Hello, My black labs name is Aiden and he is 12 years old. As a part of his aging he developed an auto immune disease and rheumatoid arthritis. He takes Rimadyl for his arthritis and his auto immune has deteriorated various parts of his body. I'm not sure but I think the most recent occurance led to his toe nail falling off. After his toe nail fell off, a wound developed which got better after antibiotics. Then after the antibiotics ended the wound got worse again. We went through this cycle twice and are on the third attempt. Due to the toe wound, he really has a difficult time walking or even getting up. Sometimes when he does walk or get up it opens up the wound and he ends up bleeding a lot. But because he has arthritis we know its imperative to keep him as active as possible or else his arthritis will get worse. At my last vet visit today, he suggested amputating the toe where the wound is. The vet believes the wound and its growth may be cancerous. He estimated the cost of the procedure including pre-op blood work, chest x ray to make sure the cancer hasn't spread, and amputation, at around $2,000. Sadly we do not have pet insurance. My wife and I are considering spending the 2k but that is a good chunk of our savings. On one side I'm hoping to go ahead with the procedure and he will be able to return to a somewhat normal life. On the other side I'm worried that we do the procedure and then other health issues arise which we cannot afford to treat. I guess what I'm asking is if anybody had been in a similar situation or know anyone who has and if so what did you or they do and how did it turn out? I'd also be greatful for any other thoughts or suggestions. This is the first time our family has had a dog and have no idea what to do. Thank you in advance for any replies or thoughts you share.
Hello, I really feel for you as with older dogs sometimes it’s a tough decision to know what to do for the best. Regarding insurance, honestly I don’t think many have it for 12 year old dogs, the premiums are just too high. My dogs are insured until about 8, as that seems to be when they rise to make it not worth it. I think really to keep you dog as healthy and pain free at his age, you kind of have to accept vets fees are not going to be easy. That said, I would need to have real confidence in my vet that I was making the right decision. Ultimately sometimes, it is still a gamble. Maybe it is worth a second vet opinion before you make your final decision. Best wishes.
