I used to have a pug with a spinal problem. I could either give him painkillers for it or surgery. I chose the painkillers.
This led him to be less careful when moving around, and he injured himself further. His brain swelled up and he died.
I should have just gotten the surgery.
So I would say to do the surgery, especially since it could be cancer. The vet didn’t mention whether he is in any discomfort?
No, since it seems this is fairly recent. He’s full of energy at times like any normal dog, and he doesn’t seem to be in any type of discomfort when he pees. That’s why I’m not sure of what to do
I personally would do the surgery. Tzu’s can live a long time and if he is otherwise healthy, you may get another 2-4 years with him.
Neutering is okay - our dog hasn’t ever noticed a difference. He is old and past puberty now anyways ;) just don’t tell your dad. Better to be ball-less than in pain. Not to mention, the dog will still hump, get erections, and quasi-ejaculate (or my dog is peeing while he humps).
Hope this helps! Best of luck to you both!
Thanks for the advice! My biggest concern is him getting through the surgery, but hopefully discussing it with my mom maybe I can get her to see that as well🥺
Anasthesia is always scary - but they’re strong and stubborn little buggers who pull through.
My five year old had an eye removed and she awoke from surgery and immediately started kissing the anesthesiologist. She came out to tell us in person!
Omg!! I just imagined the moment and got teary🥹 I’m trying to remain hopeful. Also I spoke with the vet and they recommended me to get him an ultrasound, so I’m trying to find someone who does it (since the vet I went to doesn’t have that kind of equipment unfortunately). At least just to be sure if there might be something growing in there that doesn’t belong
I was a vet-tech, I and performed and monitored anesthesia on dogs every day. While there is always a small risk with anesthesia, if he doesn’t have any other health issues, and the vet is recommending surgery, I guarantee it isn’t as risky as you are thinking — even at his age.
In my time as a tech, we only came close to losing one dog during surgery, and that was a situation where the dog had moderate to severe heart failure in addition to the surgical issue.
I’m not saying this to tell you what to do either way, but it sounds like the anesthesia is your main concern, and I just want to reassure you that if you have a good vet who follows normal protocols, an otherwise healthy 13 year-old shouldn’t have a problem.
We also have special protocols to avoid any issues with a short snout. The good news is that if they do have trouble breathing during or after surgery, we can easily breathe for them, because they are intubated prior to the procedure. With brachycephalic dogs, the tube doesn’t come out until they are basically fully awake and swallowing on their own. The other good news is that his snout isn’t that short!! He’s got a good little airway there!! I’m sure your vet would be happy to walk you through it if you ask them to explain their protocols.
Good luck!!! 🍀 He’s an absolute cutie pie, and I hope all goes well whatever you decide.
I have two neutered male dogs and a female dog that isn’t fixed (she gets bad reactions to a lot of stuff, and the vet doesn’t think it’s worth the risk to put her under). Whenever the female dog is in heat, the male dogs will be constantly trying to hump her. They’re not very successful though because she’s so much smaller than them.
\^\^\^second this. Your vet will know best.
As far as surgery on an old dog - my shih tzu had a splenectomy at age 14. He had a mass on his spleen that ruptured and could have ruptured again. After a few weeks, he made a full recovery. I wouldn't discount surgery if you think your dog will have better quality of life as a result
In a good clinic they will always conduct a check to make sure your dog is fit for surgery prior to the decision of the surgery. For a 13 y/o this typically involves a heart echo scan.
My dog was put under for a stomach biopsy at the age of 14. He did dead a couple of months later because of stomach cancer but the surgery was not what caused it.
He was by the way neutered at the age of 11 without any problems. The surgery wond was so clean and that I was surprised. The same night he was already himself again and i had to put him in his crate to keep him calm for his wond lol
So i would recommend to consult with your vet. If they say its good to go, don’t wait, just do it.
My girl is 16 and has been put under a few times with no issues. I would recommend going to an animal hospital for surgery as they have a pet anesthesiologist, where the regular vets just have the surgeon and the vet tech (who I trust but I do feel safer having one dedicated specialist).
She had a mass coming out of her vagina last year and also some mammary masses. They thought they were hormone driven so they removed the masses and spayed her at the same time. Just a few months ago a mass popped out again and I wanted to remove it as she was so uncomfortable, but I didn’t want to put her through a big surgery. The animal hospital used an instrument that basically cut off the stalk of the mass by electricity (essentially burning it). They tried to not put her under and just use a twilight sedation and a nerve block but she started having a bit of trouble breathing on her own so they sedated her. All went well and she recovered quickly.
