Chronic Health Problems in a 3 year old

[Markar]

My 3 YO Rottie girl came to us with a med file the size of a phone book. She has been with me for three months and I have already spent $500 in vet bills. Last year before I got her she almost died from Lyme Disease. Since she has been with us she has suffered from urine crystals, and two UTI...she's being treated for her second as I write. My vet put her on Clavamox for a month in the hopes of killing this bateria once and for all. She's the sweetest girl you ever met, but when does one say enough is enough. I'm putting two children through college and I have very little extra money.

[SonnyRott]

$500?! I wish! My pup is 19 months and our vet bills have exceeded $4,000. We are an average working couple who are also planning to put our youngest through college. We are not rich.

That's why we think long and hard before taking on a pet. You don't plan for the hard times but we've learned from experience to expect it.

We feel our pets are entitled to the same care our sons would have, whatever the expense. The only exception I have to this is if the pet is suffering....I woudn't prolong its life then. But I feel it is my responsibility, if I bring a pet into my home, to give it the quality of life it deserves. Urine crystals and UTI seem mild in comparison to the years of love and companionship you'll receive in return.

I'll be paying off that $4,000 for quite some time. But I am looking forward to 8 plus years with truly, one of my best friends!

[moondog]

Hey, Sonny...I bet that's just what she wanted to hear, LOL! $4,000!!!

Hi Markar, Welcome to the Forums!

Has the vet identified the specific bacteria? If that is done, the choice of antibiotic can be much more appropriate in targeting that particular bacteria. Has the type of crystal been identified? Have you made any diet changes to accomodate her tendency to develop crystals? For problems like this, the right diet can play an important part in helping clear it up and in preventing a recurrence.

I've found that my best chance of conquering stuff like this is to learn more about it. That way, I can have a real discussion with the vet about the treatment that is being recommended and learn how to manage the problem. Here's some links:

http://www.nhahonline.com/k9urinary_tract.htm#stones
http://www.greatdanelady.com/article...infections.htm
http://courses.vetmed.wsu.edu/vm552/...al/urolith.htm
http://www.lbah.com/Canine/urolithiasis.htm
http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/a...l.jsp?id=90577

UTI's can be difficult to clear up but, with the right treatment and preventative care, they do not have to be chronic.

[debbiej]

on this topic, I wonder about pet health insurance. the brochures say heridatary and genetic problems are not covered. that could leave a lot of loopholes. but then other information I've read seems like they do cover a lot of problems.

[Judy Chrusch]

Oh can I sympathize, as many of us can but $500 is what I spent in one visit when my boy was sick . He too had Lyme and almost died and from the time he was 1 1/2 I'm in to the THOUSANDS!!

Once your girl is straightened out and put on the right medication she should be o.k. Does she have permanent kidney damage from the lyme? What are the health problems she's left with from lyme that would require large vet bills?

My boy is on all kinds of things for the rest of his life and now my kids are on there own but hang in their with the vet bills, especially if it's temporary and if it isn't maybe you can work out a payment plan with your vet, most will do that. Don't get discouraged, do the best you can but as I said, ask your vet to work with you and tell her/him your financial situation and go from their.

One says enough is enough when there isn't anything left to do .

Judy

[majicka]

Is is possible for you to stash away a little bit of money per month for your dog's care? That way you can make sure that you aren't depleting your funds for your children. I put 'spare' change in a jar every day and it adds up. Can you talk to the vet and maybe ask him for a break? Can you ask him for a payment plan?

Bruno had major heart problems and cost me quite a lot over the years..He also gave me 6 wonderful years of his life. I would spare no expense on my dog's healthcare. I'm also lucky enough to have a 2 income household with no children and no house payments.

[C Ross]

I would expect big vet bills in the first couple of months with a new dog. If the dog came to you as an adult (as yours did) then there may be health issues left from the dog's prior situation. If you're adopting a pup you have all of the puppy vet checks, spay or neuter, etc. Either way, the first couple of months with a new dog are expensive.

Many chronic conditions can be managed relatively inexpensively, but you have to get to the chronic stage first! Right now you're dealing with acute issues. Getting the UTI cleared up, figuring out what's prompting the crystals in the urine, finding out what liver damage there is from the Lyme, those are acute needs. They'll be expensive.

Manage the crisis, and then decide if the dog's long-term medical needs are beyond your means.

Christine

[Markar]

Thanks for the responses. We lost our first Rottie to the Bloat just before we rescued this girl. I'm willing to pay what's necessary to cure her, but I cannot afford high vet bills for many years. The person we got her from offered to take her back if it doesn't work out, and we really love her and wish to cure and keep her. Financially I'm stuck, both my children go to very expensive college, and they receive financial aid based on our ability to pay. Any extra money I make must go to the school.

[Mavides]

Originally Posted by Markar

I'm willing to pay what's necessary to cure her, but I cannot afford high vet bills for many years.

I'm so sorry to tell you...but high vet bills for many years kind of come with the territory of owning a Rottweiler. :( Not only does our breed suffer from many genetic problems due to overbreeding, they also have a tendancy to be "accident prone" - in fact, I actually heard (could be a rumor of course) that some pet insurances either were not covering or were charging extra for Rotties due to this - and I can see why!!! Legend is only 19 months old and has already had two vet incidents non-genetic related...crashing through the front window resulting in a $220 surgery to check out a lump that developed from that injury and a $400 emergency clinic visit for him bouncing around the house and accidentally stepping on my Chow - that ticked her off, she snapped at him...just a snap, but it happened to be on his "wrist" and punctured a joint capsule. That's not to mention the regular wellness checks, vaccines, routine blood work, etc....I'm super tight on money too - but my pets come first. I don't want to discourage you from pet ownership....but Rotties tend to be an EXPENSIVE breed when it comes to vet bills (my last one cost me over $6000 in the last 3 months of his life trying to diagnose what was wrong with him - that's a credit card bill I'll be paying on for a LONG time)...I hope your girl is one of the lucky ones that doesn't have numerous problems - but if I were you, I'd start up a savings account for her just in case - and check into that pet insurance too...sometimes that can help out.

[NorthJerseyRott]

Markar,

Only you can make these decsions regarding your financial situation as they relate to your pet(s). Rotties can be one of the more costly breeds to own as stated in previous e-mails. As much as we love our "Emily", I will not put our family into financial distress. My wife and kids, absolutley. That being said, we provide the best home, training, diet, and routine (and not so routine) veterinary care as possible.

[RottyMom]

This year alone I spent $300+ on routine stuff...titers, Revolution, fecals etc. Then another $800 on an overnight emergency visit caused by an allergic reaction to peanut butter. Honestly it's just the way it goes when you have pets.

[Judi W]

I would say that if she arrived with a large med file then you knew you were not getting a normally healthy dog. I would never judge someone's resources or disposition of those resources.

I would suggest, and this is not just relative to Markar but also other current threads, that people not acquire dogs on impluse, but with investigation as to character, health, etc. Because a dog is acquired from rescue situations does not make that less important. Whilst people are urged to look at all sorts of criteria in selecting a breeder or a pup from a breeder, somehow it appears that selection is often totally disregarded when acquiring a rescue.

[RottyMom]

I think if you can get any information when rescusing that's awesome. Since both mine were strays I know nothing about their histories...health or otherwise but I also went into it with my eyes open and know the risk/chance I'm taking. I am prepared to provide the same care to them as I would to a puppy I picked out from a breeder.
Judi is right when she stated that this particular dog came with information about it's health.

[Judi W]

In liew of background (which is rarely available), an acessment of character and behavior propensities can still be done, as in fact a brief vet visit for an over-view. A good objective eye is useful.