#DogHealth #CanineHealth #IVDD #EmergencyVet #DogSurgeryCost #PuttingDogDown
As a pet owner, facing the difficult decision of whether or not to put your beloved dog down because you can’t afford a $12,000 surgery can be incredibly challenging. The guilt, sadness, and feeling of helplessness can be overwhelming. In this article, we’ll explore this topic in a compassionate and informative way, providing insights and options to consider during this difficult time.
##Understanding IVDD and Treatment Options
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is a common condition in dogs, especially in breeds with long bodies like Dachshunds, Corgis, and Beagles. IVDD occurs when the cushioning discs between the vertebrae in the spine bulge or burst into the spinal cord space, causing pain, nerve damage, and potentially paralysis.
###Treatment Options for IVDD
1. **Medication:** Your vet may prescribe pain medication, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory drugs to manage your dog’s pain and inflammation.
2. **Surgery:** The most effective treatment for severe IVDD cases is surgery to remove the affected disc material and relieve pressure on the spinal cord.
3. **Physical Therapy:** Physical therapy and rehabilitation exercises can help strengthen your dog’s muscles and improve mobility.
4. **Alternative Therapies:** Acupuncture, laser therapy, and hydrotherapy are non-invasive treatment options to consider.
##Financial Considerations and Emotional Impact
The cost of veterinary care, especially emergency surgeries, can be exorbitant and create financial strain for pet owners. When faced with a $12,000 surgery bill, many pet owners feel guilty, stressed, and overwhelmed by the financial burden. Here are some points to consider:
###Financial Assistance Options
1. **Pet Insurance:** If you have pet insurance, check your policy to see if it covers IVDD surgery.
2. **Care Credit:** Care Credit is a healthcare credit card that can be used for veterinary expenses.
3. **Fundraising:** Crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe can help raise funds for your dog’s surgery.
4. **Veterinary Schools:** Teaching hospitals or veterinary schools may offer discounted rates for procedures.
###Emotional Impact and Decision-Making
1. **Quality of Life:** Consider your dog’s quality of life and level of suffering. Prolonging pain and discomfort may not be in your dog’s best interest.
2. **Grief and Guilt:** It’s okay to grieve and feel guilty about the decision to put your dog down. Seek support from friends, family, or a therapist.
3. **Consult with Your Vet:** Talk to your vet about all available options and potential outcomes. They can provide guidance and support during this difficult time.
##Is Putting Your Dog Down the Right Choice?
Ultimately, the decision to put your dog down due to financial constraints is a personal one that should be made with careful consideration and compassion. Here are some factors to consider:
###Considerations for Putting Your Dog Down
1. **Quality of Life:** Consider your dog’s pain, mobility, and overall quality of life with and without surgery.
2. **Financial Limitations:** Be realistic about your financial situation and ability to afford ongoing care and treatments.
3. **Consultation with Your Vet:** Your vet can provide insights into your dog’s prognosis and quality of life with and without surgery.
4. **End-of-Life Care:** If surgery is not an option, explore hospice care and palliative treatments to ensure your dog is comfortable and pain-free.
##Coping with Loss and Grief
The decision to put your dog down is never easy, regardless of the circumstances. Allow yourself to grieve and process your emotions during this challenging time. Here are some ways to cope with loss and grief:
###Grieving Process
1. **Memorialize Your Dog:** Create a scrapbook, plant a tree, or make a donation in your dog’s memory.
2. **Seek Support:** Lean on friends, family, or support groups who understand the pain of losing a pet.
3. **Self-Care:** Take care of yourself physically and emotionally during the grieving process. Allow yourself time to heal.
In conclusion, the decision to put your dog down due to financial constraints is a deeply personal and emotional one. It’s essential to consider your dog’s quality of life, pain level, and overall well-being when making this decision. Remember that you’re not alone, and there are resources and support available to help you navigate this difficult time. Take care of yourself and your furry companion, no matter what decision you make.
For more information on IVDD, pet health, and vet care, visit our website for additional resources and support during this challenging time. #PetHealthResources #SupportForPetOwners #CopingWithPetLoss
🐾🐶💔 We understand the pain and guilt of making tough decisions for your beloved pet. We’re here to support you through this journey.
No, friend. You aren’t a bad person.
Edit: Commas are important, people.