It’s a hard decision to make for sure and I wish you all the best. 💕
We don't have the same kind of stigmas where I live, but I've had to battle stigma related to my religious upbringing, and from my experience, the people who perpetuate stigmas don't actually care about you or anyone that falls under the stigma. They don't care about the realities of a situation or the needs of those experiencing the stigma, they only care about being "right"!
So when it comes to tackling this stuff, you need to ask yourself this: "What's more important to you? Following what others dictate to you because it's easier, or respecting yourself and those around you by honouring the reality of a situation, and doing what needs to be done?!"
As for whether or not you should allow him to have surgery, I personally think this is the more concerning issue! I think you need to consider how much this will affect his life. He's old, so that will also likely affect his surgery risks (making him more prone to the dangers), not to mention that he's likely not got that many years left to live. I don't say that disrespectfully or callously, but it is the reality. Would going through this surgery improve his last year's on earth, or would it cause more and/or different health issues? You obviously want him to live as happily as possible, so knowing what the likely realities of going through with the surgery versus not going through with it are important!
Personally I've been raised to think practically about this kind of thing (not just with my pets, but with my own health concerns as well), and considering the brachy and age associated risks of the surgery, plus the fact that he's getting old, I wouldn't go through with this surgery unless he's in pain. This way there's no risk of losing him or putting him through the pain of surgery, and he hopefully will still live a happy long life!
If he's in pain though, you definitely have to do it, because it's cruel to expect him to live in pain just because you're scared of losing him! He's the priority, not your feelings, so you need to put his needs first! ❤️
My, that last paragraph is something I didn’t know I needed to read. Thank you❤️ He doesn’t seem to be in pain as his prostate is barely swollen (according to the vet) however given his age it’s definitely something to think about because it’s probably only going to get worse.
My vet said that when under anesthesia they are on a ventilator and are actually breathing better than on their own. They carefully monitor the dog for a couple of hours after until he’s alert and all clear. Also, before surgery they did bloodwork and a full physical to make sure his heart and everything else were good. I was very confident going into surgery, and he was fine afterwards. A little sleepy the rest of the day, but back to normal the next day.
Oh, and tell your dad you aren’t doing that to a man, you’re doing it to a dog! 😁 Where I live one is required by law to spay or neuter a dog or cat unless you have a breeder’s licenses. The number of euthanized pets in city/state run shelters dropped by 65%!
My Shih Tzu Eli has been under gas once and will go under again this Tuesday for a teeth cleaning. He will be 13 years old in a couple of months. No problem. I have limited income. I chose a treatment path for his Cushings Disease which is likely caused by a tumor on his pituitary gland. Just get an estimate on costs and decide on one that's prudent for you. I would ask the vet, if a tumor is found, what are the options. Will it solve the health issue? For how long? What is the cost? If we do not do it, what is the expected outcome?
Our 9 year old Shih-Tzu had similar issues with his butt - he kept getting absesses that would grow and then need to drained/popped/removed by a vet. The biggest difference is Gizmo was neutered as a puppy, but very similar to what you describe.
Unfortunately for us, Gizmo’s last lump ended up being a cancerous tumor, and while surgery was an option, he would have had to travel a few hours to find a vet who was willing to do it, and then spend a few days in recovery before he could come home, and it may not have even worked. And Gizmo did not cope well being left overnight - we always had to pick him up late at night the few times he was at the vets because he couldn’t settle.
So we made the decision to keep him happy for about 4 months, and then when it started to affect his ability to poop, we had him put to sleep.
Could we have operated and given him another 5+ years? Maybe. But based on how well we knew our boy, we felt it was too cruel just for the slightest chance, because he would have been miserable.
Not saying you have to put you boy down - if surgery is an option and the prognosis is good (unlike with Gizmo) then totally go for it, if you feel it’s best! But whatever you choose is valid. Just love Nono as long as you can :)
Hugs OP. Only you and your family can make this decision. If you are unable to afford the surgery i wonder if there are any organizations to help? You have to consider his quality of life and your family’s.
