PLEASE HELP! Moose is injured :(
 

I'm not even sure what happened and am feeling so horribly guilty, this has never happened before!!! I've spent the day caring for my friend's ailing dad, normally my dogs are crated when I leave, but I knew I'd be gone 10 + hrs, and hated for them to be locked up that long, so I locked up my cats and left the doggy door open with most of the dogs gated into the kitchen so they could come inside if they wanted, and go out the dog door if they needed to potty. I'll NEVER do that again :( I'm not sure what happened - But one of my house guest Yorkies, Moose, apparently tried to dig under my gate - My yard is double gated and the 2nd gate has cement under it, so there's no danger of them actually getting out, but he did get under the firs and really tore his belly and back end up bad doing it :( I took him to the vet as soon as I got home and saw how bad he was injured - Have him home for the night on an IV, but he'll need to go back tomorrow for more IV fluids and antibiotics, I feel so horrible! His dad is a disabled veteran and recovering from a massive heart attack, which is why I have his dogs. He has very little money, and with some huge specialist vet bills on 2 of my cats and 1 of my dogs in the last month, my vet bill fund is dry, I don't have enough to cover his bill as well, and don't know what to do! Any advice on what to do? My vet is trying to keep things as reasonable as she can - But of course this kind of care is expensive, and we won't know until we see how he responds how long we'll need to keep him on IV fluids and antibiotics - and we may need to do surgery to close up some of this, but right now the swelling is to bad and we want to leave the wounds open for at least a few days so it can drain and get most of the infection out on it's own. I'm just sick that I allowed this to happen :( Especially when I know this has got to be really painful - And when the vet handed him back to go home for the night, instead of crying or nipping like most dogs was, he just looked at me and started kissing my face, he's such a good boy!

No disrespect intended here, but you have an awful lot of animals in your house for a person who does not have vetting funds. After this recent emergency I would hope that you might try to get your numbers down.
This is the second pup treated at home that should most likely be hospitalized...both of them. :( I don't care if you are a vet tech...I know that you know these pups are on the edge when that severely injured and need more than can be provided at home.
I will say prayers for Moose. I am so sorry he is injured so badly and suffering. :(

The only reason he's home tonight is that there is nobody there overnight. It was a mutal decision between me and my vet - It's either he comes home where I can monitor him and rush him to the ER if I have to, or he sits at the clinic where there's nobody there from 6 pm to 7 am. Same applies to Gina. When the clinic is open and a vet is there - The dogs stay at the hospital. At night when nobody is at the clinic, the dogs come home so I can monitor them, keep their meds on schedule, and give them better care then they'd get sitting in a cage with nobody around.

Yes, I do have alot of dogs - And normally funding isn't an issue, but I've spent $10,000 in the last month at the specialty center between one of my cats needing some major surgery to deal with a chronic eye problem that flaired up, another cat who's heart problems suddenly got worse and needed to get back to the cardiologist urgently, and my 15 year old Afghan who also has a bad heart. So yes, I'm hurting a bit at the moment, but perfectly capable of caring for the animals here under normal circumstances - there's just been alot of unexpected vet bills recently.

As for what happened with Gina - I was again in contact with my vet the entire time. I do as my vet advises, what do you think they do when your animals are hospitalized? Especially if the clinic isn't staffed 24/7 (and even many that are!)? Your dog sits in a cage and is checked in on by vet techs and if anything changes it's reported to the vet. During the day vets will check in on them every few hours usually at best unless they're critical. I've worked in many animal hospitals - And they almost all operate that way.

I hope that Moose is feeling better and responds to the treatment and doesn't need surgery. Sending him get well hugs.

First of all, I would never leave my pups unattended for 10+ hours and definitely not to go in and out of a dog door. I let that go but you are a rescuer and imho should know better. You won't do it again...fine...but I am floored that you did not know know not to do that.

When poor little Gina was so severely injured you told me that she was better off in your home than in an emergency clinic overnight. I have no doubt that poor thing was in shock by the next morning. The post you made that day indicated that...and they could not do much with her.

Are you now telling me there is no emergency clinic in your area? I have also spent thousands in vet care recently having had 3 of my own pups requiring surgery. They don't choose to live here...I choose to keep them and I owe it to them to take proper care of them.

