broken leg

Question
We recently took in a young stray beagle to go along with our 10 year old beagle. This youngster darted out the door and into the street, and stuck by a car, breaking a front leg. The vet wants $750 to set the leg. I told myself on the way to the vet, $400 was my liimit. I paid $250 for a robert jones bandage and pain medication. The additional cost of an orthopedic surgeon is out of the question. Milo
is resting peacefully on a pillow. I've taken him outside once to see if he needed to urinate. He doesn't seem to be in the mood. How long can he hold it and since he can't stand very comfortable to hike his back leg, what is the solution to giving him a chance to relieve himself? What would you about the broken leg if your are not going to spend serious amounts of money?

Answer
Hi Max,

The fee of $750 for treating your dog's broken leg is not at all inflated, in fact it sounds on the low side.

Working out a payment plan with your vet is a far better alternative than simply not providing the care your dog needs! Many vets are willing to have you pay your vet bill off over a period of time. This is something you should discuss, rather than setting unrealistic price ceilings in medical care.

Another option is to apply for a special line of credit that's used specifically for paying off medical bills, including vet bills. You can read m ore about CreditCare here: http://www.carecredit.com/

An adult dog should be able to hold his urine 6-7 hours. If he's not drinking or eating as regularly as normal, he may simply not have to "go".
You can help your dog to walk by using a large towel as a sling and placing it under his rib cage. This is a good way of supporting him, while preventing him from putting his weight on all four legs.

Not providing your dog the medical care he needs is nothing short of neglect. Please reconsider the orthopedic surgery. Without it, your dog's leg may not heal correctly and he will be left crippled.

Best of luck,
Patti