Anonymous wrote:Yes, you are a terrible person for considering putting down or giving your dog away because she is no longer convenient to your life.

Agreed.

Anonymous wrote:You know DCUM. Only very, very rich people should have houses, pets, or children, because they could unexpectedly become much more expensive than you ever anticipated, and that's your fault for not being prepared.

Or maybe, real life means hard choices. OP, I would also put her down before giving her up to someone who might do it anyway. At the very least, let her last moments be with those she knows and loves. I would also try the meds first, though. Why not?

As an aside, this is one reason I have resisted getting a dog (and I love dogs, and everyone wants one). Growing up, we didn't have this kind of money, so it wasn't even an option - our dog would have been put down. Luckily, it never became an issue.

Now, we are fortunate that we could afford this kind of surgery for a dog - even repetitively. $5000 every 2 years would not be a problem. But, I would have a very, very hard time spending that kind of money, even once, much less two times. I would feel like I *should* spend the money (and the rest of my family would want to), but I would really think it's kinda nuts, and I would incessantly go through all of the things we could do with that money. In a way being able to afford it is worse - you have to decide it's not worth it to spend the money, as opposed to simply not having it in the first place.

Acupuncture could also help

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pet insurance wouldn’t have worked because they almost always exclude issues after the first problem. No need to be an ass and wrong at the same time,

OP, no one wll want to do this surgery for your dog. Manage it with meds and when you can’t any more, euthanize it. Do your best but you don’t have to go into debt for pet surgery.

On the Pet forum? All the time.

NP here. Yeah, what is it about this subforum? It’s some kind of ass magnet. People are often nasty while dispensing terrible advice.

Our dog is in the diagnostic process for his limp and an MRI is scheduled for this week. He's in quite a bit of pain and cries, which makes us cry. It's a tough pill to swallow but he came to us, at one, from a high kill shelter in GA, and the sweetest best dog ever - my 11 yr old has been quite emotional about the whole ordeal so I've decided to move forward with helping him. I feel your pain. What I know is I wish we had pulled the trigger on health insurance when we first adopted him and paid for the premium plan. Ouch.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most rescues are all-volunteer and operate on shoestring budgets. $5000 would help a lot of healthy dogs.Even if a rescue accepts the dog you have no control of what happens next. If indeed expensive surgery is needed and the rescue feels the prognosis is not good they could just put her on medication or decide to euthanize. And if the issue is resolved and someone adopts her they could decline expensive treatments or medications later and put the dog down.
Get a second and third opinion for your dog. There is a well-reputed place in Richmond called Helping Hands that does surgeries for much less than regular vet places in this area.

No longer in the DC area but used to live right down the road from Helping Hands!!! I think someone mentioned doing something out of state. I may look into Veternarian Schools- I think Clemson has one- maybe that would be an option. At 6.5 months pregnant not ideal but....

Clemson does not have a vet school. Where are you? If you are in SC the closest vet schools are NCState in Raleigh or Goeorgia in Athens.

And I agree most back problems get better with rest and pain medicine, they certainly don't all need surgery.

I’m in a South Carolina so those options, esp N.C. State may be doable.
I have her on crate rest through the weekend.
Obviously this is an emotional decision, too! I love my dog. A lot.

I think I’m def learning that meds/rest may help (last time it wasn’t really presented as a real option- it was surgery now or put her down.

Do you have the dog on pain meds now?

I think you will be pleasantly surprised by vets in SC. They will probably more open to options other than surgery...they have to be more realistic down there about the budgets that people have. The D.C. area is a bubble of rich people.

Anonymous wrote:Pet insurance wouldn’t have worked because they almost always exclude issues after the first problem. No need to be an ass and wrong at the same time,

OP, no one wll want to do this surgery for your dog. Manage it with meds and when you can’t any more, euthanize it. Do your best but you don’t have to go into debt for pet surgery.

On the Pet forum? All the time.

Anonymous wrote: Ideally you would’ve purchased pet insurance after that first surgery . It would’ve helped the cost. I can’t help you with your choice.

We tried. Couldn’t get coverage due to pre-existing condition. Thanks for your unhelpful advice, though!

Pet insurance wouldn’t have worked because they almost always exclude issues after the first problem. No need to be an ass and wrong at the same time,

OP, no one wll want to do this surgery for your dog. Manage it with meds and when you can’t any more, euthanize it. Do your best but you don’t have to go into debt for pet surgery.

Anonymous wrote: Ideally you would’ve purchased pet insurance after that first surgery . It would’ve helped the cost. I can’t help you with your choice.

“I have no advice for you about your current problem, but I felt compelled to post here judging the way you handled your previous problem.”

PP is what’s wrong with the internet.

OP, try medication, rest, and a lifestyle change for your dog. The problem may not recur at all and if it does, it may be manageable without surgery.