One time, we had a very sick dog that needed regular steroid shots to live. We missed her monthly appointment by a few weeks and she was starting to go down hill fast. We had a supply of the steroid on hand that we bought in bulk and would take it in to the vet to administer. The steroid cost us $150 per month and if we bought it through the vet they would give her the shot for “free”.
This time however, they said that she was too sick. Since we missed her regular appointment, in order to give her the shot they needed to first do blood work at around $150. Then they would need to keep her for up to a week at another $1000. After all of that they doubted she would make it and recommended we just put her down.
I pleaded with them to just give her the damn shot. What is the worst that could happen?????? They refused without me agreeing to all of the other stuff.
I left with my dog and went to Tractor Supply and bought a hypodermic needle. We gave her the shot ourselves with the steroid we had left and nursed her back to health over the period of a week or so.
We found a new vet who will provide the medicine and give her the shot for $70. They are even o.k. with us stretching it out to every 6 weeks vs. 4 weeks. It has been a couple years since then and the dog is as happy and healthy as she has ever was.
Another vet agrees to help us, gives him a bag of saline subq and a rough place to begin with insulin. Now he runs in the yard ( age 17 ) and recently jumped over another larger dog on our bed. Gets his two shots of insulin from me every day and some turkey just after. Living a good life.
Good for you!!!