I posted a few weeks ago about my old girl limping very badly. She is a rescue, so we are not entirely sure how old she is, at least 12, vet says maybe 14, a friends who has had lots of retrievers thinks could be as old as 15. We've had her since 2016 so we never had her as an old dog. She has been on Previcox for a while, which her insurance doesn't cover.
After a couple of consultations over the phone, the vet saw her, she was sedated and x-rayed and basically her hip is failing. She won't get better.
She is currently on painkillers, and she is honestly now not too bad, takes her a while to get up but she takes herself out to the garden for a wee, she is still limping but manages ok on the flat (can't do stairs).
Since we last saw the vet, she has now developed an ear infection. She is prone to these and her earflap fills with fluid. For this to be treated thoroughly she will need to be sedated again for the ear to be drained, and a long course of AntiBs.
She has also developed terribly restless legs and spends a lot of time with one of her back legs going as if she is scratching vigorously. Left leg slightly more than her right but she does it is both legs alternately.
Her skin is not great either, she keeps gnawing at herself and making herself sore. She's up to date with all her flea treatments, so I am confident she doesn't have fleas.
The problem is, I am so worried her quality of life is deteriorating. While she is still eating well, is wagging and enjoying the company of her humans, and is getting out to wee/poo, at what time do you make the call.
She definitely needs another trip to the vet to see if we can improve some of her conditions. She is insured, but the ear infection won't be covered as there is a 1000 pound per condition per year limit on claims, and her infections in Oct and Jan have used that, until the policy renews at the end of July. she ca't wait that long. The previcox she is on is also not covered (Though the painkillers will be).
She is such a good natured and placid dog, even if she is in pain/very uncomfortable, she won't snarl and whimper. My main concern in making her comfortable and giving her the best quality of life. I am not going to put her through anything heroic and/or endless trips to the vet. Spiraling vet costs are a concern as well, even with the insurance covering some of it.
We are not happy leaving her alone either in case she slips and can't get up, while this has been fine while we've been in lockdown, as lockdown is lifting, it is going to be an issue.
Sorry that got really long, if you got to the end, thanks for reading. At what point would you consider PTS? She had a rough start to life, I want to make sure I do right by her at the end.