How much do you spend on a 12 year old dog?

[hawksurprize]

At the vet today. They’re talking about doing an MRI tomorrow but the cost is close to $10k. And if they find something, then what? Operate on a 12 year old dog?

There is pet insurance out there but I git you. Don't want to let suffer cause of our attachment, Ben there regretted it.

 

[SeaPA]

They’re looking for either evidence of a stroke or some Issue in his neck.
Suddenly started having trouble walking this afternoon. Falling over, legs not working right.

Not sure if you remember, but a few years ago over Thanksgiving our Australian Cattle Dog had similar symptoms, and I was worried she was dying. Turned out she'd eaten my college son's plate of "brownies."

Aren't your kids college-age?

 

[beanerhawk]

0 if it was me.

Well putting the dog down isn't free unless you use a bullet in the back 40 so zero usually isn't an option.

Had an 11 year old puggle that got cancer really bad and had to put him down. Miss that dog, wife got another puggle 6 months later. He's an idiot. Love you Riggins, RIP in peace.

 

[BelemNole]

Not sure if you remember, but a few years ago over Thanksgiving our Australian Cattle Dog had similar symptoms, and I was worried she was dying. Turned out she'd eaten my college son's plate of "brownies."

Aren't your kids college-age?

They are, but they're at college and my wife keeps all hers in the closet.
And he's still listing this am. Doing better, can walk and go to the bathroom on his own, but can tell he's compensating when he tries to climb the stairs, etc.

 

[noStemsnoSTICKS]

At the vet today. They’re talking about doing an MRI tomorrow but the cost is close to $10k. And if they find something, then what? Operate on a 12 year old dog?

Great looking dog.

I had the same conversation a couple of years ago with a vet about my 13 year old Lab. She wanted to do a biopsy on one or more of his lumps/cysts. I was like, what if the cysts are cancerous, then what? She said surgery, or course. I said, if you remove all the potential cancer, will he live another 10 years? She said no, it's a 13 year old lab. Probably has 1, maybe 2 years max left in life. She then realized how ridiculous she was being.

I've spent upwards of $5-$6K on knee surgeries (my lab blew both rear ACLs), but it was during the prime of his life.

All that being said, it's never easy making the decision, nor saying goodbye.

 

[DFSNOLE]

We went through this almost three years ago with our then 9 year old, 110# lab/great dane mix. He slipped jumping into the back seat of my truck and fell just the wrong way that caused his back end to become paralyzed. We were referred to a veterinary surgeon after multiple trips to the emergency clinic (they can never do this on a Wednesday). He was very open with his chances if surgery was needed. We decided to move forward with the scan, which revealed a ruptured disk. We then decided to go ahead with the surgery. The scan, surgery and post operative therapy was a flat rate of $4800.

He's still with us today, though slower. That money has bought us several priceless years. I would spend it again in a second.

 

[Moral]

That money has bought us several priceless years. I would spend it again in a second.

That's how they get you.

The vet today got me for another 1300 and scheduled another scan for a few hundred. Not bad considering the place they sent me to has something of an atrium. I should get him home today so it's all worth it to me. So far it is looking like heart disease and not heart failure, but should be treatable and get me some more time with the critter.

 

[Rifler]

Good luck...

 

[Whiskeydeltadeltatango]

To thine own self be true. We have a boxer that had some weird thing happen when he was 9 where he fainted and his gums went white doing so, it was going to be 3k at ISU for them to tell us if his heart was failing..... we opted not to do it as the 3k was only going to tell us what was wrong not even if we could fix it. We changed his diet and keep him pretty calm and he is pushing 11 now.

Best of luck, man's best friend for a reason.

 

[HawkMachine]

They’re talking about doing an MRI tomorrow but the cost is close to $10k.

The money is relative.

$10k to you might be different than $10k to me and $10k to someone else.

Only you can decide.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[hexumhawk]

If your dog is already 12, it probably doesn't have much life left after whatever surgery you are planning. It sucks but death is a part of life.

 

[funksouljon]

Ts&Os and good luck with whatever you decide.

I know how I have proceeded when a similar issue hit my family. The decision is easy when you take the emotion out of if and it's someone else's emotional weight.

 

[Moral]

That's how they get you.

The vet today got me for another 1300 and scheduled another scan for a few hundred. Not bad considering the place they sent me to has something of an atrium. I should get him home today so it's all worth it to me. So far it is looking like heart disease and not heart failure, but should be treatable and get me some more time with the critter.

My puppo didn't make it. 8k all in but I would do it again.

 

[bunsen82]

At the vet today. They’re talking about doing an MRI tomorrow but the cost is close to $10k. And if they find something, then what? Operate on a 12 year old dog?

No reason to do the MRI. Keep the dog as comfortable as possible, if not let it go peacefully. Its lived a good life. 10k likely not worth it. If its minor issue or sickness that starts over coming the issue great. But at 12, at best has 2 to 4 years left, and likely will not have a great quality of life remaining. If you have 10k to blow, would change the math.