Cardiologist for almost 14 year old dog?

[emily_gracesmama]

Ugh, so do I bother? She's a pug who is going to be 14 in April, average lifespan is 12-15 years, I took her to her annual and she's had a few spells where she has fallen over after activity, she's usually pretty sedentary. Her vet exam yesterday was $370, including an xray which basically told us her heart is enlarged and she probably has some fluid blocking it. Do I get myself into another $500 for a cardiologist and then potential long term meds at another $500-600 year? Do I let nature take its course here? I am stuck on this big-time.

[KLD313]

I don't think this is a question other people can answer for you. Things I would take into account are the dogs overall health and quality of life. My 7 yo bulldog had major (expensive) surgery and they're lifespan is 8 to 10 years. If I didn't do the surgery he could have had a very painful death. I couldnt live with myself if that happened. I had the money, I would at least take the dog to get checked further and if it was as simple as education I would probably do it. In your case it depends on how you feel and how you would feel if you did nothing and the dog died as a result. I don't mean that to sound harsh, just saying you know how it would affect you.

[Ceepa]

Is the regular vet suggesting a cardiologist for additional diagnostics? Depending on your dog's condition I'm wondering if your dog can be started on meds from your vet without going to the specialist.

[mackmama]

I think this decision is very personal. For me, I would take our dog to a specialist if we could afford it.

[swissair81]

I didn't want to pass this post by, even though I probably have nothing helpful to say. I am not a pet person, so I don't want to offend you or other pet lovers. I'm thinking of you though.

[infomama]

I would take your pup in. Generalized life span numbers don't mean much to us. Our boxer lived quite a long life.

[Tenasparkl]

I think this decision is very personal. For me, I would take our dog to a specialist if we could afford it.

I agree. My dog also had heart problems and we were able to get lots of her meds from a regular pharmacy instead of directly from the vet. They were human meds, but in small doses. It was much cheaper that way. We did end up spending quite a bit of money between her heart problems and lymphoma, but I don't regret it at all.

[dogmom]

I wouldn't take my 13 yo Lab to a cardiologist. But I would be willing to have my vet treat him for congestive heart failure if that is a resonable diagnosis. Basically some diuretics. I don't think you need a full work up to treat that. I woudn't take my 85 yo grandmother to a cardiologist necessarily if I thought the PCP could handle it. I do think there is a middle ground. I guess I would have to have an extended conversation with the Vet to see what they think the cardiologist will do for the dog and how would that change potential treatment. I think a vet should be able to manage some basic cardiology stuff for a geriatric dog. We did used to treat people based on clinical symptoms before all this fancy monitoring stuff.

[MamaMolly]

I would do what I could to make sure your dog has a comfortable peaceful life. How ever long it lasts. I'm not a big fan of major interventions that really are more stressful, painful or uncomfortable for pets towards the end of a nice life.

As a frame of reference, this is coming from a woman who had one cat live 21 years and another live 19. The 21 year old cat had bladder stones and had to be on a specialized diet most of his life, and when he was 14 or so he had major emergency surgery to the tune of about $2K. This was before kids, when we were both WOTH. I can't say if I'd handle it the same way now or not, but I know I would not have wanted my sweet kitty to suffer no matter what.

I'm sorry you guys are in this situation. It is really hard.

[emily_gracesmama]

Yeah I made the appt. it's only money. The vet said she won't do any meds til she knows what is going on and why they couldn't see her heart very well. I don't want her to suffer and scrap it she is a member of our family so we are doing it. It is harder with kids to try to rationalize the money on the dog especially since we are knee deep in trying for another child with our doctor at the moment but I don't feel good about not taking her so I need to do this. Thank you all for your kind words!

[k_null81]

Is the regular vet suggesting a cardiologist for additional diagnostics? Depending on your dog's condition I'm wondering if your dog can be started on meds from your vet without going to the specialist.

:yeahthat:

My mini doxi was just diagnosed with an enlarged heart several months ago and has been on meds since...she couldn't tell us really what to expect as far as life expectancy though...she just said she could be gone tomorrow or could live several more years. She is 11 or 12 I believe.

[doberbrat]

I think the answer depends on so many factors. Your financial picture, the dog's existing health, whether you would be able to treat the suspected daignosis......

I'll be thinking of you....

[StantonHyde]

One of the big questions to ask with ANY health care diagnostics is--what are you going to do with the data? Seriously--for somethings, the treatment is the same, not matter the cause. Well, then, i don't need to pay for all of that. I have a friend with an elderly cat that lost a lot of weight. Looks like cancer ($3-500 work up) and for another $1,500 they could do a big diagnostic work up "just so we would know". He chose to feed the cat the equivalent of chocolate, wine, and butter :tongue5: and she has been purring non stop.

My dog is 16--he's a Golden/Aussie mutt. He is REALLY old.They were worried that we shouldn't give him too much Rimadyl because it could impact his liver. Seriously???? If I was basically well over a 100 years old, I would not be weighing my liver against pain meds. Sorry. But that's the way it is. He can have all the pain meds he needs until he is comatose and then we can look at having him take one last sleep.

Now at 14, he went to the ER because he had inflammation in his inner ear nerve. For 2 years now he has been on special canned food and we work with his pain meds. He is happy to go on walks and he is eating/pooping/peeing just fine and he still loves his pets. I am lucky to have DH to be my reality check. As soon as "Mr. D" isn't happy with is life and I can't really work something out for him, then he is better on the other side.

I say don't spend money unless you will really get actionable data. Do know that dogs that should be dead at 13 can still live longer!! And then we all get to find a way to make peace in the middle somewhere. Big hugs!!:hug:

I can never respond to posts here when someone has put down their dog. It is just too overwhelming for me. YOu can be sure i will be here bawling away when that time comes for my dear sweet boy. Sigh--Good luck with your decisions!! I sort of think of it like losing my mom--its an awful club to join, but everybody gets to do so eventually. I just take comfort in knowing there are others that have gone before me and I hope and pray they share their wisdom as I feel my way through the best i can.