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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Think the dog is dying

116 replies

Storyofalion · 08/11/2022 10:08

My friends have gone on holiday, they asked if I could take care of their jack Russel.
He is a 15 year old male, he is so skinny:(
He is under weight by 2 kg , all ribs on show etc.
He does not want to eat the food provoded by my friends, I believe its due to his teeth hurting and the food being too hard to chew for him.
I asked my friends if I could give him different food , they approved.
The dog is being fed by me and is eating fine so far.
The issue is that he is urinatimg everywhere, he urinates every 30 minutes around the house, I have put him in the kitchen because there are tiles so easier to clean , I let him out in the garden every hour, but it does not help .
He urinates everywhere and on his bed too.
I think he is very, very unwell.
He does not look happy at all.
My friends have been informed of the issue and said he is having some issues with his bladder for the last 2 months.
I was not told this , I domt think I would have said yes in the first place considering I have a crawler at home and a toddler:(
I realy feel sorry for the dog, I feel I should take him to the vets , my friends said they do not have an insurance and wont be able to cover the costs for the treatment needed.
He is suffering, not a happy dog , just lies amd urinates around himself.
I cant afford to pay for the treatment myself.
I suspect he may have a bladder cancer.
I decided to just take him to the vets and pay by my credit card because I cant stand him suffering.
The appointment is in the evening.
I have asked my friends what if the vet will advise to put him down, they said they are ok with it but cant afford to cover the fees !
I am ready to cover the fees myself but I dont know how much its going to be and I am so angry and stressed about this whole thing, the poor dog :((((
AIBU to cover the fees for the vets to end his suffering ?

I know my friends will no longer be my friends .cruel

OP posts:
Justpondering12 · 08/11/2022 10:54

Poor you, and poor dog. You are absolutely doing the right thing by him. It’s infuriating that you’re taking responsibility for him when it’s on them, as his owner. Why get a dog if you’re not going to care for it, in its hour of need.

Flubber88 · 08/11/2022 10:54

Eyesopenwideawake · 08/11/2022 10:14

They found the money for the holiday, didn't they? Bastards.

THIS. Take him to the vet they will have to find the money.

Babycakes321 · 08/11/2022 10:57

Vets ASAP
Poor dog is probably in severe pain!

Itloggedmeoutagain · 08/11/2022 10:59

If they can't afford the fees what would they have done if they were at home? He's old. Surely they must have thought about it.
They would no longer be friends of mine

Bryterlayter1 · 08/11/2022 11:08

Old dogs do get incontinent. Happened to my beloved collie Cross. There are medications that can help and they aren't that expensive. Your friends are bad pet owners for not getting their dog's medical needs attended to. Taking a holiday rather than paying for essential medical care is selfish. They shouldn't own a pet if they aren't prepared to care for it.

Littlebird05 · 08/11/2022 11:09

Sounds exactly like kidney disease. I lost my elderly kitty a couple of weeks ago with very similar symptoms at the end - lots of weight loss due to dehydration, peeing everywhere and drinking a lot, with not much appetite. She was diagnosed a while ago, but it seemed to progress very quickly towards the end and she got very skinny.

The vet will probably want to do a blood test, but if it is kidneys then there isn't much that can be done unfortunately other than trying to give fluids. Although my vet did try fluids in my case and it didn't help matters. If it is progressed quite severely then pts could be best.

You are in such a horrible situation and I really wish you best of luck at the vets later xx

Blocked · 08/11/2022 11:12

Eyesopenwideawake · 08/11/2022 10:14

They found the money for the holiday, didn't they? Bastards.

Bet they find the money for a new shiny pup before too long too.

OooohAhhhh · 08/11/2022 11:13

Bastards.
And now you potentially might have to go through the traumatic experience of putting a dog to sleep...and it isn't even your dog.
Please think about that for a second! The lack of care & ignorance towards the dog shows these vile creatures for who they really are. And here you are, you are left to pick up the pieces.

I'd report & wash my hands of them tbh.

Thelnebriati · 08/11/2022 11:23

AFAIK you cannot legally have someone else's dog PTS. Places like kennels get you to sign a document giving them permission to have the dog treated in an emergency.
You can take the dog to their vet (if they have one), and they should contact the vet to accept liability for the bill.
Contact them by email if possible so you have something in writing. Ask them who their vet is, tell them the dog needs to see the vet urgently. Tell them to contact their vet themselves.

picklemewalnuts · 08/11/2022 11:33

First of all, they wouldn't be my friend anymore.

