Young dog not doing well

[slalomsuki]

Our 3.5 year old labradoodle has suddenly lost the use of her hind legs. She was limping yesterday but at lunch time started shaking and was very wobbly on her back legs and they were giving away when she walked. I took her to the vets who have said it's a problem in her spine but they don't know exactly what. They have her a pain killer and anti inflammatory injection and said come back tomorrow

I brought her back home and she has sat in the corner of the room without moving for the last 6 hours. She is alert and doesn't seem to be in pain and will take a treat and have a small drink if offered but won't move.

I've tried to coax her to her bed as it would tr warmer than where she is lying but I ended up lifting her as she can't stand. The plan is to leave her in the living room overnight and see how she is in the morning but to be honest it's not looking good.

The kids are worried but the reality of the situation hasn't kit them yet and I am worried about what the next steps will entail when I take her back tomorrow.

How very worrying

If the vets don't have any specific plans for investigation and treatment tomorrow I'd be asking for a referral to a vet hospital with a neuro speciality, as this isn't something to mess about with. Fitzpatricks is the most famous, though there are others.

That said, I'm not a vet.

Do keep us updated tomorrow

Did they not suggest urgent xrays or a scan, I would have thought they'd want to investigate straight away as it does sound very worrying.

She is probably zoned out on the painkillers just now. Hope it goes ok tomorrow.

Any update op? Hope you’ve found out what is wrong and she’s getting treatment.

Sorry for the late reply.

Unfortunately she has a tumour on her spine and has lost all sensation and use of her tail and legs as well as her bowels. She doesn't seem to be in pain, just frustrated with the lack of ability to move. The vet said the operation would be very difficult and may not give a permanent solution.

So I brought her home last night and we have an appointment for 12.30 today for her to be put to sleep. The kids are at school and unfortunately DH is away with work until the 19th so it's down to me to take her. My only dilemma is whether to stay with her or drop and go. I'm not sure I'll be able to hold it together either way and I have to go to work this afternoon immediately afterwards

I am so sorry - this is incredibly sad and painful for you all.
You absolutely have to stay with her. She needs you. Don’t let her last moments be with strangers. It’s calm and peaceful - let her fall asleep in your arms knowing she’s loved.

How very sad for you, OP.
Please don’t drop and go. She will be terrified, and you are her family. Dropping and going might feel easier short term, but long term you would surely regret you didn’t do this last thing for her.
I feel for you.

I am so sorry. 💐

Being with a dog when the injection is given has not been as traumatic as I thought it might be the twice I have done it. I am glad I was there.

I'm so very sorry to hear this. I personally feel that you may never forgive yourself if you don't stay with her.
Wishing her a peaceful passing

Oh yes sorry, I was there when my beautiful girl was PTS. I am so very glad I was, it was peaceful and she was reassured by my being there.

I am so sorry.
Please stay with your dog as they go to their final sleep. She will drift off to sleep in your arms, safe and loved. Could you get off work this afternoon?

I'm so sorry Op
As others have said ,do stay with her .
I know it's upsetting but she needs you to be with her & comfort her.
You will be glad you did.

I took hot dog sausages to feed my boy whilst we waited .
When the vet was ready,I sat on the floor with my boys head in my lap ,I stroked his ear so that the last thing he knew was my smell & touch .
Will be thinking of you

for you, OP. It's a rubbish outcome for you both.

Do stay. Stay for her so that she has someone familiar with her at the end but also stay for you. I have been there for two dogs and, like everyone has said, it really is much better than you imagine it will be. Very peaceful and will stop you worrying afterwards that she was afraid or upset.

I am so sorry to hear this. How sad for you all. I have no advice save to say, whatever you decide, look after you.

I am very sorry
I do advise you to be there. My old boy died peacefully in my arms, and it was the best thing I could do for him at the end - and for me.

Thanks everyone, that's pretty unanimous that I should stay. I'm so emotional now so perhaps I'll have cried out by 1230.

I tell the kids I don't like her to try to get them to do something but secretly she's my friend and loves cuddles. I worked so hard to train her as we didn't get her as a puppy and she came to us untrained in all ways but she has turned in to a lovely dog without a bad bone in her body. It's my daytime cuddles with her I will miss the most.

I'm so sorry, this must be a terrible shock, this is a poem I wrote years ago while working at a vets, I hope it gives you some comfort
If you really love someone it's hard to let them go
But if you really love someone your love for them must show
So when it's time to leave you and those words they have been spoken
Remember in your heart your promise is not broken
The promise that you made the day that you first met, the day you took her home and she became your pet
No pain you'll ever suffer, fear you'll never know and when it's time to leave me peacefully you'll go, so say goodbye now it will not be forever, keep her wrapped up in your heart her memory a treasure.

I’m so sorry

Such an awful thing to have to go through. Every pet I’ve had to PTS has been a very peaceful experience. Lots of cuddles and reassuring words. So sad for you and your family

So sorry.. such horrible news.
R.i.p

Hope you got through it ok Op

I’m so sorry, how awful. Thinking of you.

I am very sorry, what an awful thing to happen!

May I just make a suggestion? If you don’t want to consider other options, don’t read past this sentences, I don’t want to upset you further than you are already upset.

Is the vet a specialist? Did he do an MRI or similar diagnostic test to properly see the location of the tumour? If the dog is not in pain is it worth it waiting a few days to get a specialist opinion on the possibility of removing the tumour? I only mention this because I have had some spectacularly wrong diagnosis from local vets, not because they are incompetent but because sometimes it requires a specialist to give an opinion n complex cases.

Booboostwo, I’m not sure that’s particularly helpful after the fact.

OP I hope you’re doing ok x

So sorry op,this is just dreadful. So sudden and shocking in such a young dog.

Thanks for your kind comments everyone. Wednesday was traumatic but I did stay with her to the end and gave her some chocolates a final treat. This was a dog who scavenged chocolate whenever she could including eating a chocolate log at Christmas. The vet laughed at the irony of this and thought it was a fitting end.

So sorry but so glad she had your company and love right to the end.