Need assistance with Randy's Cushings Disease

[Joe Turner]

Does anyone know where I can turn to get financial assistance with the cost of Cushings Disease? Randy was diagnosed last month and I do not have the money to have the blood tests and medications. He's been my companion for 9 years and would like to give him a good quality of the remainder of his life. I am unemployed and do not the funds even to pay my own bills.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thank you,
Joe

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Joe,

Welcome to you and Randy! :)

Here is a link for financial assistance from our Helpful Resource section:

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212

Many of us have had good luck with Care Credit and you will find info on that as well as others in that link.

Can you tell us more about Randy? How he came to be diagnosed with Cushings, what signs you are seeing, his age, weight, any other health issues, meds he may be on, and if you have copies of the cushing's tests results it would be great if you could post them here for us. Include the units of measurement and the normal ranges for that lab. If Randy has had a CBC, or blood panel, done lately, it would help to see the values that are either too high or too low. We love details so don't worry about writing a book! ;)

You and Randy are part of our little family now. We all understand the chaos that ensues when a baby is diagnosed with Cushing's. It can be a real roller-coaster! :eek: But ya'll are not alone on this journey; we will be with you every step of the way. You will find the collective knowledge and experience here simply astounding and the support is unbeatable.

I am glad you found us and hope the link helps!

Keep your chin up and stay in touch!
Hugs,
Leslie and the girls :D - always

[apollo6]

Dear Joe
Welcome.
Could you tell us a little about your self in your member post tab
says About me, where you are. Many local pet charities can help sometimes, even the vet hospitals have charities to help out.
We'll be praying for you and Randy.

Sonja and Apollo

[Joe Turner]

I'm doing this on behalf of my brother. Randy is a fox terrier almost 10 years old. He has a pot belly, drinks lots of water, urinates alot, his muscles on his head shrank. He has wrinkly thin skin, hair loss, looks like calcium deposits on his skin and ALWAYS wants food.
Vet did blood test and everything points to Cushings. That's as far as care has gone. I did initial vet visit since he needed his shots. Vet wants to run a ACTH Stimulation test and use Corticotropin. We understand there will be a series of tests and adjustment of medications.
He would not be able to get care credit due to financial reasons. I helped with this, but cannot assist more. I have a hugh vet bill for my cocker, Romy. He was diagnosed with Evan's Syndrome and battled for over 2 weeks to get things under control. We unfortunately had to put him down.
I will provide him with the information that you gave. However, he has tried several organizations and they cannot assist.
Joe is on unemployment that only covers his bills. Will Randy be okay without medication? I understand life span is the same with or without meds. It's just sad to see how he looks.

[apollo6]

Randy needs some form of medical help.:(
I hope other members can give you some input. Randy deserves a chance.
I pasted some sites below to check into.

Financial Resources to help with Vet bills

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We thought it would be a good idea to posts these in one place so each member can at least have access to these sites easily.

http://imom.org/fa (IMOM)

Care Credit for Veterinary care
http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/whycc.html

American Animal Hospital Assn helping pets
http://www.aahahelpingpets.org

The Pet Fund:
http://www.thepetfund.com

http://angels4animals.org

Discount drug sites:
http://www.togetherrxaccess.com/Tx/jsp/home.jsp

ACTSS Animal Cancer Therapy Subsidization Society (Alberta, Canada)
http://www.actss.ca/

Angels4Animals
http://www.angels4animals.org

assistance dogs (for guide dogs, etc.)
http://www.iaadp.org/VCP.html

Canine Cancer Awareness
http://caninecancerawareness.org/

Cody's Club (Radiation treatment)
http://www.dogdoggiedog.com/pwcAcodysclub.htm

DDEAF Emergency Med. Sup. Fund (deaf dogs)
http://www.deafdogs.org/canhelp/donate.php

Farley Foundation (Ontario, Canada)
http://www.farleyfoundation.org/
http://www.fborfw.com/features/ffoundation

GoldenMed
http://www.goldstockfund.org/TGF/goldenmedfund.html

Goldstock general rescue fund
http://www.goldstockfund.org/TGF/maingeneralfund.html

HandicappedPets.com
http://hpets.org/component/content/a...oundation.html
http://hpets.org/apply-for-help.html

HandicappedPets.com's list of Financial aid organizations:
http://handicappedpets.com/www/index...-for-pets.html

Helen Redlus Memorial Fund
http://www.goldstockfund.org/TGF/hrmfund.html

Help-A-Pet
http://www.help-a-pet.org/

Magic Bullet Fund (cancer)
http://www.themagicbulletfund.org

NY S.A.V.E. (New York City only)
http://www.nysave.org/index_2.html

Orthodogs
http://www.oslf.org/index.htm

PDSA (British)
http://www.pdsa.org.uk

Pet Fund (includes exotics)
http://thepetfund.com/guidelines.htm

Senior Dogs list
http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/needhome...resources.html

Sierra Fund - cancer
http://www.goldstockfund.org/TGF/mainsierrafund.html

United Animal Nations
http://www.uan.org/lifeline/index.html

[gpgscott]

Welcome Joe,

I hope some of the resources provided by the other members are useful to you in finding assistance to help Randy. I have no other adivce.

