Okay, time to listen to friends and swallow our pride for the sake of our chocolate lab, CHARLIE, who just turned 4 years old in April. Charlie had frequent ear infections as a pup and was diagnosed early with inflammatory ear polyps. At first, we were told that his ear canal looked bumpy like an ear of corn. Then it grew mushroom-like stalks which they had tried to remove, but they were too significant. Our local vet said we would need to take him to a surgeon for the procedure because her equipment would not suffice. We took him to Portland but the estimate was far too high at the time and we didn't proceed. Unfortunately, his ears have continued to get worse and worse. So we took him to Angell in Boston, where we were once again advised that they would need to do surgery to remove his entire ear canals and then stitch them closed, leaving no more tissue to proliferate - but also leaving him deaf. Once again the estimate was far too high, so we didn't proceed. The doctor from Angell had indicated that they had applied for a grant for a laser and that she could attempt to laser off as many of the growths as possible. We had to begin with a very expensive CT scan before the procedure. The CT scan revealed that his entire ear canals are now full of tissue and completely blocked. So, she couldn't "laser out" an ear canal. Unfortunately, despite already being invested at about $3500, it has only been diagnostics thus far and two attempts at procedures that were unable to address the issues. His left ear is the worst as seen in this photo. His right ear canal is also fully blocked, but it's not as extensive externally. We've been trying to manage the inflammation with Prednisone, which isn't good for dogs, and particularly not for labs, but the polyp outside his left ear had been growing at such an unbelieveable rate that we felt it worth the risk to try to manage them. We also tried Gabapentin for pain, but that didn't help. Once again neither medication is a cure, nor a long-term solution. So, knowing we can't afford even one ear surgery, let alone two, we decided to bring him back to Portland again last week for another estimate. And, in doing so, his back left knee which had been bothering him for months was re-injured somehow during transit and he is now putting little to no pressure on his back left leg. The vet examined his leg in addition to his ears and suspects he now needs CCL surgery as well. All this time we've been putting off even one ear surgery and now he needs 3 surgeries. Charlie is the happiest, most loving dog we've ever had, and the doctor said "It's a shame because his labs showed that he is completely healthy in every other way. But the pain is just going to become so significant, that without surgery, we'll ultimately have to proceed with euthanasia due to his poor quality of life - even though not a life-threatening condition in and of itself." I have tried every which way to negotiate more reasonable costs with the vets, I've asked if his condition (the worst that any of the 3 vets have ever seen), might qualify for a teaching hospital for the procedure but they said no, that his condition is unique but that the procedure is not. I contacted New England Lab Rescue, to see if they might be able to offer a scholarship or grant, but was told that we would have to surrender Charlie to the organization and then they would try to find him new owners that might be able to pay for his surgeries. We want what's best for Charlie, but also want to keep him in our family! Both Portland and Angell have suggested CareCredit, which we can certainly do, but that would only allow us 6 months at no interest before the interest rate goes bananas. And the other suggestion by the vets was to do exactly this - reach out to our friends and family with a LFEBridge for help. This anguish has been going on for far too long, and so now I've finally decided to reach out to see if any of you might want to help us get started with these procedures. I've accepted that I need to ask for the sake of Charlie who doesn't have a voice in this. Despite Charlie being completely deaf after both procedures, both the vet in Portland and at Angell said that the dogs who get this surgery done look so visually relieved and happy after the procedure; that despite the deafness, it is a gift to offer them to get them out of pain. Below are the 3 estimates we have so far. We'd start with the left ear. After that heals, then they would need to do the right ear. We purchased a brace for his CCL to try to buy some time before that surgery would need to also be done, but many of you likely already know that when one knee is compromised the other one is way more likely to go as well. So, the longer we put this off, his needed 3 surgeries may turn into 4. We certainly hope not, but luck hasn't been on our side so far. Angell TECO-BO $4173.71 - $5003.21 (PER EAR) Portland TECO-BO $5083.52 →$5684.49 (PER EAR) Portland TPLO (CCL) $5421.74 →$5735.21 (Left Rear Leg) Thank you in advance to our animal-loving, generous friends and family for your consideration in helping Charlie; we greatly appreciate it!
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