NDR....dog related

Ed L.

Ed L.

Well-known member
My 13 year old lab had begun bleeding as usual with her heat cycle back in late October/early November and hadn't stopped and the flow had increased. After several visits with our vet he convinced us to have her spayed. He thought maybe there was something else going on and this would be the best avenue to take. Now it's been 2 weeks and 3 days and now at times she seems to be hemorrhaging. Then it stops and is basically a drip. Now he tells me he thinks it's a bladder infection and puts her on meds and if this doesn't stop it he's suggesting experimental surgery to find a cause. He did find a tumor and sent it for pathology. On top of the 2k we've spent over the past few weeks he wants me to surgery. Costs he says would start around 4k. I'm at a loss. I'm afraid I'll have to put her down. I'm open to thoughts on why she may still be bleeding so much. Thanks for reading.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20250124_101320033_HDR.jpg
    IMG_20250124_101320033_HDR.jpg
    3 MB · Views: 11
Ed L. said:
My 13 year old lab had begun bleeding as usual with her heat cycle back in late October/early November and hadn't stopped and the flow had increased. After several visits with our vet he convinced us to have her spayed. He thought maybe there was something else going on and this would be the best avenue to take. Now it's been 2 weeks and 3 days and now at times she seems to be hemorrhaging. Then it stops and is basically a drip. Now he tells me he thinks it's a bladder infection and puts her on meds and if this doesn't stop it he's suggesting experimental surgery to find a cause. He did find a tumor and sent it for pathology. On top of the 2k we've spent over the past few weeks he wants me to surgery. Costs he says would start around 4k. I'm at a loss. I'm afraid I'll have to put her down. I'm open to thoughts on why she may still be bleeding so much. Thanks for reading.
Click to expand...

That sounds horrible, sorry to hear it. Get a second opinion - maybe there is a vet school locally. It seems like this guy is like a mechanic just throwing parts at an engine at this point.

13 is getting on in years for a lab. 4K is a lot of money to not have her nearly guaranteed fixed up and comfortable for her remaining time.
 
tod osier said:
That sounds horrible, sorry to hear it. Get a second opinion - maybe there is a vet school locally. It seems like this guy is like a mechanic just throwing parts at an engine at this point.

13 is getting on in years for a lab. 4K is a lot of money to not have her nearly guaranteed fixed up and comfortable for her remaining time.
Click to expand...
It's heart breaking. She's not doing very well this morning. I think she may be be getting animic. You're right about her age. The money wouldn't be an issue if she was a younger dog but with finding a tumor, where else has it gone? Or if the vet hadn't mentioned no guarantees. His reason for surgery was for piece of mind! I'm feeling the same about the mechanic thing. He sounded just like every time I take a vehicle to the shop. "It's going to cost this much to check it out but no guarantees". This is the second vet we've taken Lucy to. She's always had ear issues and I always felt like he only treated the symptoms so she'd always be a patient. Thanks for letting me vent.
 
Last edited:
Ed L. said:
It's heart breaking. She's not doing very well this morning. I think she may be be getting animic. You're right about her age. The money wouldn't be an issue if she was a younger dog but with finding a tumor, where else has it gone? Or if the vet hadn't mentioned no guarantees. His reason for surgery was for piece of mind! I'm feeling the same about the mechanic thing. He sounded just like every time I take a vehicle to the shop. "It's going to cost this much to check it out but no guarantees". This is the second vet we've taken Lucy to. She's always had ear issues and I always felt like he only treated the symptoms so she'd always be a patient. Thanks for letting vent.
Click to expand...

Some of them make it easy, some of them - not so much. I can remember the feeling of relief hearing that our old black lab Pete was just loaded with tumors when we was starting to have serious issues. There was no question with him. Skeet, was touch and go for 2-3 years. There were 2 times we were thinking that today is the day with him and then he lived long after those events with a pretty good quality of life.

It is real hard to put a number on things, but I would have a hard time rationalizing 4K for exploratory surgery on a 13 year old dog that is already in a weakened condition with an unknown issue. The vet selling the surgery as "peace of mind" is borderline exploitive from where I'm sitting.

Best wishes to you all,
 
tod osier said:
Some of them make it easy, some of them - not so much. I can remember the feeling of relief hearing that our old black lab Pete was just loaded with tumors when we was starting to have serious issues. There was no question with him. Skeet, was touch and go for 2-3 years. There were 2 times we were thinking that today is the day with him and then he lived long after those events with a pretty good quality of life.

It is real hard to put a number on things, but I would have a hard time rationalizing 4K for exploratory surgery on a 13 year old dog that is already in a weakened condition with an unknown issue. The vet selling the surgery as "peace of mind" is borderline exploitive from where I'm sitting.

Best wishes to you all,
Click to expand...
Thanks Tod. We are having those same thoughts.
 
Sorry you're going through this, these are tough decisions with dog. Can't help you with your specific questions, but agree with Tod. At 13, I'd be looking at comfort and time rather than heroic efforts or things like experimental surgery It's one thing if there is an identified issue and a known surgical approach such that you could assess risks and costs vs expected benefit. If she's otherwise healthy, I wouldn't hesitate to go to a specialist/vet school for an evaluation and even consider an expensive diagnostic scan if recommended. But even then, I'd want to know what the doc is looking for/expecting and what would need to be done if they found it. That would all play into decision-making for me. Best to you, and to her.
 
HenryHawthorne said:
Sorry you're going through this, these are tough decisions with dog. Can't help you with your specific questions, but agree with Tod. At 13, I'd be looking at comfort and time rather than heroic efforts or things like experimental surgery It's one thing if there is an identified issue and a known surgical approach such that you could assess risks and costs vs expected benefit. If she's otherwise healthy, I wouldn't hesitate to go to a specialist/vet school for an evaluation and even consider an expensive diagnostic scan if recommended. But even then, I'd want to know what the doc is looking for/expecting and what would need to be done if they found it. That would all play into decision-making for me. Best to you, and to her.
Click to expand...
Thank you Henry. We are experiencing additional issues this afternoon and will be headed back to the vet in the morning.
 
Damn Ed, I am sorry to read this. That is an awful situation to be in. I am thinking of you though....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top