Your Opinion: Put dog down, or not.?

Question

Okay, here are the details:

1. I adopted Lexie from a shelter a little over 2 years ago. She was the next dog to be put down, and I couldn't see that happening to her.

2. Due to her being in a shelter, she has severe separation issues, and cannot be left alone or she will destroy everything in sight. Therefore, while I am at work; she is in a crate. Her anxiety is so bad, that she will even chew on her feet out of nervousness. She has also chewed through a metal crate one time and I came home to a dog covered in blood.

3. Lexie was diagnosed with Advanced Heartworms about 2 months ago.

4. When given the shot to treat the Heartworms, the dog must remain completely calm, or the dead heartworms will be push into the lungs and the dog will die.

Lexie is obviously not a calm dog. Plus, we have 2 puppies in the house so that doesn't help the situation. She cannot play for long periods of time without coughing from the current worms in her lungs. So, would you put her down?

Okay, I apparently need to clarify a few things.

1. Lexie is right around 4 years old.

2. 9 months ago I moved to another state and had to start from scratch. During that time finances became stretched and I missed her heartworm treatment for 2 months. Prior and After this span of time, she has ALWAYS had her heartworm preventative. I am NOT a irresponsible owner.

3. She has not had the shots for treatment as of yet, and the time when she needs to be calm is the month after the shots are given. So it's not for 5 minutes while the shot is given. I cannot take 1 month off work, I would not be able to support the house that she lives in.

4. I am not asking for you to make the decision; I am simply asking for your OPINION on what YOU would do if you were in my situation. I do not want to put her down, but I also don't want her to be miserable, and I am biased.

5. Lexie is a Lab/Dalmation Mix.

5. She has had training, and that has helped with 99% of the issues she had when she came home from the shelter. She has calmed down dramtically since I first brought her home, but she is still nervous.

Answer 1

I would discuss all of this with the vet, he has to consider the dogs survival chance before treating for heartworms. You may also want to try to find her another home with perhaps a older couple who stay home most of the time if she is not a risk of biting them. Dogs like this really need a solid routine and if they are in a home where someone is always home they do better. Seperation anxiety can be tough to deal with, some dogs can get past it with training but some never do. You can also consult an animal behaviorist and have the dog evaluated, they should be able to give you a better idea of whether this dog can get past this issue by seeing the dog in person than anyone online can do.

Good luck

Answer 2

Okay. I think that you have recieved a lot of good feedback, I can understand why you would be frustrated, though, by some other answers. You seem to have forgotton to give the dog heartworm preventative because you have had the animal for 2 years and she was recenlty diagnosed with the disease two months ago. All well, lesson learned, hopefully. If you got the dog heartworm positive, then it is not really your fualt, but it is very responsible of you to take the actions of caring for this dog. The heartworm preventative; although not a cure, can slow down the growth of the heartworms. You may want to try to locate a low cost clinic for the treatmen because she will continue to get worse in health, and this can be very painful for the dog.

Our clinic does not hospitilize a heartworm treatment. We hold the dog for the day to observe. However, if the dog gets too crazy and does not relax, then we call the customer for pick up because the animal does better and can be a bit clamer in the comfort of his own home. We tell the client that if the dog has any problems to bring it back.

There are sedatives out there, but I do not believe that our vet recommends this for a heartworm positive animal. All vets are different, though.

Here is the best and only information someone should be giving. I have informed you with the risks and pain that she can and will get from heartworms. Can I say you should put her down? Well, you want what is best for the animal. She will suffer if you do not get the treatment. But, should you let her live a bit longer? Well, they can live with all health conditions. The question I leave you is: what will be the most comfortable thing for your animal while living her life?

