My dog was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor; a mast cell tumor at her regular veterinarians office and I was given an estimate of $3,600.00 for tumor removal. I was shocked, and saddened as I knew that I couldn't afford such a surgery and making payments was out of the question. One day I saw our former veterinarian who had closed his practice and asked him for a recommendation of a surgeon, and told him the price I was quoted. He recommended Township, told me he works there twice a week and to come in for an estimate; and I'd already known he had a reputation as being a good surgeon, so this was a divine intervention.
I took GiGi in and almost fainted at the estimate, I cried and hugged the woman who handed it to me, and Dr. Bacon too! They did some pre op labs, and scheduled surgery for the following Wednesday; we're fourteen days post op as I type this review.
Dr. Bacon and the staff were super kind, very loving with my girl, and got the surgery done; we came home with pain meds and an anti inflammatory, and started recovery. Within a few hours her bandage started slipping and would not stick to her, and I contacted Dr. Bacon who said it was okay to take it off. Healing was going well; she had a little "edema" that floated around from under her arm pit to her belly, then under the incision, and it was big; as they took two off, not just the one. Well, seven days post op, I took her to see our regular vet because this thing was the size and shape of a football, turned out to be a hematoma.
Three days later; on a Saturday we were scheduled for suture removal (ten days post op) and the dang thing burst, blood everywhere, I was freaking out; called Dr. Bacon frantic, crying and feeling like I was in a Kill Bill film, he said I could go right now; so somehow I managed to snap out of my shock, and my sister and I took GiGi to Windsor (a good 45 to over an hour drive some days) to be checked out. Dr. Bacon was soooooooooooo calm, almost as if he'd seen things like this his entire career (ha ha imagine that, a cool, calm veterinarian) and said "oh it looks good, that's old blood" and I remember finally taking a breath. I thought my dog was bleeding to death all the way there. Old blood, duh, a hematoma ... he kept GiGi a few hours, made some incisions to drain the hematoma, found there were some dried blood clots in it and sent us home with the warning she'd bleed a while.
Dr. Bacon has been INCREDIBLY kind; GiGi is nicely wrapped up and on her way to a healthier and happier life. The entire staff here has been exceptional, and my gratitude can't really be wrapped up in a Yelp review, but I hope they read this and know that I appreciate all of their patience and kindness.
I'll post a few photos, some will be graphic, please be aware.
GiGi's surgery was not without some issues, but it was a huge incision, about nine inches, it looks brutal, and was, but she's on the road to recovery, and so am I!! :) read more