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Monday, October 1, 2012

Monday Mischief - The Decision

There's been lots of panic attacks and lots of tears this past week over Fred's prognosis. It's been very emotional. Lots of you have asked if there is anything that can be done. There are three options for hip dysplasia.  Total hip replacement for severe arthritic hips (Fred's) but very expensive, removal of the femoral head and neck where scar tissue then forms to provide a cushion in the joint (done on dogs who are around 30 lbs. and not recommended for heavier dogs which eliminates Fred) and the pain management, which is what we are doing now. 

All this depressing talk about poor Fred really started to get to him.


"For gosh sakes Momma! I wish you guys would snap out of it!"  "I'm not dead yet. I feel like singing!" 
(Fred's take on Monty Python's "The Holy Grail")


So Fred came to me with a plan.  Apparently him and Gloria had both been up to some mischief and came up with this.......


The save Freddie Fund.


"It was my idea Momma. You know Freddie's no good at crafts."
  
They gathered up all there pennies they had saved for treats (Since Canada is doing away with our penny anyway) and brought them to me.


"We're exhausted!  We've been up all night counting pennies Momma."

So our decision was made. We put Freddie's jar on the counter and every time we feel like getting a "Tim's" coffee.... into the jar instead.  Going to see the Detroit Lions in Detroit...... into the jar instead. The movies or take-out........into the jar instead. Shopping.....(gulp!)...into the jar instead.  There are lots of places we can cut back and save, and cut back we will. We are going for total hip replacement. We'll hopefully have one done and then go from there.  Our family just isn't ready to give up on Freddie yet! We've had enough loss in our lives for awhile. Fred's my baby and if him and Gloria can give up their treat money, so can we.  We just hope we have enough time to save up the funds needed.  I have discussed it with our vet who is looking into a good surgeon and total cost.  He says we should have months. There will be a referral and then a consultation to see if Freddie is a candidate and how soon it should be done.
    
Sometimes I feel so bad thinking that all the whining Freddie has does when he's resting that has earned him the name Mr. Dramatica, has probably been because when he lays down his hips just ache.  The vet said he has probably tolerated it so well because that is all he has known.

So for now we have a plan.  We keep walking Fred (I just cringe when we go as his hips just clunk the whole time) to keep the muscles built up so they don't atrophy and hopefully by next summer or fall, Freddie will be the new and improved Robo-Fred!
All of your thoughts and prayers have helped us greatly.  Please keep up the POTP going for Freddie and wish us luck!
Unlike KB's sweet K from Romping and Rolling in the Rockies, Freddie can be fixed but we have learned from KB and K to take it one day, better yet, one moment at a time.
(KB has had some scary health issues with R and could use the POP for him right now too! )

Fred does seem to like all the attention right now.


His sister Brandi brought him a new stuffed monkey last week and he hasn't even chewed it to bits!

Freddie can now rest easy knowing that hopefully he will have many, many more happy years with his family!


"Whew!"

And I can't believe I got my camera back from Nikon after only two weeks. Flash fixed, no charge. Yay! I can't thank them enough for their fast service! I think I had gone into photography withdrawal.


Now I can take all the pictures of Fred and Gloria I want again. :)

Snoopy's Dog Blog


61 comments:

  1. It sounds like you have a great plan for Fred! That jar will fill up fast. Rupert had to have the femoral head removal surgery because he was hit by a car and severely broke his hip (prior to us adopting him), but he falls under the 30lb recommendation you mentioned for that surgery. Based on our experience, it is rather amazing how these dogs can recover and live normal lives after receiving the proper surgery. The hip surgery will be so worth it!

    p.s. enjoy the fixed camera! A working camera makes for a happy photographer. :)

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  2. You know we are all over the prayers for Freddie. We will just keep them coming and coming. I would be happy to give up some treats to contribute to the Save Fred Fund. I have been a little treat heavy lately. It brought a smile to our faces to see some photos of the two.
    Blessings,
    Goose

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  3. I'm so glad you have made your decision and are moving forward with it. Freedom, Casper & Nikki said they would give a bit of their treat money towards the cause too. Just let us know how we can do that. We will be there with you every step of the way. Tell Freddie and Gloria we love their "can do" attitude.

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  4. Yay, I'm glad you have your camera back!

    I think the attitude you have is the right one! It's amazing how much money you can scrape together/save when you realize just what you spend it on. That picture of Gloria is just heartbreaking (and the Grumpy Freddy one is adorable...what does it say about me, that I don't find grumpy faces offputting, at least in dogs?)