I am not trying to be mean. I am merely advising you to take a long look at your situation.

I appreciate what your saying - Yes, there is an emergency clinic here. The vet there is terrible, and yes, they'll get better care here at home since I have all the equipment to do EXACTLY what they'd do, minus the rough treatment and inexperienced care. I know many animals that have been ignored there and died from neglect. I know stories where animals that where suppose to be getting treated and be on IV fluids died in their care, and they didn't even have a spot shaved for a catheter. I'm not sure why they haven't been shut down, and have no basis for a claim since it's all word of mouth - But I trust the people I've heard this from. So no, I'm not comfortable going to the ER here, and do feel that when I can reach my own vet and discuss with her what we need to do, that they'll receive better care with me watching over them at night and her attending to them when her clinic is open during the day.

And I'm sorry - But THOUSANDS of people allow their dogs to have access to their yard through a dog door while they're gone. My neighbor checked in on them half way through the day and said they where fine when she checked on them. s**t HAPPENS. Is it something I normally do? Of course not, and will never do it again, but my neighbor didn't feel like she'd be able to get them all back in and in their crates so I did what I felt was best given my circumstances today - I had to go care for an elderly man who's near and dear to my heart and the staff at the rehab center he's staying in wasn't supervising him close enough. I couldn't leave to come home, he couldn't be left alone. So nothing about what happened today was ideal or the way I'd normally do things, I guess this is what I get for trying to help a dear friend out instead of making her hire a stranger to take care of her dad when she wasn't comfortable with that at all.

You have no room to judge me when you know so little of the real facts. The fact is I did what I felt was the best for these dogs, today wasn't a normal day, and I will never allow that to happen again, but it happened and Moose needs help, and that's all that really matters to me at the moment.

24 Hour Las Vegas Veterinarian/Animal Hospital | VECC24.com

Until 2 years ago I went to Vegas months out of the year. This place is great, I "know" that these animals at this place are rarely left alone, if ever even for a few minutes.

I suggest you get Credit CAre get this pup in the hospital. When the owner is well you can square away with him, I'm sure he would be happy to reimburse you.

Also, I am 46 years old. I have two Yorkies and I work. I no matter what would never ever leave them alone for that long and no matter what, they are seperately secured in their own pens. I can't imagine the houseful you have is easy to care for, these two wear me out, you need to really thin the ranks down, I know your intentions are good, but this situation has proven to be dangerous, and with that many animals your sure to see more.

Also, there is alot of wildlife where you live, nail up the doggy door...

Good Luck

Removed because it's obvious this topic isn't worth my time

And you expect the YTers to provide that help? I am not sure what you are saying....

That'd be great if I had the cash upfront, but I don't. And what do you think they'd do? They'd keep him on an IV (which he's on, hooked to an infussion pump), give him pain and antibiotic injections (which my vet sent me home with for the night), and monitor him (which I can do here - I have my vet's cell phone if things change). You may not like me having him at home - But reality he's getting the same care he'd get anywhere else.

I have care credit, it's been maxed out on my own dogs and my rescues already. I had my home catch fire a year ago, and the insurance company I had only repaired my home, they didn't cover vet bills.

Lets drop this, I'll do what I feel is in the best interest of Moose, I'll be leaving this forum since it's obvious people here think if you're not rich and don't have unlimited resources, you're not a good owner or rescuer.

Actually, I was hoping they could help me find resources that could help me, knowing this dog is owned by a disabled veteran who can't afford the care the dog needs. I'm sure there's groups out there. I'll find a way to pay for Mooses' care, and am not going to expect the owner to reimburse me - It's not his fault this dog got injured, and he shouldn't have to pay for it!

One more thing: I am not judging you at all. I am merely commenting on things that you have posted on this forum. If you were a friend, I would be telling you the same thing.

And, I don't care how much "equipment' you have and the fact that you say you are a vet tech....you are not a vet and my personal experience with emergencies like this are that a licensed veterinarian should be handling things.

Please don't let the dogs use that doggy door, I saw coyotes in LV more times than I can count, I am very familiar with LV, please I implore you to reconsider this practice.

