Hi all,
I'm in a terrible quandary Our old GSD Hanna will be 13 in June. She has been, in recent weeks, showing all the symptoms of end of life. However she occasionally seems lucid. We've known since she was young that she has Hip dysplasia, but she now falls and drags her back legs. It is very difficult getting her outside to do her business. Her bladder nuscles are week and she leaks onto the carpet. She often has no interest in food and is losing weight. Getting medication into her is difficult and she often vomits it up after a while. When she drinks she also often vomits.
We are in such a quandry. We love her to death but realize she is in pain often especially when she cant keep down her meds. She is on Proin for her bladder control and Rimidyl for pain. I sometimes give her Tramadol. We don't want her to suffer and she always is just laying around. I don't want to prematurely euthanize her but she seems to have no life at this point. We wonder, though, if our consideration for euthanasia is tainted by the difficulty in caring for her. The vet says her heart is still strong but has said we should be prepared for the end at this point.
We cant afford to get Cat scans and such to determine any cause for her appetite and vomiting issues, and it seems to be financially wasteful at this point because she is so old.
We are so upset about trying to do the right thing for Hannah at this point. Any advice would be appreciated. We don't mind spending the money if there is value in it. I sometimes feel that our vet acts as if there is unlimited funds for pet care.
Thanks for any thoughts.
I'm in a terrible quandary Our old GSD Hanna will be 13 in June. She has been, in recent weeks, showing all the symptoms of end of life. However she occasionally seems lucid. We've known since she was young that she has Hip dysplasia, but she now falls and drags her back legs. It is very difficult getting her outside to do her business. Her bladder nuscles are week and she leaks onto the carpet. She often has no interest in food and is losing weight. Getting medication into her is difficult and she often vomits it up after a while. When she drinks she also often vomits.
We are in such a quandry. We love her to death but realize she is in pain often especially when she cant keep down her meds. She is on Proin for her bladder control and Rimidyl for pain. I sometimes give her Tramadol. We don't want her to suffer and she always is just laying around. I don't want to prematurely euthanize her but she seems to have no life at this point. We wonder, though, if our consideration for euthanasia is tainted by the difficulty in caring for her. The vet says her heart is still strong but has said we should be prepared for the end at this point.
We cant afford to get Cat scans and such to determine any cause for her appetite and vomiting issues, and it seems to be financially wasteful at this point because she is so old.
We are so upset about trying to do the right thing for Hannah at this point. Any advice would be appreciated. We don't mind spending the money if there is value in it. I sometimes feel that our vet acts as if there is unlimited funds for pet care.
Thanks for any thoughts.