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by muldoon on 13 March 2010 - 23:03
Just curious about off-thread issue of the link to gmpg.org ? What interests you about it? I ask because it went way over my head!
by susanandthek9s on 16 March 2010 - 07:03
UPDATE:
Nala saw the ophthalmologist today, and I met Nala, her owners, and their 2-year-old boy Cody.
This is no scam. The owners are clearly careworn and chronically exhausted from taking care of Cody, who was born with serious malformations that required surgery and almost a year in the hospital. (He had such a huge hole in his diaphragm that his internal organs were jammed up into his chest.) It is a miracle that he is alive. He has a tracheostomy tube because he has to be on a ventilator most of the time, although he is slowly being weaned off it. At one point he started turning blue because his tube clogged, and his parents had to suction it out—a routine part of his care, which must be ever vigilant. His father is a corrections officer, and his mother’s full-time job is taking care of Cody. He is a charming, affectionate toddler.
These are decent people who have been dealt some very hard blows through no fault of their own. There but for the grace of God go any of us. They are doing their best to do right by Cody and Nala.
Nala is a delightful black GSD who greeted me joyfully and affectionately despite being in such severe pain from her eye disease that she could barely open her eyes. After the vet gave her an eye anesthetic so she could examine her, her eyes opened wide and she looked relieved to be out of pain for a little while. She clearly shares a very special bond with Cody.
She does have severe dry eye syndrome and produces no tears at all. This has caused a corneal ulcer on one of her eyes. The vet sent her home with 6 medications. Total cost for the first visit plus the medications: almost $600, which I paid.
The medications may help for a little while, but they will not fix the problem. There are only two treatment options:
1. Move some of Nala’s salivary glands so they empty into her eyes and provide the needed moisture. Cost: about $4000.
2. Remove both of Nala’s eyes. This is better than being killed, but it is a poor choice for her because her eyesight is fine.
The owners cannot pay for the surgery, and I cannot pay for it either. If enough people donate, we can pay for this. Nala, her owners, and Cody really deserve a break. If you would like to help, please send me a PM. All donations will be made directly to the vet who will do the surgery, so you will not have any doubt as to where the money is going.
by GSDtravels on 16 March 2010 - 09:03
by Phil Behun on 16 March 2010 - 13:03
by Two Moons on 16 March 2010 - 13:03
$600.00 for six medications is uncalled for plain and simple.
I agree with Phil there must be a better place for Veterinary care.
I see no reason for a PM, when you know who will do the surgery just post the information here.
I will be glad to send what I can.
Moons.
by DuvalGSD on 16 March 2010 - 14:03
co signed
by susanandthek9s on 16 March 2010 - 15:03
$600 for a visit with a top-of-the-line ophthalmologist plus 6 medications is not uncalled for. Specialty medical care and eye medications are expensive. It was extremely important that Nala be diagnosed correctly and started on the right medications, and this has now been taken care of. The vet's staff also showed Nala's owners how to restrain her so just one person could put in her eye drops, which is necessary for her to get the eye drops often enough. Before they learned the right techniques, two people were needed. The visit and eye drops were well worth every cent. I am quite happy to have spent the money.
We are looking into less expensive ways to get the salivary gland transfer done. Universities are sometimes a good bet and sometimes not. The problem with university surgeries is that a resident who is just learning will use your dog for practice tissue, and the results can be very bad. (Same problem in human medicine, by the way.) And even the universities will charge at least $2000. Nala's owners simply don't have the money.
by ShadyLady on 16 March 2010 - 15:03
That's an expensive eye visit. Sounds like over-priced meds. Wow.
How successful is this surgery? A check with the University would be a great idea to compare pricing.
Will there be a donation portal setup online? This way, we can all see how the donations are going.
by Two Moons on 16 March 2010 - 16:03
thats a lot of money.
And to be honest this isn't about the dog, it's about the child plain and simple.
At least it is for me.
One day none of us will be able to afford a trip to the Veterinarians office much as it is with our own doctors now.
Pay it and they will come, my Vet is already pushing insurance plans down my throat.
The cost has to equal the value, the means, the end, and so on.
I have the families name and address, I will not concern myself about the dog but will instead send them something.
My offer of a pup still stands but I would need to know soon, they are going fast.
Yes this is sad, but there are many in need including members of my own family and children take priority over dogs with me.
We had a similar conversation over the transplant thread as I recall.
Anyway this is me being honest, I'd rather try to help the family than the dog, the dog is the least of their problems.
And if this is where Veterinary care is going it will be survival of the fittest around here.
Moons.
by CrysBuck25 on 16 March 2010 - 16:03
This family has been through the fire, and come through it stronger. Little Cody is a miracle child. For anyone to dedicate themselves to their family the way this couple has done, is incredible. She and her husband never gave up on him, and if Nala has made life bearable for them through this battle, then so much the better. I would be looking at removal of the eyes, if it were my dog, but if there are enough folks here that can offer assistance, and her eyes can be saved, then that's so much better.
There are a lot of people on here that have differing opinions, and those differing opinions can sometimes lead to battle of words that make me wish I had to lot of you close by, so I could smack some sense into you. But when it really matters, you all forget those arguments and come together, and that, to me, shows what kind of people you really are.
To the original poster,
I'll keep you in my prayers that God continues to give you strength to face the multitude of battles you have. He will not lead you to it unless He will lead you through it.
Crys
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