It is so hard to make the call.
Scout is a coton tzu and turned out to be a really great little dog (except for a bad marking habit). Sweet loyal smart and a better toy retriever than any retriever I have had. He is only 11.
Few years ago he started having periodic neck/back issues. Maybe a few times a year. Vet gave us the appropriate meds and let us keep them onhand for flare ups. Flare up always went away in a few days. This one has not been over a week and he is obviously suffering when the meds wear off.
He also has small dog teeth issues. In 23 he had over half his teeth removed when they put him under for dental work. They choose not to remove one large one on the bottom because they were concerned about the removal breaking his jaw. Apparently a thing on these little dogs. As is the bad teeth. The vet thinks there is a strong chance that tooth has abscessed and is adding to the general problem and pain.
After two separate vet visits and some X-rays and an antibiotic shot and painkiller shot and 750 bucks he is not getting better.
He is barely ok while the meds are in effect. Not himself, but not yelping and whimpering and will follow me around and eat (though the tooth thing is presenting in that he won't take anything remotely hard) and poop. As soon as the meds wear off he is bunched up wobbling around, often front right leg is wonky and he whimpers and yelps as he still tries to follow me everywhere only to flop down on his side then back up and down on the other side obviously trying to get comfortable and not able to do so.
Feel like the tooth will not be resolved. If they were afraid to pull it when he was theee years younger, now seems like a bad idea. Not exactly sure whet is going on with his back because, as much as I love him I cannot justify spending thousands to further diagnose a senior dog when I know I would most likely not proceed with any major surgery, if any are even an option.
He really wanted to go in a walk last night with my daughter's pup. He made it half a block before he hit a wall.
I feel terrible but I don't think he will come back and that I need to do it tomorrow afternoon. Spend the rest of today and tomorrow morning with him. So far today can't make myself call.
Scout is a coton tzu and turned out to be a really great little dog (except for a bad marking habit). Sweet loyal smart and a better toy retriever than any retriever I have had. He is only 11.
Few years ago he started having periodic neck/back issues. Maybe a few times a year. Vet gave us the appropriate meds and let us keep them onhand for flare ups. Flare up always went away in a few days. This one has not been over a week and he is obviously suffering when the meds wear off.
He also has small dog teeth issues. In 23 he had over half his teeth removed when they put him under for dental work. They choose not to remove one large one on the bottom because they were concerned about the removal breaking his jaw. Apparently a thing on these little dogs. As is the bad teeth. The vet thinks there is a strong chance that tooth has abscessed and is adding to the general problem and pain.
After two separate vet visits and some X-rays and an antibiotic shot and painkiller shot and 750 bucks he is not getting better.
He is barely ok while the meds are in effect. Not himself, but not yelping and whimpering and will follow me around and eat (though the tooth thing is presenting in that he won't take anything remotely hard) and poop. As soon as the meds wear off he is bunched up wobbling around, often front right leg is wonky and he whimpers and yelps as he still tries to follow me everywhere only to flop down on his side then back up and down on the other side obviously trying to get comfortable and not able to do so.
Feel like the tooth will not be resolved. If they were afraid to pull it when he was theee years younger, now seems like a bad idea. Not exactly sure whet is going on with his back because, as much as I love him I cannot justify spending thousands to further diagnose a senior dog when I know I would most likely not proceed with any major surgery, if any are even an option.
He really wanted to go in a walk last night with my daughter's pup. He made it half a block before he hit a wall.
I feel terrible but I don't think he will come back and that I need to do it tomorrow afternoon. Spend the rest of today and tomorrow morning with him. So far today can't make myself call.
