Sick pup.

bah. My g'damn dog is sickly/dying. My dog is my best friend, whom I have mentally replaced my son for back in 2004. She is my best friend. This is the 2nd week in a row I have had her at the vet's. They kept her overnight this time. Last week xrays and blood work showed nothing. This week, xrays show nothing, blood shows her liver is ****tin the bed. This is totally not good. I can't stress the words best friend enough. Her ALKP(liver function enzyme) is through the roof, literally off the charts, which in turn has her cholestorol up in to dangerous zones, and her EOS came back dangerously low. They are flushing her system and won't let her come home until she holds down food. Told me he can't do any more for her, and he needs to send me to a liver specialist because the liver enzyme was literally off the scale/chart, and he can't do anymore until he knows what that # is. When Mike came home with no Raskal last night, I thought I was going to vomit all over the house like she's been doing. My question is, when is enough, enough? We noticed her quality of life slipping last week, only completely responsive to me. When I say completely, She was responsive in every aspect, only going slow. Lethargic like. So, think logically people, when is enough, enough? I've got $1200 dollars in vet bills invested in to her as of last night. Livers if treated, and kept up with via diet and exercise, can do a full recovery. How long do I let the vet keep her? I'm not going to let her die by herself. My best friend is worth any money in the world. Her quality of life is my only interest.

Lizzie I have 3 dogs... my oldest are labmix's 5 year olds, my youngest is 10 mth pit bull... If my dogs were suffering with no positive outcome I would do the humane thing for them and put them down. I wish our society would let us do this to the humans we love... We tend to keep them alive, willing to spend every dime we have for no other reason than we are not willing to let them go. I am tears thinking about my pups and the day this decision has to be made but I will make it and I will do it.. I love them to much to let them suffer anymore.. And yes I did make the decision to put down my wonderful black shepard years ago, I stayed in the room while the vet did it petting Sammy and telling him I loved him and that I was sorry that as hard as we tried we couldnt fix him and make him better. Debby

logically only YOU can answer that.. when is enough .. enough.. I LOVE my furbabies.. but also know that *I* won't spend thousands of dollars for their healthcare.. Now... I have and will spend money.. Katie had a busted knee cap.. had her to the vets.. who put it together with cast and many visits back to stay when her toes got swollen while in cast. Not sure if I would have paid surgical fees for pins and **** thank GOD I didn't have to make that call.. Allie.. was shot.. paid vet bill to have her checked.. and bullet removed.. thank GOD again no "major" organ**** or complicated treatment needed.. I know that they are my BELOVED PETS.. and I will care as best I can for them.. but I won't allow my self to go into too much debt for their care.. especially if they are getting too far up there in age.. or if the treatment is to postpone or drawout the inevitable.. you say tho.. that liver condition can be cured with diet and exercise. I think I would get the numbers.. consult with a specialist (if a cure is possible and not ungodly costly).. and go from there. Keep us updated.. ps.. any idea why Katie would be pulling her hair out.. she's lost a lot of weight also over the past year.. but she needed to. And she acts sooo much healtier now.. but not sure why she up and losing.. and now pulling/grooming a bald spot on her back. I don't see bugs.. was wondering dry skin she likes to lay next to the heater..

(((((Liz))))) Unfortunately this is a decision only YOU can make, we can tell what WE would do but the real decision can only come from you. Maybe "talk" to the specialist and see what the problem might be and an estimated cost of how much money you would be looking at, then decide. I understand completely how you feel. My Dixie (a beautiful lab/weimeraner mix) lived to be thirteen years old, she was my baby, my best friend, my shoulder to cry on when I couldn't talk to anyone else but she got so terribly bad with severe arthritis in her legs and she had tumors in her stomach that was keeping her from eating and we literally had to pick her up and carry her outside to use the bathroom. It was terrible. I finally came to the realization that we weren't keeping her alive for HER, we were doing it for US which wasn't fair. When we took her to the vet to have her put to sleep (and I tear up everytime I remember this) she laid her head on my lap and looked at me like "thank you, now I can be at peace". So we did and brought her back home to bury her. I still miss that silly dog and she's been gone since 2001. You will always love her and you will always remember her. If it is to much of a risk to keep her alive sweetie then you have to think about her and her quality of life and let her go. Keep us updated and remember we're here for you

and now you have me all teary eyed too.. it's hard when we love pets who just love us back so unconditionally

my BFF had to make that decision just over a year ago. he had a tumor the size of an orange or grapefruit by his colon, so just pooping was intense pain for him, so she knew it was time. beyond that I'm not sure how she knew. all I know is she cried & I cried (he's the one that got me hooked on boxers) and now she has started fostering boxers too, & has fallen in love with her first foster & is keeping him forever. I'm sorry you have to make this decision. I dread the day I have to for bruno

Mine was a 15 yr old chihuahua/pomeranian mix. She had uterine tumors that were benign. She started not drinking or eating. Went to vet unsure of what I had to do. He said they were operable, but it might kill her due to age. He also said some other things could be done, but blah blah blah. My (damn, I'm bawling now) "sign" was when GiGi would even take a drink from her favorite little sippy cup. I looked into her eyes and it was like she told me she couldn't go on and to please let her go. So, I did, but I was face to face with her and looking into her eyes until she peacefully went to sleep. It was one of the hardest things I've had to do, but I owed my baby that much; to see her momma as she went to sleep and feel her gentle rubbing her head. Lizzie, I hate this for you. Everyone that has responded is correct; we can only tell our stories. Yours has a different twist because of your son. You've gone through so much and it breaks my heart to hear about this for you. Think about Raskal and what she might feel or want if she could express it to you. Then go with your heart or your head, but it has to be what is best for your baby. We're here and so is any higher being you believe in. I am so so sorry. The other Liz

Oh how I wish I could make this decision for you but I can't all I can do is be here and share with you what I went through last year with my best friend. I had her for 14 years and she had a bad heart but Liz she looked like a puppy even did the day I had to put her to sleep..I cried for a week and missed a week's work I was so bad, so sad and so lonely without her. She would cough constantly and couldn't catch her breath and was beginning to really suffer. Once the Vet told me her heart would only get worse and even though I had her on medicine which was the strongest she could take it wasn't helping. I finally had to say "Barb, you love her to much to have her suffer so, think about her and I did. The decision is so hard but your heart and your beloved pet will give you the right answer. Hugs to you My Sweet Lizzie Barb

Ugh...reading this was so hard for me as I am not sure you had seen what happened to my fur babies in the last few months....bottom line was that I made a decision that was in THEIR best interest and I think everyone here said the same thing....it is your call ultimately and in the best interest of Raskal. I let go of my fur babies (inseparable brother and sister, Springer Spaniels) to go live back in MT....I did not give them the time they deserved, I was traveling so much and it was costing me so much money to have doggie daycare come to my home.....well neither one of them survived since September when I let go of them....they were staying at my dad's house and he has a large piece of land and other dogs.....one ended up dying of complications from an infection he got from a cut and the other one got hit by a car.....I have cried and cried and have been very, very, very sad.....especially without seeing them after I said good bye at the airport and sent them off in their cages and cried and cried and cried.....it was so hard for me...... But I know God does everything and plans everything for a reason and I know I had to let go of them here.....it was in their best interest..... My thoughts and hugs are with you....loves too, Annie