A terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

That about sums it up.  I had to take Abbie back to the vet this morning for a follow-up and to inevitably hear bad news.  For those that don't know she has had some problems with her back knees and went to the vet about two weeks ago for shots and follow-up diagnostics.  From that appointment, we actually had pretty decent news, she wasn't limping and surgery did not seem eminent.

That next weekend we traveled to Atlanta where she quickly went from sad to screaming.  No eating, barely moving...etc.  After returning home, we called the vet to give an update and he thought maybe she strained her neck from the stress of the appt, travel and anxiety.  So we started some muscle relaxers (this coupled with a daily pain pill, fish oil and glucosamine for her joints).  Well, it just hasn't helped and both John and I knew something else must be wrong.

That brings us to this morning.  Back to the vet we go, after an examination he suspects a slipped  or herniated disk in her neck.  We are wisked over to a vet Neurologist (I didn't even know this existed!) at another practice for a consultation.  Dr. House was very sweet and basically gave us three possibilites and outcomes.

1. Herniated disk.  Most likely after reviewing her symptoms.  This is a VERY expensive surgery with about a 4-6 week recovery time in a crate.  :(

2. Tumor.  Probably worst case as it would more than likely end her life very quickly.

3. Spiral Meningitis.  This is the least likely problem but the easiest to fix.  Dr. House said it would be very rare for a bulldog her age to contract this but steroids would completely cure her.

The diagnostic testing alone will be about $2,000 plus the expensive (VERY expensive) surgery on top of that. 

As hard as it is to figure out what we need to do since that really isn't in our budget right now, it is even harder listening to her cry every time she moves.  We did get some better pain medication to help her over the next couple days. 

For those that know us, you know our dogs hold a very special place in our heart.  For me, I want to do anything and everything I can...if only money trees existed.  It truly is breaking my heart to know she is suffering right now.

Please keep us in your prayers and thoughts.  I know this isn't going to be easy.