Back to the vet with Chandler

Dawn, with one of our dogs prior to owning Shelties, she was really getting up in age and was dealing with a lot of issues such as Vestibular Disease so she always walked crooked with a sever tilt to her head; the remnants from the disease.

Sometime after the Vestibular hit (roughly 8-10 months) she must have had a stroke because suddenly she was having trouble walking - walking into everything, falling down the steps, etc.

When we took her to the vet, who is an incredibly wonderful person and doesn't jump to a euthanasia solution, she looked at is after checking her out and basically said she could give us medication for it but at most we'd have another month before we were back there again. Then she left the decision up to us; no pressure to decide one way or the other.

Honestly, we opted for PTS because she really wasn't having a good quality of life at that point and to drag it out for another month would have caused her more agony and we'd hurt to watch her struggle. It was a VERY hard decision since DH had her since she was a year old; before we married.

I really understand where you are with Chandler's life and fully respect the heartache you've been through with Lacey before him. I hope sharing this story will, in some way, help you with your decisions when the time comes - no matter what you decide.
 
We know this is an incredibly difficult road you all have traveled together.Since we talk nearly every day Dawn,I feel very close to you,and as everyone here has said,we are here for you whatever the next few days will bring.

It is heartwrenching to hear that no definate cause for all of this with Chandler.I just wished we were not so far away,as I am worried about you.It is never easy to say goodbye,but what I do know we will keep you in our prayers.

Remember,day or night,call.Love you
 
I'm so sorry that the vet couldn't give you more answers for Chandler.

Its heart-breaking to have to second-guess every day "am I doing the RIGHT thing...am I doing the KIND thing...am I doing the HUMANE thing...is this decision best for him or best for ME."

I don't want to have to make the decision on having Indy PTS, but I don't want him to suffer. So every day I have to weigh the pain and difficulty he has walking with his satisfaction in a good meal and sitting/lying out on the deck. I was almost ready to take him....and then he has rallied a bit since I cut his hair back (and I do not know why...maybe the long hair made his walking more difficult?).

Only you can decide when the time is right.
I'll be praying for you and your fur babies.
 
I have nothing but warm thoughts and prayers for you and Chandler. I wish we could have the answers to what is wrong; but sometimes it isn't to be so.
Remember the support all of us blubbering idiots have for you; its a difficult time that none of wishes we have to experience, but all of us will. When its time, we will cry with you..
Steve and The Everett!
 
dawns2shelties said:
When my vet and I have discussed a few other problems Chandler had in the past he has repeatedly said he doesn't feel Chandler would survive surgery. Today he also told me the same thing. He put Chandler on prednisone and another antibiotic and told me if it were his dog if he showed no improvement in a few days he would let him go.

I would feel more guilt because I would only be doing the exploritory surgery so I could know I did everything for him and for my peace of mind.
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Certainly that would be nothing to feel any guilt about. As part of the grieving process we always want to know that we did everything we reasonably could that might affect the outcome favorably. However, without knowing nearly as much about the case as those whom you have consulted, I would agree with the wise counsel of your primary veterinarian. The chances of the exploratory finding something correctable sound awfully remote.

In making these decisions we often ask the client to consider 2 chief criteria - what is he going through now, and where are you going to be 2-3 months from now. I'm afraid that in Chandler's case these are not difficult questions to honestly answer.

As all here, I ache for you at this time and wish you strength. - Dr. mac
 
The Quahog said:
Certainly that would be nothing to feel any guilt about. As part of the grieving process we always want to know that we did everything we reasonably could that might affect the outcome favorably. However, without knowing nearly as much about the case as those whom you have consulted, I would agree with the wise counsel of your primary veterinarian. The chances of the exploratory finding something correctable sound awfully remote.

In making these decisions we often ask the client to consider 2 chief criteria - what is he going through now, and where are you going to be 2-3 months from now. I'm afraid that in Chandler's case these are not difficult questions to honestly answer.

