this without vet care, and I have to ask myself what decent vet would have just turned you away, do you have a credit card or something? I will tell you that in that condition she is gonna go fast...problem is sub q fluids (that is under the skin) will not hydrate her enough, she needs an I.V. drip. Also, this is not a parasite, she has either ingested poison of a serious magnitude or she has parvo or distemper (more readily comes to mind with the bloodshot eyes) you need to lower her fever if she has one, you can force fluids like pedialite rehydration for babies but at this point she could already be going into organ failure so it will not absorb anyway....you could also call a rescue group and see if they would take the dog and have her treated, or if their is a vet in your area doing reduced rate services, or take her to an animal hospital and let her get treated and just let the bill go to collection, a pet is JUST like a child, over the last decade I have spent in the high thousands caring for my animals, I am talking 20,000 dollars...I will SPARE no expense....find someone now who will treat her and work a payment arrangement if you have to sell everything you own on Ebay to pay the monthly bill.....take her now....

I feel badly for you I do, but you can't let her suffer.....you could force the fluids electrolytes but I am afraid it will not be enough...

with the chills that tells me this is systemic....and she has been greatly affected, IF you would list her other symptoms I can narrow it down, is she vomiting, tell me what it looks like? Is she having loose stools, describe them? Tell me about the skin in her mouth, describe the color...press her gums how quickly do they turn back pink or does it stay white awhile...give me some more info and I will tell you what next....

OH and ABSOLUTELY no food NOW!!! IF she is nauseated it could kill her if she aspirates it, like someone said dehydration is MUCH more serious than not eating....

Okay...she is going into shock it sounds like the white tongue is a concern she is lacking oxygen, I need you to count how many times she breathes in in 15 seconds, just count the breaths in so you dont double count, once you get the number multiply it by 4, this will give her respiration rate, CAN you take a temperature on a dog, you need to find a digital rectal thermometer, and put some vaseline on it and insert it into her rectum about 1 inch, when it beeps let us know the number...have you started the pedialyte? She really needs to go to the vet now.....

also, the red gums indicate bleeding, it might be rat poison, is there anyone who has used a pesticide or rat poison recently? are the loose stools bloody? Green?

yes send email to [e-mail]

Answer 5

I agree with the first postee but I also understand your situation.
UNTIL you can get to another vet and you need to prioritise and make sure thatyou do.
Get out some pedialite. I don't care if it is flavored or not. then you ae going to spend every hour at that dogs side getting it into her. I don't care if it is using a dropper and feeding it to her constant drip by drip. Forget food at this time. In a dehydration case... food only pulls mosture for digestion. Get to it after the vet.
Good luck to you. As I said... I feel where you are comming from but you can break out the phone book and if you appeal to the better nature of every vet that you can get to speak to you.. you will find one that is more reasonable though none of them are going to be free. Do you not have a standing relationship with some vet that you can work out payments with? Offer that when you are making your calls. Also... there is something called care credit that many vets offer now that you need to jump on if it is offered. not having money is not an excuse for not getting te care even if it is a valad excuse for not going to the first vet to shove a bill at you.
Good luck... go and get the pedialite... NOW.
~Tyed~

Answer 6

Go to a different vet. If it's a parasite of some sort, some blood and fecal tests should tell. As for hydration... they can just shoot her full of fluids (an injection in her back... it will make her look like she has a giant bump on her back, and she'll be all bloated/puffy). All of these should cost maybe $200.

That said... $800 isn't very much. I've had to pay more than that, and I'm willing to bet I have less money than you (income vs. housing expenses in SF... ugh)... and had tons left over. Owning a dog requires money and the willingness to get the money if you need it, in order to assure their health and safety. In the broad scheme of vet bills, $800 isn't that much. You should have been more prepared, and you should be in the future.

Answer 7

If you have any voluntary places in your area such as "Friends of Animals" or even an Animal Hospital, try them out. If your dog is this severely dehydrated, you should not hesitate a moment more. As a worst case scenario, though it may hurt badly to do so, you may have to contact someone from an animal rescue who would have the funding to care for the dog. There is no shame in that, if you do not have the financial ability to care for this urgent care you would be saving the dog's life. Try to find someone who will do payment plans, if that fails and you cannot do anything else for the dog, please consider an animal rescue for the ill dog they will be more than happy to get the dog the medical care it needs.

Answer 8

Why dont you google it and try to find a low income vet clinic in your area. I know the SPCA has low income programs for families that cannot afford those high bills. I would not sit and wait around because the longer you take the sicker the DOG is....
Just imagine if you were sick and you had to just tough it out! It's not fun for us and its not fun for pets either. When my pets get sick I take them to A low income clinic in Dallas, but I am not too sure where you are located!!!

Please take care of the dog or put him/her to sleep. Donot let the baby suffer!!!!


pss,
I am a pet lover!

Good luck.

Answer 9

did the Vet give her subdural saline fluid ? this will help w/ the dehydration. If not, then your puppy really needs some fast. Make sure she is comfortable and drinking fluids. Maybe give her Wet canned dog food because it has moisture in it. But sounds like she isn't eating so that will not help. Maybe seek another opinion and tell them upfront you do not have the much $$ but was wondering if you could have them give her saline/fluid Intravenously or subdurally.

Answer 10

See another vet. If the dog is that dehydrated, you better do something fast or the dog will die!!!

The chances of you rehydrating her orally at this point are slim to none. And watch the "turkey baster" idea. Get a touch of the water or Pedialyte in her lungs and it is aspiration pneumonia and DEATH fast!!!!!! Force feeding debilitated animals is tricky!!!!

Answer 11

go to the store and get pedelite ( not sure about the spelling )it is used for children that are dehydrated. You have no time to waste ! If it is a parasite you will need to know what one . First thins first she must be re-hydrated !! Good Luck