Good Luck

Answer 3

I am very saddened by this whole situation. Obviously, you have not given your poor rescued dog the proper vet care in the two years you have owned her, like you promised the shelter you would. A simple heartworm test and some monthly medication would have prevented this horrible disease in your poor dog. In addition, some research and training in the two long years you have owned her would have helped the separation anxiety a lot, but it doesn't seem like you did that either. Locking her in a crate was your easy way out of the problem, it seems.
Now you have a dilemma on your hands and you seem to want people here to make your decision for you. I won't be a party to that. You made your own bed for your dog, so now you need to get you and your dog out of it.
Talk to your vet first-he is the one who will be able to tell you the dog's chances of survival with this treatment. As far as the separation anxiety, hire yourself a trainer and take care of it, like a responsible dog owner.
If you go through with the treatment, I hope you are fully committed to keeping your dog quiet and calm for at least FOUR WEEKS, because that is what the vet will recommend. If you don't have the heart or the commitment to this, your dog will surely suffer more.
I would wish you luck, but I think I will save that luck for Lexie.

Answer 4

You have already answered your own question. But what I truly want to know is, do YOU believe it was right to put the dog down? I feel like you've done a lot of justifying here, as if you subconciously don't believe it was the right decision, but don't want to admit it. If the dog's quality of life had become no life at all, and the vet could do nothing, I would have made the same decision. Euthanizing a dog is a tough call. I spent over $2000 in vet bills on a dog I rescued only to euthanize it two months later (at the age of one year) because he had a serious aggression issue that my trainer could not fix.

Answer 5

How did the dog get heartworms? Did you not take care of the dog in the first place and give it heartworm meds?
I don't see why you can't get the dog healthy again, I think you are just looking for a reason to get rid of the dog so you can play with the 2 cute little puppies you have now.

I wouldn't put the dog down, I would help it get healthy if at all possible.

Answer 6

I am definitely not a dog expert, but I do know that dalmations are naturally high strung. Is there any way you could have a friend or a dog walker come over during the time you are gone and take her out for exercise? Also, you could ask your vet about Prozac or Valium for her. A lot of vet's prescribe this for dogs who stress.
I have four dogs and one of them freaks out during thunderstorms and no matter how much we try, we can't console her. So...as soon as we hear thunder, she gets two over the counter Benedryl. That might help her for when you leave. Ask your vet if she can take it with her heartworm treatment before you give it to her. It is also good for spider bites, traveling, anxiety. I have been giving it to them for over 7 years with the okay of my Vet.
Good luck, Sweetie. I know how hard these decisions are to make.
Tammy

Answer 7

I would talk to the vet and see if there is something that can keep her calm for the needed time. I would think with other puppies she wouldn't have such a severe seperation issues. Have you tried working her up to the amount of time that she will be left and treats when you come home. Also what about letting her play with the puppies, say outside or in the garage or in one room of the house that is dog proof. This may help her, she is not alone and you will always return to her. I would talk to the vet about all of these things. There could be some medication to give her to keep her calm while being treated, its for her own good. But I would not put her down because of this.

Answer 8

You don't say how old Lexi is... This is a hard question, I would have to think about this one for a while if it was my dog.. But I'll be honest and I know this isn't going to go over well... Dogs should be happy and loved and confident and not living in fear all the time.. Her anxiety suggests that she isn't living a happy life.. Add heartworms and the harsh treatment it takes to get rid of the heartworms.. I have to lean towards putting her to sleep..

Answer 9

I'm not really sure what to say, Lexie is a mess.
Have you tried medication for her seperation issues? My mixed female has Nervous Colitis (simular seperation issue but she makes her self sick to her stomach) and she is on medication.
Will the heartworms be cured? If not then that will kill her to.
I would try a puppy prozac, or medication to calm her down first and if that does not work, maybe either put her down or find her a new home where she will not be alone. And that someone that can afford her meds.
My Prayers are with you on this one, its tough

Answer 10

No one can make this decision for you. Have an open conversation with your vet and really listen. The separation anxiety can be worked on - it's a long, slow process but it is manageable. As for the heartworms, perhaps she can be given a mild sedative to keep her calm during the treatment.
BTW, crating a dog with separation anxiety may not be the best solution if she is suffering injuries trying to get out.