I completely understand how you are feeling now...I was a wreck! But the peace of mind from at least getting an opinion from an ortho Vet will be worth the trip.
I think we had to pay for the Sunday visit...but didn't have to pay for the surgery until we took her home. But that was at a Vet school.
Bisc is 99% normal now, and it has given us 6 more years with her, so far. I know you will keep in touch as you can.
Sammie's Back
Re: Sammie's Back
oh {{{Traci}}}...I do not think you are dissing the vets here...but I know I lived in big cities as well...I grew up in Washington, DC and I lived in Tucson for 9 years...and I always had good vets in both places...but they were bigger cities and could charge more for their services, and could get more and better equipment...here in small town, Iowa, the average person does not make as much per hour, so the vets cannot charge as much...and they can only afford so much in equipment, etc...
for Sammie being in there as long as he was (almost 2 days with an overnight)...the meds...x-rays...food they sent home (3 full size cans of IAMS Lamb and Rice)...I paid $120.00...I expected to pay alot more than that...
Sammie is doing better today...we were gone all afternoon, so he did not get his afternoon dose of methocarbamol (I really want to abbreviate that but it would not look right!
) and as the vet and I discussed when we picked him up yesterday, they did increase the dose and add an additional time in there as well, and if we felt he was "too dopey" to cut it back again...he was more alert tonight, without that midday dose, and his hind end was not as weak...he held his bladder until we got home, I was really worried about that and the stress it might be putting on him to hold it, but he could not wait to get outside and go pee, but no poop...my husband put him on the ground and he sat there a moment, but then tried to get up and walk around, his left side is still weak, but he was holding weight on his right hind foot and his tail was wagging as he peed...lastnight and this morning he was not even doing that...but he was wagging his tail...he just seemed to have no strength or desire to try to stand or move...
So tomorrow when we take him in for the day, we will discuss that with the vet and see about either dropping that midday dose altogether, or dropping the amount of doseage and still give it to him 3xday so it is more constant in his system...I just do not like him to be that dopey...
He ate very well tonight and drank quite a bit of water, so will need to go out again before we go to bed!...and his eyes and whole body just seem to be better off than lastnight...
Hopefully another day of observation at the vet and asking them to call and make an appointment in Iowa City will help alot...I know I cannot base Sammie's prognosis on what others went through, but it helped to read thier stories and know that not all is hopeless, as I was feeling lastnight...
We will be gone all day tomorrow, and we get our taxes done tomorrow night, but I will try to pop in and give an update...
Thank you...everyone...you are all wonderful...
for Sammie being in there as long as he was (almost 2 days with an overnight)...the meds...x-rays...food they sent home (3 full size cans of IAMS Lamb and Rice)...I paid $120.00...I expected to pay alot more than that...
Sammie is doing better today...we were gone all afternoon, so he did not get his afternoon dose of methocarbamol (I really want to abbreviate that but it would not look right!
) and as the vet and I discussed when we picked him up yesterday, they did increase the dose and add an additional time in there as well, and if we felt he was "too dopey" to cut it back again...he was more alert tonight, without that midday dose, and his hind end was not as weak...he held his bladder until we got home, I was really worried about that and the stress it might be putting on him to hold it, but he could not wait to get outside and go pee, but no poop...my husband put him on the ground and he sat there a moment, but then tried to get up and walk around, his left side is still weak, but he was holding weight on his right hind foot and his tail was wagging as he peed...lastnight and this morning he was not even doing that...but he was wagging his tail...he just seemed to have no strength or desire to try to stand or move...So tomorrow when we take him in for the day, we will discuss that with the vet and see about either dropping that midday dose altogether, or dropping the amount of doseage and still give it to him 3xday so it is more constant in his system...I just do not like him to be that dopey...
He ate very well tonight and drank quite a bit of water, so will need to go out again before we go to bed!...and his eyes and whole body just seem to be better off than lastnight...
Hopefully another day of observation at the vet and asking them to call and make an appointment in Iowa City will help alot...I know I cannot base Sammie's prognosis on what others went through, but it helped to read thier stories and know that not all is hopeless, as I was feeling lastnight...
We will be gone all day tomorrow, and we get our taxes done tomorrow night, but I will try to pop in and give an update...
Thank you...everyone...you are all wonderful...