NDOW - Nevada Department of Wildlife Website

No one said anything about being wealthy.... It is about being responsible and having the money needed for emergencies. I was merely suggesting that you may have too many animals in your care....that's all. Not a word about how much money you make. It's about having enough for what you have.

Perhaps your friend could reach out to veteran support groups...or contact the VA to see if they might have a program to assist him.

You are correct...Moose's injury is now your responsibility. I will pray for his recovery.

A licensed vet is. It's not as if I'm refusing to take him to the vet and get him medical care. He's been at the vets all afternoon. His injuries have been accessed, his wounds have been treated, and he's stable. He's not going to die, he's just injured. If he where critical or in danger, I would be taking him to the emergency clinic. But he's not, he's stable and medicated, and his vet and I have carefully discussed his treatment plan. If something changes during the night I will take him to the emergency clinic. If my vet had thought he wasn't stable, or thought he might crash during the night she would have had me take him to the emergency clinic (BTW - There's 2, thanks for the info on the other one, it's about 40 minutes from where I'm at in Vegas, but it's good to know there's a good one in town should I need it!).

We're not friends, you don't know me, and you are judging me based on incomplete knowledge. You don't know me or my vet, and you haven't seen Moose. Yes, he's injured, but he's not critical, and will get the best care he can get, but at this point he's not critical or an emergency, and has received the needed medical treatment he needs for the night, and will be dropped back off to have his wounds re-evaluated, flushed, and treated by my vet again tomorrow and stay with her while I care for my friend's dad again tomorrow so he will get the medical care he needs.

Maybe this would help... prayers sent for Moose....

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/eme...vet-bills.html

Gina was severely injured and was not in the EC. :(

Again I am not judging you. I am simply horrified at what I have been reading. I feel terrible for Moose...as I did for Gina. I was sick, sick, sick over her and horrified by your response to me when I said she needed to be hospitalized. When you posted how bad she was the next day it broke my heart.

No, I don't know you.....I am merely responding to what you have posted on this forum. And for someone who "runs a rescue" this is a terrible message about what rescue does .. sorry you don't like my saying it. I just had to say something this time because it is not the first time and sometimes people need to be awakened. That is not mean...it is being responsible.

Absolutely - And are you telling me that even with ONE dog that if one required $10,000 worth of specialist care, and the other got sick or injured suddenly that you'd have the money? I thought with the money I had put away for emergencies I'd be ok, but $10,000 in a month has depleted all my emergency funds.

Please Lady Jane, I'm not looking for a fight. I'm tired and I'm stressed, please just pray for Moose, I'll have his dad reach out to the veteran groups. My vet will work something out payment wise.

Lets back up and cool off, I'm not asking for money here, I'm asking for prayers. I'm asking for support. I'm asking for understanding. This isn't about money. I'm going to let my vet determine the best route of treatments for Moose, and follow her advise to the letter as I always do. If she ever even hints that he'd be better off with 24 hr vet monitoring I won't hesitate to find a way to take him to the ER and leave him there.

The ER mentioned I've never used - But I actually am familiar with them since that's where the cardiologist works out of that I've been taking 2 of my cats and 1 of my dogs to. Never used them as an ER because they're so far from my house, but since the one closer gives such poor care I'll keep them in mind if something changes with moose or I ever truly do need emergency care.

I am not trying to fight with you either. I am praying for Moose...but you say he is not in danger of dying. His wounds sounded bad to me...I hope they are ok.

I am just suggesting that if money is tight you should think about lowering numbers...that's ALL I said.

I have many pups in my home...and trust me I shell out thousands in vet care in short periods of time. I have been fortunate to have been able to do it....I can tell you that if I could not, I would not have them. And, if the time ever comes where I cannot I will need to look at what I am doing. If I were doing what you have been doing, I would hope someone would call my attention to it.

You clearly love animals. I just think that maybe you are in a bit over your head. That is not a sin but it is if you allow it to continue after knowing it. I just hope and pray that this is a wake up call for you.

