Seahawk Family

[Anointed One]

I know this may not be the place to post this but I'm looking for advice/feedback...

I have 3 daughters... 15, 17, 19, whom all still live at home w/ their mom and I... We've had a baby pomchi puppy for 7 months now named, Molly... My girls are very attached to her - she's obviously part of the family... She ate a chicken rawhide yesterday and immediately became very sick... She threw up about 10 times, dry heaving till about 1am in the morning... When I woke up to check on her at 8am she was very lethargic and definitely not herself... We decided to take her to emergency pet clinic... There is a large pc of rawhide stuck in her Esophagus... Doctors sedated her and tried to push it through to her stomach without any success... Problem is, tissue is beginning to form around the rawhide making it harder for it to pass through... She is being hospitalized over night in prep of possible surgery in the morning...

Here's the deal... We purchased her for $600, shots, spaded, etc have come to an additional $700... With Food, toys, bedding, gates cost, we're into her another $500 since we've had her... Total of $1,800... The vet bill today so far is $1,467... The surgery tomorrow will be a scope surgery where a camera goes in w/ grips to try and pull it out or push it through... Risk is that the Esophagus may become ruptured due to the tissue built up around it... If that happens, it would require trachiadomy surgery or she may just pass away... The scope would cost $1,200 with a 80% success rate bringing my vet bill to $2,667... At what point do I just say enough is enough and put the dog down? Keep in mind, I have 3 daughters AND a wife that are very attached to this puppy...

The curve ball is their grandpa has passed away this weekend and the puppy possibly passing on isn't helping...

Any suggestions? You guys with children may understand a bit better... I know the easy answer is, put the dog down and stop racking up a vet bill but the answer is that easy when it involves 4 other girls whom grandpa has just passed away on Saturday...

 

[HaroldSeattle]

I know this may not be the place to post this but I'm looking for advice/feedback...

I have 3 daughters... 15, 17, 19, whom all still live at home w/ their mom and I... We've had a baby pomchi puppy for 7 months now named, Molly... My girls are very attached to her - she's obviously part of the family... She ate a chicken rawhide yesterday and immediately became very sick... She threw up about 10 times, dry heaving till about 1am in the morning... When I woke up to check on her at 8am she was very lethargic and definitely not herself... We decided to take her to emergency pet clinic... There is a large pc of rawhide stuck in her Esophagus... Doctors sedated her and tried to push it through to her stomach... Problem is, tissue is beginning to form around making it harder for it to pass through... She is being hospitalized over night in prep of possible surgery in the morning...

Here's the deal... We purchased her for $600, shots, spaded, etc have come to an additional $700... With Food, toys, bedding, gates cost, we're into her another $500 since we've had her... Total of $1,800... The vet bill today so far is $1,467... The surgery tomorrow will be a scope surgery where a camera goes in w/ grips to try and pull it out or push it through... Risk is that the Esophagus be become ruptured due to the tissue built up around it... If that happens, it would require trachiadomy surgery... The scope would cost $1,200 with a 80% success rate bringing my vet bill to $2,667... At what point do I just say enough is enough and put the dog down? Keep in mind, I have 3 daughters AND a wife that are very attached to this puppy...

The curve ball is their grandpa has passed away this weekend and the puppy possibly passing on isn't helping...

Any suggestions? You guys with children may understand a bit better... I know the easy answer is, put the dog down and stop racking up a vet bill but the answer is that easy when it involves 4 other girls whom grandpa has just passed away on Saturday...

Always tough with daughters. I’ve had a similar issue with a beloved dog. I’ve always held firm in saying no to the cost. Sure as heck isn’t easy. My answer may have been different if I could afford such a bill without stressing paying the usual bills.

 

[Anointed One]

Always tough with daughters. I’ve had a similar issue with a beloved dog. I’ve always held firm in saying no to the cost. Sure as heck isn’t easy. My answer may have been different if I could afford such a bill without stressing paying the usual bills.

Yeah, we can afford up to 3k... That is the budget I have put on this dog... If not, then it's obviously a horrible spend... If she makes it, it will have been worth it... Never thought i'd be in a position like this with an animal... It's very difficult with human emotions involved... Very hard to put a price on that...

Pissed that the chicken rawhides from Costco is what got lodged her throat... Says it's for dogs over 5lbs... I strongly disagree and they'll be hearing from me...

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

I know this may not be the place to post this but I'm looking for advice/feedback...

