Have to decide whether to operate or PTS

[oodlesofnoodle]

I have a beautiful 2 yr old rescue dog.

I found out today that he has 2 torn ACL muscles which the vet expects will completely snap soon. Not only that but he has arthritis in both hips and 1 shoulder. He is in a lot of pain, I can see this, which is why I took him in, his pain had worsens considerably since our initial consultation to the point they saw him as an emergency today for X-rays. He isn't eating, drinking or moving at all.

Surgery will cost £1900 per leg. The ligaments can be fixed and chances of recovery are high. However the arthritis is so bad, in comparison to his age that the vet has predicted a couple of years maximum of living with 'manageable' pain levels. So even if I pay £4,000 for surgery he will still be in pain daily and need painkillers for the rest of his life. The vet said with painkillers he SHOULD be comfortable.

Money is not an issue, I have insurance and even if they reject a claim I could use my savings to fund surgery. But my gut instinct is telling me this is for my benefit and not his. The vet never suggested PTS until I did and then just said it is something I would support.

I'm so torn and I have to make this decision completely alone. My mum says it's a no brainier and he should be PTS he's too young for the trauma when it won't fix all his issues. But she doesn't have an emotional attachment to him. But is my emotional brain taking over. I've cried all afternoon just going round and round in the same circles. Deciding on surgery then changing to PTS.

I'm really sorry to hear about your lovely pooch.

I agree with your mum, I'm afraid. If the dog is predicted to be in pain from the arthritis for the rest of her life, I believe the kindest thing would be to have her put to sleep.

Whatever you decide, much love to you xxxx

What an absolutely heartbreaking situation. A life of pain sounds awful, I'd let him go, would break my heart but ultimately the best and kindest for him.

I'm so sorry.
I've had dogs, and PTS is the kindest, most compassionate thing you can do for your friend.
It's a really difficult decision, but you need to think of him not you. He can't tell you how much pain he is in and I bet his tail is still waggy.

Having arthritis isn’t a reason to PTS, dogs recover well from cruciate surgery, it’s fairly common. One of mine has had arthritis since she was 6, now 10, has a daily dose of anti inflammatory and supplements and lives a good life.
In your position I’d have one leg at a time done and go from there.

I am so sorry OP but in these circumstances I would PTS. My late SIL had a black flat coat retriever that injured a hip joint very badly as a puppy. She had two unsuccessful surgeries and a third procedure at a Supervet type practice, the poor dog never had a day free from pain for the rest of her life. My SIL was adamant that she would have PTS before the third procedure if she had known that beforehand.

The pain also affected the dog’s temperament and she could snap very unpredictably which is something else you may need to think about if you have children in the house.

I have 2 elderly ponies which i got when I was 10 im 33 now so I am very emotionally attached to them , they have had many surgeries over the years ones they were not supposed to get though and they are still here.
Even though a different animal one of my horses has quite severe arthritis in his back legs which we manage with painkillers , it works out about 70p a day . He has bad days where he needs it upped to 2 doses but he still has that spark in his eye , his cheeky personality , and wants to get up and go out to his field galloping and bucking about with his friends.

When he is in pain his mood changes, if the Bute didn't work we would have him PTS.

My point , sorry for the ramble . Is if they lost that spark and were in considerable pain I wouldnt make him suffer.
Your dog's very young for such arthritis , however he could still have years left in him with the correct treatment and pain relief .

Could you put him on painkillers now to see if that perks him up slightly ?.

Personally if my finances were not an issue and it wouldn't financially burden me I would give him a chance but would likely get a second opinion from a vet who specialises in arthritis . Xx

My DDog also has bad arthritis, we are keeping an eye on her and when it looks like it's too much we will have her pts. My friend keep his dog going to the point he was having to carry it outside to do a wee, the poor thing should have been pts months before.
In your situation I would pts, as heartbreaking as it is for you.

Being physically limited and in permanent pain is no life for a young dog. We have an old dog with arthritis and even on pain meds he's sometimes in obvious discomfort.

It's a horrible decision but I'm in the PTS camp.

I'm in the "treat one leg and a time and take it from there" camp. Good idea. Manage with pain relief and monitor closely.