My vet was called, pictures where sent, and her condition was reported to my vet that night. I did what she advised me to do. Had she said or even hinted I should have taken her in that night I would have. She was kept comfortable on pain meds and antibiotics until my vet could evaluate her the next day. Even then, until we fully anesthetized her there was no way to know the extent - And she wasn't stable enough to do that until close to the end of business the following day. I did what we would have done in clinic - I started her on IV fluids, I administered shock treatment including fluids, antibiotics, and shock treatment, and kept my vet informed of her vitals, attitude, and everything about her through the night. You may not like it - But reality is regardless of where she was that night, that's what would have been done for her. My vet may not have seen her in person until the next day - But even after I dropped her off, she was left to rest in a cage getting the EXACT same care I'd been giving all night until she was stable enough they could anesthetize her and fully evaluate her injuries. Was it horrific? Yes, but would I have done anything different? Honestly, no! She was not in any way neglected or denied medical care.

As to that first paragraph: We all have budgets. If you only had $10,000 and spent it all on one pup....didn't you think at that time about the others? Perhaps you should have made a different decision for that pup.. I don't know. But...you need to look at all of them when making such decisions. Sometimes we have to make very difficult choices.

You can paint it any way you like. I stand by what I said...the pup should have been hospitalized.

Even Moose most likely should based upon your words...but you admit that money is the issue.

Not going to go back and forth with you about this. I made my point and that's all I have to say. I will pray for Moose and also for you.

I really do appreciate your concern. And I'm sorry I got upset - It's been a long hard day for me, especially when I came home to this, and fully knowing it was a completely preventable injury! Tomorrow I'm having my dear friend that's a licensed pet sitter come over and check on them mid day, I made a terrible mistake and am ashamed to admit that.

I probably made it sound worse then it is - He's scrapped up, he has 2 deeper wounds from climbing under the gate, but nothing critical. Honestly, if I wasn't so stressed I would have described things differently. Most of them are puncture wounds - But where they got dirty, those can be worse then deep lacerations! He may require surgery on the deeper ones if they don't continue to drain on their own - He doesn't need surgery or stitches right now, just close supervision and monitoring to make sure infection doesn't set in.

Lets take a deep breath and start over here. I'll post some pictures of Moose later, and you can see for yourself. He's bruised up, scrapped up, and has the couple deeper wounds that may require surgery in a few days if they don't heal up well without it, but he's comfortable and happy tonight. He ate his dinner and is giving kisses, wagging his tail, and walking on his own when I carry him out to potty. He's sore if he tries to get up or walk, but he's not in any real danger tonight.

Actually, if you read what I said in other posts, it wasn't on one dog. It was between 2 cats and an old dog, and several lesser medical expenses. I wasn't going to deny them the best medical care I could get them over money, but it did drain my emergency fund. I will never euthanize an animal that has a chance at a good quality of life after treatment if there is any way possible to give them that care. Even if means draining my funds and putting myself in the position I'm now in. I will make sure I find ways to pay for Moose's medical care, with or with out assistance. I hope I didn't come across wrong, my vet is wonderful, I've worked with her for years, and she knows I'll always pay my bills, so she will work out arrangements for me when she needs to. I'm actually stepping back and I'm not going to have him apply for assistance or do so myself. I'll simply continue working with my vet and work out whatever payment arrangements I need to in order to insure Moose will get whatever medical care he needs. If for some reason things change and he needs to go to the emergency center, I'll call family or friends and ask to borrow the money, or do whatever it takes to make sure he gets that care.

Actually, when did I say money was an issue affecting my medical decisions for Moose or Gina? Never! Yes, I did say money was tight and I was trying to figure out how I was paying for things - But I have never and will never let it affect my decisions on what treatment any animal in my care will or won't receive.

Moose is stable enough that she would have sent him home with the owner for the night regardless of who the owner was unless the owner said they weren't able to medicate the dog or whatever. He's injured and it's as simple as that, the injuries aren't life threatening nor are they being ignored. He's bruised and sore, but he'll be fine once he recovers. And actually, it was my decision to take him back tomorrow to have the wounds re-irrigated and flushed and leave him there for the day since I'll be unable to monitor and care for him myself due to my other responsibilities.

