Help fast - life or death

[kirtjoseph]

Hello Everybody

We saved a little Red tick Hound and have fallen in love with her. The other dogs we have saved have seemed to taken to her very well. We have an old Chow about 13 years old that would play with her every day. Well every once in a while it would become more than just playing and one day they got into it quite heavy. The new girl got the old chow real good on the nose and the chow almost riped her leg off it seemed. after we got them away from each other and cleaned them up we only found a couple puncture wounds on the Red Tick and she seemed fine. Well over the course of several days the leg has swollen to two to three times the size of the other undamaged leg. We are struggling financialy right now and cant find a vet that will treat the dog on payments! So I am going to our local feed store to purchase injectable penicillian and some needles. I was told that the leg should be lanced and drained? I am no stranger to this proceddure having done it to myself several times (when your poor you do what you have to do) What I need to know is there an over the counter medication I can buy at CVS or Walgreens that will sedate the dog a little like benidryl or sominex. I have given dogs benidryl for alergies and seems to knock them out and sominex knocks me out. I need to know if the antibiotic is best shot in the muscel or under the skin and if in the muscel where and what lenth needle on such a small dog. I need to know if I should lance the leg at all and drain(the infection looks like it is moving into the chest although it does not feel like a puss bag there?) If anybody can guide me a little before I start treating this dog tonight I feel if I dont do something now I will loose the animal! I cant let that happen.

Thank you

Kirt

[ChessieLvr]

If I were in the same situation, I would call my local SPCA and surrender the dog. Though you'd lose your dog, she would get the medical treatment she desperately needs and also a loving home.
A serious infection could easliy kill a dog, as can a veterinary procedure gone wrong.
To be quite frank, if you were my friend/family/neighbor, I wouldn't hesitate to contact the authorities to have the dog removed from your home. By not providing the dog with the medical attention it needs, you are abusing the dog.

[kirtjoseph]

I am sure you live a chamed life but I can tell you our dogs get the best of care by the best Vets in town and out of town. We have spent thousands of dollars on our dogs and they always come first in our house they are part of our family. How many dogs have you saved this year from abusive owners? We are just in a financial bind at the moment and have exaused every option we have . We have called every agency every Vet and know one wants to help so we are left to ourselves. We have had offers to bring the dog to be put down but we cant bring our selves to do that. Please dont judge us for our current troubles because our animals do come first and we do not abuse them!

Kirt

[ChessieLvr]

Unfortunately I don't lead a charmed life, though I do provide medical care for my dogs when they need it. If I were ever to be unable to pay for treatment, I would surrender my dogs either to breed rescue or to SPCA.
I have saved no dogs from abusive owners this year, as I happened to have not seen any abused dogs. I did adopt a rescue dog this year though.
I'm sorry that you in a bad place right now and are unable to afford medical care for your dogs. Have you tried a breed rescue or a hound rescue? Also, there is a non-profit website which assists with veterinary bills. Can't remember what it is now, but I'll post it when it comes to me.

I am not judging you. I know you wouldn't be posting here if you did not love the dog. But sometimes in order to do the right thing, you have to do what hurts the most.

[pittiegirl]

ChessieLvr is right. As a responsible and loving owner, you should do everything in your power to get prompt and appropriate medical attention for your dog. If that means surrendering her to the proper authorities then so be it. Your dog’s life is in danger right now, and it will be in more danger if you attempt an at-home surgical procedure. Please do the right thing.

How many dogs any of us have saved has nothing to do with you and this dog that you are unable to care for, but if you must know I've rescued one this year, two in prior years, and all told there are currently 9 rescued dogs in my family.

I don't know if this was the site ChessieLvr was referring to www.carecredit.com but chances are if they can help they will not be able to do so as quickly as you need it. Again, please get this dog the medical attention she needs from a vet, whatever you have to do to get it.

[ChessieLvr]

I found the site: http://www.imom.org/

From the site:
Emergencies - life threatening
Often times we get an application for help and the animal is in such a state of crisis that we cannot take the time to put up a PIN page for them. In these situations we send out an email to subscribers of our e-notification list and start a topic on our Community Forum.

IMOM considers "life threatening" to be those cases for whom the vet has confirmed that the animal will die or have to be euthanized within 48 hours if no financial help is available.

If we have funds available we will always help the animal. More often than not, we don't have the funds and have to reach out to you for help. Your monthly donation will help to insure the availability of funds for life threatening emergencies.

[Doberman's]

Well I have to agree, when you own animals, rescued or not ( I have a rescue by the way ) you better be prepared to care for them and that may mean going into debt for them.

I personally have gone into debt for the sake of my animals ( horses, dogs, cats ).

If you can't afford it and this dog is suffering like you say then you should surrender the dog or get the credit card out.

Sorry but that is the reality of owning pets.

[ChessieLvr]

kirtjoseph-
How is your girl? Getting better?

[kirtjoseph]

Hello Everybody

Thank you for all the help and encouragement but I got some penicillian and syringes from our local feed store. I started giving her 1/2 ML injections inner muscle in the hind quarter rotating every other injection. The swelling started going down by the next day and after 5 shots her leg is completly healed. I know this must sound like complete horror to most but I saved my dog and she is still my dog for 8.50. I just got back on track with my commissions and took the poor abused animal to my vet. He commended me for using my head as well as my heart and not giving the dog up for destruction. He said my treatment was right on the money and that he could not have given the dog better care himself.

Thanks again for all your help and support and I will make sure to tell everybody I know to post here for good advice

The dog abuser