It’s okay. This is already so difficult. Go easy on yourself.
No, you are not evil. Evil would be letting the dog suffer. You are doing your best.
The only evil here is the price for pet surgery/healthcare, you can’t do much about it and letting your pet suffer is not the best for both of you.
It’s not easy and you are doing the best you can, just try to get the best time with your pupper.
God bless your ❤️
I’ve had to do this with pets a couple of times. The surgery itself is painful and stressful for the animal and they often don’t fully recover or it doesn’t work. Euthanasia is often the best course. You gave them a good life.
From a practicality standpoint, that $12k could be used to help so many other animals.
Your dogs quaility of life has value. If you can’t afford a 12k surgery and your dogs quaility of life will be severely impacted, you should consider all options
No.
Shit, If I was suddenly in pain and paralyzed and there was a $250000 surgery that might work I don’t know how excited I would be to keep going.
No.
If you can’t afford it, you can’t afford it.
No not a bad person.
My best friend had a cat of 16 years. The cat got sick recently, and suddenly. My friend drove right to emergency vet and shelled out $8000 within a few days. He was desperate for his kitty to pull through. He did everything he could, and the cat still passed within a couple of weeks. My friend now has no cat and is $8000+ less due to this.
I’m sorry your pet is so young, as much as we love them, you can’t prolong the suffering only to spend all that money and it still doesn’t work.
My friend feels guilt that the last few weeks of his cat’s life was being poked, prodded, tested, staying overnights in a crate at the vet, rather than in his owner’s arms at the end of life.
Try the meds. If it doesn’t work, love on your pet AT HOME. Don’t put your bestie in a strange environment and through all of those procedures when the outcome doesn’t look good. You don’t want their last days to be scary. They need you right now.
More often than not, these complex surgeries are done more for the owner in an attempt to lengthen the lives of our beloved pups and sometimes the stress we put them through just isn’t worth it. Regardless of your ability to pay, you’re a kind person for caring but I think you’re making the right decision for both you and your pup. I am sorry for you and your wonderful pup
My BIL’s dog went through a 1000 dollar treatment and then died 3 days later. He then said he should have not let her suffer that long.
No op, you are not a bad person. Unfortunately animal medical care is very similar to human – same equipment, same medicine, same requirements, slightly different knowledge… This is why the cost is so “high”. The world can’t seem to make our own health care affordable, unfortunately it’s no different for pets.
That being said, you are NEVER a bad person for having to choose a non ideal path based on you and your pets quality of life. This isn’t just about your pet. There is no reason to put yourself in extreme financial turmoil to put your pet through a very extensive surgery that may or may not actually help them. No one (except the stupid internet) is ever going to judge you. And if they do, they are ignorant to reality. We take on pets with the responsibility to do what is right for them when the time comes… Sadness, guilt, and heartbreak is a different kind price we pay to have them in our lives, even if for a short time.
Remember everything you did for them up to this point. You did your best and you are going to be there for them in the end. It’s all you can do. Maybe if we ever decide to loop our veterinarians into our government health care programs, we can see a more affordable system.. but that will never happen.. it barely does for humans.
It will be THE WORST and you will feel awful for a bit, but you will heal and your pet will by your side in your wonderful memories.
Not at all. I am still struggling to recover from the $2k in emergency expenses and cremation costs for my dog, even a year later… He got sick suddenly too. I could have saved him if I had $7k, the cost to remove a mass on his liver and stop internal bleeding. There was also a question of quality of life if he had continued health struggles post-surgery, additional expenses I could not possibly afford after the upfront cost of surgery. You can only do what you can do, don’t hold it against yourself. It is awful to go through but some things are out of our hands.
Literally no one would ever think you’re an evil person and you shouldn’t either. The surgeries are rarely successful long term anyways. Sorry you’re going through this ❤️
Oh god this is my worst nightmare with a frenchie. I am so sorry – I really feel for you 🙁 I will be in the same situation- I have pet insurance but you pay upfront:/
I hope the meds work and your baby is ok 🫂
You can only do what you can do, and you clearly care about her a lot. You’re making the hard choice, but you know what’s best for her.
No.
I’m so sorry this has happened. Saving your dog from this pain is an act of love.
You do what you can.
