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Originally Posted by misslynn62  Everyone...Petey got sick on Saturday. I noticed that he was lethargic and didn't seem to be pooping. I caught him vomiting too. A few hours later he seemed like he was coming out of it. However, by midnight it was clear he was in trouble. I nursed him through the night and as he was still holding on by morning, I got him into the vet. It is now Tuesday and the vet says that he has bladderstones and possibly a portosystemic shunt. He is finally peeing (which we didn't know he wasn't doing all along) and eating and coming out of it. However, he needs surgery to ensure he won't get another stone lodged in his urinary tract and end up in another emergency situation. His vet bill is astronomical and very much out of my realm to pay. The surgery is out of the question, in this circumstance as I can't afford it. To take him home tonight, I need several hundred dollars and a payment plan for the rest. Well...the plan I can do (somehow) but I am still scrambling to 'find' the cash to get him relased to me so I can enjoy what time he has. I have cried myself silly for 3 days. I have begged family for help, but they could'nt. The total vet bill, with surgery, is going to be $2000. Just to get Petey home tonight, without benefit of the surgery, will cost me $600 cash. So...I don't know where to turn now. If anyone has any suggestions, I am desperately in need and time is running out.
Petey's Momma |
I'm sorry Petey is going through this. I've read, and re-read your post. I can only go on the way your post reads. It sounds like YOU have decided that Petey's days are limited without surgery.
I did some research and found this site:
Bladder Stones (Urinary Calculi) in Dogs
Well worth reading. Did the vet do x-rays or put dye in the bladder, has there been an analysis done on the stone to know what the chemical makeup is?
This is from the above mentioned article but be sure to read the entire article:
Diet Alteration: Diet alternation may be as helpful as anything in the medical treatment of struvite urolithiasis. The S/D Diet produced by Hill's can actually cause the stones - even large ones - to dissolve completely. Other companies such as Purina and Waltham have also developed special diets available through your veterinarian. These diets take time, often 60 to 180 days, to work. The principle by which S/D works is that it contains lower than normal levels of large proteins, magnesium, and phosphorous. Less protein means less urea, and therefore, less ammonium and carbon dioxide formed by the action of urease. Remember that struvite is made up of magnesium and phosphate ions, so lower levels of these materials also decrease the quantity of crystals that can potentially be formed. Feeding S/D helps the urine become more acidic. And last but not least, Hill's has slightly increased the sodium chloride (normal table salt) to increase water consumption by the animal, thereby increasing a flushing action through the bladder and better keeping the crystals in solution.
Changing his diet can help the situation and I'm surprised the vet didn't recommend it or at least give you options. Royal Canine also has a urinary diet. Most vets offer a payment plan, even if you don't opt for the surgery, which at this point, I wouldn't because the way your post reads, it sounds like a preventative option. I can't help with the vet bill as I'm still waiting for payments myself. Once you get him home, if it was me, I would be looking for another vet.