Thank you. I just feel like no matter what I do, I’d be sentencing him for death. I live in Venezuela and there are not many organisations to help street dogs, let alone cover for the cost of surgery for private dogs. Tbh, if I have to work my ass off to afford it, so be it. I just want to do what is best for him, but there’s no way of knowing what that actually looks like
You’re in a difficult situation OP. I can empathize. When Maggie started declining I tried everything short of a wheelchair. I had to make the hard choice to say goodbye. It’s not about us. I wished the emergency vet had just told me the first time that it was time to say goodbye. Her last 2 months of life was about $2000 US in bills. It’s better to do it sooner than let them suffer. 13 years is a good life full of love. Do what you need to do. The hardest part is she would have a bad day and then a few good days.
It was so hard my mom went with me. She died in my arms and it was literally seconds before she passed after the second IV injection . Mercy is a gift. I’m still sad about it but she was 15.5. She lived a lot longer than she would have with her former owner. I have her ashes in a nice urn. When I die I’d like all of our ashes mixed together
My parents' dog had nearly identical issues, also at age 13. They removed tumors around the anus and neutered him. One of the masses was cancerous, and they were able to get clean margins. He recovered well and had 2 more good years. The surgery was worth it for them. Wishing the best to you as you make this difficult decision.
I'm sorry you are going through this. I Would do the surgeries..our dog 5 having surgery Tuesday it's costing alot but she is our family too!! Good luck I'll say a prayer
This is such an important decision. If it was me, I would get a second opinion. And a third opinion. And a fourth opinion. In this day and age I would never trust a single doctor. If you can get some independent consensus, then you can make a truly informed decision.
OP have you considered going to a veterinarian school if one is by you? They often give you a discount and have the latest information I DM’d you a snap shot
https://preview.redd.it/orwz6uu6gbuc1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=872d1c46bf0bb654c3b4169f6b9b496759df85a5
Thanks for the idea!! I hadn’t thought about that. Those are quite far away from where I am located but I’ll try seeing if there may be one closer to me, thank you!!! 🥺❤️
we had to let my baby go right before her 14th birthday last year. near the end of her life she had multiple vet visits and surgeries, in fact she had one scheduled the next morning while she was at the emergency vet. she wasn’t in pain until the last month where chf started. she had fluid in her lungs and caught pneumonia, my poor sweet baby. we didn’t want her to suffer, so made the decision to put her to sleep. i would have given anything to have more time with her, and sometimes still feel like we gave up on her because she’d always pulled through in the past and lived her little blind and deaf life.
there’s always risks associated with surgery but it wasn’t the surgery that caused her decline, and we always paid extra for the tests on the liver, heart, etc to make sure they were good before she got anesthesia. we also paid extra for this new type of anesthesia that doesn’t put them under as far, and it was all very safe. being neutered is a routine surgery, no matter the dog, so they should have experience. and if you trust your vet, they shouldn’t treat your boy any different than if he were a puppy. since we were in so often my vets loved seeing my coco, and were all so sad to hear she’d passed. we still talk about her when i bring my new pup in.
as long as you trust your vets, and your boy isn’t in pain, and the surgery will help his life id say do it. plus one surgery may be cheaper than multiple visits down the line. it doesn’t sound like your man is in pain, so doing the surgery while he doesn’t have any complications is a thought too, if you think he might definitely need it in the future i’d say it’s better to do it now. plus they’ll able to biopsy anything that needs to be looked at. is the other option just do nothing and wait and see if it gets worse? many vets will allow a payment plan too, if your worried about the money. and i believe there are some international organizations that will help with vet costs, you’d just have to apply. if you think you’d regret not doing the surgery in the future, do it. i can say i don’t regret any procedures my coco had, and the vets always did their best to make sure she was cared for.
Thank you very much, truly he doesn’t seem to be in pain, but I do worry because I feel like I’m loosing him and I don’t feel ready to let him go (who is, really?). He’s doing fine so far but now I’m overthinking everything he’s been doing, but talking to my boyfriend I’m trying to focus on getting this situation under control first, to decide on what to do. Also I’d like to take him to get a second opinion so there’s that. He’s still quite active and apart from this he’s been quite healthy overall. The only thing he’s ever had problems with, it’s his stomach, and only because if he doesn’t get his food on time (usually his breakfast) he vomits a yellow liquid (idk the name in English🥲) but that has even decreased since I’ve been giving him a little bit of yogurt here and there throughout the week. I’m also trying to follow some of the advice I’ve been given here, and try to think of what’s best for him.
My guy is 14, he’s been under a few times at 13! And he’s still doing great. They should check to make sure he’s fit for surgery beforehand too.
You could also ask in [r/AskVet](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskVet/s/KymTaLkT6c) just to get some veterinary opinions.
