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Original poster

Should I rehome? Put down? Absolutely devasted *please read update before posting MNHQ*

171 replies

wishiwasntpoor · 07/04/2021 11:27

I have a beautiful loved and treasured ddog. When we got her I had a husband a big house and garden. Sadly that's no more and I'm poor. She's 11 and ill. She started yelping and struggling to walk her on Monday. Took her to the vet yesterday who have prescribed loxicom for a week (£120 for emergency consultation and the medicine) they said that if it doesn't work she'll need X-rays and blood tests and long term treatment. She's in so much pain. Can barely stand and is yelping shivering and miserable. I am breaking my heart that if she doesn't get better after the week (and I don't think she will) I cannot afford all of the tests and ongoing treatment. I just don't have the money. I may not be able to afford the mortgage this month now. I phoned a charity for her breed yesterday to ask advice, and they will take her and pay for treatment and re home her but can't help me keep her and help me with the costs. She's 11. She loves us and her companion ddog 2. I can't see that rehoming her would be kind? She'd be in pain, displaced from her home, depressed? So the other option is asking the vet if we should consider putting her down. Which is also awful because she could with investigation and ongoing treatment she could be fine and live happily for another two three years.

I know I know that people shouldn't have pets they can't afford, but it's also impossible to predict the future. I had everything when I bought her. Insured to the hilt, then my husband revealed huge hidden debts and depression and took his own life. I lost the house and lived with my parents for five years before managing to get another. I didn't know this would happen. Perhaps when it all happened I should have rehomed them then? I don't know. I do t know what to do and am so deeply miserable. I can't bear to lose her and it's all so awful

OP posts:
Frenchfancy · 07/04/2021 11:33

You poor thing. In your position I would talk to the vets about pts. I can't see how rehoming à poorly dog who will then have to undergo treatment would be kind. You don't mention which breed, I only ask because for big breeds 11 is old age, whereas smaller terrors can go on til late teens and I think that does make a difference.

UhtredRagnarson · 07/04/2021 11:33

Oh this is such a hard situation. I agree that moving her to a new home whilst in so much pain would be incredibly traumatic and stressful for her. Is there any way you could get a loan or credit card to pay for her vet costs?

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 07/04/2021 11:38

Good grief OP, don’t beat yourself up, you’ve been through a lot, none of your own making Flowers
What’s the actual diagnosis? Arthritis? Something else or unidentified as yet? Are you in receipt of benefits? Is the PDSA an option for you re vet care?
www.pdsa.org.uk/
Or, have you/can you ask your vet if, re the ongoing care, they will let you pay in instalments? Rehoming wouldn’t be the end of the world for your dog, once she was pain free she would likely be happy in a new home if loved and looked after. But you’d miss her as would your other dog probably. I don’t think you’re at the pts stage yet (unless diagnosis is so bad it becomes the only option). You sound, understandably, like you’re panicking a bit. Take a step back and look for some alternatives first, like those mentioned.

RunningFromInsanity · 07/04/2021 11:38

I agree at 11 years old, long term treatment and rehoming her would be very stressful.

It’s perfectly ok to not want to put an older dog through all of that.

Personally it would be much kinder to let her peacefully drift off whilst surrounded by familiar people.

DianaT1969 · 07/04/2021 11:41

You have given her a good life. There's no guarantee that investigation and tests would do anything other than extend her period of pain.

Soubriquet · 07/04/2021 11:41

I would pts tbh

Sorry OP Flowers

Original poster
wishiwasntpoor · 07/04/2021 11:44

She's a visla. Life expectancy 12-15. But hip issue in late w life common. I asked the vets for credit or a pay plan which they don't offer. I can't get credit, or loans with my history. I've put the a few things up for sale now on Facebook to try to get some but realistically I don't know how much I'll need nor for how long. Thank you all for not judging me.

OP posts:
Honeyroar · 07/04/2021 11:48

Hugs to you. I don’t think you’re a bad owner. I had my dog pts at the same age last year. The vets spent a week investigating and trying things, but they didn’t work and I could see my beloved dog going down hill. So I had him pts quietly at home. I think the vets would have liked to carry on trying things, but it was going to be expensive with no guarantees and I thought my dog was starting to tell me he’d had enough. I’d just watched my best friend die slowly of cancer and was adamant I wasn’t putting my dog through the same. I’m still 100% certain I made the right decision, even though it broke my heart. We spent the last week doing all his favourite things.

So from what you’ve written I would take her back to the vets now. She sounds like she’s suffering. Why leave it a week when you can end an old lady’s suffering now? It’s the kindest thing you can do for your old friend. I’d not judge you at all. Rehoming her to someone who will put her through the treatment would not be the best thing. Not only would she have the stress of the treatment but the trauma of losing you and her home. Just love her and let her go with dignity. And give yourself a hug too.xx

DontGoIntoTheLongGrass · 07/04/2021 11:49

Sorry you're in this situation but I would also pts. If she does go for rehoming it could be years and she'd end up waiting for that and being unhappy.

