AIBU to consider putting dog down?

[ConfusedDogMum]

Our dog has an undiagnosable condition affecting her side which is creating sores and pushing small lumps of (apparently deep) tissue to the surface.

She scratches and licks at the area constantly. She’s had mutiple specialist vet visits, scans, lab testing etc plus two very big operations removing large amounts of dead tissue with no answer as to what is causing it. Obviously the area gets infected and antibiotics have cleared it up temporarily but it keeps returning, after a few months at best. She is healthy in every other way but she absolutely hates going to the vets.

The last time we took her to the vets they were pushing to do another very expensive operation but obviously could give us no reassurance it would help. We don’t have insurance unfortunately as we felt we could afford anything she would have needed at this stage (she’s now only 8) but were clearly naive about what might happen and what it might cost (£11k plus and counting so far!). We pushed back and they gave us a longer prescription for the antibiotics to also cover the next time it returned instead. Of course now it’s come back and the antibiotics aren’t helping. She’s still very active wanting to go on walks etc and no other signs of physical problems but she has started seeking out quieter, more comfortable spots (sofa, all our beds!) which is becoming problematic as the sores are weeping and she’s very smelly and she growls at us and snaps when we try to move her. She’s clearly unhappy and we’ve tried a cone but she still bashes at her side with it and uses her back leg to scratch so it doesn’t really help (it’s definitely an underlying condition and she isn’t causing the problem).

We will have to return to the vet soon as we are nearly out of antibiotics and they don’t seem to be working…. And I’m at a complete loss as to what to do… they’ll push again for another scan and operation at great cost (c£5k minimum - money we don’t have) but the alternative seems so unfair, cruel and irresponsible on our part to have an animal and then not do everything to cure her…. Are we even able to have her put down if the vet is saying they believe (wrongly in my opinion) they could still try to help? Is anyone on here a vet that has any ideas what this is or other dog owner who has experience this?

It would be absolutely awful to have to have her put down (we have young children who also love her very much and we’ve had her since she was a puppy) but we cannot afford to keep spending such vast sums on money on things that do not help her. It’s become a really stressful situation even just managing where she can be in the house, whether the dog walker will still take her etc. I just don’t know what to do anymore and my husband is burying his head in the sand about it.

Any insight or advice greatly appreciated and thank you for reading so far!! X

@sleepyscientist that was us.. we did get a 0% credit card to cover it and we assumed it would fix her! We could get more credit im sure … we both have decent jobs and are well off compared to a lot of people but with cost of living these days, increase in our mortagage, car problems etc all over this time we really cannot afford to add any more debt without being certain of an outcome.

The vet never mentioned autoimmune disease but she’s had loads of blood tests etc so I hope they’ve ruled that out!! I’ll check though thank you.

@ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine she’s been to both our usual vet and an internal medicine specialist once the usual vet did first op and antibiotics but couldn’t help x

@ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine oh and I don’t think charities would help us given on paper we look financially well off given income but expenditure is high and debt mounting too!

@CMOTDibbler neither vet suggested steroids at all. This seems to be something I should ask then about once I speak to them again thank you!

I would get a second and even third opinion before I even considered PTS. I used to go to a vet who told me that my dog had such severe reoccurring ear infections that every 2 weeks he needed her to clean them out thoroughly at £80 per session (no insurance here either so I understand your situation completely). I asked what would happen if I didn't take him every 2 weeks, as it was extremely stressful for both him and me. She told me that the infection would spread to his brain and left the rest up to my imagination. That terrified me so I did extensive research online and came across some ear drops for dogs that were highly recommended. They only cost about £3 and they worked immediately. I used them for the rest of his life and he never got another ear infection. I never set foot in that vets again, I just think to some vets it's a massive money making business and they'll put the animal through anything as they know we'll pay up (not all vets obviously). Please do some research online or try to find a vet with experience in skin conditions, surely it's worth a try. Good luck.

This x 100! It sounds like your dog has a loving home with a family that love and cherish him. But i think it is the right thing and thats to let him go with love, holding his paw and a big cuddle.

Its so sad but it doesn't sound like a good life anymore and @Andthereyougo says its the life they have had, and hes had a good one. You've loved him perhaps the greatest love of all is knowing its time to do the right thing and say goodbye.

We lost our dog 2 years ago and we bought a memory box, saved his collar, water bowl, lead, his favourite polar bear etc and my daughter often still pulls it all out. We had him cremated and scattered the ashes in the back of our garden so hes still with us in the house.