2 is very young to be PTS and I personally would give them the chance first.

He's been on and off painkillers since I've had him. He wouldn't be pain free on medication, his pain would be manageable. It sounds awful, I hate the idea of him being in pain. I just keep thinking hes 2 and this bad so realistically how long would he have before the pain was too much.

Well, we don't put humans to sleep for having arthritis so is there anything that can be done to manage his pain? If insurance covers it I would go for it as long as his life (no matter how long it is) is not going to be a misery.

I feel like he deserves a chance....he's only 2!

I'm so sorry about your dog. I would have him pts. I've been in this position before so I know how you feel.

That’s heartbreaking.

Could he be pain free and happy post op on meds?
I know someone who had a tiny puppy PTS. They were told surgery could be done but the dog would always be in pain. They decided that wasn’t a life worth living.
My baseline is always can they enjoy doing the things they love?

2 is too young not yo give him a chance! Go through with the surgery

It’s really heartbreaking, but if he’s suffering from arthritis at that young age I think I’d pts. Easy to say for someone else’s dog though.

I would be asking for a second opinion from someone like Noel Fitzpatrick. Particularly if money isn't an issue. That way you have covered all basis and won't have regrets whatever comes.
But ultimately quality of life is better than quantity of life. He has no concept of tomorrow. Putting him to sleep would not be the wrong thing to do.

When I say money isn't an issue, It isn't a bottomless pit, I just mean I can afford to pay for the surgery irrelevant of the insurance. It would use up the majority of my savings which if someone told me that it was the magic cure and he'd be a happy springy puppy for many happy years then I wouldn't hesitate, but I feel like the vet wasn't sure about surgery, he never outright said PTS but he didn't fill me with confidence over having the surgery so I just feel like it won't actually help. The vet didn't have any strong opinions either way. Just that both were acceptable ways forward. If the surgery was the answer would he not say so confidently? If he was going to have a good life after would be not say that PTS isn't really necessary?

PTS
But as your mum said it's very easy to make that decision when theres no emotion involved .

I honestly think there isn't a right or wrong decision in these circumstances.

I have pushed for medical intervention when perhaps others wouldn't. Equally I now have to take into account how traumatised my dog would be during and after any surgery irrespective of whether he would make a full recovery or not.

Dogs live in the moment and being in pain is awful when you can't do anything more for them that you are doing.

This doesn't seem clear cut either way. I would try and take emotion or guilt out if it and look at it from your dogs point of view. Surgery and long recovery to still potentially left in pain.

Only you and you alone know how well or not your dog would manage that.

Sometimes ordinary vet clinics are not at all confident about things a specialist clinic like the Davies in Hitchin or Fitzpatrick in Surrey see on a daily basis. Get a referral to a specialist clinic and get their opinion.

I've just been through the 2nd ACL surgery with my dog, and within days of it I can see the spark back in her eyes, and realise how much pain the injury must have been causing her. She's not 3 and already has a small amount of arthritis, but does not need pain relief yet. Her first ACL surgery was 18 months ago and she was racing around as normal once rehab was complete.
I would recommend seeing a specialist orthopaedic vet and asking them "what would you do if it was your dog?". If you're in the north, I can highly recommend Kentdale Referrals.
Hopefully this referral appointment and X-rays will be covered by your insurance and you can then decide from there.
If you do go for the op, I'd ask about doing both legs together and get the recovery done in one go. Harder work for the first couple of weeks, but then not putting extra strain on an already damaged knee.
Don't think there's a right or wrong decision though - just whichever one ends up feeling right to you and for your circumstances. Please keep us updated:-)

Give him a chance. One op at a time.

@XelaM

Sometimes ordinary vet clinics are not at all confident about things a specialist clinic like the Davies in Hitchin or Fitzpatrick in Surrey see on a daily basis. Get a referral to a specialist clinic and get their opinion.

Definitely this! Get a referral to a specialist vet! They will be the best people to advise. Good luck whatever you do x

I can recommend the Davies Veterinary Specialists in Hitchin if you are anywhere within driving distance of them. They have been brilliant for us when our dog had a serious leg fracture that our ordinary vet said couldn’t be operated on. Really world-class surgeons.