Time for some decisions

[rickboone1]

I'm up on a sleepless night reading posts, and such. So, here's mine that someone else gets to read....

It is coming time very soon the lady and I will have to make a decision about our female German Shepherd. She has myloneuropathy; a disease disabling her rear legs and degenerating her spine. It has come on her rather quickly and severly. The hard part of it is at times she does well and her front portion has lots of vibrance left in her. She plays and such still while pivoting on her rump.

She has been on and been given the largest dosage of steorids or prednisone. This has helped a ton. No, she's not out there running but it does get her moving about.

It is now time to run more blood tests before refilling this prescription. The meds run about...$15 for a 3 day supply. Not horrible, but when she and I both are out of work...every penny counts.

We can truly tell a difference when she is without the meds. She lies around most days and has little to no play left in her. Each day really she seems as though the pain is setting in and taking its toll. It's really as if it is more of humiliation for her. A dog that would treach through 3 foot of snow at full speed and turn on a dime is now unable to move. And all this happened so quickly. (BTW, no there's no snow in SC--I used to live in Utah).

I have a person that is attempting to make her a wheelchair, however there's not a guarantee of how well that will work for her.

It really breaks down like this:

Do nothing. She gets worse.

Keep on Prednisone which over time will have huge side effects and kill her. But, for right now she has a little bit of life.

Put in wheelchair. Can't say what that will do yet.

Put in wheelchair and keep on Prednisone.

No matter which option and route we choose the fact remains that her days are truly limited. Is it worth it to put her through all this? Are we keeping her around for us? Each day is a different day with her. One day she is okay the next really bad. Those really bad days are seemingly increasing. It's the good days that give us a glimmer of hope.

Her vet doesn't really think it will be much longer before her quality of life is so bad that she can no longer stand it.

I would like to get another opinion and just see what options are available. But, that's not really an option atm.

Thanks for reading. I needed to let that out somewhere.

 

[thunderball]

That is a tough situation and I'm afraid I don't really have any sage advice for you. My immediate thought however is that I wouldn't let my pet suffer for too (too) long before I started thinking about putting her down, especially if there was no realistic chance for recovery. Of course this is easier said then actually done. I wish you luck however and here's hoping for a miracle.

 

[ironbrewer]

Sorry to hear this Rick, but as above I wouldn't feel comportable giving advice in this situation. It is much too personal a decision. I think you also need to be living with the pet to know which way you should go, and when.

 

[alabamalawyer]

I don't have any answers for you, but understand what a difficult decision it is. Pets are family and the choices we are forced to make sometimes are difficult. We finally had to put our family cat to sleep when she started suffering from frequent seizures. She was 18 years old, and truly a member of the family.

 

[Alacrity59]

Rick . . . I trust you will know when it is time. It is a frickn hard thing you face but you will . . . there really is no choice.

 

[rickboone1]

Rick . . . I trust you will know when it is time. It is a frickn hard thing you face but you will . . . there really is no choice.

I do. I know the time is here. But gosh dammit I do not want to do this.

 

[C Reed]

I do. I know the time is here. But gosh dammit I do not want to do this.

If it is time its better for every one (you, the girl, the dog) take solace in that.

 

[rickboone1]

We are at the point to where she cannot walk without some assitance. Yet, when she has that assistance she seems to liven up just a bit. I'm so on the fence about this. I don't want to keep her in pain and misery, and I don't want to keep her around just for us and unhappy. I don't know if it is a right answer. Some hours of the day I am confident it is time, then a little glimmer of hope pops in giving me doubt to that decision.

 

[C Reed]

We are at the point to where she cannot walk without some assitance. Yet, when she has that assistance she seems to liven up just a bit. I'm so on the fence about this. I don't want to keep her in pain and misery, and I don't want to keep her around just for us and unhappy. I don't know if it is a right answer. Some hours of the day I am confident it is time, then a little glimmer of hope pops in giving me doubt to that decision.

