Penny is in trouble.

[Barbara!]

Always something new in our household...

So for quite awhile, ever since her emergency spay surgery, my 11 year old dachshund, Penny, has been using the bathroom on the floor every few days or so. She's never been the type of dog to do that. The vet said it was likely incontinence, and nothing to worry about. Just a little background there...

The past week, Penny hasn't been eating all of her food and has been doing all of her pees and poops inside the house. She has also been drinking A LOT of water. I attributed it to stress, because she is usually pretty sensitive to that, and gave it time to improve. Well, on Wednesday, she refused dog food entirely and began to throw up. I made her some chicken and rice and she ate some, but not a lot. The same results on Thursday... I called my vet, and they said to continue doing what I'm doing and wait it out through the weekend. I agreed, because she didn't seem lethargic or anything, same old Penny, just thin due to weight loss.

Today she is significantly worse. She won't hardly even move... I took her out to potty by carrying her, and when I put her down, she just laid down. She is using the bathroom right off the pillow she is laying on. She only gets up to drink a bunch of water. She won't sleep, just kind of lays there with her eyes open. Her fur is nasty looking, and the only thing I have been able to get her to eat today is a tiny couple noodles from my spaghettios that she looked like she wanted, so I gave her some. Other than that, she won't even sniff the yummy people foods I am offering her.

Called my regular vet and they won't see me since I owe them money already... And all the local vets want money up front that I don't have, including the emergency vet. My boyfriends Dad's vet is usually pretty payment-friendly...so he gave them a call and they can see her...but not until Wednesday. So, they suggested that we rub Karo syrup on her gums to give her a little boost that may encourage her to eat, and to try giving her pedialite. I just gave her the syrup and am about to go to Walmart for the pedialite.

Any suggestions on what this could be and what I can do? I do not want "you should have taken her in on ____ day". Trust me, I know, and am kicking myself for it already. I have NO money. My parents won't help. Our only option is the vet on Wednesday...so what to do until then?

[Beanie]

Credit card?? She really needs to go in now... to an emergency vet really. It might just be a UTI that has gotten out of control, simple to treat, but I wouldn't wait if at all possible since she is now lethargic. =< Will Josh's parents help if yours won't? Wasn't Penny theirs at one point anyway and will be going back to them, or have I gotten dogs confused?

[AdrianneIsabel]

Can you try calling a rescue for help? Plead your story and they may work with you.

I have no suggestions because I honestly have no idea what is causing. It could be simple or as serious as cancer of the bladder, spinal issues, anything. She really needs a vet, can you take out a loan from a friend?

[kady05]

Can't you get Care Credit? Or yeah, use a credit card.

[JessLough]

Originally Posted by AdrianneIsabel

Can you try calling a rescue for help? Plead your story and they may work with you.

I have no suggestions because I honestly have no idea what is causing. It could be simple or as serious as cancer of the bladder, spinal issues, anything. She really needs a vet, can you take out a loan from a friend?

This. Hell, sign her over to a rescue if need be. She needs a vet yesterday.

Care credit, or if the boyfriend's parents can't care for her, ask if the vet will treat her if you agree to sign over ownership rights.

[Barbara!]

My boyfriends parents have agreed to help...but only at their vet on Wednesday. I've left a few voicemails at some local rescues to see if I can get help... And I've applied for the credit with my vet, but since I have no credit, I didn't get approved. I also don't have a credit card. ):

She seems to have perked up a little since the Karo syrup...

And the vet is thinking either stress, or kidney disease/failure. But he can't make a good diagnosis over the phone.

[Barbara!]

And she just ate a couple French fries after a cup of pedialite. The vet told me to give her anything she looks interested in eating... Is this good advice?

There is a HUGE leap between stress and kidney failure. No, he can't make a diagnosis over the phone, which means it could be just about anything. Waiting until Wednesday would be irresponsible at best.

Care Credit is not "through" a vet, and you can be approved without credit. Probably not for a hell of a lot, but it's something.

Originally Posted by Barbara!

And she just ate a couple French fries after a cup of pedialite. The vet told me to give her anything she looks interested in eating... Is this good advice?

Absolutely not. French fries have ZERO nutritional value to dogs in the first place and the salt can aggravate kidney issues.

[PWCorgi]

Apply for a care credit card, instant approval, and you can take the info they give you and use it NOW, no waiting for the card to mail.

Just google CareCredit