RE: For our Joogsie - When it's Time, Decide and Don't Look Back
Options from pet sitter and former diabetic-dog mom:
Can they do a biopsy instead of full on surgery? Less invasive, less recovery time and less $$$.
Do you have a university nearby that does vet medicine? Lots of times teaching hospitals will have the fees reduced considerably or they'll have a payment plan. The vet should be able to answer this for you or do a google search.
Check out Great Dane specific sites online. Sometimes they have payment assistance. You could re-imburse on your own timeframe maybe...?
The best advice I've ever gotten on when to quit the fight is to pick out 3 things that brings your pet joy. When those joys are gone, it's time. It sounds like Joogsie still has some fighting to do and I hope you get everything resolved soon. Positive thoughts and fingers crossed for y'all...
Thanks @Aunt-Deb!
No school nearby. And I don't know that I want her being cut on by a school for something so sensitive. If she was young and it was more routine, maybe. But I have a couple of options and am going with the one I think will be most likely to succeed, all things being equal. The more expert option is about $4k.
She needs her uterus out anyway, so since they'll have her open we're going for it. They'll see what this mass is and make a decision.
The other option is to do a detailed ultrasound. That costs about $400. But, again, they need to open her anyway, so why bother? It would provide more info, but the cost doesn't seem to provide enough benefit, IMO.
There is some sense of urgency too. We don't know what's going on, and waiting to negotiate may not be best. She's still doing fairly well. I want to give this a shot while I think she still has the strength to endure it and heal well.
Sounds like you've got a solid gameplan. That's half the battle, especially when time is an issue. Good deal!
It's hard to make rational decisions when your heart's involved. You're doing fine and more info will make things clearer on what's next. Hang in there!