Help! My dog is in a bad way and faced with big bill!

Molly41

Try and keep him - you sound like a caring owner to me. Dont make any hasty decisions as he is a member of your family x

pearl123

I've put this up for reference just in case someone else runs into a problem with a sick pet. Celia Hammond Trust.

They don't just deal with cats.

"The Clinic is now providing low-cost treatments for certain clients who cannot find help elsewhere. There are many pet owners who fall just outside the benefit requirements to be able to use the local PDSA / RSPCA yet cannot afford the fees of private veterinary surgeons. Even if they are PDSA clients they are only allowed to have three animals treated, so any additional animals would not qualify for treatment. CHAT strongly recommends that owners take out pet insurance for their pets, in order that they will be able to use private veterinary surgeons. However, there are always uninsured pets in need of help and strays in need of attention with existing conditions which insurers would not accept. Consultations are now held every day, with many different medical and surgical cases being treated."


http://www.celiahammond.org/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=4&MMN_position=12:12

Millie2008_2

whereabouts in Worcs are you? I might be able to suggest a sympathetic vet. PM me if you like

Millie2008_2

Duh sorry, just saw you've already taken him. I am not sure of the average price of such surgery, but it might be worth ringing around for a few tentative quotes. My local (and very good) vet is cheaper than others locally, for eg.

zaksmum

It's tough if you can't pay a vet. I always make sure insurance is a priority for my dogs, absolutely vital - not that that's any good to you now.

Sorry I don't have any suggestions. Hope you can work something out though.

Welshwoofs

fiona1125 wrote: »

I have taken him to any emergency vet whom has advised that he has a herniated disc. He needs surgery which i have been quoted £1789+vat for and the consultation has just cost £129+. I have made an arangment to pay the consultaion fee when he has his surgery.

Well done for biting the bullet and taking him in...and OUCH! The poor mite must be in a lot of pain; I'm so glad to hear that he's getting sorted out

I have just listed my car on ebay through a one day auction to fund his care and once his better i will be finding a new home for him, as due to the sudden loss of income it would be sensible for someone else to care for him.

Please do try those RSPCA numbers I posted - those centres have a financial aid fund to help with vet's fees without you needing to give up your dog.

~Chameleon~

Welshwoofs wrote: »

FYI - from the RSPCA site:

Expensive veterinary treatment

Before you give up a pet because of expensive medical bills do some research. Some of our branches, where funds allow, may be able to help those in receipt of a low income state benefit. To find out if your local branch is able to help you, please visit in your area and select ‘veterinary financial aid’ under ‘service’. There may also be other charities that are able to help.


I've done a search on a radius of 25 miles from Worcester and got back:


1.RSPCA Kidderminster & District Branch 18 miles from Worcester
Address
Not available

Contact details
07715 201239
[EMAIL="janis.rspca@btinternet.com"]janis.rspca@btinternet.com[/EMAIL]
Services offered
Veterinary financial aid
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 5pm-6pm



2.RSPCA Stourbridge & District Branch 19 miles from Worcester
Address
Not available

Contact details
www.rspca-stourbridgeanddistrict.org.uk
Services offered
Veterinary financial aid


Opening hours: Unspecified opening times



3.The Margaret Pears Clinic 20 miles from Worcester
Address
Alleyne Lodge
Knapp Road
CHELTENHAM
GL50 3QH

Contact details
01242 521958
www.rspca-cheltenhameastglos.org.uk
Services offered
Veterinary financial aid


Opening hours: 2pm-3pm Mon & 1.30pm-2.30pm Wed



4.RSPCA Cheltenham & East Gloucestershire Branch 20 miles from Worcester
Address
Not available

Contact details
01242 521958
[EMAIL="rspca.cheltenham@virgin.net"]rspca.cheltenham@virgin.net[/EMAIL] www.rspca-cheltenhameastglos.org.uk
Services offered
Veterinary financial aid


Opening hours: 10am-12 noon Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri.


5.RSPCA Gloucester City & District Branch 22 miles from Worcester
Address
Not available

Contact details
01452 412180
[EMAIL="rspcagloucester1@btconnect.com"]rspcagloucester1@ btconnect.com[/EMAIL]
Services offered
Veterinary financial aid


Opening hours: 9am - 1pm Mon - Fri



6.Edwin Lea Clinic 22 miles from Worcester
Address
61 Horton Road
GLOUCESTER
GL1 3PX

Contact details
01452 412180

Services offered
Veterinary financial aid


Opening hours: 3pm - 4pm Mon & Wed.


7.RSPCA Herefordshire Branch 22 miles from Worcester
Address
R S P C A
22-23, Commercial Road
HEREFORD
HR1 2BD

Contact details
0845 2002962
[EMAIL="contact@rspcahereford.org.uk"]contact@rspcahereford.org.uk[/EMAIL] www.rspca-herefordshire.org.uk
Services offered
Veterinary financial aid


Opening hours: 9.30am - 2.30pm Mon, Wed & Fri.

Excellent work!! :T

I'd just like to take this opportunity to remind people that these clinics and the other clinics/shelters around the country are all self-funding, relying on public donations, selling second hand goods in the RSPCA shops and doing their own fundraising activities.

They DO NOT receive any funding from central RSPCA headquarters where most people send their donations. The RSPCA is currently sitting on millions (approx £14million when I last looked) of people's donations when many of these shelters struggle to help people like the OP in this thread. If you want to help and donate to the RSPCA then please make sure your donations go directly to local shelters and not the central headquarters.

Elle7

That's quite a good price for the surgery, in my area and experience, at least.

I do think you should look at insuring him - although that could be very expensive due to the high risk of heart problems and neurological problems in the breed - and if you can afford the premiums, you sound like wonderful owners.

If you can't, its probably kinder to give him to someone who can, although I can imagine how heartbreaking that would be. I care for cavaliers with heart conditions, and often the owners can't afford to care for them. The treatment alone can be huge sums (£110 a week for my lovely boy, who died of MVD) and a consultation every four weeks to check on progress.

The neurological problems can be even worse, as they often require surgery.

I hope he recovers fine, and I'm very sorry for your circumstances, and that you are considering giving him up. It must hurt, but I can promise that the dogs I take on in such circumstances are looked after perfectly, and get the best vet care. I'm sure the same will be true for your dog if you take him somewhere reputable for rehoming, should that be necessary.

gibson123

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Excellent work!! :T

I'd just like to take this opportunity to remind people that these clinics and the other clinics/shelters around the country are all self-funding, relying on public donations, selling second hand goods in the RSPCA shops and doing their own fundraising activities.

They DO NOT receive any funding from central RSPCA headquarters where most people send their donations. The RSPCA is currently sitting on millions (approx £14million when I last looked) of people's donations when many of these shelters struggle to help people like the OP in this thread. If you want to help and donate to the RSPCA then please make sure your donations go directly to local shelters and not the central headquarters.

Really i did not know this, are they allowed to do this, it is almost deceitful.

~Chameleon~

gibson123 wrote: »

Really i did not know this, are they allowed to do this, it is almost deceitful.

The RSPCA is a law unto itself and only interested in political propaganda and animal rights activities but that's a whole other story I don't want to get into right now. It's well documented if you search google.

I agree it is very deceitful as people assume when they make a donation that it goes towards the clinics, hospitals and shelters but it doesn't. Each one is a registered charity in their own right and have to raise their own funds to run it.