Has anyone ever heard of or can help??

Question

I have a 7 year old husky, about 2 years back she was diagnoised with chronic lung disease.. The only thing we can have her on is prednison, and albuteral, well is has gotten worse on us. She sounds so uncomfortable when she sleep's her breathing is bad, she has lost her appetite, her energy and so on. And now that she has been on pred for so long its affecting her kidneys.. We have the bloodwork and urine tests and x-rays done, but what i want to know is has anyone ever has this diagnoises, and have any other options. It is just getting worse, and it does become financial, and im sorry but dont tell me lower income people shouldnt have pets.. I am trying my hardest but her comfort is my main concern, when do you say enough is enough? And the vet has not been able to come up with any other meds to help her. And it seems like the warmer the better she does, and with winter coming, im dreading the affect it is gonna have on her. If anyone has any useful info for me i would appreciate it

i have had her to, two vets so far, and have heard the same thing, we can make her comfortable, but cant make it go away>

oh and she still has the beautiful husky coat she always had,

all my pets are on good quality dog food, they eat better then me, it is hurting me so much because i cant do more. And she does not seem herself anymore, i dont want the vet to frown on me for making this decsion, whatever it may be, but i thank all of you whom have been so comforting this is really hard on me.

sorry i keep adding im trying to explain to some of the answers: Its not so much being warm, as in humidity outside, she is a indoor baby, but when the weather changes it gets worse.. Like the colder it gets the worse she is, then if it is a little humid out it seems better, and as fair as reading all these sites im sure the 2 different clinics i went to could come up with something, pred is the only thing to ease her coughing, her lungs look like they have donuts in there all over, so the anti-inflammatory helps, anti-biotics have not done anything>< and albuteral to eas the coughing

Answer 1

First let me say am truly sorry
Now please don't get m the wrong way but I believe you are keeping her alive for yourself. As you said it's just meds to keep her comfotable, she will never get better and just get worse. YOu said seh isn't really wanting to live I think from what you have written you know what the true answer is let me give this poem to you and you decide.
I have worked in vets offices and as a nurses aide and seen so many animals suffer and suffer


PUT ME TO REST

Time to let me go my friend,
Because my life no-one can mend,
Its better to let me go this way,
Than watch me suffer night and day.

I'm happy to go, my time has come,
My quality of life is no longer fun,
Ive been so ill, so its not a bad thing,
To let me go forever resting.

Stay with me till I drift away,
Fast asleep forever I pray,
To relieve me from suffering and pain,
What more can I ask from my best friend.

Don't be sad, I'll be free from pain,
Never to be ill ever again,
I know you'll miss me being there,
But all the memories you have to share.

Thankyou for being my best friend,
And all my needs that you did tend,
Try not to be sad, try not to cry,
Now's the time to say GOODBYE

Answer 2

dampyre: I'm so sorry to hear about your baby. I'm sure this is causing a lot of turmoil for you. It sounds like you're doing everything feasibly possible. You might try getting another opinion. Sometimes another vet will have a different approach. I've wrestled with putting a lot of animals down due to old age/illness. It is never an easy decision. I try to look at it from the animal's point of view and leave my own heartache out of it. If an animal's quality of life has diminished so much that I wouldn't want to live like that (if I were the animal) I make the humane decision to put the animal to sleep. If an animal is not in pain, however, even if taking care of it is a pain in the neck, it's my responsibility as a pet owner to do what I can to keep it healthy and happy. Your dog will let you know what the best solution is. Best of luck to you. I'll keep you both in my prayers.

Answer 3

I've never personally dealt with this condition, but I do have a few suggestions I hope will help:

If warm helps then by all means keep her in a warm area. You could make her a radiant heat zone to sleep on by getting a couple heating pads, some wood for a 'box' and some large flooring tiles. Make a box or just a frame big enough for her to lay in but really shallow, put the heating pads down and set them as low as possible(or get a pet heating pad) and then set the tiles down with maybe a blanket on top - in a sheltered area that will give her a really warm spot to go to.

I'm sure there is another drug other than prednisone that might help her - maybe google her condition; there is information out there!

I'm sorry that anyone has to be in your position, I know it's hard. I believe you'll know when it's the right time for her to go. Letting go is the hardest and best decision a pet owner can make - but there are so many options out there that calling a few other vets to get opinions wouldn't be an unreasonable thing to do.

Answer 4

I think you have done about all you can you have given the dog a lot of love and a lot of care. If the vet can't come up with any more ideas to help your dog I would get a second opinion from another vet or start thinking about putting the dog out of it's pain. Like you said winter is coming. If you decide to put the dog down give it another month or two with the family make it's last days happy. I am sorry about your dog I wish you all the best.

Answer 5

First, I am sorry.

I lost my beloved rescue mutt (I had him 9 years) last fall and it still hurts. He too developed kidney problems (yet not from meds, I think the Chinese killed him with their contaminated products that went into the dog's food).

First, check your dog's food, (do you buy in bulk or from discount stores? there may be a chance you still have some of the recalled dog food).

As to words of wisdom, I wish there were some. I had to make the determination to let my dog go when his kidney's completely shut down and he lost the use of his back legs (from kidney pain I think). There is nothing I can tell you except evaluate your little guy's quality of life and when you know it is time, then it is time.

Give him all the love and hugs you can today, and make your decision when you have to make it.

Peace to you and please don't feel guilty because you cannot afford dialysis and neurologists and such. After all, even though you love him so (as I did my Bax) he is a dog, not a boy, and deserves the dignity of a painless existence and passing.

Answer 6

It sounds like your dog is in a lot of pain. I think the best thing would be to possibly put her down because like you said, she is getting worse and you probably hate to see her suffer. I had a dog with the same condition and we had no choice but to put her down because she was in so much pain. I'm sorry that you have to go through with something like this, but I just think that would be the best option for your dog. I hope this makes you feel a little better. :) :)

Answer 7

I would ask the vet to try to run more tests for other things. This "lung disease' could be an affect from some other illness she has. Ask your vet about cushing disease. How is the quality of the huskies fur? If it has bad skin then that is from cushings. I don't know. you want to make sure that the quality of life is comfortable for the dog, if not then you might have to make a decision

Answer 8

Yes i've heard the angel sing Caught a glimpse of her angel wing.. I dried my eyes loose from a smear But one i ignored musta been the angels' tear. My angel protects me and maintains me from damage Makes me suppose dependable without any alarm. Her wings look after me all throught the day So very greatful to her is all i will be able to say.. If i die it'll now not be her faught She was once with me and her courses have been good taught..

Answer 9

The dog does not deserve to suffer, it sounds like it's went on long enough. I understant people can't afford if major medical happens with their pets, but it sounds like you have tried every thing YOU can. Make the dog comfortable, dont let him suffer any more.

Answer 10

I am so sorry for your situation. Sounds like you love her bunches. Talk to the vet about your concerns. But remember the "right" decision is always the hardest one to make