As all here, I ache for you at this time and wish you strength. - Dr. mac
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Dr Mac
Thank you so much for your response. I have been tossing that exact question "where will he be 2-3 mos. from now" back and forth in my mind. He did eat about 5oz. of food and a couple bisquits yesterday so I am sure it is the prednisone. I was happy to see him finally eat some dog food and than my BF said "he can't be on prednisone forever, what happens when he stops that" so I will speak with my vet about that and see what he says.
With My dog Lacey it was a much easier decision. Her back legs had been giving out when just walking the 1/2 block to the park 4 or 5 times and than she slipped on the ice and had a very bad sprain and could not get up she had to be carried to the vet the next morning. I knew she was ready. She lived a great life for 141/2 years.
Chandler get's around pretty well with some weakness in his rear legs and is still alert so it is harder when visibly they seem fine.
Thank you again for your insightful words.
 
Dawn that is great news that Chandler at 5 oz of food and a few biscuits.. it probably is the prednisone, that has a way of making one feel better for a time. It seems that if Chandler can still get around, and seems alert, he still has the will to be with you..
 
Dawn, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Dr. Mac summed it up so succinctly. When the time is right, you will know. Chandler will let you know. Someone once said the eyes are the window to the soul. This is so true for our furfriends as well as us humans. The eyes will say when it is time to go. God grant you comfort and strength at this time.
 
I am so sorry that Chandler isn’t doing so well. We just lost our Louie to bladder cancer in November I know the pain and indecision you are going through now. I just wanted to say that when I look back I wonder if I didn’t make him wait too long before I allowed him to go. I was so caught up in the day to day struggle of trying to get him to eat and get him to take his medicine that I don’t think I was able to see in his eyes what he was trying to tell me or maybe I didn’t want to see it. It was confusing because he was able to walk and even played with his ball outside a couple days before. I knew he was in pain when he went to the bathroom and for a bit after but I was hoping the pain medicine was making it tolerable for him. Finally I realized that he loved me so much that he was willing to do anything, endure any pain for as long as I wanted because he loved me that much. I finally knew that I had to love him more and let him go. The morning we took him to end his suffering he woke up unable to walk but he happily let me carry him outside to try to try to pee, he happily went to the vet and he happily died in my arms. I was truly blessed with such a love as his. When I look back at his pictures taken several months before he died I see the pain in his eyes that I didn’t see then. I look at his videos and see his open mouth breathing but at the time I didn’t recognize his difficulty. In my heart I know that I waited too long. I pray that you will know when it is the right time for you and for Chandler.
 
tentcamp said:
I am so sorry that Chandler isn’t doing so well. We just lost our Louie to bladder cancer in November I know the pain and indecision you are going through now. I just wanted to say that when I look back I wonder if I didn’t make him wait too long before I allowed him to go. I was so caught up in the day to day struggle of trying to get him to eat and get him to take his medicine that I don’t think I was able to see in his eyes what he was trying to tell me or maybe I didn’t want to see it. It was confusing because he was able to walk and even played with his ball outside a couple days before. I knew he was in pain when he went to the bathroom and for a bit after but I was hoping the pain medicine was making it tolerable for him. Finally I realized that he loved me so much that he was willing to do anything, endure any pain for as long as I wanted because he loved me that much. I finally knew that I had to love him more and let him go. The morning we took him to end his suffering he woke up unable to walk but he happily let me carry him outside to try to try to pee, he happily went to the vet and he happily died in my arms. I was truly blessed with such a love as his. When I look back at his pictures taken several months before he died I see the pain in his eyes that I didn’t see then. I look at his videos and see his open mouth breathing but at the time I didn’t recognize his difficulty. In my heart I know that I waited too long. I pray that you will know when it is the right time for you and for Chandler.
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I certainly agree with the eyes.. when I look at pictures of our Jamie the summer before he started his seizures, to the pictures taken a month before he died, the eyes tell it all.. the light and spirit went out..
 
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