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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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:
GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 07/04/2021 12:33

*onto Joint Aid

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 07/04/2021 12:35

I'm so sorry wishiwasntpoor. Flowers It's clear you love her deeply and only want the best for her.

While I know every dog is different, after my own experience I would always choose the gentle way out in this situation. My last dog developed bone cancer in his leg, and we were assured that he could have another good couple of years after treatment. We had insurance so the money was 'there', and we wrongly thought we had nothing to lose. In the event, he deteriorated incredibly fast, and we eventually had him pts after three or four days of horrible suffering, because we kept hoping he would turn the corner. I desperately wish we could turn back the clock, because he was a gentle soul and didn't deserve what we put him through.

evilharpy · 07/04/2021 12:36

Even if money wasn't an issue, I'd be questioning whether I'd want to put the dog through all the blood tests and ongoing treatment. We lost our lovely cat to cancer a couple of years ago, having made the decision to keep her comfortable for as long as possible but not pursue treatment which would have been horrible and would have impacted her quality of life permanently. The vet completely agreed it was the right thing to do. If your dog is already quite elderly and is going to remain in pain that's difficult to manage, I think I would make the decision to pts.

If it turns out to be manageable with painkillers, it does work out much cheaper to get a prescription from the vet and buy the drugs online. We have another elderly cat on a permanent cocktail of drugs to manage a long term condition and the vet has been very helpful about doing it as cost-effectively as possible.

I would speak to the vet about the kindest and most cost effective way forward if it is going to be a long term thing.

So sorry you are in this position, none of this is your fault and it must be so heartbreaking Flowers

hellywelly3 · 07/04/2021 12:39

Not even the cost for me, I would pts. They could spend weeks doing tests X-ray etc but if she’s in that much pain I wouldn’t want that. 11 is a good age for a dog. It’s awful but pts is definitely the best option x

Branleuse · 07/04/2021 12:41

Id try and get an xray in case its just a broken bone. Try and get a diagnosis before deciding to PTS. if its something that will heal with rest, its one thing, but if it was a long term degenerative problem then considering her age , id consider PTS then

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 07/04/2021 12:44

Oh OP, I'm not even a dog owner, but I read your post and I had to reply because my heart goes out to you.

PTS I think

ThanksThanksThanks

SwedishK · 07/04/2021 12:46

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog.

I agree with others that rehoming is not an option. I am no expert, but my previous dog went through something similar to yours, but was a couple of years younger. She was in so much pain, just rocking back and forth and could barely get up on her feet. It turned out to be cancer, tumour in the neck, and she had to be put to sleep. It's a really difficult decision to make, probably the hardest one I have ever made, but I actually felt slightly relieved when it happened. Watching her being in pain was worse than seeing her being put to sleep. It was so peaceful. I told myself that she would be reborn into a beautiful, healthy little puppy in no time. Not something I would normally believe in, but it helped then.

Cinderellashoes · 07/04/2021 12:46

11 is a really good age for a larger dog. She sounds very loved and if she doesn’t improve I would pts because even if you spent £5000+ on her it may not work!

Susie477 · 07/04/2021 12:48

I agree with everyone else. Rehoming is definitely not the right thing to do in this situation. Sometimes, pts is the right, and the kindest thing we can do for our pets. Talk to your vet and be honest about the fact that you just can’t afford expensive ongoing treatment. They will understand.

Good luck Flowers

loveheartss · 07/04/2021 12:52

Aww OP that has brought tears to my eyes.

We had similar with our dog last year. He was 10 and had some ongoing issues, it was getting more and more expensive, he had to have a lot of tests and he was deteriorating before our eyes as the weeks went on. Eventually, a kind vet said to me and my step dad that even if he did continue to have the tests there was no guarantee that they would be able to do anything to help and was honest with the sort of money we would be looking at. He was put to sleep a few days later.

