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Help please. I dont know what to do. Swollen leg and Xray

TinaParks

New Born Pup
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Hi guys
I would really appreciate your advice on this matter. I've got two boys, Patch and Cinnamon. Patch who is 3, started limping 3 days ago and has a very swollen foot. We took him to the vet straight away and the vet gave him antibiotics injections then we had to go back the next day because the antibiotics didn't have any effect on Patches foot. So next day we went back to see our usual vet and she said she will
prescribe more antiimflammatory drugs and antibiotics for the next 4 days and if they don't work, Patch would have to go under anesthesia for an Xray. Now, that would cost nearly £300 and so far we have spent £100 on fees and meds and we cant afford the cost of the xray. This would also mean that he would have another operation possibly and the vet said that may cost another hundreds of pounds. I'm really confused, I don't want him to have surgery or go under anaesthesia and also, I don't have a spare hundreds of pounds, I also don't want him to be put to sleep, I really love him. I just don't know what else I could do to help him.
 
I'm sorry you find yourself in this situation, but if the vet thinks your piggy needs an xray, he needs an xray. If you are in the UK, you might consider contacting the PDSA. Or asking your vet about a payment plan to stagger the cost. If you post your location possibly a local rescue might be able to help if you can't afford your piggy's vet care.
Putting piggy to sleep on the grounds that you can't afford his vet care when you haven't even got a diagnosis sounds a bit extreme, many piggies live long and happy lives with damaged or deformed legs- I have 2 such piggies myself and they are definitely nowhere near a PTS situation.
Please either post your location or contact a local rescue centre if you cannot afford or arrange vet care, hopefully someone can offer to take your piggy on as a rescue and get him the vet care he needs x
 
Welcome to the forum.
You did exactly the right thing in taking Patch to the vet.
Hopefully the anti inflammatory meds will work.
As @PigglePuggle has just said your vet may be willing to discuss a payment plan for you.
She has given you excellent advice
Unfortunately vet bills can be very high.

Offering you support at a worrying time.
 
I agree. Please don’t have your piggy pts due to not being able to afford the vets. His problem could be easily fixable.

Where about’s are you located?

Ask your vet about a payment plan or contact PDSA or the Blue cross to see if you are eligible for help with vets fees.

If neither of them are an option, please surrender your piggy to a rescue so he can get the help that he desperately needs x
 
Hi. I am definitely not getting my piggie put down, I'm just worried that in the end, after everything no medication will help and he will be deteriorate and pass away. I have guinea pigs and bunnies and hamsters and gerbils and they are all taken care of very well. This month had been tough emotionally and financially as two of our bunnies are poorly and two of our hamsters were diagnosed with tumors. Patch is getting all around care, He is getting his meds twice a day and I am syringe feeding him every three hours. I came here for advice regarding payment options as I was not aware that either you can get financial help or a payment plan.
 
Hi. I am definitely not getting my piggie put down, I'm just worried that in the end, after everything no medication will help and he will be deteriorate and pass away. I have guinea pigs and bunnies and hamsters and gerbils and they are all taken care of very well. This month had been tough emotionally and financially as two of our bunnies are poorly and two of our hamsters were diagnosed with tumors. Patch is getting all around care, He is getting his meds twice a day and I am syringe feeding him every three hours. I came here for advice regarding payment options as I was not aware that either you can get financial help or a payment plan.

You sound like a very caring owner
 
We can't advise directly on what help you may be entitled to from the PDSA or BlueCross, or what payment plans any individual vets might offer. But it is worth asking, and if these still cannot meet your needs, please reach out to a local rescue who could help you- or get back to us on the forum in case we know of another rescue who might be able help x
 
Thank you for your replies. I'll see if the vet can offer any payment plans as we are not eligible for PDSA help. A lot of sad things have happened this month so we are shorter on funds but I'll figure something out
 
Thank you for your replies. I'll see if the vet can offer any payment plans as we are not eligible for PDSA help. A lot of sad things have happened this month so we are shorter on funds but I'll figure something out

Isn’t it always the way that these things always happen at once :( I’m sorry that you’ve had a rough month and that you’re not eligible for PDSA help :(
 
Just over a week ago one of our piggies stopped weight-bearing on his left back leg and was holding his foot in a funny position. I really worried he had somehow fractured something. Got him straight to our vet, who examined it carefully and said he felt sure it wasn't fractured. He massaged the area, where it was very swollen and the oedema immediately reduced. He prescribed anti-inflammatory pain relief (Metacam for dogs at 0.4ml, twice a day) and advised me to massage it too. For a few days there was no obvious improvement, but after 4 days he was using it completely normally again. £300 for an x-ray sounds rather high and possibly not needed at this point. What pain relief has he been prescribed and at what dose?
 
Aww its a tough situation that you find yourself in and sorry to hear that Patch is unwell... Vets bills are expensive and they do tend to come along with other financial issues - its good to have a vet fund for such times - or a no interest credit card. We faced a bill of nearly £300 when one of ours needed an X-ray and later that same day she had to be PTS due to them finding a bad tumour - there was nothing they could do.
Definitely speak to your vets about a payment plan - and good luck x
 
Hi. Thanks again for your replies. I tried to massage his foot gently but he squeaks and seems to be in pain more. He is on 0.18 ml meloxaid antiimflammatory meds once a day and 2.5% baytril, 0.27 ml twice daily till Monday.
 
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