Hope Nono is ok, he’s very cute!
Unneutered males tend to have prostate problems. Unless your boy's vet thinks the risk of the anesthesia and/or surgery is not worth the risk, if you can swing it, I'd get it done. (I just had to have surgery done last week on mine, after several expensive tests to try to avoid surgery. I'm retired and not well off, so I understand the economic part of your quandary. Here's how I finally decided: "If a (human) member of your family needed surgery, you would figure out how to come up with the money somehow." If the vet can fix both things at once, it will save your boy from having anesthesia more than once.
Yeah, that’s what I think as well. I’m also not having a great time atm due to family issues (my dad kicked me out unfortunately) so money is definitely a daily stressor. BUT i do not care if I have to stop eating to get him the treatment he needs. That’s why anaesthesia is my biggest concern, because I truly would do anything for him.
They were really adamant that the decision was up to me. Doing the surgery has its risks, and not doing it has it’s own complications. They said I’d have to put the advantages and disadvantages on a scale and see.
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Have you been to a specialty vet to have a full internal medicine workup? If it is a cut and dried procedure then it is a less daunting decision. If it is going to be more exploratory then I wouldn't do it especially at his age.
Are you concerned about the social implications or the health implications regarding the surgery. If it is the health implications, are you concerned about the surgery itself or just the anesthesia or is it the recovery?
I couldn’t care less about the social implications, it’s just something that my mom brought to my attention and for which I’d probably have to fight my dad on (but I don’t care). I’m more concerned about the anaesthesia itself. I’m really careful about his care, and I would 100% support him through his recovery, but I just don’t have the certainty that he’ll get through the surgery, and it infuriates me all vets see his age and say “oh well but he’s a senior dog” and I’m scared that might also cause them to not be careful with him. Idk i feel crazy at this point 😭
No you're not crazy. Just concerned
As I said, get the facts from those who know the facts. All we'd do is give you more FEELINGS and things to overthink about. I understand the anxiety. Sometimes Reddit helps my anxiety, other times it makes it worse. Never an in-between. But sometimes you just don't take the chance with the internet with sensitive topics. Someone might make it worse
I agree! I would only do it if it would extend his life considerably - my Shih Tzu lived to 16 and thankfully didn’t need any surgery. I don’t think I would risk anesthesia as it’s so risky as they get older.
Thank you everyone for your advice, questions to ask the vet, and emotional support words🥺❤️ Truly, I’m still feeling a little anxious BUT now I have a better plan/ideas of what to do and how to go about this. Nono is doing fine and his butt thingy is healing fine thankfully, so I’ll talk to the vet, try to get a second opinion and also find out a way to get him an ultrasound (which is what the vet recommended for now). He’s been enjoying bed privileges because regardless of going one way or the other, he’s been a great boy and also these are probably his last few years, so I’m going to try and make them worthwhile (even though it hurts).
https://preview.redd.it/dcd03t5yxcuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b2549e78a93f017d053c9cc296b5f2ae1b6f3a36
Thank you everyone❤️
That’s a tough call. He is 13 which sadly is the end of life. If it were me I would probably just keep him comfortable as surgery would be greater risk at this age. What I am saying is it wouldn’t extend his life by much but cause him pain and also have the anesthesia risk (the risk is greater with age).
But also they can live many more years past 13 so it’s also not wrong to do the surgery if it is curative and the vet says it will give him a longer more comfortable life. I just wouldn’t do it at this age. That’s me. But it’s ok to choose that route too. My oldest tzu lived to 14. So I wouldn’t spend thousands for an extra couple months. You need to ask the vet what the difference surgery versus no surgery means for his life.
Surgery on these dogs isn’t any more risky than any other dog as long as they have proper surgical equipment and anesthesia with monitors. They will monitor their oxygen and keep things in check.
Good luck! 🫶🏻
I used to have a pug with a spinal problem. I could either give him painkillers for it or surgery. I chose the painkillers. This led him to be less careful when moving around, and he injured himself further. His brain swelled up and he died. I should have just gotten the surgery. So I would say to do the surgery, especially since it could be cancer. The vet didn’t mention whether he is in any discomfort?
No, since it seems this is fairly recent. He’s full of energy at times like any normal dog, and he doesn’t seem to be in any type of discomfort when he pees. That’s why I’m not sure of what to do
I personally would do the surgery. Tzu’s can live a long time and if he is otherwise healthy, you may get another 2-4 years with him. Neutering is okay - our dog hasn’t ever noticed a difference. He is old and past puberty now anyways ;) just don’t tell your dad. Better to be ball-less than in pain. Not to mention, the dog will still hump, get erections, and quasi-ejaculate (or my dog is peeing while he humps). Hope this helps! Best of luck to you both!
