Fee Posted June 19, 2010 Report Share Posted June 19, 2010 How upsetting to have a vet that doesn't seem to understand at a time when you need support and sympathetic advice All my thoughts are still with Tess, I hope the specialist on Monday brings more positive news Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whizzie Posted June 19, 2010 Report Share Posted June 19, 2010 Different circumstances I know but once when Misty was seriously ill and showing no signs of improvement, we went to visit her at the vets to make the decision on whether we should let her battle on. There wes recognition, slight signs of response to us talking to her but she didn't hace the strength to lift her head, bless her. Something in Misty's eyes told us she wasn't ready yet & neither we nor the vet thought she was in pain, just extremely weak. We all agreed to give it another 24-48hrs. The next day Misty showed signs of improvement & the day after that she came home. She enjoyed over a year more with us before we lost her to heart failure last June. Her diagnosis was suspected poisoning from xylitol (in sugar free gum, mints etc - although we'll never know how she might have eaten anything like that). I know Tess's condition is entirely different but my point here is that if you know your own dog and can see hope in their eyes then don't rush the decision. Consider all options with a well-informed professional who will discuss them calmly & patiently with you. Good luck to you both Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted June 19, 2010 Report Share Posted June 19, 2010 I would also go in and see her everyday, I know they advised against it at first but she is responding to you, to you feeding her and the love you give her. that can only help her recovery and make her feel stronger. I agree, in addition to being poorly, she's also confused because she hasn't seen you and probably doesn't understand why she hasn't seen you. It seems to have lifted her spirits as she is eating from you, so I would also go and see her every day, it could buck up her fighting spirit and make all the difference. I am keeping everything crossed that she continues fighting and gets better PS : That vet sounds like a knob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesB Posted June 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2010 Thank you everyone, for thinking of her. We are going to see her again tomorrow morning and I have cooked her some more chicken and some bacon, which is her favourite. The nurse who is on duty tonight told me earlier that she is going to sit with her, and that she has had instructions to hand feed her. Surely they have tried that before now - she's been in since Tuesday and I've not been allowed to visit so if she hasn't eaten from a bowl then she hasn't had anything. No wonder she is weak I am crying my eyes out as I write this, hoping against hope that she will come home to us. In my heart I don't think she will, and I don't think I can bear it I wish in some ways I'd just asked the vet to let her go on Tuesday night, when she was in my arms, at least she would have been spared all this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incapuppy Posted June 19, 2010 Report Share Posted June 19, 2010 Jules :GroupHug: :GroupHug: C'mon Princess Fairy Lurcher Tess, be strong and come home to your Mummy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 Thank you everyone, for thinking of her. We are going to see her again tomorrow morning and I have cooked her some more chicken and some bacon, which is her favourite. The nurse who is on duty tonight told me earlier that she is going to sit with her, and that she has had instructions to hand feed her. Surely they have tried that before now - she's been in since Tuesday and I've not been allowed to visit so if she hasn't eaten from a bowl then she hasn't had anything. No wonder she is weak If they haven't tried it before now then I'm gobsmacked - if her neck is sore then of course she wouldn't want to lift it up to eat out of a bowl, surely that's not rocket science Take plenty of food in so she has as much as she wants to get her strength up. 'I am crying my eyes out as I write this, hoping against hope that she will come home to us. In my heart I don't think she will, and I don't think I can bear it I am hoping that now she is eating again, she will get stronger and now that you are visiting, her fighting spirit will see her come through this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owl Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 Lots of :GroupHug: I agree, see her and feed her every day. Perhaps the vet has had too much experience of owners who want to keep animals going when really it is time to say goodbye, but it is important to respect the owner's knowledge of the dog. I can't think why they haven't hand fed before. Lots of good thoughts for lovely Tess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 I hope you have a positive visit today. It is natural to question what you should have done, but my vet always said ' where there is a chance I will always give it" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 Just checking in for any news - still sending tons of positive thoughts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura_E Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 So sorry to hear that you are going through such an awful time. Lots of positive thoughts being sent your way. I really hope your lovely girl pulls through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houndzrus Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 So sorry you are not getting the proper support from the vet. I would echo what others have said, you know your own dog. :GroupHug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesB Posted June 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 Saw her this morning and she was very glad to see us again, and ravenously hungry. She was back on a drip because she's not drinking. She was lying down but moving the front end of her body about quite freely, including her neck. And she actually made a big effort to sit up when we started to leave, and barked after us, which cheered us up no end and gave us a bit of hope. However, when I rang at 1.30 to say we would be there at 2.30 a vet who has only just met Tess today came on the phone and said I would have to help them muzzle her so they could clean up (she's on a pile of puppy pads as she can't stand to wee or poo and the chicken had given her a runny bum) as she was really going for them 'with the pain.' When we got there they had managed to clean her up but she was very subdued and didn't want to eat the chicken either. She can be difficult with strangers so I don't know if the aggression was because she's fed up of them pulling her about now, or she really was in pain (her next drugs were due an hour later), or because she'd been sitting in poo (she hates being dirty and will take herself away and not look at us if she's had an accident at home). When I queried how the vet could tell she was in pain, because I had specifically asked that her medication was upped so she was pain-free, she said Tess had been whinging, particularly after we had left. When I said 'but we had just left, and she whinges a lot at home, she's a whingy sort of dog', she said 'Oh well, it's difficult to tell when dog is in pain isn't it?' I'm hoping the reason her back end won't support her is because she's weak from lack of food and wobbly from lying about all week, and not because the inflammation is affecting more bits of her spinal cord further down her back, and the nerves. Either the inflammation in her neck has gone down, or the pain killers are keeping it at bay, but then surely it would be working all the way down her spine? She's always been a strong dog at the front end but a bit wobbly at the back. I have so many questions for the specialist tomorrow, I'm writing them down as OH will not be there. I can't bear to hope, but I can't bear not to either. I'm thinking that if he strongly recommends we pts, and he's got the evidence to back that up, and I agree, then I'm going to ask if I can bring her home for the night and have the vet come out on Tuesday. Thanks for sticking with us through this, it helps so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickentikka Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 Jules what a roller coaster Do you have a friend who knows Tess who could come with you tomorrow. In the meantime, hoping your beautiful girl can build up some strength and surprise you all in the morning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 Hoping that you get more sense out of the specialist tomorrow and that Tess picks up overnight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts