sick doggy

Question
something is terribly wrong with my dog....i've called the vet but without money they wont do anything. grover has been perfectly normal until this afternoon, he started hacking, then he layed down and pooped on his self, he wouldnt move for about an hour or so. it then progressed from regular poop to pure blood...i think he might have eatten one of my 3 yr old daughters toys and maybe it has messed up his intestines...i'm not sure... he is up and moving around a little more but seems awfully tired. he is still bleeding a little and i dont know if he is gonna be okay or not, like i said we dont know definately what is going on, we cant take him to the vet, have you ever had a pet experience this, any kind of insight would be soooo much appreciated. the vet wont even try to offer us advise over the phone.  

Answer
Hi Renee,

I wish I could be a help to you, and your dog, but in serious health emergencies there is no substitute for medical care.

It's obvious that your dog needs medical care. It's impossible to say if your dog eat something poisonous, or if it's a disease, but you need to get your dog to a vet no-matter what your financial situation is.

Here are some suggestions:

Ask your veterinarian if he or she will let you work out a payment plan. Many veterinarians are willing to work out a weekly or monthly payment plan so that you do not have to pay the entire cost of veterinary care up front. If your regular vet won't agree to payments over time, start calling other vets in tour area.

Contact your local shelter. Some shelters operate or know of local subsidized veterinary clinics or veterinary assistance programs. You can find the name and number of your local shelter in the Yellow Pages of your phone book under "animal shelter," "animal control," or "humane society," or by calling Information. You can also go to www.Pets911.com and enter your zip code to find a list of animal shelters, animal control agencies, and other animal care organizations in your community.

Ask your veterinarian to submit an assistance request to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) "Helping Pets Fund." In order to qualify, your animal hospital must be AAHA accredited.

Contact the regional office of The Humane Society of the US that covers your state. Their regional office staff is familiar with organizations and personnel within their territory and may be able to direct you low cost vet care to programs in your area.

I hope I've been a help. I sincerely hope you can find the help you need.

Best of luck,
Patti