my dogs not doing well, what would you do.

[unsped]

so my dog (9 year old hybrid wolf mix)
is at a vet center in la at the moment
little over a year ago
she had a back problem, they put her on steroids and she seemed to recover
after christmas she started having problems again
put her on a higher dose of steroids, but didnt help
so my dad took her to this place in la that can do mri's and stuff
hoping it was a slipped disc or similar
turns out to be a decent size tumor thats constricting the spinal cord
they can operate
but its very low chances of being very successful
high chance of paralyzed, pain, recovery etc..
so we kinda have to decide if we want them to operate, or euthanize

i think if the chances are pretty low, its alot of suffering to put her through for potentially no payoff
at the moment in inclined to have them start the surgery to get a better look at the problem
and if its still ugly, she will already be knocked out
dunno though, tough situation

my parents and i are currently 2 hours away from the vet, need to decide if we want to visit her, and be with her if euthanized, or let the vets handle it.

we arent cold people, and love this dog to death. shes happy and perky with the office staff ... not sure 3 balling people would help her, or us if the time came.

 

[KarenMarie]

if you decide to put the dog to sleep, you should be there. she should have her her loved ones there, loving her while she goes.

 

[unsped]

if me and my dad are there. we will totally lose it, which may make the dog more uncomfortable ... rather than just happy go lucky and fall asleep

 

[Ronstang]

Euthanasia is probably the best answer but letting her pass on without you or your family there is simply wrong. Do you want to be in her last thoughts? I know it is hard as I have been there but I could never have lived with myself if I had simply dropped off my dog at the vet to be disposed of, take the drive.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
if you decide to put the dog to sleep, you should be there. she should have her her loved ones there, loving her while she goes.

Agreed.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
Euthanasia is probably the best answer but letting her pass on without you or your family there is simply wrong. Do you want to be in her last thoughts? I know it is hard as I have been there but I could never have lived with myself if I had simply dropped off my dog at the vet to be disposed of, take the drive.

I agree with you. Just dropping my dog off to be disposed of is one of the most horrible things I can imagine.

 

[OdiN]

I'd say just have it put to sleep and let the vet take care of it. But then I don't really like dogs much.

 

[unsped]

yes dropping the dog off to be disposed of, thats exactly what i had in mind. you hit the nail on the head. its one thing to say what you would do, and another to do it. a week ago i was adamant i would want to be there, now im questioning it.

we drove the dog 4 hours to a specialist, and have been very concerned about seeking the best care, something 90% of you wouldnt have done.

she is currently in one of the best pet care facilities in the nation, and we visited her yesterday. we never 'dropped' her off... what a bunch of a-holes

believe it or not, dogs lack alot of human concepts like object permanance... the idea that your dog would anguish because your not there while its being put to sleep is incorrect, and is machismo aimed at making yourself feel better.

a dog lacks the ability to appreciate sacrifice, you braving mental anguish to be with them isnt apprecaited. what the dog notices is that its family is very upset ... which may in turn upset the dog ... making its exit out of this world more uncomfortable.

 

[OdiN]

Uhm...are you on crack or something?

 

[feelingshorter]

very tough decision but i would say put the dog to sleep. Living in pain isnt living.

 

[skyking]

Put the dog out of misery. Go and be with him if you can possibly do it.

 

[Accipiter22]

surgery. You wouldn't murder a person, why do that to an animal? I never understood that logic....

 

[Kelemvor]

How much will the surgery cost? But you should be there either way.

I know I'd be there for my dog if I had to take a vacation day from work or whatver it took.

I'd say starting it to get a better look and then letting the doctors give their thoughts would be a good way to go.

 

[unprecedented]

My dog got the same sorta problem, acctually almost the same. Had surgeory, but due to lack of success, she had to be put down...

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: unsped
yes dropping the dog off to be disposed of, thats exactly what i had in mind. you hit the nail on the head. its one thing to say what you would do, and another to do it. a week ago i was adamant i would want to be there, now im questioning it.

we drove the dog 4 hours to a specialist, and have been very concerned about seeking the best care, something 90% of you wouldnt have done.

she is currently in one of the best pet care facilities in the nation, and we visited her yesterday. we never 'dropped' her off... what a bunch of a-holes

believe it or not, dogs lack alot of human concepts like object permanance... the idea that your dog would anguish because your not there while its being put to sleep is incorrect, and is machismo aimed at making yourself feel better.

a dog lacks the ability to appreciate sacrifice, you braving mental anguish to be with them isnt apprecaited. what the dog notices is that its family is very upset ... which may in turn upset the dog ... making its exit out of this world more uncomfortable.

If that's your attitude you might as well take it out back and do it old yeller style

 

[John P]

I would try everything you can before putting the dog down. If the surgery is not successful and the dog is totally miserable and there are no other options then I would have to think about putting her down.

I have a 13 year old female Samoyed who has spent 4 days in a critical care hospital for an infection she almost died from (probably due to bladder stones), had surgery to remove the bladder stones, been treated for Cushing's disease, and had several procedures to flush her bladder due to a yeast infection - all this happening since August. The old girl is still hanging in there - I am just praying the yeast is totally gone from her bladder when they test her next week.

