Need encouragement with old dog

[creatingkarma]

Well, last fall a friend of my mother-in-law witnessed a black female lab getting pushed out of a van in the middle of a busy intersection & took her home with her until she found a home. Since I have an enormous soft spot, when I heard the story I jumped at the chance to give this dog some love & a good home so I went & picked her up. Well, we immediately noticed that this dog had a breathing problem & took her to the vet. The vet recommended that we have her teeth cleaned & while she was under, she would look at her throat. The vet said that the dog (Raven) had larengitis (don't know how to spell it) & treated her with anitbiotics. She still wasn't better, so another round of antibiotics. Then Raven got real sick & listless & wouldn't eat, so to the vet we go again. This time she thought it was pneumonia, so she was admitted to the doggie hosp. for 4 days & started to show improvement, but now we're back at square one. Raven is an old dog - how old we have no way of knowing. She has cateracts & can barely see, she can barely walk or get up from laying down & she still can't breathe. She always breathes like she has been out in the heat all day running laps. I even have to shut her in the bedroom if I want to watch TV because I can't hear over her breathing. She throws up everytime she eats & she eats her own poop & then comes inside & throws it up on the carpet - DAILY. I just can't do this anymore. I was well when I took her on, but if I had known all that was wrong with her, I probably wouldn't have taken her even then. Now I'm not well at all & can barely function myself these days & I don't know what to do. I definitely wouldn't have taken on this dog if her story was told to me today because I cannot function! It's a major struggle for me just to get my household chores somewhat done & then I have to stop & clean up poop-puke. I can't take it anymore! My husband won't let me put her to sleep - he says she's not that bad yet. Yeah, he's not the one cleaning up after her. He also tells me that it was my decision to take this dog & now I have to stick with my responsibility. I just don't know what to do. :(

[ICNDonna]

What does the vet say about prognosis? Did your husband go with you to the vet? If there isn't anything that can be done to help, then the kindest thing would be to put her down. She can't be comfortable if she can't breathe. It's a tough one, I know --- and having a loved animal put to sleep is very hard.

I wish I had an answer for you.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[classics]

Karma,

That is very sad. I love animals, and especially labs. It is terribly hard to put them to sleep, but it probably would be the best thing, since Raven seems to be suffering. Your husband would be heartboken too, but he has to realize it would be for the best. Does your vet think so, too?

If you are unable to clean up after because you are not well, just let the mess sit there for awhile. I think sometimes we (the wifes) are too quick to clean up and get it done. Once your husband starts helping you take care of Raven, he may then realize that putting him to sleep is the best option.

[creatingkarma]

Thanks. I know that putting her to sleep is best, but my husband throws a major fit whenever I bring up the subject. He's totally against it & won't even listen. He says things like, 'would you want me to put you to sleep because you're sick?' And he'll walk out of the room & not allow a conversation on the subject.

There is no prognosis from the vet. We've spent $1000 & we still don't know why she can't breathe. The vet recommended that the next step be an ultrasound to look for tumors, which costs another $300 just to look at her. Then, of course, it would be more to treat her, if treatment is even available & since she's old anyway, I can't justify the cost. Plus, even if her breathing is fixed, that still doesn't solve the problem of her eating poop & throwing it up.

Well, since my husb is always saying that it's MY dog & she was MY choice & is MY responsibility, then I guess he doesn't have any say in what I do with MY dog.

[classics]

Your last paragraph is exactly right. You need to do what you think is best for Raven. You could always get a second opinion from another vet, if you don't want to put the dog through any more tests.

[Zookeeper]

You poor thing.I know it must be very hard. You need to do what you think is best for Raven.
Vet bills are very costly maybe you could remind your husband about that, if he pushes you into keeping Raven get a second opinion tell them every thing that has been done so far and if they say the same thing then you will know what to do.Maybe all Raven has is brused or a broken rib from being tossed out of the van. then Your husband will have to listen to what the other vet has to say.

We can't tell you what to do and only You can to do what you think is the best thing for Raven.
Don't feel bad if you decide to put Raven down, you have done a lot for the dog already.It is always a hard thing to deal with when you are put in a possition of putting down a animal.
I like what you said about it being your dog, in the part of your last post too.

