My dog is very sick

[Control-Z]

It was just vomiting and minimal dehydration last night when I took her to the vet, but in my heart I knew it was more.

She stayed the night. I spoke to the vet this morning. He says she is diabetic and critically ill. It could run into thousands to help her. And if they can help, the diabetes will still be a problem to control - talked about sending her to an intensive care hospital tonight - or putting her to sleep.

She's old, I know. But I don't know what to do or how to tell my kids. No one seems to be home right now to talk to.

Of course, I run to you, DU. I'm so sad right now.

[MrScorpio]

1. That's so sad

All I can give you is a hug right now

:hug:

I'm so sorry

[Control-Z]

8. thank you n/t

[SPKrazy]

2. Awww, I'm Sorry dancingalone

it is sad, i think you know what will need to happen, but it doesn't make it easier.

i can give you hugs :hug: :hug: and good vibes to you, your family, and your dog.

[Control-Z]

4. I know

That is why I'm locked in my room alone, crying. I'm not ready to tell the family. I need to get a grip first.

Thank you for the hugs, SPK. You really are the best.

[hfojvt]

3. they said the same thing when my dog's kidney's failed

I spent about $400 trying to, best case, extend her life by six months. Then I rented a car over the weekend and took her to see my nieces.

I thought the vets coulda done more. That a little bit of water and some daily exercise would have helped, instead of just caging her and an IV. After I took her home she improved alot as I gave her sips of milk every couple of hours.

I would check some vet sites on-line and see what they say you can do, but don't be in a hurry to put her down, unless she is in agony.

[Control-Z]

6. They've found a mass

(on X-ray) - could be a tumor or a kidney infection. They don't know - I don't understand.

We're already running close to a $1,000.00, just for the past 16 hours with the vet.

She seems very unhappy.

[DainBramaged]

9. They are our other children, our friends, and companions

My 13 year old Bully slowed down dramatically overnight. She seems better today, but something is wrong with her. If she becomes very ill, I have no choice but to watch her go to sleep, for I am too poor for extended medical care.

I have been where you have many times in my life, and as I write this the tears stream down my face. Do what is best for your fur baby, you suffers as much as she does, and they know, believe me they know when it's time.

All my best

Dain

[sleepyhead]

10. You are the best judge of what is right for your pet.

If she is suffering and there is no way to make her better, humanely helping her out of her misery is always an option. Being cooped up in a hospital cage, with no hope of a good quality of life, is not what we want for our pets. Please don't feel guilty if you choose to say goodbye. We always wish that our pets could live as long as we do, but that's not the way they're made.

[Guava Jelly]

5. The only thing i would suggest is to do what is best for your dog

It may require a really tough decision.I have made that decision myself before.
It isn't easy but it is humanely done.
I don't envy you :hug:
I would tell your children the truth..She is very very sick and in pain.
I hope my reply doesn't sound insensitive.I just thought you may need to hear it.

[Control-Z]

7. Not insensitive

I do need to hear. I feel like a child myself right now.

She is very sick.

[LeftyFingerPop]

11. If you don't need to make a decision now...

please don't.

If your dog is not in terrible pain, please postpone the decision until you have time to clearly think through all your options.

All my good thoughts are with you and your dog and your family. :hug:

[Control-Z]

19. Yes,

I am going to have my girlfriend drive me over to the vet to ask some more questions now. I'm getting a clearer head.

Thank you - all of you .:hug: I love you guys. I don't know what I would do without you.

I will be checking back soon.

[rubberducky]

12. I`ve been in your shoes. My sweet doxie had a ruptured disc

doc said it would run about $7,000. Had to make the big decision. But, god, how it hurt. My heart goes out to you. Still miss my little girl.

[rubberducky]

13. My heart just breaks for you.

I "lived" on petloss.com for a long time. Still go there, I`m doxiemom. It`s been 3 years now, but my heart still aches for my sweet doxie. Got 2 toy poodles(sisters) but, it took me awhile to learn to love them. Now they are my life. But, I will never forget my sweetheart doxie. Peace to you.

[xchrom]

14. ...

Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.
--Franciscan prayer


May God, who heals the sick, defends the vulnerable, cares for the poor, and liberates all creation from suffering and injustice, bring us all to that peaceable kingdom when all creatures shall live in harmony and all suffering shall be transformed into joy. Amen.

[MissB]

15. You do what is best for your dog and you and your children.

I'm sorry. :hug:

[China_cat]

16. Your vet is wrong about diabetes being a problem to control.

If they can get her through the ketoacidosis (most likely the problem right now), diabetes is not the death sentence it used to be. You can home test using the same meter you would for yourself, watch the diet and the care adds maybe 2 minutes a day to your routine care of the dog.

I've got a cat who's been diabetic for about 6 years now. He's never had a hypo because I test his blood and I watch his diet. I do have to admit, though, getting the urine sample once a week for ketone testing is sometimes problematic.

[Control-Z]

18. I would be happy to test her and treat her at home

if there is hope of comfort and happiness for her. There is a mass near her pancreas? kidneys? (I am unclear about just where) - vet doesn't know if it is infection or something worse. Can diabetes cause something like this? Can infection cause a mass? Does anyone here know?

[China_cat]

22. Sometime with diabetes, yes, a mass can be seen near

the pancreas. It tends to disappear when the diabetes is controlled. This is NOT to say that this is always the cause, though. While you need hope, I don't want to give you false hope.

Infection is common in diabetics, especially at diagnosis and drives the blood sugar way up. And yes, a pocket of infection can look like a mass on preliminary x-rays but if an ultrasound is done, will look a bit different...enough to say for sure which it is.

I'll keep a good thought for you. In fact, I'm going to hope for diabetes. If she has to be sick, this is something you can at least help control.

[AZBlue]

17. I'm SO sorry!

:hug:

[Maestro]

20. You must think of quality of life for her.

We had a dog that somehow had poisoned itself. The vet said it wasn't anti-freeze because that would have killed her within 12 hours. It could have been a snake or a poisonous plant. She had been sick for about four days. When she started to convulse I immediately took her to the emergency vet clinic. The vet said that he could save her but her kidneys were ruined and would probably cause her pain and other health problems soon. In the end, we put her to sleep. It was very sad, but it was for the best. I explained to my young kids that she was hurting and would continue to hurt so it was best to let her sleep in peace forever.

[BarenakedLady]

21. I'm so sorry

I recently had to make that decision.

:hug:

[mitchum]

23. DancingAlone, we had to face the same thing with our beloved 14 year old...

last year. You must take the quality of life issue into consideration. Both my wife and I know that we should have made the heartbreaking decision 6 months earlier, but it IS just so damned hard.
Your dog will always be with you (I don't just mean in loving memories) and she will frequently make her presence known.
My thoughts are with you and your family.

[Throwing Stones]

24. My thoughts go out to you

This is obviously the hardest part of having a pet. As you weigh tough choices, though, remember how much joy your little friend brought to you, and remember all the times that the little things you did for her made that little tail wag uncontrollably.

Dogs are truly a gift to humans, and I know that what you're going through must be intensely painful.

:hug: