Euthanasia and your pet

[Amethyst]

Is the surgeon different from the vet who saw her tonight? Either way, maybe a second opinion if you're not feeling comfortable with the direction the current vet is going. Hope she makes a full recovery.

[Fuzz]

Ya, it will be a different vet for sure. I haven't felt totally comfortable with this one.

[Suzles]

Hoping for good news today, Fuzz.

[Fuzz]

Hopefully they can get to surgery today, he said they are very busy, unfortunately. They need to do some blood work before putting her under, and they can't tell how bad it is until then. The gash is fairly significant in size, so she definitely needs to be stitched up. And there is always the risk she won't wake up after....

[habernac]

thinking positive thoughts for you, Fuzz

[Fuzz]

GOOD NEWS!

They took a look and didn't see any punctures under her skin, so they have put a drain in and sewn her up. Her creatinine levels are high but, not critical given her kidney condition. So she should be around for awhile longer! I can pick her up around 5:00.

[Coach]

Excellent news Fuzz!

[bigtmac19]

That's great news Fuzz - so happy to hear it. She's a cutie!

[habernac]

Good news in this thread is indeed a treat.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

GOOD NEWS!

They took a look and didn't see any punctures under her skin, so they have put a drain in and sewn her up. Her creatinine levels are high but, not critical given her kidney condition. So she should be around for awhile longer! I can pick her up around 5:00.

Also with this news, I'd be strongly side-eyeing the first vet.

[bigtmac19]

I recently changed vets - sometimes they just don't give the care they should. After a few questionable incidents, I got a second opinion with the latest problem and thank goodness I did, or my cat might be minus an eye now. Trusted my gut this time and very glad that I did.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

Also with this news, I'd be strongly side-eyeing the first vet.

Yes, a month ago when she had what was turned out to be a broken tooth and infection, she didn't even look in her mouth and said "at her age it's probably cancer. I can do some x-rays for $230."

I looked at her and said, "wouldn't that have gradually come on? I mean, you can see half her face is swollen, and she won't let me touch her. 2 days ago she was resting her head on my hand for hours. Maybe it is an infection?"

"Well, it could be, but I'd like to take x-rays to find out. We can see how bad the cancer is."
"can we try antibiotics for a few days?"
"Well, OK, but then bring her back for x-rays"
"Sure enough, 1 day later on antibiotics she was almost 100%"

So this time, she says "we better take x-rays to check for broken ribs" which seams fair enough. So they come back, and totally unrelated up by her chest she says "oh, that area looks like it is probably cancer. We should consider this before doing anything. I'd like to send them away to have them looked at by an exert. It'll be an extra $90".

At this point I'm like, OK, sounds good. Only $90. So after she gets the results she says they don't think it's cancer. Thanks. Does everything look like cancer to this vet?

Fortunately the vet I talked to today was very good(if not very late) and the surgeon was great.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by bigtmac19

I recently changed vets - sometimes they just don't give the care they should. After a few questionable incidents, I got a second opinion with the latest problem and thank goodness I did, or my cat might be minus an eye now. Trusted my gut this time and very glad that I did.

Ya, this isn't my normal vet, it's the emergency clinic. Unfortunately Hobie seams to get life threatening issues on Sundays. My normal vet is good. I have a feeling this is going to cost a boatload of money.

[Fuzz]

Spoiler!

spoilered for the squimesh.

HA! A mere flesh wound! Now, bring me my dinner!

She is super happy to be home, and so am I. Night and day with this other vet, he was absolutely fantastic. So re-assuring....then the vet from last night walked by, says how happy she is that it was not major, then says "but we still have that issue in her chest, so keep an eye on that..."Gee, thanks.

Anyway, time to exhale. Had my first real meal again.

[Amethyst]

Glad she's going to be okay! My dogs also have a tendency to have issues on Sundays, or better yet, long weekends. I was fortunate the last time that happened, I went to a clinic where my friend worked so she gave me a thumbs up that the vet I got placed with was a good choice.

[old-fart]

Sorry to bump this thread...

My chocolate lab is not likely to make the weekend, and I'm struggling with how to deal with the kids. The lab is only 7, but has liver and kidney issues that have plagued her for years and have mostly been kept at bay with drugs. It seems she takes more drugs than food.

She also has a torn ACL in her hind leg but the vets don't think she will survive the anesthesia that would be required to fix it due to the aforementioned kidney and liver issues. She's been dealing with that ok for the six months or so since it happened, but it is definitely noticeable in her mobility and her weight. Anyone who has had a lab knows that they will eat anything and everything, and if they can't get the necessary exercise will chunk it up, even with a reduced diet and special diet food.

Now, in addition we have learned she has the equivalent to ALS in dogs, and a possible brain tumor or whatever the doggy equivalent to Alzheimer's is. Her personality has changed, she is more aggressive to strangers (something she never was in the past) and occasionally appears that she doesn't recognize close friends and family. Immediate family seems to still be ok. She appears to have almost mini strokes from time to time, dragging both legs on one side of her body as she walks, or is unable to get up from a lying or sitting position.

The ALS is now impacting her breathing. Again, there might be a surgical path to cut back part of her throat but that's not really an option due to the liver/kidney thing.

It is so hard to know.... she eats, she sleeps... then she struggles to breathe. She can't play ball, she can't go for walks, she can't go swim in the river, she can't go camping.... I don't know if she is always suffering, but she can't "be a dog" anymore, and there is something about not being able to breathe that scares the crap out of me. I don't want it to get to the point where she is suffocating and unable to breathe.

Kids are 14 and 11, and this will destroy them. The dog has been a part of our family for the past 7+ years and is easily the best temperament dog I have ever had. Hell it is destroying me and the wife.

We have discussed with the kids the dog's health and the likely outcome, and that we think the end is imminent. They have obviously been aware of the liver and kidney things because those are years old. The multitude of specialist visits over the past many months have led to other conversations around these newer issues, and a few weeks ago we had the 'the end is nigh' conversation, but I didn't honestly think (or perhaps my brain chose to ignore the possibility) that it would come this quickly. Now that we are staring it in the face... do we offer to take the kids with us to the vet? Leave them home? Thoughts on how to deal with this both "day of" and post?

Sorry for the downer.

[killer_carlson]

So sorry to hear.

My suggestion is that you do take the kids and address it head on with them. It's an opportunity to let them learn that grieving is done with support and a good life lesson when human family members begin ailing. It will be tough, but you're in a position to frame the circumstances to the kids better.

[bigtmac19]

I would suggest you leave it up to them. My kids were a little older the last time a pet died. One wanted to be there, one did not. It sounds like it is time to say goodbye and it's going to be sad but as long as they know what will happen during that final visit to the vet I think let them decide. They might want to go but not be in the room?

I'm so sorry to hear this, my sympathy to your family.

[edslunch]

Give them a choice. When we put our cat down my daughter (11) wanted to be there but my son (15) did not.

[old-fart]

Thanks for the feedback and yes, I believe that is the way to go.

Sigh...