<p>what is the medication for? I can’t imagine not giving a pet their medication because the vet charges to administer it.
I do realize that emergency vets are way expensive- our dog had surgery when she was 14 & it was a very difficult decision, not just because it was a terrific amount of money, but because the prognosis was not that great at her age. However, she didn’t have what they thought she had, so she did live longer after that than they expected.
But how can you make that decision about someone elses pet?
It was hard enough with our own.</p>
<p>Remember I said the dog has a “cough” (which has been a symptom of CHF in this breed). They were told its “indigestion”, so were given a Rx for an ulcer (its an acid buffer - carafate). The bottle they brought me was filled in late February, and 10 of the 30 tabs are still in there (not counting the 1/2 tabs we gave her yesterday and today).</p>
<p>They know I will call them any hour of the night/day if the dog has an issue. They limited the ER charge they will authorize to $200. That won’t cover much.</p>
<p>jym, I’d give anything to have a friend like you. I’m pretty much in emeraldkity’s camp when it comes to my elderly dog. She does go to the kennel but it distresses her, and me. I’m dreading this fall when I’m planning several trips, one of which will likely be close to two weeks long. For the first time I am contemplating a house sitter but that actually worries me too as at least the kennel knows her well (she’s been going there all her life) and I do trust them. Problem is she always comes back skinny, tired and a bit disoriented. What to do? Again, I need a friend like you.</p>
<p>if the dog is only on carafate, then that actually sounds like a fairly healthy dog.
Our dog had been on thyroid meds which made a huge difference when she was finally diagnosed as well as msm/chondrotin for joints. ( & a pain med too)
Shortly before she died she was also on sub-q fluids which she hated, but her kidneys were going.
( one of the cats had also been on sub-q fluids for 4 years before she died but an 9lb cat is easier to restrain than a 70lb dog.)</p>
<p>puzzled:
Where do you live? :)</p>
<p>EK-
I suspect that if they took the dog to the cardiologist and had an echo done (as is commonly recommended for the breed) she might be on some vasodilators or antihypertensives (that said, she’s already peed a little bit in our house once already 
) and she has had 2 seizures but they have not put her on anything, They are taking a very different approach to her care than we might. That said, hers has way outlived ours :(</p>
<p>Puzzled88 - I didn’t learn this until just over a year ago, but many of the vet techs in your vet’s office will do house sitting. The vet tech I ended up using ran about $40/day, but I had the peace of mind that my dog was being well-looked after by someone, who I knew loved animals, and who just might pick up on some subtle symptom that I might take longer to notice. If you have an elderly dog and are looking for a house sitter, ask around at your vet’s office.</p>
<p>Wow teri- will they stay in your house the whole time for $40/day? Thats a great deal!! Around here the house sitters charge a minimum of $75/day and the ones that come by to feed, play with and walk the dogs charge $15-20 per visit, and usually come 3x/day.</p>
<p>My pet sitter is not a vet tech, but is great with animals and knows my vet. She stays in our house for $32 a day and cleans up completely before she leaves. It’s awesome! I can’t board the dog for that- not to mention still needing someone to come in for the cats.
It’s $12 a visit if she just comes by. Sometimes if H is out of town and I am at work for a long day I’ll have her come by and let the dog out or walk him.</p>
<p>jym - yea, $40/day. When we used to use the kids’ friends, we’d usually give them about $30-35/day and they were thrilled to come stay here as most of them still lived at home during college breaks, and especially if it was summer and the pool was open. </p>
<p>However, they were not in the house the whole time. Our vet tech house sitter worked six hour shifts, but was close to our house, so that would be the longest time she would be gone, but that was not every day, either. She was certainly free to come and go as long as it was within reason. But I think she spent most of her time here.</p>
<p>I have never priced out boarding, so I have no idea what that would cost around here, but I hear it would be more than house sitters.</p>
<p>Geez, the going rate here is $10 a day for pet sitting done by teenagers and that’s two to three visits a day! I would never pay someone $40 a day!</p>
<p>kathie- this is for someone to basically live at my house, except for when they are working. For my piece of mind, I think it also provides protection from anyone trying to burglarize our house while it sits empty. The house looks lived in. They do the mail, newspaper, garbage, etc.</p>
<p>^^ Same here. She is a house sitter and pet sitter.</p>
<p>Interesting thread for me. Two summers ago our Shih Tzu, nearly 12, got what was his terminal illness. We had an OOS wedding to go to but were able to leave him with the kennel/groomers he always loved (tail wag/barking with delight whenever we hit the parking lot). We made sure they tried to give meds (no huge charges or would have skipped them- physicians here and suspected they may not have made a difference, also quite the story of trying to give them to a 16 pound bundle of strength with no muzzle, they were no more successful) but wouldn’t call the vet. So hard to leave him, but was relieved they would take him in his state. Part of me expected a “your dog has died” call.</p>
<p>I totally understand and agree with minimal care for an elderly dog in case of life threatening health changes and with your concerns for getting guidance. I’ll bet these people could have developed a relationship for their dog with their kennel years ago- but you have saved them tons of money. I suspect this dog would have been just as well off there as at your house.</p>
<p>In the future you may not want to be so generous as it will be hard for you to handle the emotional strain of not doing what you want to for this dog in order to meet their wishes. Every week the dog is closer to his natural end so the risk goes up. Unless you are prepared for being on a death watch I would explain to them how he is just too old for you to manage possible problems emotionally. After all, they are willing to “abandon” their dog for their pleasure, you should not add worries to your life for their enjoyment.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>My guys do the mail, water plants if needed, fill bird feeders and take out garbage too! The people my sons do pet sitting for our neighbors within walking distance so it’s really not that hard. We watch each others houses as a matter of course anyway.</p>
<p>jym - I do feel for you and your situation. I’ve found that dogs DO act funny when their people aren’t there and your worries are not without reason. Our dog, as much as he loves the boy that watches him, will usually not eat as well when we’re not home.</p>
<p>I agree with your last post . Go ,and do what you planned to do . From everything you have said , this doesn’t sound like a situation I would want to get involved with -way too complicated !! I would not email or call her . See what happens . It sounds like a no -win situation .</p>
<p>Thanks, kathiep. We are just back form our afternoon “constitution” as it were. Nothing more unappealing than picking up hot poo in a plastic bag on a hot day. Eww.</p>
<p>Fauxmaven-
What is post #56 is response to?</p>
<p>Kathiep-
Forgot to mention, The dog has stayed here enough times that she wags her tail and gets excited when they pull up. She is familiar with us and our house and loves being here. Thats what the owner mentioned when she dropped her off yesterday. The slight pee-pee accident could have been an adjustment to being here I am sure, but she is eating, sleeping and doing her business on her walks just fine.</p>
<p>Sorry- I got lost in this thread ! I was responding to post # 15 ,when you said you were just going to go out .</p>
<p>jym - SF bay area. Are we neighbors?? Good idea about a vet tech house/dog sitter. My kennel costs close to $40 a day and I think a house sitter would be about $50. I’m willing to spend the money if I can find someone I like and trust. I’ll need to work on this before fall. I’m afraid I am becoming one of those people described above as passing up opportunities to stay home with my dog. Sigh.</p>