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

@ConfusedDogMum This is so sad, awful, and my heart goes out to you for having to make this decision. But it would be kindest to PTS.

Our lumpy old dog is on prednisone. 5mg every three days. We rehomed him aged 12 and he’s on it for life. FYI in case it helps, it’s cheap!
Whatever you do

Oh, and @ConfusedDogMum - what breed is she, and is she losing fur in the area? The reason I ask is that it sounds a bit like sebaceous adenitis. It's a genetic disease that tends to affect Vizslas, Akitas, Havanese, springer spaniels, poodles and all their crossbreeds.

It can't be cured, but it can usually be managed to the point where normal life is totally possible.

Obviously, I'm not a vet (but I am an Akita owner who talks to a lot of other Akita owners, and it's a recurring topic), but it might be worth doing some research if only to rule it out?

I think OP said a springer spaniel

@ntmdino shes not losing fur anywhere and I’ve taken a look but I don’t think that fits. Thank you though!

@ntmdino its actually on the side she doesn’t sleep on. Her bed is foam with a washable cover which I only wash with unfragranced non bio…

I think the reason she’s under internal medicine is to do with it starting in the very beginning with swelling and them believing it was a foreign body that had got deep inside her… in both ops they went very deep removing a lot of dead tissue for the affected area… I suppose this might therefore be why it’s not actually an external/skin/dermatology issue…

If you are going to request a second opinion, possibly try some of the teaching hospitals- Queen Elizabeth hospital in Potters bar is run by the RVC. A determined vet student would love to get to the bottom of it (and they are overseen by qualified vets). Otherwise try Surrey University to see which their students train in.

This

I'm afraid it isn't.

I found these Dew products via the Allergy UK recommendations page: https://www.allergyuk.org/our-services/allergyuk-products/?product_maker%5B%5D=456&filter-type=4

I have auto-immune disease, asthma and serious allergy. I cannot use standard household cleaning products or any air fresheners, candles etc.

I use it to spray down chopping boards and knives before washing and can use it on food prep surfaces, toilet seats, flush handles, sinks, light switches, and even soft furnishings. Anywhere I'd use normal household cleaners.

I self-catheterise and have suffered multiple UTIs over the years. Since using Dew sanitiser I've had none. I can use it on my hands, vulva and surfaces on the very rare occasion I use a public toilet.

It's helped my blepharitis and can spray it directly into and around my eyes. I dilute it 2:1 to make an oral rinse to help my mouth ulcers. It clears up any problem quicker than chemical products sold for these conditions.

I use it on my DGD's dummy when she drops it and on her toys to sanitise. I've used it on her at nappy changes with no negative skin effects. If anything, it clears nappy rash quicker than normal.

I've used it to sanitise and freshen dog bedding between washes and directly on my dog to clean wounds as it doesn't sting and won't harm her if she licks it. It quickly takes down the inflammation on any sore spots she gets.

If anyone here IS interested in buying due to the science, it does have a few downsides such as limited shelf life, no lingering effect on surfaces or skin like products such as Zoono (similar ingredients to those used in Clinell), and is quite fragile in sunlight and heat so I wouldn't leave it in the car in summer. However, it also doesn't contain alcohol so would be great for any Muslims reading.

There are many other products using this technology out there: Leucillin for pets (expensive), Clinisept+ for skin and oral health, Aquaint (for babies and sold at Boots, John Lewis etc.), Optase Protect (for eyes, sold at Boots), Natrasan (sold at Amazon). Loads more but I'm sure you could search yourself.

I use Dew products simply because their products are cheaper than those I've listed. I can also bulk buy.

A few links to counter your quackery claim (but I think the proof is in the items I've listed above and the Allergy UK endorsement):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolysed_water

https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/hypochlorous-acid-is-it-just-a-trend-

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6303114/ (this one might be of interest to people with skin problems like certain types of eczema).

Just out of curiosity and for the benefit of the OP (and others) who might want to use it, can you explain why you call it quackery?