I dunno if I was given the choice of dyeing slowly and painfully or quickly and relatively painlessly I would 100% go for the ladder but I'm weird like that

 

[rickboone1]

I dunno if I was given the choice of dyeing slowly and painfully or quickly and relatively painlessly I would 100% go for the ladder but I'm weird like that

You make some good points. I appreciate it very much. It is just those few good moments here and there that bring doubt. If she was having seizures all the time and wincing in pain non-stop; not eating or drinking then my decision would be really easy.

 

[C Reed]

You make some good points. I appreciate it very much. It is just those few good moments here and there that bring doubt. If she was having seizures all the time and wincing in pain non-stop; not eating or drinking then my decision would be really easy.

Its 100% your call, just offering my opinions and support. I'm sure you know the dog in question well enough to know when the time is right.

 

[rickboone1]

Its 100% your call, just offering my opinions and support. I'm sure you know the dog in question well enough to know when the time is right.

Thank you. It is very, very kind.

 

[Maduro]

Rick, my neighbors down the block have a boxer with the same condition you describe. She has been walking with a doggie wheelchair for several months now. She is a good friend of my dog Kramer, my wife and I often discuss her sad predicament. Harley has a stay at home mom to take care of her, but her health continues to worsen. What I'm saying is the wheelchair may buy your dog four or five more months of being able to continue to go for walks and have some quality of life.

I love my dog Kramer as if he were my own son; I would be totally crushed should such a misfortune happen to him. I can more than imagine the sadness you must be feeling. I'm sure you will find the strength to make the right decision when it is necessary. I wish you all the best in this difficult time.

 

[raisindot]

While I have sympathy for your situation, I have to blunt and recommend that you put the dog out of its misery. Since the dog can't speak and you can't read its mind, you really have no idea of how much pain it may be feeling that it can't express.

People tend to anthropomorphize their pets, including thinking that they actually understand the concept of death and fear it the way we do, but they don't. Yes, they clearly fear danger, but they're not hampered with thoughts of the afterlife, Heaven and Hell, etc.

To keep the dog alive because of the attachment to it is understandable, but not in the dog's best interest. A few more months of life in main or living in a way that's not inherently "doglike" is not going to benefit it.

Just my 02.

Jeff in Boston

 

[Kenno]

Sorry to hear of your troubles mate, trust in your heart and trust in the vets opinion.

The dog wants to live and see you and your girl but you also don't want your dog to live in pain. The vet will have a better feel when its time.

When it is time it is time. If you like dogs get another one, it will help ease the pain.

 

[plexibass]

Sorry to hear this. My dog of 15 years died 5 years ago of cancer. The vet was on her way over when she died in my arms. I hate to say this but I would put the dog down now, before she suffers. I hate saying that because I love dogs so much, well all animals really. At this point, we have to ask ourselves are we keeping the dog alive for the dog, or ourselves. Just my.02.

Also, if you can, be with the dog when it happens. I cant think of anything worse than an animal going by it's self and not being able to get a last look at the person who it dedicate it's life too. My dog looked in my eyeys until the very end.

 

[Greyfox]

It is very difficult to offer this kind of advice to someone facing such a decision with a beloved pet. The key parameter for me and my dogs has always been quality of life. If medication gives relief and good quality of life I would tend to go that route until it no longer provided relief. My experience has been that the dog will usually tell you when it is time by his activity level and appetite. It's hard but there comes a time when you have to love them enough to let them go. When that time is depends on your particular circumstances. Regardless the time we are allowed to have with our dogs is far too short and a bittersweet price we pay for loving them so much. Time is precious with a dog because it is so short. When the time comes you will know and have no regrets.

 

[The Nid Hog]

It's a very difficult situation. I agree with the bulk of posts that it's about your dog's quality of life. I've always felt when my dog can no longer live like a dog, it's time to put him down. I would rather take decisive action now to alleviate his suffering and then deal with the rest of it myself.

 

[Desdinova]

not an easy decision.

but make sure the decision you make is for her, not yourself.


Whatever you decide to do, remember that we will all support you in that decision.

 

[Savor the Stick]

Her vet doesn't really think it will be much longer before her quality of life is so bad that she can no longer stand it.

That's the answer as you know...Prayers for you for wisdom, and comfort in this situation are sent.

Get another puppy is some more advice that is good.