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  5. Sounds like an excellent plan!

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  6. We are so happy that you have been able to work this out and it sounds like a terrific plan! Just love looking at these fabulous pics!! I have a few more pics of the new neighbors...and I thought of you as I was taking them!! They'll be on the blog probably later this week! Our prayers will continue for Fred!!
    Happy Monday!
    xoxo Chloe, LadyBug and Jeanne

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  7. It sounds like a great plan to us and we are sure the jar will be filled up in no time.

    When Mika was hit by a hit-and-run car, his right hind leg was seriously injured and he had to go through FHO surgery. With a lot of exercises and physiotherapy, he is using his right leg normally now. We are sure those walkies and exercises will help Fred stay strong and healthy.

    Dear Freddie is always in our thoughts and prayers.

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  8. Oh noes, we are sad to hear about Fred's clunky hip. We hope he saves up for a replacement soon from his penny mountain. Poor old Fred, you have certainly been having a rough ride these days pal.
    Dip Bridge and Elliot x

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  9. WE seem to have missed all the drama! Poor Fred. We are sending the very best good Greyhound vibes. Mum says when she was little (so about 100 years ago hehe!) she had a dog that had a full hip replacement which was pretty rare back then. He had mant happy years with the family after that. Deccy x

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  10. We wish Freddie well and maybe the vet can come up with a payment plan. Good vets do that over here. Our paws are crossed and we hope the jar fills up really quickly. Our thoughts are with you. Yes one day at a time.
    Best wishes Molly

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  11. We sure will be praying for Freddie!
    Lovies, Miss Mindy

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  12. The catsband I are so relieved you came up with a plan.
    The three os us are willing to dave some treats money too. Do you paypal, by any chance?

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  13. I am so happy learning your plan!! Have you thought about setting up a chip in? Is water therapy a possibility for Freddie now to keep those muscles in shape? We did water therapy with Tucker's first acl and it was incredible! No stress on the joints. Just a thought.

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  14. We are so happy to hear your plan. I know of dogs who have had this surgery, one was a put bull terrier who was not a little guy and they did really well. We are sure you can do it! Does Cananada offer anything like Care Credit in the USA? You have longer to pay then so that might be an option

    urban hounds

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  15. Oh boy! I knew this post was going to make me tear up! I love Freddie's jar-Gloria is so crafty:) I wish you the best of luck with this and know that it can be done! I am wondering if there is anyone who can provide you with financial assistance, like the Basset Hound Club of America or another pet organization.

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  16. I get such a lump in my throat reading about you and Freddie. He just HAS to be okay - he's got so many admirers and we're all praying for him. Tubby3pug has a good idea about using a credit plan, that way you could get the surgery done sooner. I love your "savings plan" idea. We may be needing to do that soon too. Blessings to you all, you're always in our prayers. :)

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  17. It sounds like a great plan. Last year when we had to unexpectedly pay for Thunder's bloat surgery I wondered how we were going to do it. It was very expensive, but we cut back (and I did not get my new family room floor!) and we did it and you will too!

    I have a relative who had a golden with very very bad hips. Surgery was not an option (this was several years ago). The dog's hips were so bad that she was diagnosed before she was a year old. They were given a similar prognosis as Fred's. They treated her with medication, kept her weight down and limited exercise. I think she lived until 9 or 10 and it was a good life. She couldn't run around a lot, but she could move freely and play a bit. So even without surgery there are ways to manage the pain.

    I am excited that there will be pictures of the hounds again!

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  18. Perfect Plan and we will send Plenty of Prayers!!

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  19. Great news that Fred can be fixed up and live a normal hap-pee life. Me and me pack will give up a few treats fur the Freddie fund too. We sticks togedder in Blogville after all. We'll stay tuned fur more info!

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  20. Can you set up an account for Freddie at your vet's office? That way people can donate directly to your vet for Freddie's hip replacement?

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  21. Believe me our mom feels your pain. We paid $12000 dollars for my Lilys knee and back surgery . All our paws are crossed for Freddie
    Benny & Lily

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  22. I will send positive thoughts to Freddie. And yes, our pets are family and no matter what, the money is worth spending on their healthcare. When Darwin broke his foot, we spent a fortune on treatments and none worked. Now he is just limping on 3 legs but we feel good knowing we tried our everything. I know this is no laughing matter, but I salute you for your sense of humour even while dealing with a crisis. That line...shopping (gulp) got me LOL.

    Freddie will be fine soon. Keep your chin up!!!!