For those new dog owners out there - there are now a lot better options for pet medical insurance out there than when I bought my dog. Sure wish I had it now.....

 

[Gand1]

Originally posted by: John P.
I
For those new dog owners out there - there are now a lot better options for pet medical insurance out there than when I bought my dog. Sure wish I had it now.....

Pet insurance is a bunch of bull$hit!!!

My greyhound had cancer in his front leg. My wife and I decided to have the leg amputated to save his life but after surgery he started having complications and then they found cancer throughout the rest of his body. (I'm still pissed at the vet!) This proceedure cost about $5000 and our "insurance" paid about $150 bucks of it. Yeah I'm glad I dished out $250 bucks every 3 months for that! :| :|

 

[rh71]

go there... be with her as she's being put to sleep.. I would not hesitate on deciding to go or not... even if it is to make myself feel better.

 

[John P]

Pet insurance is a bunch of bull$hit!!! My greyhound had cancer in his front leg. My wife and I decided to have the leg amputated to save his life but after surgery he started having complications and then they found cancer throughout the rest of his body. (I'm still pissed at the vet!) This proceedure cost about $5000 and our "insurance" paid about $150 bucks of it. Yeah I'm glad I dished out $250 bucks every 3 months for that!

Sorry to hear about your dog. I haven't looked at all the details of pet insurance, just talked to a couple of people about it. YMMV it appears.

 

[Hannover]

Originally posted by: Gand1

Originally posted by: John P.
I
For those new dog owners out there - there are now a lot better options for pet medical insurance out there than when I bought my dog. Sure wish I had it now.....

Pet insurance is a bunch of bull$hit!!!

My greyhound had cancer in his front leg. My wife and I decided to have the leg amputated to save his life but after surgery he started having complications and then they found cancer throughout the rest of his body. (I'm still pissed at the vet!) This proceedure cost about $5000 and our "insurance" paid about $150 bucks of it. Yeah I'm glad I dished out $250 bucks every 3 months for that! :| :|

I've had the opposite experience with pet insurance. My Great Dane had a gastric torsion surgery at a 24 hour emergency clinic (extra $$) and then spent 4 days at Gulf Coast animal hospital (insanely expensive) with heart related complications. The insurance paid 90% of the claim and I had a check in my hand before the CC statements arrived.

My greyhound (she's now 15 years old) had a form of Hepatitis that required a liver biopsy, and extended stay at Gulf Coast Animal Hospital and tons of meds. Again, the insurance company came through for us and paid about 85% of the claim. We were suprised because we had choosen some 'elective' procedures.

VPI (Vetrinary Pet Insurance) is better than my own health insurance right now.

 

[Ramma2]

Putting her to sleep sounds like the best option. But having a stranger do it without you there seems cold and cruel.

Big deal if you cry. Be a man and be there for your best friend. She would be there for you.

 

[John P]

believe it or not, dogs lack alot of human concepts like object permanance... the idea that your dog would anguish because your not there while its being put to sleep is incorrect, and is machismo aimed at making yourself feel better.

I disagree. I will be there if I ever have to put my dog down.

BTW, what does object permanence and being there while your dog is being put down have to do with each other? My dog is way more comfortable when I am with her at the vet than when I'm not.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: unsped
believe it or not, dogs lack alot of human concepts like object permanance... the idea that your dog would anguish because your not there while its being put to sleep is incorrect, and is machismo aimed at making yourself feel better.

You have no idea what you're talking about. If this was true, then as soon as i leave the house the dog shouldn't remember me... since she whines and cry, she obviously does. If they lack object permanence, then when she buries her treats in the yard, how does she know where to zero in?

 

[Conky]

I went through this twice last year. It's time to have that dog put to sleep.

I would say to being there when they do it but letting the vet take care of it is perfectly acceptable too... it's up to you. I was there for one of my dogs when it got the needle and I was in the other room for the other one(although now I wish I was there to the end with her too). It's very sad but it's what we do for our best friends when they are in pain. Take care... I know it's hard.

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: Looney

Originally posted by: unsped
believe it or not, dogs lack alot of human concepts like object permanance... the idea that your dog would anguish because your not there while its being put to sleep is incorrect, and is machismo aimed at making yourself feel better.

You have no idea what you're talking about. If this was true, then as soon as i leave the house the dog shouldn't remember me... since she whines and cry, she obviously does. If they lack object permanence, then when she buries her treats in the yard, how does she know where to zero in?

I agree as well.. Dogs are highly intelligent and have a great amount of passion toward the owners. When I come home every day in the afternoon, my chihuahua prances on her hind legs, and begins to jump up at me, panting frantically, with what appears to be a big smile coming from her little teeth..

but I guess as you have informed us, dogs do not possess the thought of human concepts..
Only a true dog/pet owner/lover will understand and know this..

To the OP.. do whatever is possible. I'd say opt for the surgery... at that point further analysis can be based.. if it indeed turns into the worse, then I believe it would be the right time to let your beloved friend go to the "other side".