Dog seriously ill, due to go to Australia on Sunday

[77788r]

My dog has become seriously ill in just a few days, she's having an operation on Wednesday next week and we've been told there's a 75% chance of success of her surviving the operation. If she doesn't have the operation she would likely have less than a month to live.

I am due to fly to Australia on Sunday for 2 weeks. The holiday cost me thousands. The travel insurance won't cover a cancellation or change in dates for a pet, and the pet insurance will cover £1000 which is better than nothing.

I feel devastated. It is a huge sum of money, I've saved up and done so much planning and preparation and I feel sick at the thought of it just going to waste. It was for a big birthday. The operation is also thousands of pounds, so this whole situation is costing nearly 6 months of salary for me. I also feel sick at leaving my dog, not knowing what the outcome of the surgery is gonna be or knowing if it's the last time I'll see her. I've spoken to family and friends who think I should go, aside from the family member who would be looking after her while I was away - they said it would be wrong for me to go and they would never consider going themselves.

I don't think I'll go but it hurts so much, I'm so upset at the timing of it all

It’s not the same as a person and I say that as a dog owner. I wouldn’t lose thousands for a dog.

What if you were to come down with D&V over the weekend? Would insurance cover that? Would be an awful shame to miss your trip, but if you did want to stay home with your dog then it might soften the blow if you could claim through your insurance as you ‘got sick’.

I haven’t RTFT, just your replies, so apologies if it’s already been said, but I think your partner/joint pet owner being at home with the dog is enough from the dogs POV - not like it’s been left with someone it’s not familiar with. It’s just how you would feel to not be there if the worse were to happen, that’s all that needs to be taken into consideration IMO

Aw god. Terrible situation.

Given the updates, I think I would go. Why not wear an item of clothing over the weekend that you leave with your partner who can let the dog cuddle into it just before the surgery?

Could also be given to the dog if there’s a PTS situation, so they feel your presence.

Hope all goes well.

Are you happy to potentially never see your dog again after you leave for the airport?
If you are, then go. If not, then don’t.

As horrible as it is, that’s what it comes down to.

I would still go on holiday. I had been on the fence until I read that the person caring for the dog is your partner, that changes things a bit, there is no reason why the dog can’t be looked after by his/her other parent.

Go. Your dog is being looked after by your own partner.

If you go away somewhere quiet and be really quiet and ask yourself, and see what you feel. Whatever you do will be ok.

Your dog will be well looked after.
Whatever happens.
None of this is your fault.
Everything will be ok x

Imma go out on a limb and say partner isn't happy because partner does not want to be left doing what partner considers too much like hard (domestic) work.

I couldn't go and leave her.

It’s because personal attacks are not allowed. Stupid point on your behalf about me ‘inserting myself’ considering the person you attacked wasn’t talking to you but you didn’t like their comment and so ‘inserted’ yourself there. ‘If you don’t like a comment maybe move on because it wasn’t even aimed at you in the first place.’

Take your own advice hey. And il comment where I like thank you 😊

You are in a terrible situation. I’m sorry about your dog and your holiday.

I think I’d stay with the dog.

If you are questioning what to do, I don’t think you will ever be happy with your decision. If you stay and the operation is successful you will regret not going. If it’s not, you will be thankful you stayed.

It’s a tough one but whatever you decide good luck.

I probably wouldn't be putting the dog through the surgery.. but more info is needed to say for sure, obviously.

If the surgery were to go ahead then nothing would make me get on the plane and leave her.

I would still go as realistically there is little you can do that your partner can not do and it sounds like you may not be able to afford this holiday for many years, if ever. Unexpected things happen to all of us, you may never get another chance. .
Your dog has someone able to take care of them, they could even leave them with the vet a little longer if they are worried.

I hope you asked your vet some searching questions about quality of life post treatment.

Easy decision for me, I wouldn't go. Australia/vacations will always be available but your pup will not. Wishing your pup all the best for the op.

Possibly an uncommon view point but I wouldn't spend thousands removing a tumour unless it was guaranteed to be a success.

I would leave my pet with my partner (if dog was comfortable) or PTS.

Right back at you 😘

Literally this!

I wouldn't go. Nothing on the scale of Australia but we cancelled several holidays when our cat was diagnosed with heart failure as we knew he wouldn't have long.

I'm probably going wildly against the mumsnet grain here, but I simply do not understand the logic of keeping animals alive when they're in pain. They don't have the capacity to understand past pain.

Surely that depends in the long term prognosis. My cat broke his jaw and had to have it wired. Yes he would have been in pain at the time but not something I would have been comfortable to PTS for. And where do you draw the line? He sprained his leg playing and was limping so that must have hurt. Should he have been PTS for that?

Like another poster, I would seriously question the necessity of the operation with a 75% success rate.
How old is the dog and how big is the tumour? The age of the dog can easily push it into the 25% fail rate. Will there be follow up treatments? What are the estimated costs?
Can you afford this?

Personally I would go on holiday, provided that you live with your partner and the dog stays in its home environment.

Well you’re very stupid to think that an insurance company would accept “I’m ill” as a potential claim!!

I agree. My beloved Standard poodle developed a squamous Cell Carcinoma (a really nasty cancer that rots the skin and tissue underneath it) on her toe. She was 11. She had surgery to remove the toe and had 18 months of healthy life after it. Having subjected a previous dog to too much on the advice of a money grabbing vet and regretted it bitterly on her behalf later, I already knew that I wouldn’t not subject her to further surgery, 18-months later, she developed another and, like you, I chose palliative care (despite the senior partner in my veterinary practice trying to talk me into further surgery. My decision was correct when an 3rd tumor became evident weeks later. When the pain become too much, I had her peacefully PTS at home.