    Sankissjuice

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  23. We have our paws crossed for Freddie - we too have a "Save Denny" jar on our counter - we are saving for his knee surgery so we know what it feels like to watch your baby hurt.

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  24. Wow, that's a lot for you guys to take on, I hope everything works out wonderful.

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  25. Sounds like good news and a good plan! Can't wait for more photos :)

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  26. I am so happy that you decided to go with the surgery. I love your Freddie and Gloria and love your blog on them. OXXOOXXOOXOX

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  27. We are going to come up with a way to help somehow!!

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  28. What a sweet Freddy, I hope that he is able to get his surgery. I know what you mean, Brooks had to have surgery a few months ago and it cost $3000! We didn't have the money either, but it was an emergency and we had to say yes or else he would have died. Poor Brooks. We're doing everything we can to try to pay for it, but of course we don't regret the decision to go through with it. HuGS!

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  29. I think it helps so much when you have a plan! I hope your vet can work with you and find a way to make the surgery as affordable as possible. Hooray for Freddie! Will keep sending good thoughts his way!

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  30. Sounds like you've got a great plan and it looks like Fred is happy!

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  31. Oh sweet Freddie, you are so lucky to have such a kind and caring momma. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.

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  32. I haven't read all the comments so I don't know what others have suggested.....Do Bassetts have any groups that provide financial aid for such surgeries? Corgis have two wonderful funds they can apply to for help, Corgi-Aid and CorgiPals. These are funded purely by generous donations.

    Also, you could consider putting a Chip-In (www.chipin.com) on your blog and let folks who want to donate a few dollars contribute to help Freddie. I know I would be happy to "chip-in"!

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  33. That is a great plan for sure! Hope he is feeling a bit better!

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  34. This is great news! Last week I was really hoping I was going to read something positive like this come Monday(today) and I'm glad it is. Take care of that boy and keep the exercise up!

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  35. A great plan! I ditto the chip in.
    I was writing a paper on stem cell research and researching IVDD (back issues in Doxies) and found a study on stem cell therapy for dogs with orthopedic problems, mainly hip dysplasia. Don't know if it's an option for you or even something you'd be interested in (the therapy uses the dog's own cells), but here's some links.
    https://www.vet-stem.com/
    http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/medicine/stem-cell-treatment-may-help-dogs-with-arthritis/1204605
    Just thought it was interesting, and it's something I'd look into for Nola if she has any issues
    Nola's Mom

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  36. It is never easy to watch a best friend suffer. But I hope your plan works and you can save him from suffering. Good luck

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  37. I just can't imagine what you have been going through. Such tough decisions for such a young lad. We are glad you have a plan in place and will continue to send drool and power of the paw for Freddie. We just wish there was more we could do for him. Sniffs, The HoundDogs

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  38. Freddie, you hang in they buddy, Mom is gonna get that help, and the POP , wishes and support will get you there, you on our list for crrosed paws until we here the good news.

    Your Furiends
    Susie & Bites

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  39. So happy you have a plan in place. I haven't heard of chip-in, but if you get one, let me know. Rocky, Adrian, and Wrigley can surely give up some treats to help Fred. Or send me your paypal address and I would be happy to put a few bones in there for you :)

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  40. We will continue to cross our paws for Freddie and his mom. My mom worries about all sorts of things that could go wrong for us but we have to keep reminding her to just live and love in the moment! Keep us updated please!

    Your friends,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  41. Woof! Woof! It's a hard good decision ... Golden Crossed and Sending Lots of Golden LOVE. Happy MM. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

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  42. Dear Janet, Please e-mail me your mailing address. Nosey and I would like to contribute to Freddie's Fund. We love you and your dear little family just the same as if we lived close and knew each other in person. xoxo

    Marsie Hall Newbold
    93 Robinson Road
    Highland Heights, KY 41076
    (859) 441-7924
    marsolete@insightbb.com

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  43. Definitely do the chip in or pay pal. You have lots of good dog buddies who want to see Freddie thrive as soon as possible. Maybe all of us could have jars which hit our weaknesses. Like the swear jar, or maybe a cigarette jar for people who are trying to quit, or a chocolate jar for people who like chocolate too much. Put a quarter or dollar in every time you swear, light up, eat a chocolate.

