Another Vet Visit for Kodi

Geez - seems like we just keep taking $500 hits to our budget. Kodi was experiencing some limping that just was not getting any better - so off to the vet with him I went. Dealing with the limp required x-rays of his shoulder; which required sedation to be able to get a good picture. She took one picture which showed "something" that she could not be sure if it was a tumor or more of a bone/ligament thing. We had a LONG discussion about CANCER in big dogs along with all the problems connected to ortho issues (kind of similar to what I just went through with my knee except WITHOUT any insurance). I made the decision to take the additional x-ray and send it out to a radiologist to take a look at it. Our vet was not that familiar with looking at x-rays of dogs the size of Kodi and would just feel more comfortable with someone who all they do is look at x-rays to make an interpretation. Unfortunately, he is STILL having toe problems and we had the discussion of amputating his toe (again with the possibility of cancer). He is getting a lesion on another toe and the nail to the really bad toe is hollow (yet another sign of cancer) As it stands right now he is taking medication for the pain and inflammation of his shoulder and back on anti-biotic for his feet. The medication itself cost over $100, but we can only hope it will take care of the shoulder problem and we just have to keep watching his toes. If the radiologists comes back with a report indicating a tumor, we will make the decision at that time if we will do a biopsy. The whole no insurance thing is killing us. Hopefully he just has an injury and with rest and medication he will bounce back. However, I think the whole toe/foot issue will be an on going issue as it has been in the past.

Later . . .