I have 3 daughters... 15, 17, 19, whom all still live at home w/ their mom and I... We've had a baby pomchi puppy for 7 months now named, Molly... My girls are very attached to her - she's obviously part of the family... She ate a chicken rawhide yesterday and immediately became very sick... She threw up about 10 times, dry heaving till about 1am in the morning... When I woke up to check on her at 8am she was very lethargic and definitely not herself... We decided to take her to emergency pet clinic... There is a large pc of rawhide stuck in her Esophagus... Doctors sedated her and tried to push it through to her stomach without any success... Problem is, tissue is beginning to form around the rawhide making it harder for it to pass through... She is being hospitalized over night in prep of possible surgery in the morning...

Here's the deal... We purchased her for $600, shots, spaded, etc have come to an additional $700... With Food, toys, bedding, gates cost, we're into her another $500 since we've had her... Total of $1,800... The vet bill today so far is $1,467... The surgery tomorrow will be a scope surgery where a camera goes in w/ grips to try and pull it out or push it through... Risk is that the Esophagus may become ruptured due to the tissue built up around it... If that happens, it would require trachiadomy surgery or she may just pass away... The scope would cost $1,200 with a 80% success rate bringing my vet bill to $2,667... At what point do I just say enough is enough and put the dog down? Keep in mind, I have 3 daughters AND a wife that are very attached to this puppy...

The curve ball is their grandpa has passed away this weekend and the puppy possibly passing on isn't helping...

Any suggestions? You guys with children may understand a bit better... I know the easy answer is, put the dog down and stop racking up a vet bill but the answer is that easy when it involves 4 other girls whom grandpa has just passed away on Saturday...

Very sorry to hear about your pup and also prayers to your family about your grandfather. My wife and I had our cat for 11 yrs and was in our kids lives when they came along. Roxy was a great cat and loved everybody in the family. One day my wife noticed her limping and brought it to my attention when I got home. I thought she my have tweeked it landing on it cause this cat loved to jump but after time went by she had a bulge on her leg. So of course we took her to the vet and it came back as a cancerous tumor but didn't spread. So of course we were given options and decided to amputate the leg cause at the time she was in good health besides the leg cause we felt the kids would be devastated. Sadly we lost her 2 yrs later as the cancer returned and decided to put her down cause the cost of kemo and other meds wouldn't even give her a 50% chance to live. I've always felt like my wife and I did the right thing in trying to prolong her life cause we as a family loved her. If it was me I'd try to help the pup unless there's no way around it.

 

[Anointed One]

Very sorry to hear about your pup and also prayers to your family about your grandfather. My wife and I had our cat for 11 yrs and was in our kids lives when they came along. Roxy was a great cat and loved everybody in the family. One day my wife noticed her limping and brought it to my attention when I got home. I thought she my have tweeked it landing on it cause this cat loved to jump but after time went by she had a bulge on her leg. So of course we took her to the vet and it came back as a cancerous tumor but didn't spread. So of course we were given options and decided to amputate the leg cause at the time she was in good health besides the leg cause we felt the kids would be devastated. Sadly we lost her 2 yrs later as the cancer returned and decided to put her down cause the cost of kemo and other meds wouldn't even give her a 50% chance to live. I've always felt like my wife and I did the right thing in trying to prolong her life cause we as a family loved her. If it was me I'd try to help the pup unless there's no way around it.

Thanks... Very encouraging... It's even harder with my wife in Arizona for work till Wednesday while I attempt to noodle through this w/ my 3 girls...

 

[Ojb81]

damn, sorry to read of this, anointed. hope the pup makes it through, okay. and condolences for the loss of grampa

 

[Uhsplit]

I'm sorry you are going through this.
Both Costco and the manufacturer of the rawhide should pay the bills as long as the pup qualifies to have this treat. It would be a great PR move for Costco, the manufacturer, not so much. They would want to keep it quiet would be my guess. Another angle to try.
It sounds like you have budgeted for this pup. My 2 cents is to go for it. Either way it goes, you come off as a hero to the family and hopefully the businesses take care of your pain.
Best of luck!

 

[Podunkparte]

I have no kids, but a 10 year old dog. Money comes and goes but our furry friends are worth helping if we can. I say bite the bullet and get the scope done.

