Dog help- bandaid on a gunshot wound

[Rabid]

Did you get any X-rays done? Some dogs can recover, being a bigger and older dog the chances go down though. Stevensje is right, you need to get it some dog specific pain and anti-inflammatory meds and restrict its movement for weeks. Do some research and decide what needs to be done.

[Ah Pook]

There is a place, in Boulder, that makes leg braces for dogs with ACL problems. I've heard people having good limited success (not 100% recovery).

Prolonged use of Rymadil can damage the liver.

[Great-Kazoo]

Glucosamine helps diminish the pain and assist with the hip area. You need to do it daily, 1 with am feeding, 1 @ pm feeding.
Sooner or later you need to decide waht's best for your pet, vs what's best fro you.

[rtr]

Get the surgery.

[Flatline]

Use some dog specific analgesics for a few weeks and she how she does(there are veterinary narcs you can get, it doesn't have to be only NSAIDS) . It's possible that her pain may diminish as inflammation reduces, especially if it's only a first or maybe a second degree tear.

There are people who walk around with torn ACLs that don't get repaired and have a good quality of life (they can't run or ski but that's not everything), in the same token there are people who are severely debilitated both in mobility and pain without repair. I don't see why a dog would be any different. She may be fine in a few weeks (shy of not going on hunting trips or on hikes in the mountains with you) or she may need further treatment. Just make sure she doesn't suffer.

[RonMexico]

My sister and brother in law are at the doggie ER today also..... Lola has had two ACL tears, hip surgery and now an infected tooth today. They have spend 15 k on this dog but they say she is apart of the family. If you stop shooting, drinking and going out to lunch I bet you could pull the money together in a few months

[GilpinGuy]

Man, what a tough decision. I'm sure you'll do what you feel is best for you, your dog and your family for the long haul. It's a very personal and serious decision.

I had an 8 year old Golden who got spleen cancer. The vet told me "We can do surgery and see what happens...that will be about $3K. Frankly, I think we'll find more cancer in there and you'd just be putting him through a bunch of needless pain. I would just treat him as best you can and spoil him until you know it's time to put him down." 3 weeks later it was obviously time. He passed in my arms as the doc gave him the shot. It was one of the toughest day of my life, but I feel that I did what was best for him in the long run. I give the vet a lot of credit for being honest with me too.

[twitchyfinger]

I have a three year old Irish wolfhound 110 lbs who just had surgery a week ago for a torn ACL. Cost 4k but that was due to them having to use 4 instead if the normal 2 very expensive hardware screws. I agree with Bailey Guns in that my dogs are family and there is nothing I would not due for them! Couple things I was told that I was not to happy about was that almost 20-30% of dogs develop an infection to metal hardware and therefore has to be removed which costs more. The other is that a torn ACL a degenerative disease especially in larger animals and there is also a 40-50% chance that the same thing can happen to one of their other legs also. Think it's going to have to be a judgment call on your part ad to what choice you make. You're doing a great thing though getting all the info you can make that decision. My thoughts and prayers go out to your furry family friend!!!

Here is a good read on the subject: http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Health/A...Treatment.aspx

[TheBelly]

If the dog is a member of the family, then treat it like one.


The most difficult thing I've ever had to do was to put down my 13 yr old lab mix, Lilly. She had cancer (hemangiosarcoma) and surgery would not improve her quality of life. The only option was steroids to ease her suffering. That made the decision pretty easy.... But no less difficult.


If there was anything that I could have had done to improve her life, I would have done it without question or hesitation. She was a member of our family.

If this was a child, what would you do? Remember, whatever you do for the least of God's creatures.....

[Cylinder Head]

I wouldn't bat an eye at paying $2400 for a fix like that. I spent over $7K at the vet last year alone on far less significant issues for two dogs that are over ten years old. Dogs can get costly as they age. If a person can't afford to take care of children, they shouldn't have them....and that should apply to pets as well.

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