I don't mean to be blunt, but I'm confused; you're taking care of your friend's dad? Why isn't your friend taking care of him? I understand wanting to help out, but with live animals, they have to come first because they can't speak or care for themselves. They have to be the priority. I do try to help out with my friends, but they also know that I have animals I need to care for, and I can't be gone upwards of ten hours. I would think your first responsibility is to the animals, especially animals that aren't yours, and that you agreed to care for. Things happen, but in all likelihood this could have been avoided by not being gone for so long, but you know that now.:(

Yes, I do know that.

The situation with my friend's dad is sad. He's got Parkinsons really bad and just had hip replacement surgery. He needs CONSTANT supervision. His wife runs a day care out of their home that is paying the bills, and his daughter (my friend) is a school teacher. I had some vacation time, this is more then just a friend - This is a family who has been there for me through thick and thin, who has had my back during some very hard times, who took me in years ago at a time I had found myself homeless and jobless and helped me get back on my feet. I owe them more then I could ever repay them for their kindness to me over the years. I can't say I'd have done what I did today for anyone else - But for him? And his wife and daughter? I'd do darn near anything! And I'll be there for him again tomorrow - But plan things out much differently for the dogs, Moose will stay at the vets, Aiyana (my service dog), will, as always, be with me, and I'll hire my friend that's a pet sitter to come let the rest out in the middle of the day and spend some time with them. It's not an ideal situation for me or them, but I'd rather use up my vacation time at work until my friend's dad is well enough to return home (He's in a rehab center that's not watching him close enough - He keeps trying to get up if someone isn't right there to stop him from doing that because with the Parkinson's he can't understand why he shouldn't). If all goes well, in 2 weeks he'll go back home, his wife can make sure he's ok during the day while she runs the day care (it's run out of her home), and life can go on as normal. Until then, Monday through Friday they need me to help and give back a little of all that they've given me. I know it may be hard for some to understand - But they tried having a private nurse take care of him and it was horrible, he just couldn't handle it. With me he's much calmer and easier to control, and right now, I'm just thinking of him. Right or wrong, I feel an obligation, responsibility, and love to make sure he's taken care of after all him and his family have done for me. This family has been more of a family to me then my own, and I love them as I love my own blood family.

No sense in contacting the VA!!! They are doing well to care for our vets, on the limited funds the VA is alloted, let alone their pets! If you are sitting with him 10 hours a day, who sits with him the rest of the time? Sometimes, patients HAVE to accept a nurse sitter, because there are many many people that do not have friends or family members that can sit 24/7 at the patients bedside. As long as the patient is not being abused or mistreated, a sitter is the best option for them, and it just has to be made to work out. I think with all the responsibilities you have at home, you devoting 8 hours a day to sitting with your friend is quite generous on your part, especially when there are other options available for the veteran, especially in a VA hospital or rehab facility.

Sorry if I wasn't clear - The guy who owns Skeeter and Moose is NOT the man I'm helping take care of. Completely separate situation. The man I'm helping care for is not a disabled veteran (that's Skeeter and Moose's dad), just a very very dear friend of mine who's family has been there for me through thick and thin for many years, even when my own family wasn't. I stayed with him all day while his wife ran the daycare they run out of their home and his daughter taught school. When the kids are all picked up by their parents, his wife comes and relieves me, and stays with him most of the night, until his daughter comes and relieves her to go home and get ready for the kids for the day, and then I come relieve her in time for her to get ready to go to work herself. They tried a hired nurse - He got violent and thought she was trying to rob him. His mind is not there at all, they tried 3 different nurses and the same thing happened every time :( Reality is, even medicated his mind is so far gone due to the Parkinsons it\'s really difficult for anyone that he doesn\'t know very well to get close to him. He\'s only in rehab for about 2 weeks until he can use a walker or cane to get around and he can be watched a little less closely, until then I am treating this as I would if it where my own father in this situation. They\'ve treated me as family, and gone above and beyond for me many times - I know it may be hard for some to understand, but to me, this is family. I love them very very deeply. Right now they really need my help - For everyone\'s safety and peace of mind. After all they\'ve done for me, it\'s the least I can do for them.

Saturday and Sunday his wife and daughter don\'t work, and can take care of him on their own. But during the week they both have jobs they can\'t get away from. I have a job I can, my boss understands the situation and I had build up vacation time since I almost never take time off work, so me taking my vacation time and helping take care of him during the week is really the best way to make sure he stays safe.