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by sarab on 07 February 2012 - 18:02
My 12 years old labrador was diagnosed with discospondylitis beginning of winter 2011, was given 4 kind of anthibiotics and 2 kind of pain killers, after two weeks the dog didnt want to eat, drank tremendusly and diarrhea all the time. I spoke with the vet and she said to stop one anthibiotic and give yogourt, tried it but no change. I decided to stop all pills and after two weeks the dog started to eat, but because of all the pills he doesn`t go crazy of his regular dry food that he has been eating for years now. I have to lways put a little something home made even if it`s a table spoon than he`ll eat it. But still drinks a lot. And he is in a lot of pain. It takes him a good 10 minutes to sit and lie down and 10 minutes to get up, once he is up, he likes to walk. I would like to stop his suffering and put him to sleep, but in the other hand i`d like to find the perfect pill that will heal his illness and keep him until he is at least 15 years old and that wont give him diarrhea. At this point im thinking of him, i want to do what is best for him. And when i see him walk i just have tears thinking about the last needle. What do i do? Who was in my shoes?
by Kalibeck on 07 February 2012 - 20:02
Poor Sarab, it is a very difficult position to be in. You are thinking about your dog & want what's best for him.....is he happy? I look at my Kali every day ask myself that question, is she happy? When the answer is "no", then it is time. God bless you & give you comfort, & to your Labrador as well. jackie harris
by Sunsilver on 07 February 2012 - 21:02
My first GSD had to be PTS at 9 years due to ankylosing spondylitis of the spine. (The vertebrae were fused together.)
I kept her going for over a year after the diagnosis. The vet used antibiotics as the first line of treatment. I refused to let him give prednisone as that knocks out the immune system, and she already had a bacterial infection in the spine. I gave Kaolic garlic capsules and echinacea drops to help boost her immune system, and she did get back some of the nerve function she'd lost.
Over the months, she slowly declined again. Finally, she was dragging her hind legs along the ground, and I knew it was time.
She never seemed to be in pain, though I know she had to be. One day, I had the appt. already made to have her PTS, and decided to take her for one last walk.
When she saw the leash, she struggled gamely to her feet, tail wagging, eyes bright with anticipation.
I thought, no, if she's still taking that much joy in a walk, as short as our walks our, it's not yet time.
My advice is this. You know your dog best. You are the best judge of when the time is right. It is a horribly difficult decision, but put his needs and happiness ahead of your own grief and sadness, and you can make the right call.
{{{{HUGS}}}}
I kept her going for over a year after the diagnosis. The vet used antibiotics as the first line of treatment. I refused to let him give prednisone as that knocks out the immune system, and she already had a bacterial infection in the spine. I gave Kaolic garlic capsules and echinacea drops to help boost her immune system, and she did get back some of the nerve function she'd lost.
Over the months, she slowly declined again. Finally, she was dragging her hind legs along the ground, and I knew it was time.
She never seemed to be in pain, though I know she had to be. One day, I had the appt. already made to have her PTS, and decided to take her for one last walk.
When she saw the leash, she struggled gamely to her feet, tail wagging, eyes bright with anticipation.
I thought, no, if she's still taking that much joy in a walk, as short as our walks our, it's not yet time.
My advice is this. You know your dog best. You are the best judge of when the time is right. It is a horribly difficult decision, but put his needs and happiness ahead of your own grief and sadness, and you can make the right call.
{{{{HUGS}}}}
by Falkosmom on 08 February 2012 - 04:02
Ahhhh Sunsilver! That was so touching! I would have done the same thing.
by Abby Normal on 10 February 2012 - 09:02
I had a GSD with ankylosing spondylosis. It was a painful condition and every now and then she would just decide she wouldn't get up at all, it was too painful to move. At those times my OH would carry her to the car and I would drive her to the vet, no appointment I would just appear with her, and the vet would carry her in (this happened about 3 times over the course of about year). She would have sterioid injections, and this seemed to boost her for a little while. We also had acupuncture and chiropractic sessions to try and help, which I believe they did for a while.
I had to put her on steroids in the end, it was the only thing that could help her, but they took their toll. In the end, one of the bony spurs that grow on the spine must have grown down and compressed/bridged the spinal cord, as one morning she was paralysed completely in the hind end. In a way I was lucky that the decision was taken out of my hands, though it was a horrible shock, and after a couple of days I let her go. Looking back with the benefit of that wonderful thing called hindsight, I think I should have let go sooner, but it can be so hard to let go.
Only you can judge his quality of life and his happiness. Oh how we all want to find that perfect pill, but most times we just have to accept what is. If as you said he is suffering then you already have your answer, as hard as it is. The thought of the last needle is deeply upsetting for us, but not for them, and not when the time is right - it can be a painless release. We are the ones who suffer.
So sorry you find yourself in this situation.
I had to put her on steroids in the end, it was the only thing that could help her, but they took their toll. In the end, one of the bony spurs that grow on the spine must have grown down and compressed/bridged the spinal cord, as one morning she was paralysed completely in the hind end. In a way I was lucky that the decision was taken out of my hands, though it was a horrible shock, and after a couple of days I let her go. Looking back with the benefit of that wonderful thing called hindsight, I think I should have let go sooner, but it can be so hard to let go.
Only you can judge his quality of life and his happiness. Oh how we all want to find that perfect pill, but most times we just have to accept what is. If as you said he is suffering then you already have your answer, as hard as it is. The thought of the last needle is deeply upsetting for us, but not for them, and not when the time is right - it can be a painless release. We are the ones who suffer.
So sorry you find yourself in this situation.
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