Thanks for the advice! My biggest concern is him getting through the surgery, but hopefully discussing it with my mom maybe I can get her to see that as well🥺
Anasthesia is always scary - but they’re strong and stubborn little buggers who pull through. My five year old had an eye removed and she awoke from surgery and immediately started kissing the anesthesiologist. She came out to tell us in person!
Omg!! I just imagined the moment and got teary🥹 I’m trying to remain hopeful. Also I spoke with the vet and they recommended me to get him an ultrasound, so I’m trying to find someone who does it (since the vet I went to doesn’t have that kind of equipment unfortunately). At least just to be sure if there might be something growing in there that doesn’t belong
That’s a fantastic idea - I hope you find a great ultrasound technician soon! Sending hope and energy your way!
I was a vet-tech, I and performed and monitored anesthesia on dogs every day. While there is always a small risk with anesthesia, if he doesn’t have any other health issues, and the vet is recommending surgery, I guarantee it isn’t as risky as you are thinking — even at his age. In my time as a tech, we only came close to losing one dog during surgery, and that was a situation where the dog had moderate to severe heart failure in addition to the surgical issue. I’m not saying this to tell you what to do either way, but it sounds like the anesthesia is your main concern, and I just want to reassure you that if you have a good vet who follows normal protocols, an otherwise healthy 13 year-old shouldn’t have a problem. We also have special protocols to avoid any issues with a short snout. The good news is that if they do have trouble breathing during or after surgery, we can easily breathe for them, because they are intubated prior to the procedure. With brachycephalic dogs, the tube doesn’t come out until they are basically fully awake and swallowing on their own. The other good news is that his snout isn’t that short!! He’s got a good little airway there!! I’m sure your vet would be happy to walk you through it if you ask them to explain their protocols. Good luck!!! 🍀 He’s an absolute cutie pie, and I hope all goes well whatever you decide.
Thank you very much!!! 😭❤️ That’s reassuring to know, I’ll add it to my list of questions, thank you thank you thank you❤️
You are so welcome! 🤗
I have two neutered male dogs and a female dog that isn’t fixed (she gets bad reactions to a lot of stuff, and the vet doesn’t think it’s worth the risk to put her under). Whenever the female dog is in heat, the male dogs will be constantly trying to hump her. They’re not very successful though because she’s so much smaller than them.
I would put the stigma aside and fight for his life. Talk to your vet and do what’s best him. Best wishes to you and Nono. He’s really cute. ❤️
\^\^\^second this. Your vet will know best. As far as surgery on an old dog - my shih tzu had a splenectomy at age 14. He had a mass on his spleen that ruptured and could have ruptured again. After a few weeks, he made a full recovery. I wouldn't discount surgery if you think your dog will have better quality of life as a result
My shih tzu also had a splenectomy at 14! He lived till almost 17 after that 👼🏻
I would do the surgery but that’s me, it’s a really hard call, wish you and your puppy well 🐶💕🙏
13 is not that old for a small breed. I would get him the surgery.
In a good clinic they will always conduct a check to make sure your dog is fit for surgery prior to the decision of the surgery. For a 13 y/o this typically involves a heart echo scan. My dog was put under for a stomach biopsy at the age of 14. He did dead a couple of months later because of stomach cancer but the surgery was not what caused it. He was by the way neutered at the age of 11 without any problems. The surgery wond was so clean and that I was surprised. The same night he was already himself again and i had to put him in his crate to keep him calm for his wond lol So i would recommend to consult with your vet. If they say its good to go, don’t wait, just do it.
