blood in the eye and personal consequences

Giraffe76

Hi all,

We noticed last week that our 10 year old male GSD had blood in one of his eyes. We took him to the vets and was given antiflamatory/antibiotic meds (which i thought was a strange decision but im not a vet so..)

Since then he had 2 unusual behaviour incidents (looking confussed, dazzed, looking around, not seemingly knowing where he was and panting heavily) so took him back to the vets, they did a blood test and ultrasound which were both clear so we have booked in with a neurology specialist but now my wife is wondering whether to cancel the appointment but im not sure.

To add to the situation a few weeks before all of the above happened we were talking to someone who knows alot about dogs and advised us to get salmon oil so we tried him on some of that but it seemed to put him off his food (he was a food monster before) and now we are struggling to get him to eat anything in his food unless we put chicken or some other type of naughty in it (hope that makes sense) to get him to have his meds as he needs to eat with the meds so our hands are tied.

To add yet more layers to this situation we lost his companion in august (a 11 year old female GSD). We were meant to go on holiday to greece in may for our 20th wedding anniversary. Our female GSD got diagnosed with a cancer lump last year which was removed but it returned this year and was more aggressive so we didnt go to greece then we lost her. Now we have this sitaution with our 1 remaining GSD and are booked to go to egypt next month (my wife has health conditions and the heat gives her great relief) and its her 60th in january and we are booked to go to cape verde for 10 days then.

What would you all do?

Has anyone had this blood in the eye situation before?

Is it a tumour as i feel my wife is fearing?

Need thoughts and opinions pleasse

Sorry for the length of post and hope it makes

Kind regards Mark

elsien

I had a dog that died in kennels while I was on
Holiday.
 I’m not a vet and we can’t give medical advice on here anyway but if you can get a neurology appointment before you go  I would absolutely do that to have more idea of what you are dealing with. 

I don’t understand why your wife is fearing it is a tumour, but is not wanting more tests. 

Who is meant  to be looking after your dog while you are away, because my kennels would not accept an animal in the condition yours is in at the moment. So if you are planning to use kennels, that decision may already be made for you.

Unless there was a huge change around in its health, if it were me I would either cancel the holiday or if it’s important for your wife’s health for her to go on her own or see if you can swap your ticket for someone else. 

Giraffe76

elsien said:

I had a dog that died in kennels while I was on
Holiday.
 I’m not a vet and we can’t give medical advice on here anyway but if you can get a neurology appointment before you go  I would absolutely do that to have more idea of what you are dealing with. 

I don’t understand why your wife is fearing it is a tumour, but is not wanting more tests. 

Who is meant  to be looking after your dog while you are away, because my kennels would not accept an animal in the condition yours is in at the moment. So if you are planning to use kennels, that decision may already be made for you.

Unless there was a huge change around in its health, if it were me I would either cancel the holiday or if it’s important for your wife’s health for her to go on her own or see if you can swap your ticket for someone else. 

Thanks for your reply. As I said we have already cancelled the holiday in may for the other dog so I feel my wife is reluctant to do so for this dog (which is her dog really more than mine). Friends are meant to be looking after him whilst we are away so I don't feel the kennels situation would be the issue but I also don't feel it's fair on our friends to potentially have to make the decision for us if his health goes down hill.
I realise nobody here is a vet but wanted people's opinions on what they might do in the same situation.
The neurologist consultation costs about £500 and if we need an MRI then it will be about £6,000 extra which my wife is reluctant to pay because of the age of our dog as she thinks we only have about another year or 2 with him anyway. It obviously would be nice to know but my wife would be the one to pay the money.

Kind regards mark 

Northern_Wanderer

After being diagnosed with dementia, my parents dog had a turn and was unsettled and stairing into space and walking around in circles, panting and not himself at all. The vet thought he had had a stroke. Has gone to doggy heaven now after some costly vets bills.

Vets are expensive but obviously we don't want our pets to suffer. I suppose you have to ask the vet the "what ifs" of any result of an MRI would be.....if X is diagnosed, what is the prognosis and treatmene and costs.....personally I might go to the neurologist and take it from there.....

sheramber

A friend that I trust completely was looking after my 14 year old dog when we went on holiday 

I also trusted my vet who I had dealt with for many years, since he first graduated.He had treated my dog since she was a pup.

I confirmed to my friend that if anything happened she was authorised to agree to treatment, and if my vet recommended pts then she should go ahead. 

I fully accepted that might happen. 

Fortunately, my dog enjoyed  her holiday there and welcomed us home.

You need to discuss the situation with your pet sitter so they know the position. If they agree to go ahead then ensure they know your wishes. 

What is your wife’s intention if your friends do not feel they can take on responsibility for the dog?

elsien

So, you don’t have pet insurance then?
I wouldn’t be paying 6K for the MRI, but I still think an appointment with the neurologist would be worthwhile to see if they can rule anything else in or out. 

You really need to talk to your friends, but in these days of almost instant communication, it wouldn’t be them making a decision, would it, because they would contact you to ask the question?

Giraffe76

Thank you for everyones concern and offers of help but I'm afraid we said our final goodbyes to him last Monday. We are devastated 

elsien

I’m so sorry. It’s hard losing a beloved family member in those circumstances. 

BungalowBel

Sorry for your loss.