With all the scams going on on the internet these days, I hate to write
this, but for the sake of our family pet who is in a lot of observable
pain right now, I'll venture to see if someone here can point us to
someone that can help...

We have a 8-9 year old Chow/German Shepard mix. He's an absolutely
beautiful and wonderful dog. Tolerant, intelligent, excellent with our
children yet still protective of our home. He has neither the typical
Chow disposition nor is he quite like the Shepards, though more like the
Shepard than the Chow in his nature, but looks like a Chow with GS snout
and hips. A splendid dog that I can't say enough about here. Anyway...

We didn't know it, but the Chows are now quite prone to developing
glacoma. This can happen very suddenly which it did with our dog. He
developed glacoma within a matter of DAYS and lost the use of his left
eye even though we took him very quickly to a local vet and then to a
very good animal hospital in Springfield MA. There was nothing they
could do. It's been a real bummer to see this great dog loose his eye
like that, but there really was nothing we could do about it.

The diagnosis was one of two things: (1) remove the eye for $600-$1000
or, (2) put him on medicine at roughly $150/month that keeps the pain
down. Obviously, the eye removal would be the best way to go
economically and would eliminate the pain, but...

Within weeks of this happening, I took employment elsewhere with a cut
in salary, and we lost thousands of dollars on the sale of our home in
another state. Just like our dog's eye, our financial situation changed
practically overnight in a very, very negative way.

Now, I can't afford to have the dog's eye removed and he's obviously in
a lot of pain. We considered getting rid of him, but the vet said that
he would likely undergo a lot of emotional pain, which I believe is
true. I could actually "dump" him (is what we feel like it would be
like) at this animal hospital for $40 and they would take care of him
and try to find him a home, but we can't bear to do that because we know
he WOULD be hurt by it. We have a lot of children and he receives A LOT
of attention and constant affection fron us. So we can't bring
ourselves to do that either even though we could afford to do that...

So, we're kind of stuck. No vet wants to do this operation for less
than $500 and there's no way I can do that right now. (It's the cost of
anesthisizing him, I know, for the vet.) Yet the dog is hurting and we
want the best for him... I spoke with someone in the state of
Connecticut (where we live) who is into "Chow rescues" and she was very
understanding, but said she wasn't sure what to do in our situation; her
expertise was rescuing Chows and finding them homes. Our Chow, she
said, obviously already has a good home, so she wasn't sure what to do.
(She was the one that got me up to speed on the glacoma problem in the
Chow line of dogs.)

So, I'm wondering if there is anyone out there that knows of something
we *can* do. Maybe a vet that would do the operation for something
significantly less than $500, or a vet school that would do the
operation for free...? I don't know. We're at our wits end. We can't
bear to get rid of him and we can't afford to help him right now. :-(
I'm willing to drive to anywhere within a 100 mile radius if there
exists someone or some entity willing to help. But I can't afford
hundreds of dollars for a surgical procedure nor can we bring ourselves
to "dump" him, even if it's legitimately done (like at the animal
hosptial). He would be very hurt and confused by that... :-(

-ceo

(I would be willing to trade professional services with a vet, if one
happens to be reading this and would consider it. I can offer top
flight computer/technical services in a number of specialty areas with
very excellent references. If you respond here, I can contact you
off-line and verify my situation with you.)