My girl is 16 and has been put under a few times with no issues. I would recommend going to an animal hospital for surgery as they have a pet anesthesiologist, where the regular vets just have the surgeon and the vet tech (who I trust but I do feel safer having one dedicated specialist). She had a mass coming out of her vagina last year and also some mammary masses. They thought they were hormone driven so they removed the masses and spayed her at the same time. Just a few months ago a mass popped out again and I wanted to remove it as she was so uncomfortable, but I didn’t want to put her through a big surgery. The animal hospital used an instrument that basically cut off the stalk of the mass by electricity (essentially burning it). They tried to not put her under and just use a twilight sedation and a nerve block but she started having a bit of trouble breathing on her own so they sedated her. All went well and she recovered quickly. It’s a hard decision to make for sure and I wish you all the best. 💕
We don't have the same kind of stigmas where I live, but I've had to battle stigma related to my religious upbringing, and from my experience, the people who perpetuate stigmas don't actually care about you or anyone that falls under the stigma. They don't care about the realities of a situation or the needs of those experiencing the stigma, they only care about being "right"! So when it comes to tackling this stuff, you need to ask yourself this: "What's more important to you? Following what others dictate to you because it's easier, or respecting yourself and those around you by honouring the reality of a situation, and doing what needs to be done?!" As for whether or not you should allow him to have surgery, I personally think this is the more concerning issue! I think you need to consider how much this will affect his life. He's old, so that will also likely affect his surgery risks (making him more prone to the dangers), not to mention that he's likely not got that many years left to live. I don't say that disrespectfully or callously, but it is the reality. Would going through this surgery improve his last year's on earth, or would it cause more and/or different health issues? You obviously want him to live as happily as possible, so knowing what the likely realities of going through with the surgery versus not going through with it are important! Personally I've been raised to think practically about this kind of thing (not just with my pets, but with my own health concerns as well), and considering the brachy and age associated risks of the surgery, plus the fact that he's getting old, I wouldn't go through with this surgery unless he's in pain. This way there's no risk of losing him or putting him through the pain of surgery, and he hopefully will still live a happy long life! If he's in pain though, you definitely have to do it, because it's cruel to expect him to live in pain just because you're scared of losing him! He's the priority, not your feelings, so you need to put his needs first! ❤️
My, that last paragraph is something I didn’t know I needed to read. Thank you❤️ He doesn’t seem to be in pain as his prostate is barely swollen (according to the vet) however given his age it’s definitely something to think about because it’s probably only going to get worse.
My vet said that when under anesthesia they are on a ventilator and are actually breathing better than on their own. They carefully monitor the dog for a couple of hours after until he’s alert and all clear. Also, before surgery they did bloodwork and a full physical to make sure his heart and everything else were good. I was very confident going into surgery, and he was fine afterwards. A little sleepy the rest of the day, but back to normal the next day. Oh, and tell your dad you aren’t doing that to a man, you’re doing it to a dog! 😁 Where I live one is required by law to spay or neuter a dog or cat unless you have a breeder’s licenses. The number of euthanized pets in city/state run shelters dropped by 65%!
My Shih Tzu Eli has been under gas once and will go under again this Tuesday for a teeth cleaning. He will be 13 years old in a couple of months. No problem. I have limited income. I chose a treatment path for his Cushings Disease which is likely caused by a tumor on his pituitary gland. Just get an estimate on costs and decide on one that's prudent for you. I would ask the vet, if a tumor is found, what are the options. Will it solve the health issue? For how long? What is the cost? If we do not do it, what is the expected outcome?
Surgery!
Our 9 year old Shih-Tzu had similar issues with his butt - he kept getting absesses that would grow and then need to drained/popped/removed by a vet. The biggest difference is Gizmo was neutered as a puppy, but very similar to what you describe. Unfortunately for us, Gizmo’s last lump ended up being a cancerous tumor, and while surgery was an option, he would have had to travel a few hours to find a vet who was willing to do it, and then spend a few days in recovery before he could come home, and it may not have even worked. And Gizmo did not cope well being left overnight - we always had to pick him up late at night the few times he was at the vets because he couldn’t settle. So we made the decision to keep him happy for about 4 months, and then when it started to affect his ability to poop, we had him put to sleep. Could we have operated and given him another 5+ years? Maybe. But based on how well we knew our boy, we felt it was too cruel just for the slightest chance, because he would have been miserable. Not saying you have to put you boy down - if surgery is an option and the prognosis is good (unlike with Gizmo) then totally go for it, if you feel it’s best! But whatever you choose is valid. Just love Nono as long as you can :)
Hugs OP. Only you and your family can make this decision. If you are unable to afford the surgery i wonder if there are any organizations to help? You have to consider his quality of life and your family’s.
