Thanks for this website

[KarenSasha]

I will keep this simple also. My girl Sasha who is almost 13 is having the usual issues. I am currently trying different meds to manage her pain. She still eats, drinks, get's those big eye's with the wrinlkle face for her "Harley bone", wags her nub and is not ready to leave yet. Her problem is she is unsteady, has fallen a few times and all the other side effects from Rimadyl. Today is her first day on "Previcox". The internet has some pretty scarey info on that drug. I have lived in Florida for 4 years and can't wait to move back to NY where I belong. My vet from NY is coaching me long distance on this whole situation. We both miss him terribly. I had a Mobile vet come the other day to assess her pain. That vet thinks she has back arthritus and some slight Neuro issues also. I know for a fact that she has HD with bone spurs. She has been a sick girl her whole life with tumors, acid reflux, bloat "in the beginning" and she is also very timid of people she does no know. I have had my hands full for almost 13 years and my reward was and still is. "my angel who I can't picture life without". I will do the right thing for her when it is time. I get confused sometimes on trying new meds "side effects" and just putting her down to avoid the future "worse pain".....It drives me crazy and I am obsessing. I had a dream that she jumped on the couch like she used to and all her problems were gone "wishful thinking" WHERE IS THAT MAGIC PILL? anyway, a little insight, sharing of situations and just to talk and read with other people like me will help me out..........Thanks

[jlaack]

I am sorry to hear that you're really old girl isn't doing well. Did the vet specifically diagnose the cause of the pain? Did the pain and her decline suddenly worsen? Is she lame or packing the leg? Bone cancer is very common unless you haven't identified the cause, you should do some further investigation if she has declined enough that you are posting about it... The 'drug' side effects could actually be caused by disease. Did she have a full blood panel & CBC?

[AngelBunny]

I feel for you and your girl. To be so far from the vet you like and trust must be terrible. I do not have anything concrete to offer--just wanted you to know I'm wishing you and your grand old girl the best.

[KarenSasha]

Originally Posted by AngelBunny

I feel for you and your girl. To be so far from the vet you like and trust must be terrible. I do not have anything concrete to offer--just wanted you to know I'm wishing you and your grand old girl the best.

It is very difficult being away from the vet WE trust. I know I have had my time with her here and as long as she is not doing to bad, I guess I can go day by day and be thankful I was blessed with such an angel. She is the best Rott "I'm partial"
Thanks for the response

[KarenSasha]

Originally Posted by jlaack

I am sorry to hear that you're really old girl isn't doing well. Did the vet specifically diagnose the cause of the pain? Did the pain and her decline suddenly worsen? Is she lame or packing the leg? Bone cancer is very common unless you haven't identified the cause, you should do some further investigation if she has declined enough that you are posting about it... The 'drug' side effects could actually be caused by disease. Did she have a full blood panel & CBC?

Thanks for the reply. The Mobile vet who was here just watched her for a while and got familiar with her. She is very timid so depending on her response to him, was the determining factor of would he be the one to come to my house when the time comes. I am having her put down here at home for her benefit. She had a CBC about 6 months ago and all was normal for her age, the liver was a little elevated. The problem is taking her to the vet, She gets really freaked in the car and it's not worth the trauma to her at her age. She seems to be doing better on the Previcox than the Rimadyl. She seems more alert in her eyes. Thanks for the advise

[jlaack]

Well, I guess I can't offer more advise. If you could pinpoint the location of the problem (ie. front right leg) then I'd recommend xrays. However a mobile vet probably isn't equiped to do so. I hope things go well.

[KarenSasha]

Originally Posted by jlaack

Well, I guess I can't offer more advise. If you could pinpoint the location of the problem (ie. front right leg) then I'd recommend xrays. However a mobile vet probably isn't equiped to do so. I hope things go well.

The problem is all 4 legs, she stumbles on the front, her back end starts to fall if she stands still for a long time. When she is walking around she is ok, just a little slower. It's arthritus all the way, every where. Today she is sleeping a lot and I am feeding her hamburg and rice with her meds. She is just sooooo old at this point. she still gets up and runs to the door barking when someone comes over...LOL that's my girl. She just needs to let me know when it's time to go and mommy is right here 24/7. my poor boyfriend has moved down a notch or 2, maybe 3 and Sasha is the Queen. She has a king size bed of her own "in her own room" with 5 pillows, plus her dog bed in our room.

