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

Really odd to refer to your partner as a relative like it's an extended family member helping you out, it's your partners dog too. I think id still go.

‘It’🙄 op clearly said ‘she’. Also, to an animal lover or even someone who cares for their pet, it really does make a difference if the dogs owner is there.

Op, I couldn’t leave my dog but it’s a really hard decision and I hope everything works out for you.

Thus is a pretty big drip feed.

What awful timing. Sorry I couldn't go. I couldn't enjoy the trip whilst worrying and if the worse happened I'd what to be there telling them I loved them. Sorry that's just me. Can you change the dates, resell the holiday....

Go on your holiday . I don’t understand the dilemma

@TheBoysAndTheBallet I hope you don’t have any pets!

Dear Op, what a terrible situation for you to be in.

I would advise you to go. Honestly, your partner is with your pet and I just think it might be better for your mental health to be on holiday during this difficult period. If your dog passes, then be safe in the knowledge that you left no stone unturned and loved him/her completely.

Arrgh you poor thing, what crap timing. I hope your doggie is OK.

Initially I thought you should go, but would you really enjoy the holiday if you're worried sick? Plus if anything happened to your dog you would want to know you were there for them in their time of need

The frustration and annoyance at losing the holiday is raw now but years down the line you probably won't care. But you will be grateful to look back and say you always did the best by your doggie.

Really tough decision xxx

You don’t understand the dilemma? Why not have another read but if its still too much for you to understand, a much loved pet that is seriously ill needs their owner but the owner has saved a spent a fortune on a much needed trip.

Hope you understand.

@77788r is it your dog? Or a joint dog? Only if it's just yours I can imagine your partner being ok about managing a happy healthy dog alone, possibly with the help of dog walkers, but a sick one which is going to need much more looking after/meds/regular vet visits is a whole different ball game.

It's a crappy situation. I think I'd stay with my mutt though

Just read that you can leave the dog with your partner in which case you should go if you trust your partner to be there for them :)

How much so you want to sell the holiday for? What airport and hotel etc ? Maybe one of us could buy it from you ?

If it was such an obvious decision for a loving pet owner, she wouldn't be on here asking what to do though would she?

I'm not a pet lover though, so it's pretty clear cut for me!

I think I would have put in the op that the person looking after your dog is their other owner - your partner. That changes things for me. I was born in Australia but live in the uk - I said good bye to my dying grandfather over the phone which sounds horrific to some but I was so pleased I was able to talk to him one last time. If your dog is going to be cared for by his other owner than I don’t see why you can not go unless you don’t want to.

You’ve said the operation is to remove a tumor and without it she would only have a month to live. If the surgery goes perfectly, what would her life expectancy be? How long will the post op care be - when she might need to wear the collar of doom, be on restricted exercise and have healing wounds? If the operation buys her a good amount of quality time, taking off the recovery period, it’s worth it. If it doesn’t, it’s worth thinking about whether it’s the right option for your dog.

this is someone with no pets, then, presumably, and utterly joyless people in their life

I'm in Australia. Its alright but a long way away, especially with your poor pup so ill.

I wouldn't go. But, its a very personal choice and noone should judge whichever decision you make.

I agree. Many pets go through difficult operations and recovery and only live a few months after recovery.

OK, so your dog has a tumour which sounds like it's probably cancer. In that case, I think if you go, you'll feel absolutely miserable. The money is spent, and whether you go or not, you won't get it back, so it's a sunk cost whatever you decide. (Unless you can sell the holiday.)

Also, by not going, you will save all the money that you would have outlaid for meals, trips, drinks, incidentals, etc. while there.

At the end of the day, it's only money. I actually cancelled a holiday last year at short notice for personal reasons. I lost the money but it was the right decision not to go, and I have not regretted it. It was a relief.

Australia will be there in the future.

PS is it a splenic tumour? If so, they often recover really well from this.

Australia may not be there in the future. OP is spending six months of her salary, she may never be able to afford to go again.

If it were my dog, I wouldn’t have spoken to the insurance company. I’d have read through the policy details and only phoned them on Saturday afternoon after hours of D&V. Those bugs can hit out of the blue and they’re highly contagious.

I would go .I own a very nervous 14 year old rescue dog who won’t leave the house even for a walk .she recently had to have an op for her few days of recovery she only wanted my husband completely ignored me which was very unusual for her as she’s normally my shadow ..Your dog is familiar with your partner and will be well looked after go enjoy your holiday and try not feel guilty xx

OP, I'm also confused about the partner situation. If you're going all the way to Oz for a big birthday trip, per your OP, without your partner, have you split up?

If the dog's other owner is looking after him, it's more understandable for you to go. But only you know how you feel.

I would be going.