:pray:

Take care. Love, Zookeeper Kim

[Cali girl]

Maybe you can get a printout at your vet of everything that was done and administered to Raven. And don't forget any x-rays too. That way if you go and get a second opinion you have everything right there to show them. That way tests won't be repeated. It could be that maybe your vet missed something. Even the best of doctors can miss things. Maybe somehow Raven injured herself. I know my dog broke her tail from smacking it against the wall. She had just had a bath and took off into the living room. She then shook off the water and her tail smacked hard against the wall. Maybe somehow she ran into something and injured her throat. Or like Kim had mentioned maybe she was injured when she was pushed out of that van. I will be praying for your little doggie.

:pray: :grouphug: :pray:

Cali
:dogrun:

[tigger_gal]

Karma
I know how you feel I had some one say that to me well I came off with yes as a matter of fact I would If I was that bad off...
I had to put my angel to sleep my toy poodle around my birthday this past march and it was very hard, and I still have 3 dogs... I honestly think it would be better for her in the long run..
:kiss:
Brat

[Jen_Cole]

Is your husband okay with the idea of spending more money on that dog? I think it was nice that you did all that you have done so far, which was not expected of you.

I have to say I'd be pretty ticked off if my husband made a comment like that about putting me to sleep. I think it's just a tad bit different in that you are a person and NOT a dog.

[windwalker]

It's rough havin an old dog with so many problems when you are sick yourself, I have a 14 yr old cocker w/epilepsy, heart murmur, enlarged prostate, cataracts, lost almost all his teeth, arthirits in the back legs, chronic ear infection, although, he doesnt go eating his own poop, he eats the cat's poop from the litter box. EWWW! My dog's main activities are go eat, bathroom and sleep. With the epilepsy, he does lose control of his bowels so he does end up making messes. I know you are going through a hard time, wanted to let you know I sympathize. Whatever your decision is, you have support here. Hoping hubby will understand soon. Do take care ok?
Dawn

[crystilclear]

I'm sorry you're in such a hard situation. It must be crazy trying to deal with a sick dog with you being so sick as well. You've gotta do what's best for you and Raven. SHe can't be feeling so good with labored breathing and constant vomiting. I hope you can get your hubby to see your point of view. I know it's difficult when you don't agree. I hope it works out for you. You can email whenever you want I'll be happy to listen. Take care - Chris :hi:

[SharonA]

Several years ago, I took an old dog in and cared and loved her for 1 year. She got to a point where she could not longer eat and was getting sicker and sicker. I decided that I loved her too much to watch her suffer any longer. I made the decision to put her down. It was a tough decision but one that had to be made.

I am so sorry that you are at that point. I just want you to know that you did a wonderful thing by taking this dog in and giving her a loving place for the amount of time that you have taken care of her. Sometimes it come to the point that if you left the animal alone and did not seek medical help that it would die, naturally. Maybe that is where you are now. :kiss:

[VickiB]

I recently had to put my old dog (14 yr, lab) to sleep. Actually, I tried to keep him going a lot longer than I should have, -my vet kept telling me it was time to let him go, but I couldn't.

Maybe your husband is having a hard time letting go?

I just wanted to say I'm sorry you have to deal with this. It's not always easy to do what's best.

Vicki

[Julie B]

Seems like a lot of us are in the same boat. We have another dog besides the one shown in my picture (that is my 4 year old bichon, Howie.) Molly is a 15+ year old poodle and as many before me have mentioned, she just eats (barely) sleeps and does her business. She wears doggy diapers now (great BTW)

It is sad, sad, sad.........my kids were little when we got her.......

My husband and I agree, however, that she isn't in pain, so we aren't willing to do anything just yet. Hugssssss to all the doggy lovers out there.........Julie

Wait......did I say my husband and I AGREED on something?

[KEC]

Hi, I work for a large vet clinic as a ve t assistant. Have they done chest x-rays and a heartworm test on your dog? Also your dog could be painful somewhere causing him to pant. Hope you find out the problem Kathy