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Original poster

Old spaniel nearly 14yrs stopped eating, vet says may be dental may not do I risk an op?

22 replies

dowdowpen · 07/10/2009 15:04

Not sure what to do. Our usually fit and active 13.9 year old male spaniel has been off his food last two days and become very quiet all of a sudden. He has a couple of unexplained lumps/mass. But I suspected it may be his teeth as they are rather black and smelly as he does suffer with plaque issues, but would it happen so quickly? He normally has dry food so made him some rice and chicken which he ate yesterday but turned his nose up at this morning. Vet said today it may be his teeth which would need an op but it is risky at his age. Vet also said one particular lump on his chest is a worry and makes op even more risky. He gave us a quote and details and said up to us to decide. I'm not sure what to do

OP posts:

bedlambeast · 07/10/2009 20:08

This reply has been deleted

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aJumpedUpPantryBoy · 07/10/2009 22:57

My 14 yr old dog had a tumour which had to be removed - the vet was very honest with me and said he may not survive because he also had a heart condition (we also knew without the op he wouldn't last long or have much quality of life)

I do have a very good longstanding relationshio with the vet and trusted him 100%

We went ahead with the op (ever the pessmist, I had said a fond farewell to the dog). My rational was that if he didn't survive the op it would be painless, and I wanted him to have quality of life.

He made a fabulous recovery and lved for 2.5 yrs more.

Hope your dog feels better soon

Original poster

dowdowpen · 08/10/2009 16:32

That sounds heartening pantryboy, thank you. It's not so much that I don't trust the vet, it's just that he has many symptoms and all these lumps as well as bad teeth so the vet cannot be certain a dental op will help.
Our ddog doesn't seem to be in pain, which I thought he would be were it teeth causing the problems. He's not at all well though, he's emptying his bowels and bladder almost constantly and trying to do so even when nothing comes out (sorry TMI - I'm just worried we're suddenly nearing the end, my sisters dog had these symptoms for the last few weeks of her 14 years).
One of the lumps on his neck seems a bit hot - perhaps its that. We'll take him back to the vets tomorrow.

OP posts:

beautifulgirls · 08/10/2009 18:29

In my experience pets with sore mouths are still hungry - they try to eat and have to back off because is hurts. If your dog is just not interested even in soft foods then the chances are that there is more going on here than just dental issues.

If you are not comfortable with what the vet is saying you are quite within your rights to seek a second opinion - this could be another vet in the same practice or you can call up a completely different clinic and tell them you want a second opinion. They will need details of your current vet to call for a history to be sent, but no-one will stop you doing this and it should not cause any ill will with your current vet either - people do this all the time.

Hope your dog is doing ok soon.

seeyounexttuesday · 08/10/2009 18:31

dowdow - hope he pulls through. we adore our spaniels so i feel for you x

pofacedandproud · 08/10/2009 18:35

my cat was about 15 when she stopped eating, due to rotten teeth. the choice seemed to be have the op or starve to death. she had the op. she lived until she was 21.

pofacedandproud · 08/10/2009 18:37

spaniels don't live that long though do they? 14 is a good age. He may be right, the lump may be a problem, but get a second opinion.

seeyounexttuesday · 08/10/2009 18:44

that's right 14 is a very good age.

legoprincess · 08/10/2009 18:57

Has your vet suggested blood tests? If I was treating a case like him, I would want to do a range of tests before I made a decision as to whether an anesthetic was a good idea. They may also reveal whether there is another explanation for his symptoms.

legoprincess · 08/10/2009 18:58

Sorry - I can spell anaesthetic!

Original poster

dowdowpen · 09/10/2009 12:36

Hi all ,thanks for your kind responses. Our old boy is in doggy hospital on a drip as we speak, I left him there an hour ago and it was heartbreaking.
I took him back to the same vets this morning but made an appointment to see their "very best of your most senior vets" I was not taking any chances this time!
He says he's a very poorly dog and suggested a drip and blood tests and take it from there. I'm expecting a phone call at the end of today

OP posts:

pofacedandproud · 09/10/2009 12:55

you have to be ready for anything dowdow, it is a good age. I remember our darling dog dying at 15.

pofacedandproud · 09/10/2009 12:57

And my border collie died at 11.

Original poster

dowdowpen · 09/10/2009 13:09

Yes I am fearing the worst. But then have moments when I think I shouldn't be so pessimistic as until last week he seemed so young and energetic for his age. We've been aware for a while that he was old and wouldn't last for ever but this has been such a shock. Whatever happens we should feel lucky that he's been so fit and well until now.
All we can do now is wait and see.

OP posts:

pofacedandproud · 09/10/2009 13:35

hope he might turn a corner - they often do!

LittleRedCar · 09/10/2009 20:32

Any news?

Original poster

dowdowpen · 10/10/2009 10:45

He's worse today, vet said he hasn't vomited since last night but he still has severe diarreah(?) and now has abdominal pain too . I've been upset all night about not knowing what is the right thing to do . I don't want him to be in pain, the thought of him at the vets all poorly and lonely in his last hours is really upsetting but equally if it's an illness he could get over I really want to give him the chance.
Vet said they'd now like to do a scan of his belly in case its pancreatitis, but I'm not sure what to do the symptoms don't seem to stack up for me so I said I'd have a think. Really struggling.

OP posts:

SlartyBartFast · 10/10/2009 10:52

oh dear
i have an old doggie too - she had a mouthful of teeth removed - they smelt and were rotten, but they didnt stop her eating. she has lumps as well but they started with a blood test before removing the teeth.

your dog is in the best place i am sure, being looked after by people who know what they are doing

Original poster

dowdowpen · 10/10/2009 11:10

Think I'll phone the vet back and say go ahead with the scan, it can't do any harm and it should'nt be painful for him so I guess we've nothing to lose (except money of course which we're ignoring as much as we can). And of course the scan might help make decisions easier, fingers crossed.

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seeyounexttuesday · 11/10/2009 09:25

just caught up with this thread.

Hows the old fella today. Still keeping things crossed here.

Original poster

dowdowpen · 12/10/2009 09:09

It was bad news as our lovely old dog was PTS yesterday, he went down hill very fast and it was the only decent thing left to do. It wasn't his teeth, it was his time to go. I had started another thread about how you know when it really is time to let them go. It really helped having mumsnet here and yes you do know when its time. Bless him. So very very sad, he's much missed.

OP posts:

seeyounexttuesday · 12/10/2009 14:52

oh no

No words except sorry you are going through this x

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