The real cost of having pets

Fridaycat

Sounds like you are better off with your old one then

Caroline_a

katy721 wrote: »

Oooh somebody talk some sense in to me!

Despite reading through this thread over and over, I am still considering getting a second dog. Not very MSE when I am trying to pay off debts.

I should stop myself looking at the rescue sites!

Be tough on me pleeeeease!

Second dog - more hair, mud, dust, food, equipment (bowls, toys, collars, leads), more insurance, vaccination and general health-type costs, wrecking to garden and house, etc etc.

Final decision - double cost, trouble, effort, but also double smiles, happiness for dogs and owners.

Love my pair!!

Wellyboots6

I can cope with the extra cleaning, cost should be manageable and the landlord said I could have as many dogs as I liked but no cats, as he is allergic to cats

I think Tyson would love to have a playmate. He has probably got hip dysplasia, and the vet today said they wouldn't operate. So if it gets a lot worse he won't be going out and about as much so would be nice for him to have company at home

krlyr

OT, but did the vet say why they wouldn't operate? My GSD was a candidate for surgery at 4, though we decided against it because of her behavioural issues. She went downhill very quickly though and personally I wouldn't have wanted a second dog, especially not a young playful one, as I think she wouldn't have had much tolerance for it and it may have injured her in play.

Wellyboots6

She said they wouldn't operate as the only suitable operation would be bi-lateral hip replacements. She said due to his age recovery should be good, but also will take longer. So by the time he is fully recovered from both operations, due to the recovery period between doing each hip, he will be getting pretty old. The time he has left to enjoy his 'youth' would be taken recovering from ops.

He also has a skin condition which she said significantly increases the risk of infection, and if he were to get an infection there is a strong chance it would be terminal.

She said the risks were too great compared to the benefits he would see from it. Currently he isn't in pain, unless his hips lock which they do occasionally, so she said to manage it with painkillers, anti-inflammatories and supplements

krlyr

That's interesting. What did they say the recovery time was like? I think I was told 6 months per hip - you said elsewhere that your boy is 6, I don't think 7 is particularly old, not when the breed can live to 13/14.
Just my opinion though!

Wellyboots6

Yeah I think 6 months per hip. 7 isn't that old, but I guess he would be starting to slow down a bit by then anyway.

I don't know whether to get a second opinion.

My insurance will only cover up to 4K and the ops would cost 5K so I would need time to save up the extra money too

She also said that he would need to be kept quiet for a good few weeks after each op, but judging by how lively he is then he would likely need keeping sedated for a while to keep him quiet as he won't do it voluntarily

krlyr

I thought that too but having heard from people who've gone through with it, the dogs have adapted to crate rest a lot better than expected. Mine wasn't a candidate at all, she'd never have even managed the car rides to the specialist or anything, or the examinations (she was a pretty neurotic dog) but I wish I could have had it done if it'd given me even just a few years longer with her - 4 was way too young to lose her.
Definately could be worth a second opinion, you might find somewhere else that charges less too so it all comes under the insurance? Though I was quoted about £1500-2000 per hip so £5k probably isn't too far off it now. But having one hip done now and saving for a year to have the other done could be an option?

paddypaws101

Fridaycat wrote: »

If you clear it the minute they pee, it doesn't clump so well as compared to it being left for a little while...

Agree totally....it disintegrates if you try and lift it out when still fresh. Leave it for a few hours--honestly no odour----and it sets completely firm to be easily scooped.
It does track a little GR, but one quick sweep with the wonder broom will sort that out!

Wellyboots6

Oooh I don't know what to do, it's hard because I do have to think of the financial side of it. I also want to do what is best for him though and think of his quality of life. If his pain and mobility can be managed pretty well with drugs then maybe it isn't worth putting him through the trauma of the op, but then I don't know how things are going to develop.

I guess this really is The Real Cost of Having Pets!