SSS: Might have to put down my dog

[LegendKiller]

My parents have a 11 year old Dobberman that I raised, she's a great dog, sweet, gentile, but very protective. Trained perfectly by my dad and I.

Somehow she got a sore on her leg that she kept biting. It got so bad that my parents decided to take her in to have surgery so she wouldn't get an infection. The surgery costs $400 each time and then is followed by 10 days, every other day, of suture resetting which is $50. She keeps biting the bandages off despite a bonnet, which has cost an additional $1000.

On top of that she has a spinal problem where she collapses every once in a while, and has fallen down the stairs twice now. This all happened in the last 2 months. She got a lot better but still has problems.

My parents have money, but not so much that they can keep getting her surgery, especially since she's 11 and has the spinal problem (which if they fixed through surgery would cost over $4000).


I told my parents I would help pay for 2/3 of the bills for the next surgery if she needs it and we could try a muzzle. I can watch her since I will be up there. But I am not even sure if we should do that since she also has the spinal problem.

She's such a nice dog and I don't want to put her down, but I don't want her to suffer either.

My car died (alternator), my notebook died (DC power converter), and now my dog...great holiday season for me and my family...


LK

[brainsmile]

bummer man... I've lost dogs to illness before.

[nickel]

:(

[welfareloser]

bummer. yeah, at this age, you have to estimate what her quality of life is going to be.

if she is compulsively biting at the sore, you may want to look into psychiatric meds... pets get depressed and obsessive-compulsive, and the same meds humans use do help with stuff like that... a one-month supply of my kid's generic anti-ocd med is $37, and that might be what it takes to make the next sugery a success... (i know, anti-depressants for pets is real damn funny... until it's your beloved pet who needs em, so no flaming, please) ;)

and i have friends who are constantly adopting old, messed up dogs ... i know there are resources out there for helping to set up your home so your dog doesn't have to climb stairs and stuff. after my sister's terrier had a stroke, we had to keep her off the stairs. if google doesn't yield anything, i can ask my friends where they get their lame-dog tardguards...

[Jenny]

I'm so sorry. :( I know how tough it is. :(

[BrewMaster]

sorry to hear this LK. reading your post makes me miss my dog that we put down a few years ago. i want another dog...

[oblongmelon]

Sigh....
Losing a dog is worse than losing a relative..dogs always wag their tales and are happy to see you..where as..the bitching from the relatives won't be missed when they are gone..do what you can to help the pup out, but don't put yourself in bankruptcy for it..I am a HUGE dog fan, but consider her quality of life in the coming months and ask yourself if it is worth it to put HER through all the trauma. She's had 11 good years....