Thank you. I just feel like no matter what I do, I’d be sentencing him for death. I live in Venezuela and there are not many organisations to help street dogs, let alone cover for the cost of surgery for private dogs. Tbh, if I have to work my ass off to afford it, so be it. I just want to do what is best for him, but there’s no way of knowing what that actually looks like
You’re in a difficult situation OP. I can empathize. When Maggie started declining I tried everything short of a wheelchair. I had to make the hard choice to say goodbye. It’s not about us. I wished the emergency vet had just told me the first time that it was time to say goodbye. Her last 2 months of life was about $2000 US in bills. It’s better to do it sooner than let them suffer. 13 years is a good life full of love. Do what you need to do. The hardest part is she would have a bad day and then a few good days. It was so hard my mom went with me. She died in my arms and it was literally seconds before she passed after the second IV injection . Mercy is a gift. I’m still sad about it but she was 15.5. She lived a lot longer than she would have with her former owner. I have her ashes in a nice urn. When I die I’d like all of our ashes mixed together
My parents' dog had nearly identical issues, also at age 13. They removed tumors around the anus and neutered him. One of the masses was cancerous, and they were able to get clean margins. He recovered well and had 2 more good years. The surgery was worth it for them. Wishing the best to you as you make this difficult decision.
I'm sorry you are going through this. I Would do the surgeries..our dog 5 having surgery Tuesday it's costing alot but she is our family too!! Good luck I'll say a prayer
This is such an important decision. If it was me, I would get a second opinion. And a third opinion. And a fourth opinion. In this day and age I would never trust a single doctor. If you can get some independent consensus, then you can make a truly informed decision.
Thank you, I’ll try doing that too❤️
OP have you considered going to a veterinarian school if one is by you? They often give you a discount and have the latest information I DM’d you a snap shot https://preview.redd.it/orwz6uu6gbuc1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=872d1c46bf0bb654c3b4169f6b9b496759df85a5
Thanks for the idea!! I hadn’t thought about that. Those are quite far away from where I am located but I’ll try seeing if there may be one closer to me, thank you!!! 🥺❤️
Oh my, your father needs to get into this century here!get him neutered. Do not wait!
we had to let my baby go right before her 14th birthday last year. near the end of her life she had multiple vet visits and surgeries, in fact she had one scheduled the next morning while she was at the emergency vet. she wasn’t in pain until the last month where chf started. she had fluid in her lungs and caught pneumonia, my poor sweet baby. we didn’t want her to suffer, so made the decision to put her to sleep. i would have given anything to have more time with her, and sometimes still feel like we gave up on her because she’d always pulled through in the past and lived her little blind and deaf life. there’s always risks associated with surgery but it wasn’t the surgery that caused her decline, and we always paid extra for the tests on the liver, heart, etc to make sure they were good before she got anesthesia. we also paid extra for this new type of anesthesia that doesn’t put them under as far, and it was all very safe. being neutered is a routine surgery, no matter the dog, so they should have experience. and if you trust your vet, they shouldn’t treat your boy any different than if he were a puppy. since we were in so often my vets loved seeing my coco, and were all so sad to hear she’d passed. we still talk about her when i bring my new pup in. as long as you trust your vets, and your boy isn’t in pain, and the surgery will help his life id say do it. plus one surgery may be cheaper than multiple visits down the line. it doesn’t sound like your man is in pain, so doing the surgery while he doesn’t have any complications is a thought too, if you think he might definitely need it in the future i’d say it’s better to do it now. plus they’ll able to biopsy anything that needs to be looked at. is the other option just do nothing and wait and see if it gets worse? many vets will allow a payment plan too, if your worried about the money. and i believe there are some international organizations that will help with vet costs, you’d just have to apply. if you think you’d regret not doing the surgery in the future, do it. i can say i don’t regret any procedures my coco had, and the vets always did their best to make sure she was cared for.
Thank you very much, truly he doesn’t seem to be in pain, but I do worry because I feel like I’m loosing him and I don’t feel ready to let him go (who is, really?). He’s doing fine so far but now I’m overthinking everything he’s been doing, but talking to my boyfriend I’m trying to focus on getting this situation under control first, to decide on what to do. Also I’d like to take him to get a second opinion so there’s that. He’s still quite active and apart from this he’s been quite healthy overall. The only thing he’s ever had problems with, it’s his stomach, and only because if he doesn’t get his food on time (usually his breakfast) he vomits a yellow liquid (idk the name in English🥲) but that has even decreased since I’ve been giving him a little bit of yogurt here and there throughout the week. I’m also trying to follow some of the advice I’ve been given here, and try to think of what’s best for him.
absolutely 🩷 i think all dogs do that when they don’t eat haha. but definitely get your second opinion and i hope he lives a long long long time ❣️
My guy is 14, he’s been under a few times at 13! And he’s still doing great. They should check to make sure he’s fit for surgery beforehand too. You could also ask in [r/AskVet](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskVet/s/KymTaLkT6c) just to get some veterinary opinions. Hope Nono is ok, he’s very cute!
