Pets

[2LaneCruzer]

You just reminded me of our second Boston, "Frosty". He was getting up in years, and got down in his hind quarters; he had to be helped up and got around very tentatively. I was taking biology at the time, and I told Mom that maybe some vitamin E and/or K might help. Instead, she gave him Cod Liver Oil and before you know it, he was up and motivating again...not like he was a puppy or anything, but well enough to be his old independent self.

 

[Citydude]

You just reminded me of our second Boston, "Frosty". He was getting up in years, and got down in his hind quarters; he had to be helped up and got around very tentatively. I was taking biology at the time, and I told Mom that maybe some vitamin E and/or K might help. Instead, she gave him Cod Liver Oil and before you know it, he was up and motivating again...not like he was a puppy or anything, but well enough to be his old independent self.

Dottie our current 10 year old Boston has spent her last few years running up and down the fence line with a neighbor dog. In the evening, at times we would have to pack her up stairs she was so sore.

She’s no speed demon now but after a week of the joint meds, she’s back to normal. Boston normal, which is not normal dog normal

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Well if we're talking all in one single "illness", then just short of $4K for our last black lab. Still have no idea what he got into. Came back home after being gone a week, adult daughter was watching our dogs (4 rescue labs) at our place for the week. Noticed Coal (black lab) was acting "off" a day or two after we're home. He was a "counter surfer" and would snatch things off of anywhere and eat them. Only thing we can think of was he took or got into something that daughter brought with her. Daughter was devastated by the whole thing, so I never did fully "interrogate" her over it.

Part of the issue was we didn't know what we were fighting with him. Started with regular vet visit, then local animal hospital, ended up days later at the ER animal hospital in Fargo. Only reason the cost stopped at $4K was he died while we were still trying to figure out what was wrong with him. Kidneys, liver shutdown, and he just wouldn't respond to any treatments, nothing came back as smoking gun in any of the lab tests or x-rays. That was 3-4 years ago. Still have no idea what happened, but the other 3 dogs never "got it", so he must have ingested something. Still miss him, would spend it all again if had to, and we were prepared to spend whatever it took to save him, he just didn't last long enough.

Our other "problem child" is a little yellow lab mix, he's not topped the single bill total (so far, lol), but he's been to the vet and local animal hospital several times over the years. I think he's up to $6K total, but usually not more than a grand or so at a time, and only one multi-day stay in the hospital so far (knock on wood).

 

[Citydude]

Well if we're talking all in one single "illness", then just short of $4K for our last black lab. Still have no idea what he got into. Came back home after being gone a week, adult daughter was watching our dogs (4 rescue labs) at our place for the week. Noticed Coal (black lab) was acting "off" a day or two after we're home. He was a "counter surfer" and would snatch things off of anywhere and eat them. Only thing we can think of was he took or got into something that daughter brought with her. Daughter was devastated by the whole thing, so I never did fully "interrogate" her over it.

Part of the issue was we didn't know what we were fighting with him. Started with regular vet visit, then local animal hospital, ended up days later at the ER animal hospital in Fargo. Only reason the cost stopped at $4K was he died while we were still trying to figure out what was wrong with him. Kidneys, liver shutdown, and he just wouldn't respond to any treatments, nothing came back as smoking gun in any of the lab tests or x-rays. That was 3-4 years ago. Still have no idea what happened, but the other 3 dogs never "got it", so he must have ingested something. Still miss him, would spend it all again if had to, and we were prepared to spend whatever it took to save him, he just didn't last long enough.

Our other "problem child" is a little yellow lab mix, he's not topped the single bill total (so far, lol), but he's been to the vet and local animal hospital several times over the years. I think he's up to $6K total, but usually not more than a grand or so at a time, and only one multi-day stay in the hospital so far (knock on wood).

Sorry that he died. That had to be awful not knowing what was killing him.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Sorry that he died. That had to be awful not knowing what was killing him.

Yes, hit us pretty hard. Also we were really worried that whatever it was, that our other dogs were in danger too.

 

[Citydude]

Yes, hit us pretty hard. Also we were really worried that whatever it was, that our other dogs were in danger too.

No doubt, a rough road to go down. Glad the others were OK.

 

[Ken45101]

Our biggest vet bills aren't "at" the vet but the emergency late at night farm calls for the horses. Emergency farm call, plus $50 mileage charge.... a bit over $200 just to get the vet here. We were over $700 the night we found my best horse tore up. Ultimately put him down.

If you include meds, $800 each for two horses for EPM medicine. The bad thing there, three vets missed the problem and by the time the forth one suspected EPM, both had permanent damage and had to be retired. The one required a second 30 day round of the meds too.

The one vet I had been using for 16 years suddenly quit doing horses. There is one outfit nearby that does emergency calls but the one vet is really incompetent and we won't call them. Then next choice is a good vet but he is 50 miles away.

 

[Molalla1]

Our biggest vet bills aren't "at" the vet but the emergency late at night farm calls for the horses. Emergency farm call, plus $50 mileage charge.... a bit over $200 just to get the vet here. We were over $700 the night we found my best horse tore up. Ultimately put him down.

If you include meds, $800 each for two horses for EPM medicine. The bad thing there, three vets missed the problem and by the time the forth one suspected EPM, both had permanent damage and had to be retired. The one required a second 30 day round of the meds too.

The one vet I had been using for 16 years suddenly quit doing horses. There is one outfit nearby that does emergency calls but the one vet is really incompetent and we won't call them. Then next choice is a good vet but he is 50 miles away.

Ken horses are expensive for sure when my kids were growing up they just had to have horses . . . very expensive hobby. Now I do not have one horse.

 

[Jstpssng]

I've never had much of an interest in horses but have known people who do. It seems that they get even more attached than some of us do to our dogs.

 

[Molalla1]

I've never had much of an interest in horses but have known people who do. It seems that they get even more attached than some of us do to our dogs.

Oh boy I do not know why . . .