[Debbie Ervin]

Tramdol! It is a pain pill with no side effects and can be taken in conjuntion with steroid or non-steroids! It comes in 50 mg white tablets. Ask your vet from NY about it. It was a great find for the vet. med when it came out. I used it for several months for Ceasar with his pain in conjunction with predisone for his tumor on his brainstem. God Bless her! 13 that is great!!! Debbie

[KarenSasha]

Thanks, I will ask about the Tramadol. I have that here also. I think that she is just getting tired. She has gone down hill the past week. I decided when she can't get up on her own it's time. I spent most of the day today on the floor with her. She is such a good girl. The thing that bothers me the most is when I got her at 6 weeks, she had a tumor already. I found out years later she was inbread. She has had tumors, bloat, acid reflux, HD, arthritus and pretty much been sick her whole life. so I will not let her suffer any more. people just want to make money and don't care about the animal with the inbreeding. It is a miracle she made it to her age. I often wonder what happened to the other pups in her litter. That must have been hard with the problems your dog had, I'm sorry

[Mara]

For what it is worth, my wife and I made a similar decision about our Rott, Mara: for about a year she needed help getting up, even with the best meds, but we decided that, when she could not stay up and walk, it was time.
One day the time came. Mara was just shy of 14. Even with help she could not stay up. The hardest decision we've ever made was calling the vet to come out.

[KarenSasha]

Originally Posted by Mara

For what it is worth, my wife and I made a similar decision about our Rott, Mara: for about a year she needed help getting up, even with the best meds, but we decided that, when she could not stay up and walk, it was time.
One day the time came. Mara was just shy of 14. Even with help she could not stay up. The hardest decision we've ever made was calling the vet to come out.

It will be VERY hard that day. I am not being selfish at all "I keep asking myself that question daily", it is just that she is alert and eating. right now she is in here laying next to my feet while I'm typing this. It is hard to watch their bodies fail. 14 is very old for your dog RIP, wow! I guess I will do process of elimination with the meds. Rimadyl is not an option at this point. It has so far had the worse side effects for her. I think they all react differently. Day by day and a lots of love. My girl also plays me, she will act like she is not eating until I leave the room. Good talking with you

[casenh]

I also had to make that decision with my first Rotty. Not quite for the same reason, he was only 7 but got sick and timid of people except me, and my husband. Our son was only 1 at the time and couldn't take the chance with our dog and our son. It was one of the hardest decisions we ever made and we still don't forget the day. Just wanted to say that I feel for you, Sorry you have to make the decision.

[lanka1]

As someone mentioned, tramadol is a wonderful medication for dogs and people. My girl has been on it for arthritis pain and it doesn't have the side effects that the anti-inflammatories have. It will make her a bit sedated, but taking away the pain is really what's important at this time. Good luck to you.

[KarenSasha]

Originally Posted by lanka1

As someone mentioned, tramadol is a wonderful medication for dogs and people. My girl has been on it for arthritis pain and it doesn't have the side effects that the anti-inflammatories have. It will make her a bit sedated, but taking away the pain is really what's important at this time. Good luck to you.

Thank you. I am going to call our vet in NY today. She seemed to do much better on the Previcox than the Rimadyl. On 2 vets advice (the Mobile vet here and NY) I started her on the Previcox several days ago. It upset her stomach the first day, Hamburg/rice since. She still seems very week on her legs at times, but she is more alert and has better good moments. I wonder at this point if I should switch her meds again? You just don't know what will work and what won't. She had some jump in her step this morning barking at the dogs in the yard behind my house. You know that Rott play growl and serious defending tone....they are talkers. Thnaks much for the advice. I still have the Tramadol here also.

[KarenSasha]

Originally Posted by casenh

I also had to make that decision with my first Rotty. Not quite for the same reason, he was only 7 but got sick and timid of people except me, and my husband. Our son was only 1 at the time and couldn't take the chance with our dog and our son. It was one of the hardest decisions we ever made and we still don't forget the day. Just wanted to say that I feel for you, Sorry you have to make the decision.

I know, it sucks to put them down. I guess I need to get stronger and except that part of life. I was more upset when I put my shepard down 5 years ago, than I was when my grandfather passed. I "cried more" I should say. The timid thing seems to be common. My girl likes women more and does not like a strange person in the house at all. She will hide in the closet and bark until she knows someone pretty well and that takes time for her. Some people she never comes around to. She is terrified at the vets. That is why I am having this vet come now, so she gets to know him a little befor that day comes.