For context my wife is a Vet. They will always do anything they can to work with owners to get their pets the best possible care they can. Sometimes the best they can is a humane death.
They never, ever judge people on their choices.
Except maybe for the assholes who want a pet euthanized because they just don’t want it anymore. They refuse to offer that service
Not at all. Hard choice, but probably the right one.
The greatest love of all is letting go. You will not be a bad person – you don’t want her to suffer. Knowing dogs, I know she crammed a lifetime of love in those 5 years . Hugs !
I’m not crying…. You’re crying.
No it’s not evil to not be able to afford medical care.
You’re not evil. You’re a loving pet owner who is realistic about your financial limitations. It’s really unfortunate that quality care for pets (and people) is out of reach for so many.
No. Its fucked up to let your pet suffer. As hard as it was. You did the best thing. You couldnt afford it. Not many people can afford a surprise 12k bill these days.
You are not evil; you are caring. Putting a dog down is merciful. Even if i had a spare 12 grand lying around, I’d have to think carefully about a painful recovery plus a 25% chance it doesn’t fix the problem
Putting down an animal is a very hard decision, but I don’t think it is evil to in a situation like this.
I’m sorry you have to go through this but I think that ending your friend’s suffering is the compassionate and right thing to do.
Vet here. Did they mention if she has deep pain sensation on her hindlimbs or not? What pain medication is she on?
I think one of the single best arguments for pet insurance is if you can preemptively ask yourself what you’d do in this exact situation. If you know you could make the hard call and put the animal down, then insurance premium costs over the lifetime of the animal are probably a wash with just paying cash for care along the way (according to Consumer Reports a few years back). But if you would make poor financial decisions to throw every treatment in the book at the animal, the insurance would likely cover a lot more of the expense going down that road.
Surgery itself is already scary and painful for animals because they don’t understand.
You gave your dog their best life and best death. You are a hero.
I couldn’t afford a simple diagnosis of my cat’s digestive blockage. It would’ve been $2,000 just for that. Best I could do was make her comfortable in her final days, and when the day came she was in her last moments, all I could do was lay her on my lap and let her pass. She was a senior anyway, had a long life and 4 good years under my care. I even managed to reverse her kidney issues simply with a good diet. Still, I feel guilty for not getting her a proper diagnosis.
Being pet owners in poverty, we’re faced with tough decisions regarding their health, and I don’t blame anyone for whatever decision they make. I certainly don’t expect anyone to fork over thousands of dollars they don’t have for their pets. What’s important is you gave your dog the best you could and are making her comfortable in her final days. I’m so sorry you have to go through this, and by all means do what you can to process your feelings. Just don’t beat yourself up too much over this. It’s out of your control, you’re not at fault here.
No, I’m a veterinary technician. Don’t go broke and homeless trying to save your pet. I would never judge a client for making that decision. I would likely do the same.
You have to think about your baby’s quality of life. It sounds like even with surgery there will be a lot of pain and struggling. Five great years is still an amazing gift you shared. Dogs understand more than we know.
Nope. That’s one of the hardest days ever though.
Not evil at all – don’t be unkind to yourself
It sounds like you are doing your best.
even if you could afford it euthanasia is often a better option for animals than surgery. they can’t decide the costs or benefits for themselves like a human, they would just be scared and in pain.
we euthanized our cat with cancer too instead of letting her suffer further needlessly. a good death is the last gift you can give them.
many terminally ill humans would also choose euthanize if they could but it’s illegal in most countries
❤️ I would understand if I was your dog.
I still feel bad about putting my dog and cat down. I think it’s natural to question things, but nobody is perfect and we do our best to take care of them. If I were in your shoes I would have to put her down as well because I don’t have that kind of money either. It will be very hard, but you’re doing the right thing and putting a stop to the suffering. Good luck.
You’re not a bad person. At all. I had a dog get IVDD over the course of a few hours too. I put her down. Even if you did do the operation, there’s a good chance your friend will still be in pain and have reoccurrences. You are doing the kind thing. She wouldn’t be “her” anymore, and I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to have to live that way.
No you are not evil and this is coming from a crazy animal lady. You’re doing the best you can. An evil person wouldn’t even bother in the first place.
You’re only an asshole if you let her die alone and I don’t think I have to worry about that in this story.
Just love her til the end, and be the best friend she knows you are 🫂