Really quick update on Mookie, the dog...
While we were in Port Maquarie, Mookie started to get worse. They took him to the vet (many times) where they ran a series of tests on him. First was an ultra-sound which turned up nothing. Then they did a series of blood tests which also came up nada. He appeared to be in great pain as he continued to coward and shake under anything he could fit under. His moping around the house and droopy face was quite heartbreaking as you've seen in the photos from a couple of posts ago.
They then did a spinal tap and took fluid out of his joints. That even sounds painful. They had to shave little spots in his fur for the procedure.
Mook also started to develop this... well, not a tick really but periodically he would snap his head around like he was trying to shoo away an annoying fly on his back that wasn't there.
The test results finally came back and he has meningitis. :-( So yes, he is still alive (just in case you thought I was climaxing to an obituary). He has about 4 months of monitoring and treatment to go before he is cured (though he is not out of the woods yet). And you don't want to even see the vet bill so far.
Speaking of the vet bill, here is your daily quandary. How much is too much to spend on your pet for medical help? Everybody's first reaction is probably "Everything I have" as you remember the family dog or cat that was put down when you were young. But now think about having another pet (or the pet you have) and think about how much money you would spend to make it better if it was sick... Think of how much money you really have and how much you are really, reaaaaaaaaaly ready to sacrifice to fix 'your best friend'.
How much would you spend. Really...
Posted by shnewt at April 26, 2005 04:12 PMComing from a family who owns hunting dogs, the term pet does not apply.
It has always been a heartbreaking decision. The dogs were always dynamics dogs, and when their health went down, it went down quick. As far as i can remember, not a single dogs passed away by itself. They all made a single trip to the vet. It was never my decision, and I was very upset.
All dogs are burried at the same place, and yes many years later, we still remember each of them, and talk of them. It sometimes bring tears.
In any case, my grand ma always said that it was the best solution, as she hates see animals suffer.
So hear you go. If mook is suffering, you have to help him the best way you can.
if you are a city dude, you will likely spend the money. if you are a countryside dude, you will do it the quick way.
What is happening after 4 months? Are the doctors 100% sure to cure mook ?
Posted by: bruno at April 26, 2005 06:21 PMWell, the vet is confident that Mook will make a full recovery.
So, the question is, if you know that spending enough money will make your pet healthy, how much is too much?
$1,000? $5,000? $10,000? ...?
Posted by: shnewt at April 26, 2005 09:17 PMDamn, that is a tough one.
I would not remortgage the house for sure.
Its really hard to put a price like this.
On the other hand mook is a young dog, so he will be with you for a long time. so go for it.
10k sounds over kill I think.
I wold say its gonna cost you around $100 a week. limit would be 3,000
Damn, I am going to get flamed.
Posted by: bruno at April 26, 2005 10:34 PMThat is one very, very tough dilemma. Having had a dog for 14 years growing up, it was traumatic to let her go, but it was the right time.
Doesn't sound like it's the right time for Mook, as this is a treatable condition, however, I'd get a second opinion on what the vet bill should amount to... Couldn't hurt. Ask direct questions of the vet -- And don't forget that sometimes there's options for treatment, too.
Hugs to you guys and Mook.
Posted by: NetChick at April 26, 2005 11:04 PMOh I feel so sorry for them. What a tough thing to go through. I appreciate that they are being responsible and looking into the dog's health instead of just dismissing it.
We would spend probably 500-1000 (US) now, but if we made more money that total probably would go up.
Also? All three of our cats are old now, so no matter what happens from this point on, I know they've have a good, long life. That makes it easier decide, too.
Found online regarding dogs with meningitis:
Steroid responsive meningitis is named that because it is unclear why it occurs, so naming it for the underlying cause isn't possible. It
responds well to the use of corticosteroids, so for now, that name seems best.
It is usually necessary to use corticosteroids daily for a couple of weeks to a month or more to resolve the initial signs. Once the patient seems to be back to normal, the dosage of corrticosteroids can be tapered off, slowly, to try to keep the illness from recurring. It is not unusual to have to go back to the starting dosage of corticosteroids if a relapse occurs when
the corticosteroid is being reduced, at least for a short period of time.
Most dogs with this condition can be weaned completely off of steroids after a few months but a few seem to need long term corticosteroid therapy. It is possible that these patients may have a vasculitis disorder affecting the central nervous system or something other than the typical steroid responsive meningitis. The overall prognosis for this condition is
usually good, with most dogs either recovering completely or at least having manageable disease.
The most common corticosteroid used in treating this condition is prednisone, usually used at a dosage of about 1 to 2mg/kg daily for the
first weeks of treatment and then going to an every other day dosing scheme and finally tapering the dosage down slowly to stop the medication after several months. If a relapse occurs while the prednisone is being tapered, going back to the original dosage for a few days and then going back to the last alternate day dosage that was working seems to control the problem again in most cases.
Wow... thanks Dayment. You're amazing.
Posted by: shnewt at April 27, 2005 04:53 PM: blink : blink :
Posted by: dayment at April 28, 2005 10:38 AM