help please!

[lauren1870]

I have been searching online for a long time, and stumbled across this site. I rescued a 9 year old femal Dachshund about 4 or 5 months ago from a lady who fed her cat food and kept her outside in the freezing weather. She is absolutely one of the sweetest dogs I have ever had. She is EXTREMELY overweight and I thought that was due to all the cat food she was eating. Shortly after we got her, I noticed all the water she was drinking and how much she urinated. She will drink water for about 5-7 minutes straight with no breaks and pees about 15 times a day with alot of accidents in the house. She has very bad thinning hair and a big big big pot belly. If i cant figure out how to I will post pictures of her. After alot of research, I know without a doubt that she has Cushings disease. Last night we noticed a very bad blister with swolen red area and it was oozing. I was pretty sure it was a spider bite and we took her to the animal hospital, where they confimed it was a spider bitr and they fixed her right up. Before checking out, the vet asked us if we knew that she had Cushings Disease and asked if we were interested in paying the extra $220 for testing. We had already paid $200 for the spider bite and can't afford the testing and treatment. After reading some of the forums on this sight, I'm getting worried, because i wasn't aware that it could kill her. We can't afford the care for the testing and treatment and have gotten in touch with a Dachshund rescue who said she would take her in and pay for her treatment, but that we would have to give her up. I have fallen in love with this girl and will gladly give her up if I can't find any financial assistance, but i wantef to at least ask around if anyone knows of any place that can help. We live in Texas and I just want to get this sweet girl help. All advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Squirt's Mom]

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[Squirt's Mom]

Hi and a quick welcome to you and your precious girl!

Bless you for taking her into your home and heart! Here is a link from our Helpful Resource section that lists several funds available to help with pet care.

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

One of these site, I think it's The Pet Fund, has a great list of things we can do on our own to raise extra funds. Most of us here have been in your shoes at least once, so don't give up hope just yet. I know the bottom line for you is that this baby get the care she needs but if that can be done while she remains with you, that would be a dream come true. So hang in there and keep digging!

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[labblab]

Hi Lauren! Like Leslie, I also want to thank you for saving this sweet girl! I do hope that perhaps one of the financial assistance programs listed on the link that Leslie gave you might be able to help. Definitely do check the first listings on the link -- those two list resource programs by state. Also, by any chance, do you live anywhere near Texas A&M? Their vet school has a special assistance program that will pay 50% of the cost of treatment up to a maximum of $1,0000. Perhaps in combination with other fundraising, that might be a benefit to you if you are anywhere near them.

http://www.cvm.tamu.edu/capperchris/Eligibility.shtml

Marianne

[molly muffin]

I just want to welcome to the forum. these are some good options that Leslie and Marianne have mentioned.

It does sound like cushings. Email each and every one of those places and see what they say. Care Credit might be an option too.