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Original poster

Please don't flame me I just some help for my poor dog

74 replies

bytheMoonlight · 19/07/2010 09:10

My GSD itches and bites her skin till its red raw. She now has bald patches and her skin is very flaky.

We just cannot afford the vets. Due to the recession ds has lost hours at work, and we are struggling to buy shopping and pay the mortgage each week.

Even just one for visit to the vets we are talking way too much money for us.

I just don't know what to do. I really don't what to have to rehome her, there are so many unwanted dogs out there as it is. And she is very much wanted, we just cannot afford to find out what is causing this problem.

I've looked into trying to get help with paying for the bill but we dont qualify.

This is my last hope as I know I am going to get flamed now for having a dog we cannot affford to look after. but when we got her we could afford her, its just that over the past 2 years money has got tighter and tighter.

Is there a shampoo or particular brand of dog food I can try?

OP posts:
Original poster
bytheMoonlight · 19/07/2010 11:41

We don't qualify for any help as we do not recieve any benefits

OP posts:
Original poster
bytheMoonlight · 19/07/2010 11:42

Well not any of the benefits that you need to qualify for

OP posts:
QueenOfFlamingEverything · 19/07/2010 11:45

Whereabouts (roughly) are you?

soremummy · 19/07/2010 11:45

Have you asked at PDSA and explain that although you don't receive benefits is there anyway that they could give a reduced price or let you pay by installments? Or get yellow pages and try other vets explain that your vet couldnt help you out

piratecat · 19/07/2010 11:47

ring the blue x, ring a different vet and explain.

where do you live, there most be more vets?

Original poster
bytheMoonlight · 19/07/2010 11:49

I will ring different vets and the PDSA

I am in Berkshire.

OP posts:
stressed2007 · 19/07/2010 11:55

Please keep us updated with results. Surely one vet would be prepared to help. Whereabouts are you in Berkshire?

CakeandRoses · 19/07/2010 11:55

I would never normally suggest something dishonest like this but desperate times and all that...

Do you have a friend who would qualify for the PDSA terms for free treatment (i.e. is on benefits) who could take your dog as if it were their own?

CakeandRoses · 19/07/2010 11:58

and I say this as someone who has previously donated regularly to the PDSA and would have been happy for my money to have been spent treating a dog in this situation.

CindersIsNotAPoet · 19/07/2010 12:15

dh is a vet

and says
please start with checking it is not fleas

He said to brush the dog over white paper

and if there is a dandruff looking stuff
sprinkle with water
if it goes red

it is fleas

then treat with flea powder

hope this helps

thesunshinesbrightly · 19/07/2010 12:17

Phone a different vet's they are not all like that some do actually care about the animals and not just the money.

thesunshinesbrightly · 19/07/2010 12:21

How long has she has this skin condition? have you checked for flees?
what food do you feed her?
where about are you?

stressed2007 · 19/07/2010 12:23

she is in berkshire - no more specific then that yet

Original poster
bytheMoonlight · 19/07/2010 12:32

I phoned another vets who said they couldn't help but they gave me the number for the local RSPCA branch.

Is poke to a really nice lady and explained that over the last two years our money situation has changed for the worse and we are now in debt management.

She said that although she shouldn't help because we weren't claiming benefits she had to think of the dog and she said she would pay for the consultation fee. She gave me a log number which I have to give when I book the appointment. I could have kissed her

DH is still a little concerned about how much the meds will cost but I've told him that he must tell the vet as soon as he gets there that we can only only afford neccessary treatment.

We are going to book an appointment for Friday, which is pay day.

Thanks to you lovely ladies who made me ohone around for help this morning

So relived my girl is going to be treated!

OP posts:
Original poster
bytheMoonlight · 19/07/2010 12:35

Oh and dh is also going to do that flea test Cinders, although we do regulary use the flea treatment could she still have them?

OP posts:
Threelittleducks · 19/07/2010 12:44

Just to add, my mums dog does the same thing and her vet recommended Sudacrem. Clears it up a treat and is soothing. Also, diluted tea-tree oil.

Sometimes it can be dog food that sets things off (Pedigree chum is by far the worst for allergy sufferers). We no longer feed our own dog dog food because of this. Cheap mince and cooked frozen veg supplemented by biscuits is keeping his allergies/skin condition away much better than any meds we got at the vets. You need a lot less raw meat than you do dog food as the percentage of actual meat in dog food is very low (4%) and is often meat drivatives boosted by horrible additives that irritate skin and stomachs. Added benefits included less poops and less smelly poops, more relaxed dog behaviour-wise and shiny healthy coat and teeth.
If of course what she has is allergy-based. Even if its not it's totally worth looking into feeding alternatives like this.

Please check it out and spread the word.
www.thedogbowl.com/PPF/category_ID/37_217/dogbowl.asp

Good luck.xx

thesunshinesbrightly · 19/07/2010 12:49

But your DH should know when you have a pet, these things happen it is not all plain sailing.

The dog comes first.If you can't afford to treat her and it is becoming a problem maybe you should think about rehomeing her so she isnt in pain.

What flee treatment do you use? shop brands are no good and do not work.

Original poster
bytheMoonlight · 19/07/2010 13:06

Well when we got the dog thesunshinesbrightly we weren't in this situation.

DH was earning twice the wages he is now, but the overtime has gone altogether and he has had his hours cut (which was better than losing his job)

I can't earn any more as I have to work shifts around dh as we can't afford childcare.

Our mortgage deal ended, our house lost a lot of equity due to house price crash so we cannot get another fixed deal so we are stuck on SVR rate.

That and a few other things have meant we are scrapping by.

We use frontline flea treatment.

OP posts:
hotcrossbunny · 19/07/2010 13:37

I think there will be alot of pet owners in this situation, and believe the kennels are inundated with animals needing to be rehomed. You sound to me like loving owners, trying to do your very best in difficult times. Well done for ringing the RSPCA - am glad the lady had a heart.

We put spare change in a jar to pay for our dogs care - somehow it mounts up without hurting our pockets too much... We're also lucky to be insured, although the monthly installments are up to £38 with a scary excess

I really hope it's an easily fixed problem...

thesunshinesbrightly · 19/07/2010 14:05

yes i totally understand and you are doing your best but the dog didnt ask for this and needs treatment, what if something unexpected crops up and you cant afford it.

lisad123isgoingcrazy · 19/07/2010 14:06

we have insurance on our dog for £14 a month. Our cats arent insuranced at all and one time I came back from holiday to a £550 vet bill as she became ill while we were away

Original poster
bytheMoonlight · 19/07/2010 14:22

I dont thesunshinesbrightly.

To be perfectly honest, that question could apply to any area of our life right now.

What if the heating packs up?
What if a water pipe bursts?

We are existing. Nothing more than that

OP posts:
thighsmadeofcheddar · 19/07/2010 14:52

Our GSD suffers a very similar condition. We're currently awaiting the results of allergy tests. Do you have a cone/collar you can put on her to stop her eating herself? Have you been brushing her every day? She is probably shedding quite alot of hair with the hot weather. Our vet has just given him a massive shot of anti-inflammatories and anti-bios to clear the skin infections. It's very expensive business, so I hope it's more a simple case of fleas or something. It's very stressful and I hope you can get it sorted. If you lived nearer me in Surrey I'd take the dog to the vet for you.

CakeandRoses · 19/07/2010 14:52

I'm pleased you've got some help bytheMoonlight

Really hope things start to look up for you.

thesunshinesbrightly · 19/07/2010 15:19

Oh dear.

Hope she doesnt get anything that actually causes her physical pain then.

Best of luck. hope your dog get's the treatment she needs.