Tough times but remember they don't count the years. We do xx

YANBU we had a similar situation with our dog last year and it was definitely the kindest thing to put her to sleep. Very hard to do though of course, she was 12 so had a good life

@ConfusedDogMum our vet says autoimmune things in dogs are really tricky to diagnose, and don't appear in blood tests - you have to biopsy the affected tissue, and even then if the lab don't have a clear path as to what they are looking for, they may not do the right tests as they are specific to different conditions. And different autoimmune conditions can present differently apparently in different breeds and ages of dog so really tough to pin down.
Its a low risk tactic to try high dose steroids and see if it helps

With this sort of thing, in a youngish dog, I think you will have to bring up the subject first. I don’t think you’re unreasonable at all, but it’s not the usual ‘old dog, poor quality of life’ that makes euthanasia an expected subject to bring up, A lot of owners in this situation may be very angry towards the vet for mentioning it and all vets have heard of clients slating other vets for suggesting PTS when more could be done.

I'd look into the steroids suggestion first as a few people have mentioned it now OP. That's got to be worth a try xx

I don't know what area you are in but if it's the North West, I can highly recommend Chris Manning at Hillcrest Vets in Chorley. He is completely honest and is definitely not in it to make money out of people who can't afford it. My lab used to get terrible weeping sores in between his toes, I got told all sorts by other vets, grass seeds etc and got prescribed expensive creams that didn't work. Chris took one look and prescribed steroids, telling me the good news was that they were relatively cheap. They worked within a few days and he never got an infection again.

Have you tried a specialist dermatologist? Maybe a referral is needed.

This!

It sounds like you have a few new options to explore, but it's not wrong to want to put an end to an animal suffering, no matter how much you love them.

I would have the dog PTS, she sounds unhappy and miserable.

Have you tried her on a natural rearing/anti-inflammatory diet at all?
I personally wouldn't put her through any more operations but I would definitely try diet change first, if you haven't already, before euthanasia.

I just want to send hugs!

I could have written this post last year 😭My little dog had almost tumour like lumps and towards the end, he just couldn't leave them alone. I spent a fortune at the vets for months.. steroids...pain killers... you name it, we tried it. I bought every lotion going off the internet to try and cure him.

He was still eating...still loving his walks but the quality of his live was being taken over by the constant licking/irritating of the lumps.

One day I just woke up and knew we had to PTS. It was the hardest thing I've ever done... but also the kindest for him. It's set me off just typing it 😢

I think you know deep down when the time is right 🐶

She's in pain, uncomfortable and clearly being driven around the bend with it all.

It's a kindness to let her sleep. I'd rather it be a day early than a day late.

If I wanted a last attempt at trying I'd find the money to visit Noel Fitzpatick and get his advice.

Euthanasia is fine in this scenario.

Pet insurance is hit and miss - you may well have ended up spending a lot anyway with excess, exclusions, raised premiums after the first year so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Have you tried her on long term steroids? (There's a saying in the vet world that nothing should die without steroids). If not they are worth a go - cheap and cheerful.

I think he's an orthopaedic surgeon not a dermatologist?

Ah...didn't know that.

Yes, do ask. Steroids went out of fashion for a while and they do have some side effects but as a last resort they are definitely worth a go. You would want to give them alongside antibiotics initially, start at a higher dose of steroids and if they work, taper them down to the lowest effective dose. Sometimes that means every other day. Or every day.

It's a hard decision. I've put two dogs down in my time. It was amongst the two most difficult things I've ever had to do.

Both dogs walked into the vets. It's the biggest responsibility you have as an owner to judge when it is their time and their quality of life or outlook is not good.

I didn't analyse the decision for too long it was more instinct from owning my dogs for so long.

Absolutely heartbreaking. I'm sorry.

I would see a specialist vet. One that specialised in dermatological issues.

Has your dog seen a dermatologist or specialist, or is it just your regular vet? A specialist vet is much more likely to be able to diagnosis a condition as well as formulate a treatment plan that actually works. My local vets suggested a certain treatment for my 8 year old staffy, or to put her down. We self referred to North Downs Specialist Referrals, saw a specialist vet and she had a completely different course of treatment which hadn't been offered by our vets (in fact, they hadn't heard of it) which put her condition into remission. I appreciate you've already had a significant financial outlay, however I highly recommend even just a consult with a specialist before making the final decision to have her put down.