My 17 y.o toy poodle, not eating, losing weight. Abdomen swollen, I think it may be his liver. I am so afraid, I might lose him. Vet put him on lasix to reduce fluid, no longer working anymore. He is 17 y.o., and my heart. Please advise.
2007-09-17 15:22:27 · 15 answers · asked by khd 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
He's probably in heart failure and retaining fluid. You can take him to the vet to see if they can up the lasix or add some digoxin. With a dog that small, they might not be able to add the digoxin. You do need to go soon because too much fluid retention will cause multiple organ failure. His time is coming to an end. I am sorry that dogs don't live as long as humans. I pray you have a few more months with him.
2007-09-17 23:42:24 · answer #1 · answered by mama woof 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wish there was something that would fix this. It seems this is the time for the talk with the Vet about what the next best step to take is. Your Vet will either advise you to make your dog as comfortable as possible or will discuss euthanasia with you.
I'd suggest you check out this site:
http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm
There may be others like it, but this one seems to have been around for awhile and has a lot of topics related to Pet Loss and grieving. Part of the grieving is including the place you are at now, with a sick pet who has lived a very long time and is nearing the end of this life.
I lost my German Shepherd Dog when she was only six years old. That was old for her because she was born with a challenged immune system that caused her to have frequent skin ailments and illnesses. With a special diet and certain meds she lived a happy six years but her last months were very hard for both of us. At some point I knew it was time to talk to the Vet. The meds had stopped working and she was shutting down. I held her while she passed and I have her ashes still. It was a process, losing her but eventually the sadness was replaced with good memories.
You won't have lost your "heart". He will always be a part of you.
2007-09-17 15:46:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your dog is 136 years old.... thats a really long life. Mine is 14 years old and she probably wont make it to 17, I would do whats best for the dog, we all can't live forever and maybe it's time to let go if vet medicine cannot help anymore. I'm dreading the day I have to do it also but if it take the pain away from my baby I'll do it.
2007-09-17 21:04:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry about your dog. It's hard to see a friend in pain. I think you need to talk over the options with the vet. It is the quality of life, not the length of the life--you need to weigh continuing treatment against whether or not extending your dogs life is giving him a quality life. If not, if he can't enjoy the doggie things anymore, it will probably be best to ease his pain. This is never an easy decision but you have to be very strong and think of the good times and let your dog go when he isn't in terrible pain and suffering miserably. Good luck to you.
2007-09-17 16:07:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, he's had an incredibly long life with you! I know how hard this is. I put my 16 year old toy poodle to sleep a little over a year ago. There comes a time where treatment really isn't going to improve the quality of the little time they have left. I really think it's time for you to help him out of his pain. He trusts you to do what's best for him and in this case, it's letting him go.
2007-09-17 15:49:38 · answer #5 · answered by Linda D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask your vet to let you try Spironolactone in addition to the Lasix,and feed the dog Nutrical and baby food.If he's not improved in a few days,though,you 'll have to consider the dog's quality of life and think about euthanasia.I'm sorry,I understand what you're going through and it isnt easy.
2007-09-17 16:04:41 · answer #6 · answered by Dances With Woofs! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How did a tiny dog of less then 10 inches tall reach up on the counter which is at least 2 1/2 feet over his head. About the worst thing could happen to him is he will get sick and throw up.
2016-05-17 09:50:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We recently had to put our border collie down for the same thing. Vet said it was congestive heart failure and the fluid was building up in her stomach cavity. The fluid pills did not work so we made the hard decision to euthanize.
2007-09-17 17:30:48 · answer #8 · answered by katie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well if the meds aren't working anymore, did you take him back to see if the vet could come up with something else, or adjust his medication?? He is pretty old.. The vet have any other suggestions??
2007-09-17 15:33:48 · answer #9 · answered by DP 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Only a vet would know what to do for him. I am so sorry to hear he's sick. I hope the vet can give him something else. Good luck!
2007-09-17 15:29:34 · answer #10 · answered by Bambi 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