My eight year old yellow lab, Ginger is very sick. She started about a month and a half ago with a cough and hoarse breathing with activity. I took her to the dr who did Lyme/heartworm test. She was lightly positive for Lyme, had low grade fever, but had lyme a year ago and they said it could be from previous exposure but treated her with doxycycline for symptoms. After a week, she was limping in right leg, and had a fever of 104.5. Took her to a different dr (funds are low and they would not see her unless I had money), they took X-rays and checked organ functions. She has either pneumonia or cancer in one lower lobe (can’t differentiate between the two), and liver test was just a little high. Started her on amoxicillin and cephlexin. That was two weeks ago and she went downhill, limp is worse and has developed hortons inleft eye, although fever is gone. Dr switched amoxicillin for minacycline, still going downhill. Just laying around, avoiding people, limping, vomiting up any food or water she eats/drinks, I’m giving her subcutaneous fluids with B vitamin mixed in and now prednisone ( for the last week) as dr consulted with neurologist and it may be auto immune. Because of finances can’t get more testing until the bill is paid (still owe $350 out of $700). Any ideas?
Oh, and she has a very cold leg and paw on the side she limps on. For the last two weeks I’ve been feeding her homemade food. This is white rice, a veggie that is good for dogs, and meat. She no longer eat that as of yesterday
I am so sorry, it doesn't sound very good I am afraid. In this case I would suspect something sinister especially combined with neurological symptoms and Horners syndrome in this context. I am no vet I hasten to add, and these are just my thoughts. If it were my dog I would pop back to the vet for a chat, just to make sure my dog wasn't in pain or distress.
Hi there, I'm sorry that such bad news brings you to the forum, but I'm afraid anything we put here would be just guesses, which do no-one any good, least of all Ginger. The only thing you can do is get proper veterinary advice. I know that costs money and it can be really tough, but it sounds like she is in real distress at the moment and so you need to find some way of getting her the help she needs. Does your veterinary surgery offer a payment plan? Or are there any charities that might be able to help? Otherwise, it may mean begging to friends and family for loans, or setting up a campaign on GoFundMe or similar. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to allow anything like that to be posted on here, but you may have luck on social media websites asking for crowd funding to get her the help she obviously needs. Good luck.
Yes I know that no one can give me medical advice. I guess I am looking for people who may have gone through similar scenarios. The vet will not do any further work until I’ve paid the bill. I’ve tried other avenues, no luck. Thank you both
Very sad, I’m sorry to hear what your poor Ginger is going through. A salutary lesson to all of us to get our dogs insured. .
I'm very sorry to hear your story as I went through this a year and a half ago with my yellow girl, aged 10. She developed a cough soon after having surgery for having a quarter of her ear bitten off by a tiny little Yorkie. Over the course of the next several months the cough got worse and her energy level plummeted. The vets blood tested and x-rayed and ultra-sounded and never did finally arrive at a conclusive diagnosis. It was either cancer or pneumonia and short of opening her up to explore further, that was all they could do. At her age and weakened state they didn't think she would survive the exploratory surgery. So they gave her pain meds and prednezone but after a couple more weeks it was time to say goodbye. Sorry, I didn't have anything more hopeful for you but you asked about similar experiences. I really hope your Ginger is able beat this and pull through.
Thank you Jimmy 3D, I actually went to have her put to sleep today and the vet wants to wait a couple more days as he sees some improvement. So...waiting
Me and Honey have our fingers (and paws) crossed for Ginger, hope she can turn the corner. Jimmy3d I'm sure she had a great 10 years and you did the right thing at the right time. I knew a couple with a really sick/ lame old Lab and they dragged it out for far too long, the Lab was obviously in distress but they wouldn't do the right thing for the dog which was sad to see. Hope you have many happy memories.
Fingers crossed for Ginger and for you that she turns a corner and gets better. I'm really sorry for your suffering.
So very sorry to hear this story! Thinking of you and Ginger, and hoping you get good news. You obviously love her very much, and she is lucky to have you as her human. Fingers and paws crossed here.
I'm so very sorry to hear about poor Ginger What a horrible situation you are in, wanting so much to pay for her treatment but unable to, awful. You are in my thoughts and I am keeping everything crossed for better news for Ginger or a solution to the financial situation. x
There is an option for interest free credit for health related issues called Care One. I looked into it when my girl was sick. It lets you spread payments out over 6-12 months. Your vet must be part of their program however. Hope she's continuing to improve!!
Unfortunately, I am in a credit management program, and I am unable to get more credit. But thank you for the help.
She’s losing a lot of weight. I’m feeding her whatever I can now that she will eat. She seems to have more energy and more interest in things around her. In some ways she seems better, don’t really know what to think right now.