Not a bad idea to bring it up with the company too.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

Not part of the Hawk family but I sincerely hope your four legged friend pulls through. Do all that you can fiscally afford to save this pup. You and your family obviously have passion for animals. Unfortunately there are so many strays that don't have the luxury of a loving family like yours. I'm in Thailand right now and I hate the amount of soi dogs in this country. Thinking about volunteering at the pet shelter to at least do something to help.

It won't help you this time but in the future if you get another young animal you may want to try USA Pets. They offer a pretty reasonable pet insurance. I've had it on my dogs for probably 20 year. The first dog live to 14. She had lots of issues as she aged. Everything from $1200 MRIs that the specialists tells you before you go in, we may not find anything conclusive to our current 7 year old yellow lab who had jaw cancer as a pup. He had been chewing on some bones and we noticed blood. Finally took him in and it was bone cancer in his jaw. They surgically removed a piece of jaw and you could never tell he went through anything like that. He still today plays like a pup. There is one issue. His tongue hangs out all the time now. Many people think it's cute or he's thirsty I just call him my little doofas.

Without pet insurance I'm not sure I could've invested the amount necessary to treat these two lovable family members.
Good luck Anointed

 

[JMR]

After growing up with dogs my whole life and then going through 24+ years of marriage and Army life without one (my wife wasn't on board with a dog while we were dancing the globe), we just adopted our 1st one this past Thanksgiving -- a 5 y/o 190 lb English mastiff (totally awesome, teddy bear of a dog...unless you are another animal or pose a threat to my wife or daughter, then you're &*#$ed) -- so I can empathize with such a tough decision. Our big boy Odin is absolutely just as much of a family member as any of the rest of us.

The only advice I can give is I think you have to make the decision that works best for your family, even if it's a really tough one. We will all far outlive our pets if we are lucky. Before we moved to Germany 7 years ago, we had a ~16 y/o cat who was very sick and would have had a tough time with the move. He was also older than both of our kids, and it was gut-wrenching but to do it but I took him in about a week before our flight out of the country and had him put down. I didn't tell the kids I was doing it because they were a bit young at that time (12 and 9) to deal with it easily. It was a tough mission but I don't regret it. It was the overall right choice.

Good luck, best to your family.

 

[Anointed One]

Great feedback/advice everyone... I appreciate it... I'm heading down the Pet Emergency hear shortly... I pray this day goes well!!!

 

[MKHawk]

Ugh, sorry you're in the middle of this AO.

Got two kids but never had any pets. In your shoes I'd definitely go with the scope surgery with the 80% success rate. After that is when you have the decision to make.

Good luck

 

[PEOPLESCHICKEN]

Try and save the dog for your daughters

 

[chf]

I know this is going to sound weird, but have a convo with the Vet BEFORE you include the daughters in any group discussions.

Then you and the vet agree to lie to the girls about why you're putting the dog down (if that becomes necessary).

Good luck AO.



(edit for clarity)

Don't let them know the decision had ANYTHING to do with money.

 

[Anointed One]

Thanks guys... Going to get the pup now... I'll give you an update in a few...

 

[MrS]

Will you regret spending the money more than putting the dog down?

In the long run the money wont matter, but your kids will have the memory of the puppy that had to be put down because dad was a cheap ass.

 

[Tech_God]

Will you regret spending the money more than putting the dog down?

In the long run the money wont matter, but your kids will have the memory of the puppy that had to be put down because dad was a cheap ass.

Wow, you must be the life of the party.

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

Thanks... Very encouraging... It's even harder with my wife in Arizona for work till Wednesday while I attempt to noodle through this w/ my 3 girls...

I hope everything turns out well!

 

[Mariners_44]

Damn AO, this is a bummer of a situation.

I don't have kids, but do have two pups that in a way are our kids.

Money comes and goes, but the memories made with that pup is worth the financial gamble to save its life.

Gotta save Molly! Good luck and keep us posted

 

[Anointed One]

"Good Golly Miss Molly" ~ Kevin Calabro

Surgery was a success! Esophagus is a bit irritated so there is some TLC that we will need to give her over the next few weeks... Our hopes now is that she doesn't have scar tissue develop on there... $2,357 was money well spent in this situation... My daughters are happy even know their daddy's pocket book is much much lighter... All in all, Molly has brought our family some great memories so far in the brief 6 month stint in her life and we look forward to many more...

The recovery process is the important part right now... We need that Esophagus to heal properly over the next few weeks!

Only SOFT treats for her from here on out!