Help please - very poorly dog

[NoMercy]

Alfie has been struggling to go to the loo since last Thursday. He strains and strains but nothing comes out. He's been sick on several occasions, and I noticed a piece of string had been brought back up. On Saturday, I got him to a Vet. She felt his stomach and said that it was not as tender as she would have expected, but she could see that he felt really poorly in himself. She gave him a couple of injections and discharged him with liquid paraffin (to soften the stools) and Zantac tabs.

I've given him as much of the paraffin as he will keep down (he still continues to be sick) and he's still not able to pass anything. He is very distressed and has now stopped eating. Am I panicking unnecessarily? Should I wait a bit longer for the meds to take effect?

If he does require surgery to remove a blockage - what sort of cost am I looking at? (I have no insurance)

Thanks for any advice.

[anneasquith]

phone the vet for advice .

[LoftyLottie]

Don't wait any longer. To the vets urgently again I am afraid. You could be looking at a large sum of money for an op, but I can't really hazard a guess. Don't delay though NoMercy or you could lose him. He needs urgent treatment.

Hope it goes OK. So sorry.

[NOX]

If you are on any means tested benefit then the pdsa will help you, if not then you're in the lap of the Gods as far as operation costs are concerned, but either way he needs to be seen again asap.

[pink-kittens]

many vets now will offer payment terms
If he cant poo and is being sick then sounds like something is stuck some where in between doesn't it? Vets or PDSA poste haste

[NoMercy]

Bobjugs spoke to his SIL last night - she's a veterinary nurse. She reiterated what the Vets said and reckoned that the paraffin could take several days to work as it has to work its way past the backlog and advised to give him quite wet food for the timebeing. She was not unduly concerned, but Alf just looks so unhappy. I've booked him in to see the vets at 5:30pm for preliminary x-rays.

[NoMercy]

Helen, I have money put aside, so Alf will not go without any treatment he needs. Did you mean £2-3000 btw?

[supersuezy24]

Hi NoMercy, please let us know how things go later. I really hope that Alfie will be okay and that he feels better really soon xxx poor little guy :(

[painterman32]

poor pooch - let us know how he gets on

[NoMercy]

Thanks everyone for your well-wishes, and I will certainly keep you posted. I had it in my head that it would be around the £2k mark for surgery, but I guess I'll have to wait and see.

[rowanwitch]

prices seem to range between 200-400 depends on the vet.... plus costs of aftercare visits and any take home meds.... if he's still drinking probably ok but if not call your vet for more advice

[NoMercy]

He is still taking water at this moment in time, but he has refused all food.

[anneasquith]

for the future, take out pet insurance.

[pastafreak]

That's a totally unnecessary remark david.

NoM...best of luck with Alfie-I know how much you love him x

[WELSHYORKIE]

David51058 - You heartless so and so. Do you not realise how much pets mean to their owners. Prats like you should not post on threads like these.

[pastafreak]

Oh dear....he's been suspended.

Thanks mods.....

[Sqad]

Oh! dear! here we go again.......re.Suspension of poster.

Yes, it was a bl00dy stupid remark, everybody knows it was, so what is the point of suspending him?

It would have been much better to leave it and his poster name for all to see.

[NoMercy]

Well I missed the remark, anyone care to enlighten me?

Thanks, Pasta. My selfish pig of an ex is saying he might not be able to get down in time to take Alf to the Vet (I have custody of Alf - he has the motor). I guess I'll have to book a taxi.