Chow w/glacoma in pain and needs operation

Group: rec.pets.dogs.rescue Date: Sat, Jul 17, 2004, 4:55am (EDT+4)
From: (ChrisO)
With all the scams going on on the internet these days, I hate to write
this, but for the sake of our family pet who is in a lot of observable
pain right now, I'll venture to see if someone here can point us to
someone that can help...
We have a 8-9 year old Chow/German Shepard mix. He's an absolutely
beautiful and wonderful dog. Tolerant, intelligent, excellent with our
children yet still protective of our home. He has neither the typical
Chow disposition nor is he quite like the Shepards, though more like the
Shepard than the Chow in his nature, but looks like a Chow with GS snout
and hips. A splendid dog that I can't say enough about here. Anyway...
We didn't know it, but the Chows are now quite prone to developing
glacoma. This can happen very suddenly which it did with our dog. He
developed glacoma within a matter of DAYS and lost the use of his left
eye even though we took him very quickly to a local vet and then to a
very good animal hospital in Springfield MA. There was nothing they
could do. It's been a real bummer to see this great dog loose his eye
like that, but there really was nothing we could do about it.
The diagnosis was one of two things: (1) remove the eye for $600-$1000
or, (2) put him on medicine at roughly $150/month that keeps the pain
down. Obviously, the eye removal would be the best way to go
economically and would eliminate the pain, but...
Within weeks of this happening, I took employment elsewhere with a cut
in salary, and we lost thousands of dollars on the sale of our home in
another state. Just like our dog's eye, our financial situation changed
practically overnight in a very, very negative way.
Now, I can't afford to have the dog's eye removed and he's obviously in
a lot of pain. We considered getting rid of him, but the vet said that
he would likely undergo a lot of emotional pain, which I believe is
true. I could actually "dump" him (is what we feel like it would be
like) at this animal hospital for $40 and they would take care of him
and try to find him a home, but we can't bear to do that because we know
he WOULD be hurt by it. We have a lot of children and he receives A LOT
of attention and constant affection fron us. So we can't bring ourselves
to do that either even though we could afford to do that...
So, we're kind of stuck. No vet wants to do this operation for less than
$500 and there's no way I can do that right now. (It's the cost of
anesthisizing him, I know, for the vet.) Yet the dog is hurting and we
want the best for him... I spoke with someone in the state of
Connecticut (where we live) who is into "Chow rescues" and she was very
understanding, but said she wasn't sure what to do in our situation; her
expertise was rescuing Chows and finding them homes. Our Chow, she said,
obviously already has a good home, so she wasn't sure what to do.
=A0=A0=A0=A0(She was the one that got me up to speed on the glacoma
problem in the Chow line of dogs.)
So, I'm wondering if there is anyone out there that knows of something
we *can* do. Maybe a vet that would do the operation for something
significantly less than $500, or a vet school that would do the
operation for free...? I don't know. We're at our wits end. We can't
bear to get rid of him and we can't afford to help him right now. :-(
I'm willing to drive to anywhere within a 100 mile radius if there
exists someone or some entity willing to help. But I can't afford
hundreds of dollars for a surgical procedure nor can we bring ourselves
to "dump" him, even if it's legitimately done (like at the animal
hosptial). He would be very hurt and confused by that... :-(
-ceo
(I would be willing to trade professional services with a vet, if one
happens to be reading this and would consider it. I can offer top flight
computer/technical services in a number of specialty areas with very
excellent references. If you respond here, I can contact you off-line
and verify my situation with you.)

When you took your dog to the hospital in Spfld,Mass. Was it Boston Rd
Animal Hospital or the other one that use to be called MSPCA but changed
it's name to something about Angels. I live in West Springfield,Mass.
Use to live in Spfld til 1992. I been hearing that Palmer Animal Clinic
is pretty reasonable price wise. You can always give them a call. The
place actually looks like a house. Because today's Saturday & over here
Vets aren't in infact alot of places are closed you might have to wait
untlil Monday but give them a call. Of course there going to want to see
your dog to check him out.

you might try taking him to Tufts, which isn't too far from you. they
will work with you financially, but you'll have to pay (I think) 50% up
front. there is a small finance charge. and the care is excellent.
give them a call.

btw, they will also recommend carecredit, but they will work with you.
good luck.

On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 09:44:48 -0400, Justice Cow
wrote:
...
btw, they will also recommend carecredit, but they will work with you.
good luck.

What is "carecredit", please?

Thank you.
Michael
When I die, I want to go where dogs go!

On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 09:59:23 -0400, Michael A. Ball
wrote:

What is "carecredit", please?

I see: http://www.carecredit.com Thanks, Elegy.

Michael
When I die, I want to go where dogs go!

If I were you, I'd call any vets within a reasonable distance and
say:

"My dog is a Chow mix with glaucoma, and needs his eye removed.
He's in pain. What is your fee for this?" and/or "I have been
quoted X dollars. I can afford Y dollars. I can also trade some
services. Will you help him, and us, and do the surgery?" or
"I can pay Y dollars immediately, Z dollars every two weeks."
With another high quote, you might ask, "Is there any way I can
reduce that cost?" I've run into vets that keep animals
overnight for practically any surgery, adds cost but which might
not be necessary with a conscientious owner.

I think that if your Y dollars covers the vet's costs, or comes
close, you'll find one who will help you. You might call the
local humane society and see if they have any suggestions. IME,
vet schools don't do surgeries for free, but have charges in line
with vets in practice in the area.

Your quote on the eye removal seems high to me. I may be in a
different, cheaper part of the country than you are, but I got a
quote of $315 to do bilateral entropion surgery on a Chow, which
seems like it would take longer and require more anesthesia than
an eye removal (?). So get on the phone and shop around. Any
competent vet should be able to do an eye removal; a vet with a
smaller practice and less full-time help may do it more cheaply
than one with a big flashy building and zillions of full-time
employees.

