Zeke, my 10 year old German Shepherd, is the first dog that has been "mine", so I haven't had this decision making process before and need your help!
He has a chronic illness, addison's disease, and was diagnosed at age 5, with monthly injections of Percortin to keep him alive. These injections are about $150/month. He also takes prednisone occasionally but daily use of this results in incontinence. The vet has also given me some pain medication as he's been looking creakier and creakier the last few months, occasionally super-tense when dd or I get too close or brush up against him (no biting, just that "I'm scared" growly thing). Last month I found a cutaneous horn about two inches long growing out of his tail. He was being groomed the day he got his shot, so I asked them if they had an idea of what it was without running any tests I'd love to hear what this was. Vet came back with bone cancer, or possibly a viral infection, but would have to biopsy it. I declined, as I would do nothing if he was diagnosed with cancer anyway.....The dog has just been very expensive and so I decided after the first Addison's crash ($3000) I would not be doing anything more as far as saving him....He was never expected to live this long-they gave him "probably two more years", and this was five years ago..
So here are the points that are weighing heavily on me at present:
1. we just relocated for a new job. New job is slow right now--employer previously outlined a far different pay type than what is actually occurring so I planned differently--should pick up, but I only made $800 last month and used the last of the emergency fund to pay daycare and rent. Simply put, we're super-poor at least for another couple of months (but I did apply for welfare-not sure how long this will be until anything kicks in)
2. if we quit doing the injections on the dog, he will turn sick pretty fast, and we'll probably have a lot more poo messes than we currently have (one diarrhea spray disaster each week) and he will have more aches.
3. I can't currently afford to euthanize him, nor can I afford to continue his injections.
4. I could borrow the money to keep him alive, but I'm not sure this is best for anyone, including the dog
5. I feel guilty that I may be somehow jumping the gun on ending his life because I have been imagining life without the dog in positive ways, but this could just be my own coping style too.
6. dd is 2.5 years old, and loves this dog. I don't want her last times with him to be times when he is in pain and lashing out at her, nor do I want to set either of them up for a "bad-dog" situation or have anyone get hurt. She's been devastated the few times the "brush up growlies" happen.
Mommas, help me with making sense out of this! I feel as if I can't think straight about it--he is my first "child" and my heart is so heavy.
He has a chronic illness, addison's disease, and was diagnosed at age 5, with monthly injections of Percortin to keep him alive. These injections are about $150/month. He also takes prednisone occasionally but daily use of this results in incontinence. The vet has also given me some pain medication as he's been looking creakier and creakier the last few months, occasionally super-tense when dd or I get too close or brush up against him (no biting, just that "I'm scared" growly thing). Last month I found a cutaneous horn about two inches long growing out of his tail. He was being groomed the day he got his shot, so I asked them if they had an idea of what it was without running any tests I'd love to hear what this was. Vet came back with bone cancer, or possibly a viral infection, but would have to biopsy it. I declined, as I would do nothing if he was diagnosed with cancer anyway.....The dog has just been very expensive and so I decided after the first Addison's crash ($3000) I would not be doing anything more as far as saving him....He was never expected to live this long-they gave him "probably two more years", and this was five years ago..
So here are the points that are weighing heavily on me at present:
1. we just relocated for a new job. New job is slow right now--employer previously outlined a far different pay type than what is actually occurring so I planned differently--should pick up, but I only made $800 last month and used the last of the emergency fund to pay daycare and rent. Simply put, we're super-poor at least for another couple of months (but I did apply for welfare-not sure how long this will be until anything kicks in)
2. if we quit doing the injections on the dog, he will turn sick pretty fast, and we'll probably have a lot more poo messes than we currently have (one diarrhea spray disaster each week) and he will have more aches.
3. I can't currently afford to euthanize him, nor can I afford to continue his injections.
4. I could borrow the money to keep him alive, but I'm not sure this is best for anyone, including the dog
5. I feel guilty that I may be somehow jumping the gun on ending his life because I have been imagining life without the dog in positive ways, but this could just be my own coping style too.
6. dd is 2.5 years old, and loves this dog. I don't want her last times with him to be times when he is in pain and lashing out at her, nor do I want to set either of them up for a "bad-dog" situation or have anyone get hurt. She's been devastated the few times the "brush up growlies" happen.
Mommas, help me with making sense out of this! I feel as if I can't think straight about it--he is my first "child" and my heart is so heavy.
