8/20 Update

It is now 5 PM on Friday, 8/20. We just got back from yet another vet.

This morning we went in to Adam's Animal Hospital to see Dr. Singh (the regular vet). The vet yesterday left me with the impression that Dr. Singh should perform the amputation first thing in the morning, because the leg was so bad. Dr. Singh just changed the bandage and told me to come back tomorrow for another check.

So far I'd heard different things from three different vets- first that the leg would need to be amputated but Pumpernick would need to put on some weight first. Then that it would likely heal fine with regular bandage changes, no need to amputate. Then that it was so severely infected that it needed to be amputated immediately before the infection spreads. So you can understand my frustration when Dr. Singh just changed the bandage this morning.

So we got home, and set up an appointment with Dr. Ann McDowell at Chaparral Pet Hospital in Claremont. Its more of a drive, but I feel much more confident with her, and I should have taken him there first.

I told them everything that I had been told. Dr McDowell opened the bandage and pointed out that the tissue was in fact healing. He bled a bit when she removed the first bandage, which is a good indication of healthy tissue. His leg did not look infected. Then she set Pumpernick on the floor to watch him walk, and discovered some serious nerve damage. The tissue will heal, but he would always be dragging his leg behind him.

We discussed things, and decided that he's young enough to adapt to having three legs, and he'd have a better quality of life that way, then having to deal with a long-term healing process for the tissue to grow back and bones to heal. I have no doubt that he'll be running around on three legs in no time.

So we've scheduled the surgery for monday morning.

So far, I've paid $250.47 for various vet visits, bandaging, antibiotics, etc.

The estimate for surgery is $517.53

Here is a breakdown of the estimate:

$47.06 for pain meds

$106.11 for anesthesia

$40 for antibiotic injection

$250 for the amputation

$40.20 for the operating room

$17.08 for 1 day of boarding, since he'll need to be kept overnight