Secondly-
If he's eating now you've found him appropriate food, then that's a good sign.
He may be enjoying life, apart from continence issues, and he may enjoy the company of his owners. It's not easy to say a dog is at the end, when you are only seeing him away from his family they don't deserve him and should never have left him. When are they due back? It may be reasonable to wait, if he isn't declining at the moment. I'm usually better a week early than a day late, but am not sure in this case.

Lastly, your ex friends are selfish and awful.

Flowers
2bazookas · 08/11/2022 11:37

The poor old dog's quality of life is rubbish; he's wet , miserable, unable to eat and his owners don't give a damn about him.

I'd take the dog to the vet and have him put down. Say the owners have dumped him on you and give their consent. Pay the bill then get it back when they return .. if they can afford a holiday, they can afford the bill.

Sprig1 · 08/11/2022 11:40

Well done for caring for the dog. So sorry you are having to deal with this. Those people are no friends of yours.

Beamur · 08/11/2022 11:43

Poor old dog. Not taking care of it because it's too expensive yet affording a holiday is shitty behaviour.
They wouldn't be my friends any more either.

1POTUS · 08/11/2022 11:48

How distressing for you and the poor dog. Thank you for trying to do the right thing.

Your friends are a pair of cunts. Sorry. Found the money for a holiday! I'd be tempted to give them a piece of my mind and end the friendship. And strongly advise them not to get another dog when this one goes.

Notanotherusername4321 · 08/11/2022 11:48

Jeez.

i remember when I had to leave my cat at a Cattery when he was 17 with various health issues.

i had a long talk with the Cattery owner and made it clear they had my permission to seek any vet treatment they thought necessary, and if they thought PTS was the best decision then to do so.

i can’t believe someone would dump an elderly dog on anyone without a proper conversation.

take it to the vet. I’d look at whether you can take them to small claims court to recoup the cost as well.

Coulddowithanap · 08/11/2022 11:50

That is really sad. Poor dog.

At least you are looking after it. I can't imagine the vets would put him to sleep without permission from the owner.
Could you get a dog nappy to help with the issue of wee in the house? Maybe even try baby nappies with a hole cut for his tail.

Hillrunning · 08/11/2022 11:51

I was also going to suggest a nappy. Poor dog, I cannot understand people who choose to have pets then don't care for them.

Vikinga · 08/11/2022 11:53

Selfish bastards have enough money to go on holiday whilst seeing their dog suffering

SaySomethingMan · 08/11/2022 11:54

Can a charity help at all? I don’t think you should take money you cannot afford away from your family.

TheFormidableMrsC · 08/11/2022 11:55

What absolute bastards. I'd report them to the RSPCA and seek medical care through a charity.

LaLoba · 08/11/2022 12:02

I agree with PP about potential kidney disease, it’s how my Jack Russell went, except he didn’t have to deal with being undernourished and sore teeth at the same time because I gave a shit about him. Next time there’s an accident, make a note of the colour when you wipe it up - if it’s very clear the poor little fella is at end stage.

At the very least his teeth and diet are causing unnecessary suffering, age isn’t an excuse.

Bloody awful people, well done for doing the right thing OP. No-one wants a credit card hit right now, you’re a good person.

ghostsandpumpkinsalready · 08/11/2022 12:04

Cruel bastards letting a dog suffer because they've spent their money on a holiday!

Blondewithredlips · 08/11/2022 12:06

Thank you for showing kindness to this poor dog. He needs to see a vet ASAP.
Could be a urinary tract infection or diabetes or old age and bad teeth but needs a vet to diagnose.
Try to take a urine sample if you can.

Badger1970 · 08/11/2022 12:06

I wouldn't get the dog pts. It's probably incredibly distressed at the change of environment, and hasn't been eating. Poor little thing.

I'd give it full fat goats milk to get some calories in, and water wet food down so it can slurp rather than need to chew.

And I'd report your so called friends to the RSPCA for cruelty. In fact I'd probably hand it over to them so it can end its days in dignity.

itsatavern · 08/11/2022 12:07

that’s so sad, your friends are cunts. Thank you for getting him the care he needs

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