Best to you, Randy and your brother.

Scott

[zoesmom]

Just another thought. Perhaps the vet caring for Randy would accept some work around his practice or his home in exchange for doing the tests. And then the only remaining cost would be the medicine. People used to barter all the time, for goods and services, and in this economy, I'm surprised there isn't more of it going on.

Lysodren is definitely the cheaper of the two drugs that are most effective. And our members should be able to recommend the cheapest place to get that (and possibly one of the financial sources listed could be of help with that part.) There is definitely a variation in med prices, from place to place so most of our members shop around for the best prices. Lysodren is given daily for a short time (usually 3 - 10 days - called loading period) and then only has to be given on a weekly basis after that. The original loading dose, whatever that is, would be spread out and given only once or twice over the course of a week, after loading is complete.

The dose is determined by the dog's weight. If you can tell us how much Randy weighs, we can give you an idea of what his dose would be and how much it would cost for lysodren - for both the loading period and for the maintenance dose after that.

Also, is there a chance that there will be a job for your brother anytime in the future? Because cushings is a slow progressing disease. It does sound like Randy's may already be full-blown, but putting off testing and treatment for a few weeks, or even months, may be ok. Not the ideal, obviously, but in the short term, it is an option. Dogs do live longer when treated, and often several years longer than the usual 2 year prognosis. Left untreated, the prognosis would depend on how advanced Randy's cushings is. And he will continue to deteriorate and develop more serious health problems.

I hate to raise that point, but it might help your brother decide what his options are.:( I'm so sorry they are having to go through this. Cushings is an insidious disease and yes, unfortunately, it is not all that cheap to treat. Sue

[jrepac]

Try to scrape the $$ together and get an ACTH test (usually $200 or so). That will give you a much better read on if Cushings is present. Did the vet do a UCCR test on the urine? That is a screening test; if it comes back negative, than it is NOT cushings. Really important to get a good diagnosis before doing anything...

As far as meds go, if you want to minimize cost, but want to try doing something to treat, generic Anipryl (selegiline) may be worth a shot...it does not require ongoing testing once you have administered it ...either it works and improves symptoms or it does not. But, it only works for some dogs, not all.

You can get at Walmart for about $40 a month to treat a 20lb dog...I think you can also get from Diamondback drugs as well, quite reasonably. Or even from overseas pharmacies...just avoid the name brand, as it is about double the cost.

good luck

[Joe Turner]

We appreciate all the info that everyone has provided. The vet is going to work up an estimate and also check to see if Joe can do work in there hospital for services for Randy. Unfortunately not only is Randy sick - but so is Joe. We will find out next week if his prostate cancer has returned and where it spread to. With this hanging over his head, Randy has been his big support. I don't know what he would do without his buddy.
We have tried numerous organizations for financial assistance, but with the ecomony being what it is - there is little to no money out there.
Randy's skin is becoming worse with sores all over. It is looking like my husband and I will need to pay for some of the testing. We have our own large vet bills to pay, along with all the procedures that I've had to got through with my hip and back pain. There is thousands of dollars that I must pay.
I'm sorry but we have none of the data regarding the first blood test. I guess with try to get it from the vet.
Please pray for both Joe and Randy.
Peggy Prado

[gpgscott]

Thanks for letting us know Peggy and please continue to post updates.

I understand the cloud over Joe's head and will pray for him and you all. There are lots of good treatments for advanced prostate cancer and a good place to start is clinical trials, I will place a link at the end of this post.

It is good to hear that the vet is agreeable to trying to find a trade arangement and I hope that works out to everyones mutual interest.

Best wishes. Scott

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials

[Harley PoMMom]

My thoughts and prayers are with you all as well.

Love and hugs,
Lori

[apollo6]

Dear Peggy
You have a lot on your shoulder. :(
I am so sorry to hear about you, Joe and Randy. We'll be praying for you. Isn't there any government programs that might help Joe. Maybe the vet could start a local donations to help pay the vet bills. You never know?
Sonja and Apollo

[mytil]

Hi and a belated welcome from me too.

Here is a site that offers some ways to help

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html

In addition, here is a link state by state (US) and some resources in Canada - http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html#Assistance_by_state

Terry

[Isnthebeautiful]

on my vacations and business trips to America i often saw benefits - local events held to raise money for someone in the community who has fallen on hard times - a friend of mine in Houston,his dog needed a hernia op and he didnt have the funds. him and his pals played a benefit gig one sunday afternoon and raised over $500 which covered everything.
i think this is a really nice way to ask for help - and people are so generous when they hear of your plight! maybe there is a local church or another organisation you know who would be glad to help organise something
i wish you all the very best