Anyone Know a VET (for a dog) That Takes Payments?

[hayforhorses - The Food Angel]

You may have seen posts of the woman who has a dog that has Hypothyroidism and it weighs 226lbs...? I have been in contact with her and she is a single parent with 4 children and works FT and has a difficult time keeping up with the bills. She was petsitting the dog a couple of years ago and the owner never came back (!!!), so, now she is taking care of the dog.

She has called around for a vet that will take monthly payments to treat her dog, but, the best she has found is a vet that requires $200 upfront as a down payment which she cannot afford.

She is wondering if any of you know of a vet that will take more reasonably priced payments either in the Vancouver, WA area, or in the Portland, OR area. If you PERSONALLY know of a vet who can help her out, please let me know.

Thank you so much...

Aimee

Hay for Horses

[hayforhorses - The Food Angel]

No one knows?

[pikzeedust]

Sometimes the best thing to do is go to the local newspaper. Being that the dog has a serious health problem and she is doing good deed by taking care of an abandoned dog, some local vet may want the attention by doing a little charity work.

There was a vet around our area that donated their services for a cat that some kids lit on fire. They were able to save the cat and they were in the newspaper quite often so it allowed them a lot of exposure.

[hayforhorses - The Food Angel]

hmmmmm....that sounds like a good idea! Thank you....

Aimee

[cutiepiepmu]

Also - dietary changes are a MUST for a dog in this situation. If she is feeing a standard, cheaper dog food - she may need to consider putting this dog on a wholistic ALL-MEAT food rather than a mixed bag of stuff. There are a few new ones on the market that are very good - not the easiest to find - but getting the grains completely out of the diet, reducing the amount of food per day, eliminating ALL snacks and getting this dog on some meds can make a real impact for this dogs health. Merrik makes a food called BG(Before Grain) that is not bad - it is not cheap - BUT may help this dog alot.

Also - if there is a good humane society clinic down there - call them, explain the situation and see if a vet will be willing to do the inital tests and get the dog started on the meds. Then, set it up so that the dog only has to come in every few months for re-testing and the owner can just get meds refilled without an office call. I know that there is a really good humane facility in Salem.

There is always the chance that rather than hypothyroid that this dog is actually Cushings or diabetic - it is REALLY important to make sure the diagnosis is correct. For ANY of those diagnosis though - getting ALL Grains out of the diet is a major thing. So - if the food has any by-products, grain products or veggie products - ditch it. Alot of these dogs actually do really well on a good vitamin and cooked chicken. But - if finances are short - this may not be an option.

Sara

[hayforhorses - The Food Angel]

I was able to get help for the dog...he now is on thyroid meds...also, the vet put him on pain meds because of the pain in his body from his immense weight when he moves around. I am waiting to hear back from the woman on the pain meds: if they are prescription drugs, I am going to tell her about the wonderful natural pain meds I use on my dog. I buy them at 50% off so she will be able to afford them.

I am also hoping that this dog's diet can be changed...I feed raw to all my pets....I passed on all of your advice, Sara....thanks!

Thanks, everyone!

Aimee