To put dog down if I can’t afford the vet

[Difficuldecisions]

my situation is, I am estranged from my family so I can’t ask for help. PDSA and other pet charities don’t cover my area. I have checked.
She is 7. I have had her since I was 13. I am 19 now. Parents didn’t believe in insurance. And whilst I was still under age she developed collapsing trachea, and also needed a 3k operation on one knee for luxating patella. She has also been to the vet for eye issues and stomach issues over her life time that she needed injections for, including digestive issues. So it was pointless me getting insurance because of the number of pre existing conditions.
She has now dislocated one of her knees again. And I have no way of affording that not even on a payment plan.
She is in pain but is still herself. I don’t know if I should ask to have her put down.

What kind of dog is it? Is 7 a good age for that breed, or will they likely have a lot of years left?

Who will pay to have the dog PTS? I had a cat put down last year, it’s was £375. The vet said I could take her home and bury her in the garden with the other pets OR they would sort the cremation and I could pick up her ashes in a few weeks. I was quite upset so just said, I’ll pick up the ashes in a few weeks. Didn’t ask about the cost at the time and had a bill a few weeks later for another £300. That was on top of the £375.

This was for a cat. So a large dog will be much more.

It’s a totally legitimate conversation to have with your vet. Be open about your financial situation and ask about PTS as an option due to the quality of life issue as you don’t want your dog to suffer. Lots of people really can’t stand to let go of their pets and will try all sorts of medical options that are stressful for the animal and prolonging the inevitable. Vets are providing a service and go along with this. Often they would advise PTS but don’t dare to as they know many pet owners are so upset about that and prefer to throw money at the situation.

It is a difficult decision to make @Difficuldecisions but one done with the best interest of your pet at the centre.
Firstly though, have you tried resting your dog with no jumping up and down off sofas or going up and down stairs? Mine has had both the torn cruciate and luxating patella in her life which were remedied with rest. She is a cocker spaniel so it was a challenge, especially when she started to feel better in herself again.
I wonder if there is a breed specific rescue who might be able to help you, either by fostering your dog with the view to rehoming, or some other way. I'd reach out that way before doing anything permanent.

Assuming her quality of life can be improved by treatment, I think this is a good suggestion OP. Such a tough situation you're in, not many options but I'm sure you'd be devastated if the cost of treatment alone forced you to have her pts. I hope you can work something out.

That's irresponsible advice for a 19 year old though.

https://manypets.com/uk/pet-insurance/pre-existing-conditions/

Luxating patella and also some levels of cruciate ligament injury can be managed in some cases, so I wouldn't rush to PTS over those.

Many pets do cover pre-existing conditions and are worth a look, particularly given that PTS will cost you a few hundred quid.

There are many breed-specific rehoming charities which could take your dog on if there’s no feasible way for you to fund the fees. They will then fund the surgery and rehome.
This seems like an awful lot of responsibility for a 19 year old. I’m sorry you’re facing it.

The dog has been sick its entire life with multiple different conditions. Without knowing the breed, 7 may not be that young an age. And it would be a miracle if after the latest ridiculously expensive issue is sorted, something else doesn’t go wrong with it. It’s clearly an unwell animal. I think it would be a stupid idea for a teenager to get in debt over a chronically sick animal who she shouldn’t have been given responsibility for

Speak to the rspca or search for other pet charities that might be able to help.

Yes. Vet bills are ludicrous.

If shes a small breed contact Silver Fox Dog rescue.
They deal with dogs who have luxating patellas, and will fundraise for her care before rehoming.

The idea of killing her because you cant afford to fix her knee is obscene.

Wise words, AltitudeCheck, though I'll doubtless still be in bits myself when the time comes with my two beloved cats

Also loans and credit cards are all very well, but with a pet who's sadly got so many health issues where would it stop? Better, surely, for a pet to have enjoyed the good years and a gentle goodbye said, rather than the owner be bankrupted for the sake of a short extra period filled with discomfort

She’s 19. Estranged from family. Have a good hard think why she’s not going to be getting a loan or credit card to pay for a vet bill.

@Puzzledandpissedoff I will be absolutely distraught when the time comes to say goodbye to my beloved cats too. It's the hardest decision to make and too easy to let emotions get in the way of making the best decision for our animals 💔

And how does she make the repayments? What if the same thing happens again in 6 months? Such weird advice advising someone to put themselves into debt

edited because I quoted the wrong person, sorry!!

I have.
She's over 18, eligible for credit unless I've missed something that means she isn't, and has an animal she supposedly loves whose life is in danger if she doesn't.

I was 19 and estranged from family once upon a time. I'd do everything within my power, in this situation.

I’m not somebody who believes in keeping sick animals alive, in pain. Animals live in the moment, they don’t have foresight or the capacity to understand that they’re being kept alive to slog on because you love them: they just know they’re in pain. If you can’t treat her - and even if you or somebody else could, if treatment would be a long and painful road - then it’s far kinder to PTS

Shame on you for suggesting she doesn’t love the dog. Get a grip and consider whether you really need to be shitty with people before you do it. She might have bad credit, what if she can’t afford the repayments? What if she just hadn’t thought of that because she’s basically still a kid? That’s the whole point of posting here, for advice

She can't afford the payment plan. She said so. So how is she supposed to afford loan or credit card repayments? With interest?

Look at local charities. We have two near us (and I live very rurally). They both take cats and dogs and pay for medical treatment. They’re not connected to the big charities and I’d never have known they existed if I hadn’t chanced on a stall they had at a fete.

Unless the health of your dog is so bad that the vet recommends euthanasia (and that’s not cheap!) then it’s wrong to put them to sleep IMO. Explore other options first. My friend has a dog with a chronic health condition, which she adopted. The owners couldn’t pay/deal with it, but my friend gets contributions from the place she adopted from and adores her dog. There could be a home out there for yours too, if the health issues are sortable.

I think it disappointing that so many previous posters have advised a 19 year old, who is estranged from her family, to get into debt, for a middle aged dog with extensive preexisting medical conditions.

OP speak to local rescues for advice, surrendering the dog might be an option, but you never know what advice they might have. There could be a scheme for help that you don’t no about, unlikely but it’s worth a shot. Also ask your vet what they think is best regarding pts or rehoming and chances of further injuries

It's the hardest decision to make and too easy to let emotions get in the way of making the best decision for our animals 💔

So true, @AltitudeCheck, and I thought it was put best by what my vet said:

"We suffer so that they don't have to"

Exactly and as much as we love our pets, a lot of us have other financial commitments such as children who you can't not feed and clothe because of a dog. A lot depends on OP's situation. My friend recently paid £5000 for her elderly dog to have a hysterectomy because she loved her and did what she thought was best but the dog died 3 weeks later and now she's in debt.