my dog was taking 50mg of deramax daily for arthritis, he had been on it for 6 weeks had blood work done and one of his liver enzymes were elevated so the vet said give it to him every other day which made a huge diffferance he was falling alot and wetting his bed.and one of his legs was super stiff.i figured after the holidays he would have to be euthanized so i asked the vet if i could give him the deramaxx everyday since what did it matter if it effected his liver at least he would feel better.my dog is doing so good now no more piddling in his bed he gets up and walks out side i help him up and down the stairs he walks around the yard does he buissiness. he eats well i make him every thing i also started giving him cosequin.i thought i might try some marin or denosyl to help his liver. if he was really suffering wouldnt he just lie there moaning and not eat and make no effort to do anything i know he is old.i want to have more blood work done to see if anything changed .
2006-12-06 06:34:01 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Wow! that is a very hard decision..If he is enjoying life, it is worth hangin on..but if he is in more pain more often than not, it would be that he is just hanging on to get you through the holidays..
Very hard decision, but YOU have loved him all of his life, and cared for him so well, that whatever YOU decide will be the absolute best for both of you..trust your own instincts, and make the choice.
2006-12-06 06:41:09 · answer #1 · answered by Chetco 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
If he is doing well on the deramaxx everyday, keep giving it to him. Cosequin will also help but it usually takes 4-6 weeks to see a real difference. Talk to your vet about adequan injections. It is an injectable form of glucosamine and it has really helped a lot of our patients. It can now be given injected into the skin instead of the muscle so you can do this at home if you are comfortable with it. The denosyl works wonders on the liver and I would definitely start your dog on it as soon as possible. Milk thistle also helps with liver function and you can get that over the counter at any drug store or Walmart. I wouldnt even consider euthanasia if he is doing so well. Trust me you will know when it is time. As long as he is happy, eating and has a good quality of life what more can we ask for. It sounds like you are an awesome dog parent and have obviously taken great care of him over the years. 17 1/2 is amazing for a Lab. You definitely have his best interest at heart. Good luck and I hope you and your best friend get lots more good quality time together.
2006-12-06 16:59:54 · answer #2 · answered by vettech 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My vet told me that my dog was going to continue to tease me with "good days". He told me that I really needed to sit back and look at the overall picture. When I did, I realized that he was having more "bad" days then "good" days. I was simply clinging to those good days and blocking the bad ones from my mind.
My dog would never show me that he was suffering. Even when he had trouble walking, he never showed that he was in pain, just weakness.
My family agreed that he would hold on as long as he possibly could because he knew that I was not ready to say goodbye. I did the same thing, med after med after med. I paid my neighbor to come over while I was at work to get him up so he could stretch his legs and move around. Otherwise he would have just slept all day. A couple times when the neighbor was unable to take care of him I came home early to find him laying in his own feces. On other days he would be up and waiting at the door for me.
It's a sad time and one of the most difficult decisions you'll ever have to make. Honestly though, I would consider the fact that his time is soon. When I made the call for Maverick, it was after I really, for the first time, really looked into his eyes. He was tired, really, really tired.
Do what's right for him and try to see life from your dog's point of view. It's hard, I know, you've got me in tears thinking back about my Maverick and that was 7 months ago.
My thoughts are with you.
2006-12-06 15:09:58 · answer #3 · answered by KJ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like the meds are helping his arthritis. Probably the best thing do do is re-check the bloodwork and go from there. 17 1/2 is OLD for a lab. Most only make it to 10 or 12. I doubt his liver has gotten any better, but it never hurts to check.
2006-12-06 14:47:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a hard decision. It's hard to tell how he's feeling because it's an animals instinct to not show pain and suffering.
I would discuss everything over with your vet and see what his input is on things.
It's quality of life over quantity. If his quality isn't what it should be, then you're only keeping him around because it's too hard to do the other. But sometimes, the hard things are right and need to be done. You know your situation better than anyone, just follow your heart and do what's best for your pet.
Prayers to you....
2006-12-06 14:48:30 · answer #5 · answered by BVC_asst 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know about the Deramax since I had a dog with cancer on it. It is good medication,but I am sorry to hear it is affecting his liver. Your dog is up there in years and I know you love him. Be it me, I would just keep him on the Deramax , let him enjoy his remaining time free of pain. No, as long as he is comfortable I would not euthanize him. You know his time is nearing,,just enjoy him and the time he has left. Happy Holidays to both you and your dog.
2006-12-06 14:53:08 · answer #6 · answered by ® 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sadly, many people let their pets suffer because they refuse to see the pain. If your friends and neighbors agree he isn't in pain, you could give it a try. Have liver bloodwork done at least once a month, and have a plan in case he takes a turn for the worse at night or on a weekend.
2006-12-06 14:43:01 · answer #7 · answered by Kacky 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If he is doing well, then there's no reason to euthanize him just yet. You're absolutely right. If he was suffering, he would be depressed, lethargic, or other unusual behavior.
Just make sure that you consult with your vet about any medications or supplements that you want to give him, as there could be some drug interactions that you wouldn't want.
Other than that, it sounds like he is doing very well! It's very unusual to hear about a larger dog living to that age, so it sounds as if you've been very good to him throughout his life. :)
2006-12-06 14:55:59 · answer #8 · answered by Souris 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Have you tried natural alternatives such as swimming, heating pads, stretching and glucosamine supplements? Mild pain relievers such as aspirin can also be used. These still have effect on the liver so be careful about dosage.
You might want to try a different vet. Dogs shouldn't have to be put down just for arthritis.
2006-12-06 14:42:53 · answer #9 · answered by Ro b 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Good job an taking care of your dog that long!!~!
I would wait to do that till after the holiday, unless he is in allot of pain, all the time. Give him as much love in theses possible last few days :(.
2006-12-06 15:04:14 · answer #10 · answered by tdude09 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