fractured jaw

Question
QUESTION: I have a male shih-tzu. He's a year and a half... He is my little baby. I take him everywhere with me. I'm only 20 and i live on my own. My brother let my puppy out while i was at work to play with the neighbor kids and when he came inside he was whining! really bad. My brother called me and said he thinks he has a toothache or absessed tooth because he was rubbing his face on the ground and whining all of a sudden. When i got home i checked him and he seemed fine and he was eating fine... but he was more mellow. then he whined once when i touched his face. I brought him to the vet. When i got there and he was getting examined the doctor said his jaw was broken. i started ballign cuz i don't have $2000 to fix it! i don't know what to do. and i don't have enough credit to get the pet card visa... what should i do? hes on pain killers right now. but would it be horrible if i didn't get it fixed? what could happen? anything bad?

ANSWER: depending on where it is broken, it can cause problems with eating and mis-alignment of his jaw.  It may cause infections and or other problems down the road.  I'm wondering how he broke his jaw and where it is actually broken.  It usually takes a lot to do this.  Did one of he kids step on him, drop him, hit him?  Did he fall from something high?  The best thing for the puppy is the surgery and if you can not afford it and I know you love him is to turn the puppy over transfer ownership of your puppy to the hospital and let them fix the puppy and then place him for adoption.  At least you know he will be taken care of medically and/or at least maybe by doing so your vet will see how serious you are about getting him cared for he will work out some type of other financial arrangement for you.  But, he most definitely needs the surgery and the longer you prolong it the more damage will be done and he is in such pain.  Imagine if your jaw were broken and you can't eat and in pain.  Hope this helps, let me know what you do and how things work out.  I'll be thinking of your baby!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well... When i saw him i thought maybe his tooth was sore or something because he only whined when i touched it. He was and is eating fine right now. when i gave him his crunchy treats he ate them like it was nothing thats why i was surprised to hear that it is was fractured. He has been at home and he is doing fine except he's more 'calm' strangely... i'm trying to figure out a way that i can pay this. as there is no way i can give him up for an adoption! The doctor called me not long ago and said if it were to heal on its own 70% it would be just fine but then there is that extra 30% that it could gte infected or whatever else could happen like pain and so forth. And since I am taknig care of myself and have no family to turn to i can't go through financing because i do not have good enough credit and need a co-signer. There must be other ways then giving my dog up! Him and i have been through a lot together and he is all i have! He is so loyal to me and goes everywhere with me. He 'acts up' if i have someone babysit him for even a few hours. I can't even do that because as soon as i leave he goes nuts on other people and pees on their funiture. which is strange because he has never done it with me or at my place. And he pees right infront of them too. Its horrible but it happens every time. If i gave him up for adoption (which i just couldn't do!) theres no way someone would want him if he behaves like this (and i'm sure thats why he does it on purpose) I'm not to sure if this makes sense to you or if this is common in dogs or this breed... there has to be another way.. no places that could help sponsor or anything?? my option can't be to only give him up! Thats just not fare!!


ANSWER: My suggestions are to call around to other vets to find one that will work with you on price and a better payment plan.  Also, have a community yard sale (since everyone there must know what happened with the kids playing with him) and donations and all proceeds go toward your dogs surgery.  Tell friends and family your story maybe someone will know a vet who will volunteer time and not charge you nothing but supplies or medication and not for time or their services.  Check with the local animal shelter or humane society to see if they have financial assistance for your income level.  Also, since you know he has the fracture stay away from the crunchy food for now and give him soft food only it will help him in his healing process if he has a chance of doing so.  The hard crunchy stuff will make things worse and can cause the little fracture to become a bigger fracture.  As for the peeing, it is a common thing in the breed when they become upset or moody.  It's not the person they are with they are upset with by the way which they are peeing and acting up, it is the person that left them behind they are upset with.  Next time take him in a crate and drop him off.  Allow them to take him out of the crate once you are gone for an hour or so, they should give him a treat and take him out to potty, and shower him with attention.  If he acts up or potties inappropriately on their furniture then they should re-kennel him for another 30 minutes. The next time re-try the same thing and then see if he does better.  Then call you to come pick him up.  This would be a good exercise to do on a weekend to get him used to being with a babysitter and to teach him Who is the Boss.  He is basically testing and he seems to be winning the game and it should be the other way around.
Anyway,  I know that it is not fair for you to have to give up your puppy.  I'm saying that if it were me I would do whatever was best for my pet.  And I can honestly say that because I have been where you are and had to make the choice.  It's hard to even think about now, but imagine how you will feel later if things get really bad for your baby.  
But, first things first, I really would suggest you check around with the places I told you about above for assistance.  Also see if you can find out if he hurt his jaw at home or the neighbors kids hurt him, or what exactly happened...maybe when you find out how he got hurt you can get the neighbor family or your brother to help out with getting your baby taken care of.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you! I've been calling places all morning trying to get a better deal or a different vet. but then i ahve to pay more examination fees etc and they said its just not woth it cause it will cost the same in the end. And i've tried calling sponsors. i have left several messages hoping they get back to me. I also tried increasing my Loan with my bank but because my father co-signed for me I can't get it since he is in kazekhstan for the next 2 months and he needs to be present. I'm sure i will figure everything out. I always do... And he is eating soft food. But I don't know which kind I should feed him. I never feed him mushy food because I heard it isn't healthy for them in the long run. Do you have any suggestions as to what I should swtich too? And also Is Purina a bad brand of dog food? I heard from a breeder it was good. Then just the other week i heard it was the worst kind. What should he be eating that wouldn't cost a fortune? I just want the best for him!

And thanks on the advice about having people babysit him. That seems very smart. and you'reright he does win all the time. But he can't hate everyone... he does it to everyone that babysits him. And i mean everyone!

Anyways thanks for the help. I will keep you updated on what happens next.

Answer
You can get i/d from your vet or you can feed him Purina Pro Select All Natural http://www.proplan.com/products/wetPuppyFoodProducts.html and feed him puppy for now since he is having problems with eating it will help him maintain his weight and nutrients.  I personally use Purina Pro Plan Selects All Natural Dry for all my puppies and adults ( I use the wet food to mix in when I wean the puppies from the momma) I never have a problem and no runny or smelly poo.  You can contact Purina and they will send coupons and free samples.  You may even be able to send them your story and get someone there to sponsor you or help you out.  Who knows anything is worth a try.  Good Luck.