Question by Jessie: At what point do you decide that a dog’s health care is too expensive?
I will not ‘out’ the member here.
But recently, one of our members has gone begging for money on social media in a quest to save her dog (and maybe, her marriage, as she and her husband are in disagreement on how to proceed with this dog).
The dog: 8 year old large breed dog.
The issues:
ACL tears and subsequent surgeries in both stifles.
Indeterminate masses in the abdominal cavity. Those tested to date have not been cancerous, but there is a new one to be tested.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Needs a home cooked diet.
Hypothryoid.
Dog has had more than 6 surgeries to date, another one scheduled for new abdominal mass. May also have a blood disorder.
The owners have spent more than 50K in vet bills and say that their home is falling apart around them and the car needs replacing. They PLAN to spend 2K per month on vet bills for many non-traditional treatments for her special diet, bowel issues and arthritis. Now the dog has a skin issue, too, which has apparently been the last straw.
One owner has said “enough is enough!” Time to put the dog down. It’s a large breed not expected to live many more years to begin with, and our family is suffering for want of treating this dog.
The other owner has resorted to begging for cash on social media. She will never let this dog go willingly.
What would you advise this couple do now?
At what point do you decide that “enough is enough” when it comes to your dog?
Would YOU beg on social media for help for a senior, ill dog?
I agree that it’s time. I don’t discount the emotional attachment here. But it’s time to let the dog go, and has been for a long time now.
And yes, I think the owner has a mental illness (likely depressive in nature) to continue putting the dog through these measures while her family suffers and the dog does as well. Apparently you can have Munchausen’s with a dog.
She’s in pain, owner is too. But the owner has lost sight of what’s good for the dog and of what’s good for her family. She’s failing them both now. It’s very sad no matter how you look at it. 
I think the problem is that the husband cried ENOUGH on a minor problem–the skin infection. Wife says we can’t put the dog down over THIS, while failing to recognize the larger picture. She just doesn’t get it. It’s not about the skin infection. It’s about the expected longevity of this breed were it healthy (2-4 more years with a healthy dog, who knows what with THIS dog); the insane amount of money already spent; the annual 24K expected expenditures; the dog’s suffering; the distress to her family in spending this money to no avail.
Best answer:
Answer by walking lady
To me, the prime issue isn’t even the huge amount of money spent on this dog. The real issue is when is it enough torture for this dog? A truly caring owner puts the dog first and would draw the line at continuing the dog’s suffering.
No, I wouldn’t beg for help from strangers, but I’d also never put a dog through all this. He deserves better.
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