Reactive dog booked in to vet for final time

[damnderek]

I've had two threads on here about our reactive dog.

Last night he jumped and snapped at me as I was getting up.

He's clearly unhappy and in pain. We can't increase pain control or make any further lifestyle restrictions.

I had fabulous advice previously but that's it now, it's finally time.

Not sure why I'm posting. I don't want any advice.

I feel like utter shit as he's lying here next to me quietly oblivious to his fate. Dog2 will lose her buddy too.

I'm so happy to read your update! I really hope this works. I could think of nothing worse than saying goodbye to my doggo x

Amantadine? Never heard of it. DH has just said it's a Parkinson's disease drug that treats tremors. Interesting that it could be used for dogs.

I had terrible back pain a few years ago and diazepam felt like the best thing (along with naproxen). It made me so relaxed and comfortable I'm hoping that this is how the dog is feeling.

What a roller-coaster! Here's hoping the meds work for him.

My reactive because of pain dog has had amantadine, if I remember right it works best combined with other drugs, can’t remember if it was the gabapentin or pardale though.

It disagreed with him, randomly, not an expected side effect, but it did seem to help while he was on it.

The thing is, if they’re reactive because of pain and it’s getting worse (if you’re back at that point I mean) it’s the pain that’s the issue, so really being PTS is to stop the pain... it wouldn’t be nicer to keep a dog in pain just because it didn’t show it behaviourally.

Hope you’re not at that point for a while obviously, but, if/when you are it’s the pain that’s the issue, I mean if he showed it by limping, you’d be in the same boat.

@tabulahrasa completely agree.

We discussed this, about masking the pain and then the underlying cause getting worse.

I never want to be that person with a limping worn out old dog that clearly does need to be PTS.

When I started the thread I was confident we'd tried everything. Last night DH pointed out we hadn't. In all good conscience we needed to discuss with vet about trying this, then we really will have tried everything.

It's one day at a time right now.

It's a constant monitoring of his quality of life.

Bless you for trying so hard for your boy

Bless you, that's the hardest part about being a dog owner maintaining their quality of life and knowing when it's time to say goodbye.

Fingers crossed this keeps him pain free!

The ddog with 9 lives maybe?!
I have a feeling whatever time he has left will be a thoroughly pampered one!
Lucky ddog.

Phew! Really hope the gaba helps