What can you do?

Stalker62

Well-Known Member
One of my pack is an elderly old lady now. She is fourteen, which makes her about 84 in 'real' terms.

She has had a sebaceous cyst on her neck for the best part of a year now. Regular trips to the Vets., repeat prescriptions for antibiotics - which tend to reduce the swelling but only on a temporary basis. Those discussions about what is possible. What could be done verses what should be done.

The old girl has worn a 'cape' for about a year, to stop her scratching the damn thing. Mrs. S62 regularly, cleans and dresses the cyst and we both try and keep the pup off her - although the old girl loves to play with the pup. The cyst is now big, ugly and is beginning to break down the skin.

Could the old girl even survive a GA?

Well, we will find out next week. She is booked in for a 'no frills' operation (so no blood test or biopsies).

£1,300:rolleyes:

Other than the pup, none of the dogs are now insured - the premiums became unfeasible, and we took the decision some years ago, to stop the policies and take the hits, as and when then come. I still do not regret that decision.

I do not know how much longer this particular dog has got left (to be fair, I don't know how much longer I have got left..) but we will continue to give her the best quality of life for as long as she enjoys it - and enjoy it she does.

This is her yesterday, supervising me fitting a new radio in the truck...


IMG_0375.jpeg


She no longer goes on the 'long walks' with the rest of the pack, and so she missed this moon this morning.

IMG_0382.jpeg

The joy is, that she does not know she missed it, she does not care, and was very happy snoring away in her very comfortable indoor bed.

I sometimes wonder who has got it right...:-|
 
It’s a difficult choice, how much treatment should you inflict on a dog of that age?
If she was mine I think I’d have the vet poke around during the operation and if anything else turns up just don’t wake her up.
I’ve let a couple of dogs get too far downhill because I couldn’t bear to make the right decision.
Hopefully I’ve learned enough not to do it again.
Best of luck whatever you decide.
 
It’s a difficult choice, how much treatment should you inflict on a dog of that age?
Anyone who has ever been owned by a dog, knows how difficult that act can be...

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Other than being an 'elderly lady of leisure', the old girl still very much enjoys her life.

I think most dogs can tell you when it's time and when (and if) she does, I will not hesitate to do what is in her best interest.

Sods Law being what it is: I anticipate spending the £1,300 next Thursday - on what will be a successful operation, to have the old girl die of old age on Friday.

Still. If you can't take a joke...:rolleyes:
 
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Mine is 16 now and muscle wastage is the issue, weak back legs, have to put paper down every where to soak up the problem of not making it to the out side yard.

BC.
 
One of my pack is an elderly old lady now. She is fourteen, which makes her about 84 in 'real' terms.

She has had a sebaceous cyst on her neck for the best part of a year now. Regular trips to the Vets., repeat prescriptions for antibiotics - which tend to reduce the swelling but only on a temporary basis. Those discussions about what is possible. What could be done verses what should be done.

The old girl has worn a 'cape' for about a year, to stop her scratching the damn thing. Mrs. S62 regularly, cleans and dresses the cyst and we both try and keep the pup off her - although the old girl loves to play with the pup. The cyst is now big, ugly and is beginning to break down the skin.

Could the old girl even survive a GA?

Well, we will find out next week. She is booked in for a 'no frills' operation (so no blood test or biopsies).

£1,300:rolleyes:

Other than the pup, none of the dogs are now insured - the premiums became unfeasible, and we took the decision some years ago, to stop the policies and take the hits, as and when then come. I still do not regret that decision.

I do not know how much longer this particular dog has got left (to be fair, I don't know how much longer I have got left..) but we will continue to give her the best quality of life for as long as she enjoys it - and enjoy it she does.

This is her yesterday, supervising me fitting a new radio in the truck...


View attachment 317156


She no longer goes on the 'long walks' with the rest of the pack, and so she missed this moon this morning.

View attachment 317157

The joy is, that she does not know she missed it, she does not care, and was very happy snoring away in her very comfortable indoor bed.

I sometimes wonder who has got it right...:-|
Chip was in a bad way last year with an infection in the side of his face (very big) x2 GA in 5 days first to drain it the second to repair the big hole left by the dead skin which he tore off as I could not hold him when the vet tried to clean it.
Then then cut the skin like a fishnet stocking to fill in the gap and a drain.
Hand fed him for 2 weeks and water with a syringe to top up the liquids every 3 hrs.
Too good a dog to not try but had the second one gone wrong I would have let him go as it would have not been the Chip
that had smashed ice, swam across 6m flood tide, crossed swollen flood waters to pick a pheasant when other dogs would not go.
Hope it goes well
Tim.243. :tiphat:
 
Well it's not a pretty sight, but just for context (pre-op) this is what the cyst looks like today.

I hope you have all had your breakfasts...


IMG_0428.webp
 
Well, I just happened to glance in the mirror and I suddenly seem a lot slimmer.

Unknown-9.webp

How is that?

Well I have been on the '1 Day' Vet-Plan diet. I have only been on the plan for one day and already I have lost one thousand and three hundred pounds...😇

On the up side...


The old girl survived the GA and the Vet. has done a very tidy job of removing that hideous cyst.

I carried the old girl back into the house and placed her on her favourite sofa. She is still very drowsy and the pup, whilst keen to greet her, was anxious about the obvious 'hospital' smells that the old girl was now drenched in.

IMG_0467.webp


It did not take the pup long to overcome this...




IMG_0470 2.webp



Worth every penny...
 
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