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  44. Rooo - So sorry to hear about Freddie's hips, I hadn't heard about it before. It sounds like the hounds (and you) have a good plan for the future though. It breaks my heart to think about Freddie in pain (he always looks so happy its hard to imagine) but you mentioned he's now on pain killers which should make his life more manageable until its time for his op. Lots of love and puppy kisses from Alfie

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  45. It isn't easy, but it sounds like you are all pulling together to make it work. I really don't know what to say, except that I've been there before and it is scary. Alex was too old to go in for surgery (11-12yrs old) and we just couldn't do that to him. So we pain managed and learn to take it easy with him. There were good days and bad. They say the more they keep moving the better. Good luck to you and Freddie and if need I am a good listener. :)

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  46. That is such good news!! It will be a big sacrifice for all, but just think how good Freddie will feel! Now if you can get your hands on all those pennies here in Canada that nobody wants........

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  47. Hi Bassett Momma, we are so glad about your decision. Sounds like a great plan and mum says, after the operation you can treat yourself to a nice big shopping splurg hehe. It will be great to see more photos of Freddie and Gloria running around together after his op. No worries, and slobber (cause we know you like it), Rory and Stella

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  48. Hi Y'all!

    What great news...and know that the POP is still being willed from here!

    Y'all come by now,
    Hawk aka BrownDog

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  49. You are so fortunate there is a treatment. I wish him and your pack all the best!

    When our Loki was ill, we did what we could (there was cure for his disease) and even that was very expensive, but giving up movies and Timmies was easy, when we got his love for that extra time.

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  50. Yes, please consider a chip-in or PayPal where people can donate. I would definitely share this info with my fellow dog-lovers on Facebook and Twitter and donate some myself! Praying for you, hubby, Freddie, and Gloria.

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  51. I'd suggest adding a Chip In fund, too! When we found out that Blueberry had cancer, we were stunned and the surgery was something that had to be done. I was amazed by the generosity of so many people who had never met her in person. We were very blessed to receive such a gift. There are times in life when you're able to give and help others and times when you need a little help. It all balances out, I believe. I hope that the surgery goes off without a hitch when it happens and that Fred will enjoy the benefits of it for a long, long time!

    Also, congrats on getting the camera back! I break out in hives just thinking that something could happen to mine!

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  52. We would also love donate to a chip in for Freddie. How am I suppose to get through my Mondays without his mischief? The Jowls of Fury clan are willing to donate their treat monies too. We were fortunate enough to have many wonderful people help us out with Beau surgery and we would like to pay it forward now that we can afford to.

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  53. We want to help!!! I'm so glad Freddie will have more happy years to come!

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  54. Is it too late to try those Pedigree joint care sticks Tess (the welshie) was trying?

    I'd do anything for my baby too.

    Feel better Fred, we're pulling for you
    Violet

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  55. Hey Freddie,

    I've got my paws crossed for you buddy - you have the bestest family who will look after you - even Gloria may give you a cuddle?

    I'm sending you lots of hugs my friend - and also lots for the rest of your family too as I know this is really tough for them as well….

    Take care,

    Your pal Snoopy :)

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  56. That's a big decision, and I'm so glad that you made it. I bet you that Freddie will do great!!!!!!! I had a dog named Acadia who had hip dysplasia years ago. She lived most of her life with fairly low pain but she ended up hurting her spine because she tried so hard not to move her hips very much. So, imho, a hip replacement is the best thing that you can do!

    So many humans do wonderfully after hip replacements that I have to believe that Freddie will be as good as new.

    Thanks so much for the mention... Today, R seems more like himself than anytime in the past week. I'm starting to think that he's going to get through this. Now, we just have to find a dog food that we can trust...

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  57. Glad to hear that maybe there is something out there that can be done for Freddie! Keeping our fingers and paws crossed that everything works out.

    Thinking about you Freddie!!
    ~Scout, Teddy and Ash

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  58. I know how hard it is for you guys (and us too!) to think of life without Freddie, and of course we will all do what it takes to keep him around!! I also know how much it has meant to you to have the support of all your fellow bloggers and am so glad they have been here for you with encouraging words! We're all pulling for Freddie! xoxo

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  59. Fred you are one smart cookie. Some how I think your sacrifices will be blessed and multiplied for Fred. He is one blessed dog to have the security of knowing how far his family will go to meet his challenges.

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  60. oh god poor Freddie, i cant beleive we go on holiday and come back to find out this... i hope it all turns out right in the end and like you said you just got to take one day at a time. thinking of you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Charlene and Stormy
    xxx

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  61. Freddie's Fund is a wonderful idea. :) Yay for the soon-to-be Robo Freddie - I'm so glad that you have a plan and hope on the horizon.

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