Any of your children old enough for a part-time job? That could
help, whether it's at the local fast-food joint or mowing lawns.
Or perhaps you and/or your spouse could clean kennels for a
couple months, weekends, evenings, whatever (?).

With this reduction in pay etc., your family may now be eligible
for assistance that could help with other expenses, thereby
reducing your living costs and freeing up a little more of your
paycheck. Don't take the word of anybody else on this one, but
go to the appropriate local offices and find out for yourself.

Good luck to you :-).

flick 100785

"ChrisO" wrote in message
...
With all the scams going on on the internet these days, I hate
to write
this, but for the sake of our family pet who is in a lot of
observable
pain right now, I'll venture to see if someone here can point
us to
someone that can help...

We have a 8-9 year old Chow/German Shepard mix. He's an
absolutely
beautiful and wonderful dog. Tolerant, intelligent, excellent
with our
children yet still protective of our home. He has neither the
typical
Chow disposition nor is he quite like the Shepards, though more
like the
Shepard than the Chow in his nature, but looks like a Chow with
GS snout
and hips. A splendid dog that I can't say enough about here.
Anyway...

We didn't know it, but the Chows are now quite prone to
developing
glacoma. This can happen very suddenly which it did with our
dog. He
developed glacoma within a matter of DAYS and lost the use of
his left
eye even though we took him very quickly to a local vet and
then to a
very good animal hospital in Springfield MA. There was nothing
they
could do. It's been a real bummer to see this great dog loose
his eye
like that, but there really was nothing we could do about it.

The diagnosis was one of two things: (1) remove the eye for
$600-$1000
or, (2) put him on medicine at roughly $150/month that keeps
the pain
down. Obviously, the eye removal would be the best way to go
economically and would eliminate the pain, but...

Within weeks of this happening, I took employment elsewhere
with a cut
in salary, and we lost thousands of dollars on the sale of our
home in
another state. Just like our dog's eye, our financial
situation changed
practically overnight in a very, very negative way.

Now, I can't afford to have the dog's eye removed and he's
obviously in
a lot of pain. We considered getting rid of him, but the vet
said that
he would likely undergo a lot of emotional pain, which I
believe is
true. I could actually "dump" him (is what we feel like it
would be
like) at this animal hospital for $40 and they would take care
of him
and try to find him a home, but we can't bear to do that
because we know
he WOULD be hurt by it. We have a lot of children and he
receives A LOT
of attention and constant affection fron us. So we can't bring
ourselves to do that either even though we could afford to do
that...

So, we're kind of stuck. No vet wants to do this operation for
less
than $500 and there's no way I can do that right now. (It's
the cost of
anesthisizing him, I know, for the vet.) Yet the dog is
hurting and we
want the best for him... I spoke with someone in the state of
Connecticut (where we live) who is into "Chow rescues" and she
was very
understanding, but said she wasn't sure what to do in our
situation; her
expertise was rescuing Chows and finding them homes. Our Chow,
she
said, obviously already has a good home, so she wasn't sure
what to do.
(She was the one that got me up to speed on the glacoma
problem in the
Chow line of dogs.)

So, I'm wondering if there is anyone out there that knows of
something
we *can* do. Maybe a vet that would do the operation for
something
significantly less than $500, or a vet school that would do the
operation for free...? I don't know. We're at our wits end.
We can't
bear to get rid of him and we can't afford to help him right
now. :-(
I'm willing to drive to anywhere within a 100 mile radius if
there
exists someone or some entity willing to help. But I can't
afford
hundreds of dollars for a surgical procedure nor can we bring
ourselves
to "dump" him, even if it's legitimately done (like at the
animal
hosptial). He would be very hurt and confused by that... :-(

-ceo

(I would be willing to trade professional services with a vet,
if one
happens to be reading this and would consider it. I can offer
top
flight computer/technical services in a number of specialty
areas with
very excellent references. If you respond here, I can contact
you
off-line and verify my situation with you.)


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Glaucoma is, typically, painless.

Driving one hundred miles to help your pet is noble, but just a good
start by comparison.

Medicate the dog for pain, or find the closest veterinary
ophthalmologist or vet school and get the dog properly vetted.
Payment plans are available.

ttfn.......
Linda H.

Linda, the early stages of one form of glaucoma (open angle) are pain
free. However the late stages of that and the other (closed angle)
sudden onset form do feature acute pain, especially in the presence of
bright light (for us, such as on-coming night traffic, walking outdoors
from an artificially lighted office on a very sunny day).

Jo Wolf
Martinez, Georgia