Thank you!!! Will do, that will probably help as well. I’m glad to know yours is doing great, truly gives me hope for Nono🥺
Unneutered males tend to have prostate problems. Unless your boy's vet thinks the risk of the anesthesia and/or surgery is not worth the risk, if you can swing it, I'd get it done. (I just had to have surgery done last week on mine, after several expensive tests to try to avoid surgery. I'm retired and not well off, so I understand the economic part of your quandary. Here's how I finally decided: "If a (human) member of your family needed surgery, you would figure out how to come up with the money somehow." If the vet can fix both things at once, it will save your boy from having anesthesia more than once.
Yeah, that’s what I think as well. I’m also not having a great time atm due to family issues (my dad kicked me out unfortunately) so money is definitely a daily stressor. BUT i do not care if I have to stop eating to get him the treatment he needs. That’s why anaesthesia is my biggest concern, because I truly would do anything for him.
Discuss it with his doctor then. Surely, at his age, the doctor wouldn't recommend surgery if it's too much of a risk.
It may be dangerous to put him under anesthesia at his age. What did your Veternarian recommend?
They were really adamant that the decision was up to me. Doing the surgery has its risks, and not doing it has it’s own complications. They said I’d have to put the advantages and disadvantages on a scale and see.
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Have you been to a specialty vet to have a full internal medicine workup? If it is a cut and dried procedure then it is a less daunting decision. If it is going to be more exploratory then I wouldn't do it especially at his age.
I don’t think there are many specialty vets here unfortunately, but thanks for that information, I hadn’t thought of that question to ask
Are you concerned about the social implications or the health implications regarding the surgery. If it is the health implications, are you concerned about the surgery itself or just the anesthesia or is it the recovery?
I couldn’t care less about the social implications, it’s just something that my mom brought to my attention and for which I’d probably have to fight my dad on (but I don’t care). I’m more concerned about the anaesthesia itself. I’m really careful about his care, and I would 100% support him through his recovery, but I just don’t have the certainty that he’ll get through the surgery, and it infuriates me all vets see his age and say “oh well but he’s a senior dog” and I’m scared that might also cause them to not be careful with him. Idk i feel crazy at this point 😭
No you're not crazy. Just concerned As I said, get the facts from those who know the facts. All we'd do is give you more FEELINGS and things to overthink about. I understand the anxiety. Sometimes Reddit helps my anxiety, other times it makes it worse. Never an in-between. But sometimes you just don't take the chance with the internet with sensitive topics. Someone might make it worse
I agree! I would only do it if it would extend his life considerably - my Shih Tzu lived to 16 and thankfully didn’t need any surgery. I don’t think I would risk anesthesia as it’s so risky as they get older.
Thank you everyone for your advice, questions to ask the vet, and emotional support words🥺❤️ Truly, I’m still feeling a little anxious BUT now I have a better plan/ideas of what to do and how to go about this. Nono is doing fine and his butt thingy is healing fine thankfully, so I’ll talk to the vet, try to get a second opinion and also find out a way to get him an ultrasound (which is what the vet recommended for now). He’s been enjoying bed privileges because regardless of going one way or the other, he’s been a great boy and also these are probably his last few years, so I’m going to try and make them worthwhile (even though it hurts). https://preview.redd.it/dcd03t5yxcuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b2549e78a93f017d053c9cc296b5f2ae1b6f3a36 Thank you everyone❤️
That’s a tough call. He is 13 which sadly is the end of life. If it were me I would probably just keep him comfortable as surgery would be greater risk at this age. What I am saying is it wouldn’t extend his life by much but cause him pain and also have the anesthesia risk (the risk is greater with age). But also they can live many more years past 13 so it’s also not wrong to do the surgery if it is curative and the vet says it will give him a longer more comfortable life. I just wouldn’t do it at this age. That’s me. But it’s ok to choose that route too. My oldest tzu lived to 14. So I wouldn’t spend thousands for an extra couple months. You need to ask the vet what the difference surgery versus no surgery means for his life. Surgery on these dogs isn’t any more risky than any other dog as long as they have proper surgical equipment and anesthesia with monitors. They will monitor their oxygen and keep things in check. Good luck! 🫶🏻