Very painful and it is always so heart breaking being in this position with pets. I think we often imagine death as being this awful thing to do but in a lot of cases it is the kindest. It is an unselfish act because even though it will break your heart you are doing the right thing by them. So if you are feeling guilty at the idea of pts and I completely understand, you can reassure yourself safe in the knowledge that it would be a wonderful thing to give to your dog if she is in that much pain and the alternative is being rehomed potentially for only a very small amount of time, still very unwell but confused too.

I am sorry you find yourself in this position x

SionnachRua · 07/04/2021 12:53

Even aside from your financial issues (sounds like you've had a horrible time over the past few years, poor thing) I really think I'd PTS anyway. She's an old dog and sounds like she's in dreadful pain - I don't think it's fair to eke a few more months/years out of her. It's being cruel to you to be kind to her.

Keepitnerdy · 07/04/2021 12:56

Animals were never built to be old and in pain, treatment can often be too much and upsetting. I think with pets you need to think wether the quality of life after will be good enough. My cat who I adored developed diabetes late in life she sadly was PTS at the vet as the alternative was very invasive and medication for the very short life as she was 16-18 at the time. It
Also would have been very expensive. I think 11 is a great age I would focus and making her comfortable and possibly paying to have her put to sleep at home if the restrictions allow it.

I'm sorry that your in this situation, don't feel guilty you gave her all the love you could. Xx

Goleor · 07/04/2021 12:57

I'd see how the meds and rest go first and then speak to your vet again before making a decision.

Nomorepies · 07/04/2021 12:58

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request

Bluetrews25 · 07/04/2021 12:59

Tears in my eyes (and down my face TBH as thinking of my lovely girl PTS due to cancer nearly 5 years ago)
Please take her away from this horrible pain.
Lots of sausages first.

Then you only have your pain to deal with. Flowers And I know how that feels. Big hugs.

bellabride · 07/04/2021 13:03

Talk to PDSA and tell them about your desperate situation, but it sounds like PTS would be the kindest thing you could do.

silverbubbles · 07/04/2021 13:04

Be kind and PTS if no improvement is shown.

If you don't insure (and I don't) you need to be able to make this call - you can't pass it onto someone else.

Birchtree1 · 07/04/2021 13:23

Hi,
I am a vet and if she is still this bad on loxicom she may not get better?
You need to ask yourself what you would achieve with x rays and bloods realistically. I lost my 11 year old dog for different reasons and we thought we may have had him for longer.
There is other pain relief available. You could also try paracetamol 10-15mg/kg) 3 times a day on top of loxicom. ( the cheap human one from supermarkets)
With you luck and you have my sympathy. It’s not easy when they get older!

GreyhoundG1rl · 07/04/2021 13:25

Pts. It's for the best.

Birchtree1 · 07/04/2021 13:25

....it’s not always a question of money at this age....just to keep them comfortable when you can’t spend much money and if you are up front with this your vet should work with you and try and find a solution. There is lots of other pain relief available !

Tangledtresses · 07/04/2021 13:31

Do you have an RSPCA vets near you? Or a blue cross?
They will help you get your dog free treatment vets etc
They are very good if you have one near you?

Original poster
wishiwasntpoor · 07/04/2021 13:37

Thank you everyone. I'm quite overwhelmed by the responses. I'm exploring rspca options now as there is an rspca vets in my area . Thank you all

OP posts:
Whaddyaknow2 · 07/04/2021 13:40

Quality of life >>>> quantity of life

FlowersFlowersFlowers

nimbuscloud · 07/04/2021 13:40

Hope they can help 💐

BiteyShark · 07/04/2021 13:40

OP I am going through something similar in that we have a 4.5 year old dog who has just injured his back (second time) and was in so much pain for 2 days we were back and forth to the emergency vets.

We have insurance and we can afford any kind of treatment and investigations but our dog is absolutely terrified of the vets and we already had a horrible conversation between DH and I about at what point should we PTS if he doesn't get any better and no we wouldn't put him through surgery, some investigations perhaps but then we would be trying to weigh up whether it was fair on him and really would it change the outcome.

Fortunately we now have the pain under control so we don't need to face that conversation again.

Taking money out of the equation do you really think investigations are in her best interest? So sorry because it's shit watching them suffer Thanks

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