Where to Take a Pet (Dog) with Loads of Health Issues - Vet Vs Specialist

blueyez on 09/02/2021 - 14:32
Last edited 09/02/2021 - 15:00 by 1 other user

Hey all,

So my baby is now 8 years old (terrier cross) who unfortunately has a degenerative disease in her joints plus a lot of allergies lately

This is the first time I've had a dog with so many issues, plus she is a super fussy eater

I signed up for Best for Pet so the vet consultation costs don't get crazy, but I've noticed where I take her there are a lot of different vets with varying advice between either putting her down or letting her be.

2 years ago I took her to a specialist who advised surgery would help fix her front legs (she has 'floppy' paws instead of it being straight - this started developing in 2017) at a cost of $5k a leg. She still can move/run/play though we don't push her.

Due to a lot of personal/family issues I didn't take her back to go ahead with surgery.

Now that she's a senior dog I'm scared to put her through surgery as it would be very tough on her at this age. She seems bright and happy and just dealing with it, so I don't have the heart to put her down (am not scared to put down a pet if it is required).

The vet I currently take her to is more caring than the previous vet in my area, I guess I'm just frustrated at the changing of vets so often that none of them really know my dog well enough to make what I would say is a good call.

What would you do? Start over with a new vet that can see her often? Go back to the specialist instead of dealing with the vet? I just want someone that can take her health seriously - my vet refuses to even give her vaccinations or do blood tests, and I feel like they are discriminating against her due to her obvious disabilities (she didn't go to the vet often as a pup)

Pets

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 09/02/2021 - 14:37
    +4

    A senior dog with some seemingly big issues…

    Keep them comfortable then put them to sleep with the vet advises to do so.

    Don't keep them alive for you and have them suffer a poor quality of life.

    Source: owner of many past and present pets. It's hard but always do what's best for the pet not the owner.

    • blueyez on 09/02/2021 - 14:40

      But she functions normally - she's not depressed, she walks around and plays, she still has her sassy personality she's always had. Her legs are just an impairment she is now used to, though she doesn't look 'normal' she still acts like she always has.

      • Muzeeb on 09/02/2021 - 14:44

        If she is not in pain and loving life then what is the actual issue?

    • Ruddaga on 09/02/2021 - 16:09
      -5

      Mmmmm. It is hard to know when its time to say good bye. My pup of 12 years went blind at 10, so i got his cataracts done for 5k. He then went blind again a year later because of natural aging. He then had a stroke a 11 which paralysed him and for 3-4 months he was unable to move and everyone kept telling me to put him down (and the process of getting him assessed and literally no help cost some insane amount like 7k) but I kept on pushing and by some miracle was able to teach him to walk again. Then a few months later he got diabetes so i had to give him a shot twice a day. Then he just got worse and worse and one day his bladder burst due to some complication and he was laying on the floor of the vet in pure agony and I was tossing up whether to spend another 5k to get him fixed up but then they said he'd have no bladder control the rest of his life… and i just stopped and realised in the Vet that this was the moment I had to make that painful call. I probably kept him going a year longer than I should. He had a happy life and no doubt he enjoyed another year with us, but yeah…. I kind of wish his last moments weren't him lying in agony on a vet floor and we had proper time to say good bye etc :'(

      To add to the original question though, almost every vet / specialist is a scam for animals and prey on your emotional connection to your dog. I'm sure there are one or two good ones out there, but yeah in those last few years I met some cold money grubbing vets…..

  • rompastompa on 09/02/2021 - 14:48
    +1

    My dog is on Prednisolone (steroids) to help with her allergies, which also helps with her joint pains. I also give her a can of sardines every few days / week ($0.75c from Woolies), 'decent' branded dry dog food (cycle through fish based / other meat), and roo tails/butcher bones for treats.

    Obviously a vet will need to assist with getting prednisolone (may also not be suited for your dog's conditions), which took us going to several vets to find one that was willing to give it to us. We had tried several different and expensive drugs over several years that different vet's recommended, none worked. Finally, a vet listen to us, and the past history, and agreed to our request who now has us for life!

    No scratching/constant chewing going bald and limping when walking for two years now!

    Prednisolone has also brought some negative effects such as constantly hungry / stealing food which she had never done before, and more at risk for infections/diseases. Read more here.

    • blueyez on 09/02/2021 - 14:52

      Yep she was on Prednisolone but because she scratched until she bled they gave her a stronger injection to relieve it. Though it's only been 2 weeks and already she is itching grrr was meant to last a month! Will need the tablets next time I go there

      The only thing she kinda eats consistently are liver treats which I don't think is very healthy to give as just a 'meal' - we have cycled through a lot of different brands of food from cheap to exxy and it's hard to get something she will keep eating. Fussy beach!!! lol

  • chrisd262 on 09/02/2021 - 15:03
    +1

    My experience - ask 6 vets get 6 different answers - difficult to find a honest answer - some are just dheads - my decisions have been based on factors such as being able to stand
    to do their business etc. How about cooked chicken breast etc

  • holdenmg on 09/02/2021 - 15:27

    Maybe ask Best for Pet if you can see the same vet for continuity of care and because your Pup is less stressed by it.
    It may not always be possible, but they may manage something.

    • blueyez on 09/02/2021 - 15:28

      Best for Pet is the program, but I do take her to the same clinic. Seems it's the clinic that has a rotation of vets :(

  • justaperson on 09/02/2021 - 17:41
    +1

    Regarding senior dogs in surgery. If you have a really good anesthetist, there won't be any issues. My dog is 10 and a half, and just went through major surgery for mammary cancer, she had no problems with the anesthetic, though they did perform a full blood count before putting her under. She recovered incredibly well and had no problems when she had to get anesthetic a second time for a teeth clean just last month. An 8 year old dog really isn't that old and putting him/her down shouldn't even be a second thought unless proper treatments or surgeries have been pursued.

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