The hardest decision?

Question

I have a 12 year old beagle mix. she has been coughing and choking for several months. The vet has been unable to find a reason.

This morning at yet another visit, the vet said she is probably asthematic. The problem is that the treatment requires steroids which are hard on the heart. The vet wants me to take her halfway across the state to have an EKG performed which will cost $500.

If she does not have a heart condition, it's safe to administer the asthema treatment. If she does have a heart condition, she could go at any time now, the vet said.

Am I crazy for thinking that the heart check would in this case be a waste of time and money? I'm asking her treat for asthema and if she has a bad heart, she's go anyway.

Age is a factor, too. If she was younger, There's nothing I wouldn't do. But at her age and health otherwise, the best I could ask for is one more year.

What would you do if this was your dog? Please take age, expense and love into account. Thanks

First, I thank all of you for your opinions. I just think some may be misunderstanding.

I have no problem giving her any treatment that will help her. my concern is $500 for a test that may have nothing to do with the illness.

I'm more looking for opinions is I'm crazy for looking for alteratives to the expensive test, or just follow doctor's order.

I don't know where one of you interpreted surgery.

Answer 1

I have a 15 year old Italian greyhound who has had asthma for most of her life. She is not on steroids. She is on Aminophylline. It is a bronchodilator, which opens the air passages in an asthmatic person or dog and makes it easier for them to breathe. Asthma is often caused by allergies, which my dog definately has. Her asthma is often helped by taking Children's Benadryl in addition to the Aminophylline (the vet recommended both). At the onset of symptoms - wheezing and difficulty breathing - we give her half a Children's Benadryl (approx. 10 mg) tablet. Then, if symptoms worsen, more wheezing, coughing, etc., sometimes runny eyes and nose even, she gets an Aminophylline tablet. These are repeated up to twice daily as needed. She is now 15 and has never needed steroids.

Ask your vet if he would consider this therapy for your dog. If not, why. If you don't like the answer, you can always get a second opinion. However, don't let your dog suffer. If getting a second opinion, do it immediately. Asthma only gets worse without treatment and can be life threatening.

Answer 2

If you get the EKG and you find out that that she doesn't have a heart condition, you may feel a lot better about going through with the steroid treatment. But then if you get the EKG and find out she does have a heart condition, I do see what you mean by it seeming like a waste of money. It would be like paying $500 for them to tell you theres nothing you can do, which is very hard to hear. 12 years old is pretty old, but do you think it is her time to go?


Its really hard to put myself in your position. My oldest dog is a pekingese and he already has a problem with a slipped disk and yeast infections. He will be 12 in 5 years and if I had to make the decision of the $500 dollar EKG I don't think I would do it. Even if he was eligible for the treatment and I went through with it, I don't think he would have good quality of life for much longer. I would just be thankful for the 12 years I had with him and appreciate whatever time I have left with him, until it is his time to go.


But what you do is really up to you and should be based on how you feel about your dogs condition. How much longer do you think your dog will live a quality life if you go through with the treatment successfully? Do you think $500 is really worth finding out whether or not your dog has a heart condition? Or do you think the outcome doesn't really matter? Its really up to you and how you feel about the situation.

Answer 3

I'd go have her heart checked. Either it will clear the way for treatment or you might find out that she has a heart problem. Heart problems are sometimes a cause for coughing. I had a beloved pet who developed a long term cough and the vet couldn't determine a diagnosis for the cough. The vet put my dog on bronchitis medicine. My dog died two weeks later of an enlarged heart. I'm not saying that is what is wrong with your girl. Just that if you have her heart checked, you eliminate that as a possible cause and road block to treatment.

Answer 4

If her condition is painful for her without treatment, then by all means treat her. I agree with you, If you find out she has a heart condition, then what, continue to let her suffer? This is the problem we have with human medical treatment.....there may be treatment available for a terminally ill person , but not enough testing has been done so the treatment could kill the terminally ill. Do what it takes to make the rest of your dog's life comfortable, be it one year or one week!
If you don't spend a lot of money, maybe you can make a donation to your nearest humane society when the time comes that your pet has gone to rest.

Answer 5

Aww thats soo tough. I love dogs more than anything but you also have to factor in the age and condition. You don't want to see the dog suffer and be on medication all the time just for it to live another year or so. I wouldnt mind spending the money but if the meds are hard on the heart if would be sad to see a dog in those conditions. Good luck

Answer 6

I trust my vet, and generally when faced with something like this, I ask them what THEY would do if it were THEIR dog.

How hard would the car trip be on your dog, and what would the long-term prognosis be if she didn't have a heart condition and she took the asthma treatment? How is her quality of life day-to-day, and how would it change with the medication?

Those are questions I'd want answers to before I made a decision. For me, it's a question of whether or not there is a good chance for a better quality of life, as opposed to what she has now.

Good luck... =/

Answer 7

You are in a hard position and I know how difficult those decisions can be. I put $1,200 into my young Lab only to find out he had no medical problems he was just"quirky". I could have told them that, but the vets told me he needed the tests. I would do anyhting for my animals especially my Lab, I owe it to them and it is my responsibilty. Did the other vets say that your dog needed the heart test.? Go with your heart and what is best for your dog, think about how you would fel either way with all possible out comes.

Answer 8

I'd have to seriously think about how much I love my animal, and I'd probably try to make them as comfortable as possible without undue stress like going out of their comfort zone. If my dog is 12 and only has limited time I'd try to find something to make the dog more comfortable with out spending all of my money the other option to ask yourself what is the quality of life the dog has left. When do you know it is time to put the animal down, no one wants to do that but you're probably only keeping it alive for yourself.

Answer 9

Well, the first dog I've had was deaf and almost blind. We did all we could to keep her alive. But she was comfortable with her treatment. But finally she went almost blind at the age of 22 (in human years) For awhile she was fine with it but eventually we put her to sleep. My 2nd dog's kidney's were failing and making her go to the bathroom uncontrolably so we but her to sleep at the age of 14. Our third dog just had surgery for kidney stones and is perfectly well now. Personaly I would try to find if she has heart probablems but that is your choice. She is your dog and you will know what is best for her.

Answer 10

Listen-
I will take to the grave how guilty I feel for putting my 15 y/o Sheltie through HELL trying to keep him glued together during the last year of his life. He was so uncomfortable, I spent money I didn't have, and in the end his passing was SO easy with the meds. If it's not reasonable to think of your dog returning to very very good health, then please consider doing the humane thing-- for both of you. I have 2 new dogs now, and when we adopted them, we made a promise to each other that when the dogs get old & sick, they go down. I will never treat a senior dog for a chronic illness again. It was chicken of me to do it last time, I wont do it again. Cherish your memories.

Good luck-- M