Sounds like you've given her a great long life already.

steppemum · 07/04/2021 11:50

if she was 6 or 7, I would say try and rehome.
But at 11, and in pain, I think it would be kinder to her to pts rather than the stress of rehoming.
We rehomed a rescue dog, from a nice home who couldn't keep him, and it took him a whole year before I felt he really was settled. He was young. Your girl will be miserble without you

If you ar ein receipt of benefits PDSA will help, but thye don't have many outlets, so if you aren't close then they can't help.

no judgement from me, just hugs x

Original poster
wishiwasntpoor · 07/04/2021 11:50

Thank you Judas- I get dla for my child and am registered her full time carer, I'm not in pass area but am contacting them now. I am panicking. Without a doubt. They didn't give me a diagnosis they said that it might be ligament damage and the painkillers anti inflammatory should help that, but if she doesn't improve I'll have to return for x rats bloods and ongoing. They mentioned athritis but because onset was so sudden they said it's not likely

OP posts:
UhtredRagnarson · 07/04/2021 11:52

Ahh OP. I would PTS in your situation. She is 11 and will likely spend the rest of her few years in pain, going back and forth to the vet and on a variety of different meds. That’s not a happy life for her. The only person that benefits from that is the vet.

Original poster
wishiwasntpoor · 07/04/2021 11:54

Thanks everyone. I can't do her favourite things because she can't even stand. The loxicm is doing enough to stop her yelping constantly. No more. I have been ludicrously generous with fresh sausages though.

OP posts:
UhtredRagnarson · 07/04/2021 11:55

My DDog took ill a year ago, he died in December. His last few months were not comfortable, he was on lots of meds and went through various investigations and tbh I probably should have made the decision to PTS sooner than I did. It was really only for myself that I didn’t. He wouldn’t have known if it had been earlier.

Hellocatshome · 07/04/2021 12:00

See what PDSA say but to be honest even if money wasn't an issue I think this would be a pts situation.

bloodywhitecat · 07/04/2021 12:04

What an awful situation to find yourself in, in your shoes I would put to sleep rather than rehome too Flowers

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 07/04/2021 12:09

I wouldn't rehome, and I also wouldn't have rehomed them 5 or 6 years ago. They're family and she'll be confused and sad and scared without you and the other dog. Hopefully the medicine the vet has given will work this week. If it doesn't, I wouldn't rush to put down either - have another chat with the vet and see if there are other medications they can try. Also (sorry you probably know this already) the vet markup for medicines can be huge - if its on-going medicine you can take the vet prescription and get the medicine for a fraction of the cost online.

Hoppinggreen · 07/04/2021 12:11

I would pts .
Rehoming would be cruel, she won’t know what’s happened.

Chocolateismakingmefat · 07/04/2021 12:12

My friend's ddog pulled her back and after initial meds took a few months to recuperate.. Ripped tendons or something..see what the next week brings op

Kona84 · 07/04/2021 12:16

Do you get any benefits that would qualify you for help from the PDSA?

It really upsets me that charities don’t try more to keep pets with their owners but instead will take and rehome.

Have you thought about a go fund me?
I saw and donated to one recently when they posted proof of the vet bills and diagnosis

krustykittens · 07/04/2021 12:18

Another one saying PTS. She is an old lady, for her breed, and she will be devastated being parted from you. Spoil her rotten, hold her and kiss her in her last moments and she will go peacefully.

MarinPrime · 07/04/2021 12:21

If it was my 11 year old lab and I was in your situation I'd probably PTS.
But see the vet thinks, they might be able to help.

TwunchOfBats · 07/04/2021 12:24

I wonder if the lack of money is influencing your judgement, a little (in the nicest possible way). Even with insurance and money, I would personally be questioning myself about how comfortable I was asking an older dog to remain in pain and deprived of the things they enjoy whilst tests (which may or may not give any real answers) are undertaken.

Over and above that, none of us have an endless pot. All I think we can do is the very best we can for the animals in our care. If your best is to provide her with a lifetime of joy and care, followed by pain relief, some fresh sausages and then pts quietly - then this is still far more than most of the world's dogs get. Your dog is still one of the 'lucky' ones. You will not have failed her. Flowers

Lougle · 07/04/2021 12:27

My animals are all insured and I still think I'd consider PTS with the level of pain you describe. She's old, she's enjoyed life. Better a week too soon than a day too late, they say.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 07/04/2021 12:32

11 is fairly old for a Vizsla - not ancient, but old, and once their back ends start to go it's a downward slide - a bit better, then a bit worse, then a slight recovery, then quite a bit worse.

In your shoes I would wait and see if it is her ligaments and if she perks up next week. And if she does, get her into Joint Aid or similar. If she doesn't, and PDSA etc can't help, I would PTS. I think rehoming would be very unfair to her, other than to someone who she already knows.

Gutted for you, OP. They are such lovely, gentle, affectionate dogs. Flowers