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. :)