Storm’s leg has been bothering her for the last couple of weeks when I took her out across the street in the field. As always, I repeated “Stay here!” sternly so she knew I meant no funny business. She does a great job of staying by me but when she sees another person she acts like she’s never seen one besides me and tears off after them so she can get attention. Yes, she is an attention-whore. š
Before taking off her leash, I grasped her collar and made her sit and wait and for the command of “Go!” Things played out as normal and she began sprinting around in circles.
I watched her having fun, then all of a suddenĀ sheĀ began to holdĀ up her back left leg. I figured that it couldn’t be that serious as she didn’t even give out a yelp or bark. As soon as I saw her limping around I brought her back to me, put on her leash and took her back to the apartment.
A few years ago something like this happened and the doctor said it was “lameness”, which I had never heard before. I mean, I have heard it being used to describe one’s personality, but I didn’t think it was a real condition (medically). He gave her Prevocox (not sure on the spelling…) and within a week she was back to her old self.
A few days later she was still limping around so I called the vet’s office, explained the situation and that I thought it was another bout of lameness. I bought more Prevocox from him and after a week she still wasn’t back to her old self. She had begun to walk on it though so I figured she must be getting better. Ā I tried bringing her to doggy daycare with me the other day and she only lasted a half an hour. š¦ She wanted to just lay down and not even play. I felt horrible. š¦
I took her to the vet’s yesterday and he started to look at her on the ground, moving her leg all around to check for any abnormality. He touchedĀ her leg, foot, and she never became vocal.
But then he took her kneecap in his hands…
And he moved the bones while asking me if I knew what that meant. I told him no, although in my I head I kept repeating, ‘Please no torn ACL, please no torn, ACL, please, please!’
* A torn ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is when a ligament of the knee is injured.
“Torn ACL,” said the vet.
“Fuck!” I yelled.
When growing up, we had a Rottie and she ended up tearing her ACL. I remember my mom (single mom raising twins) not being able to afford the surgery. Thankfully, her ex agreed to help out. That is when I found out dogs can have a torn ACL.
My vet said surgery would cost me around $800.00. I have no idea how I will pay for Storm’s surgery. I don’t work, I am on Social Security Disability for my Lupus. Yes, I do get a payment each month but it is minimal since I only had what? Only 15 years of work in my life? And half of what I get each month goes to rent.
I know my vet takes payments but it will take me forever to pay off with only being able to afford $30 bucks a month for the payment. I know there are a couple of animal websites that offer to help a person’s vet bill so I need to check them out.
I have been thinking of setting up a Go Fund Me account to help with the bill. My vet mentioned the option that I can just “let it heal” on it’s own. It would take quite a few months but eventually she wouldn’t be holding her leg up the whole time. The thing with that is, it can later cause leg/joint problems down the road. Oh and Storm will be in pain/can’t go on walks for months.
This blows goats and I have no idea what I am going to do… Sigh…
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