Snow and Potty Problems

[Nancy Nicolai]

Hello All,

 

I live in Northern Virginia and over the last few weeks we have got more snow dumped on us then we ever have!  The sidewalks are practically non-existent!  So, when I walk Harvey we have to walk out in the street and it's icy, lumpy and dirty.  When it was snowing we couldn't walk at all.  And there is no grass anywhere!  This has really messed Harvey up apparently because he now has an absessed anal sack!  It could have been the change in routine since we can't take our regular walks and my husband and I have been home a lot.  We had no idea that this was coming on, he just started acting funny one day and we looked under his tail and saw a big red blister looking thing on his butt.  We took him right to the vet and he's on antibiotics now (it cost $385.00).  I'm not sure but I think it's having to go potty in the snow that could be responsible or maybe it could have been the extra snacks since we've been spoiling him rotten because we were at home so much.  Hopefully he'll be better soon but I see no help until the spring thaw for our sidewalks.  Is anyone else having this problem with the two tons of snow here on the East Coast?  Thanks for your help!   

 

Nancy 

 

 

 

 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Wow, $385 ....., what did the vet have to do that it cost that much money? Ouch! We haven't had as much snow as you all have, but we have had more than we normally have. We have had 2 feet over the last 10 days and it is all piled up. What I have done is shovel paths to their favorite spots in the yard to potty (this also helps me as I take them out on a leash vs just letting them out. They won't actually potty on those paths, but do use them to get to where ever they want to be then they jump out in the snow. For exercise I try to take them to places like Lowes and Home Depot that will allow them and do indoor walks vs outdoor walks. It is difficult, I feel your pain!

[Nancy Nicolai]

I do shovel paths for Harvey and he does love the snow but all conditions have to be right it seems for him to do his thing. I could be totally wrong about why he got the infection but it just seemed to make sense. The medicine is what cost so much, it was something like $275! She said it was what she gave to her dog recently when he had the same problem. That's a good idea about Home Depot or Lowes. I've been thinking the same thing about me walking around the mall just to get to move around. This snow just has my little family feeling all closed in!!!

[Kathy Spyker]

I think I would call and question the amount you paid for that medicine, that is more then I paid for Lilly when she got spayed and her dew claws off. We also shoveled paths for Lilly leading to a big circle..where it only took one day of sun and now is grass. I hope Harvey is feeling better.

[Nancy Nicolai]

The vet told us that she had "sure fire" medicine that she had used and costs more "and" she had some medicine that could work but we might have to try something else. Of course we picked the "sure fire" expensive medicine. The place we go to is pretty expensive but it's very convenient and they seem very caring and good. Hopefully, this will never happen again. I'm already thinking about learning to cook his food myself. It seems like a lot of work but I want him to be healthy and happy! I still don't know what really caused the problem!

[Pat & "Tucker"]

I agree- maybe there is some mistake. Seems like an awful lot. What is the medication?

[Nancy Nicolai]

The medicine that cost so much was Baytril 135 mg with enough for 2 a day for 21 days. It seems really expensive to me too! How can you check how much other vets charge for it? I'd feel sort of funny calling around checking. I always want to trust people and sometimes it isn't the best idea.

[Pat & "Tucker"]

We had over 30 inches of snow in the past week. Tucker love running in the yard and hasn't had any problems - he plowed he's own paths running aroundI. 've been doing the same- walking around the shopping center / parking lots just for a change of pace. At least they are well lit and no ice!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

The only place I could think of other than just calling around (or someone on here that works at a vets chiming in (JANE, where are you), would be Petmeds.com. I did a search for Baytril 135mg and it came up that it is $4.49 per pill which for 2 per day for 21 days would be $189 (if I did the math correctly). It did say it requires a vets perscription, but at least that is one comparison. I have just never gotten any pills from the vet that were that expensive but then I guess most of my experiences have been fairly simple problems to this point. I just know that there is a wide range of pricing that goes on in the vet world. However, if you are comfortable with your vet that is a good thing and possibly, as long as you can afford him/her that is all that matters. Hopefully the medicine is helping and Harvey is doing much better.