Dogsitting - WWYD?

[slimjim86]

Need some hive wisdom here, I'm dogsitting for a client and it's my first night here. Haven't seen the dogs for a few weeks as I've been away and owner doesn't use me much as her mum is at home with the toddler while she's at work. Labrador is nearly 16 and has been lame for about 6 months on his front leg. Sees vet semi regularly who doesn't seem to do much for him, dog gets very anxious and stressed at the vets but vets want him in for a full day to mri, owner doesn't want to put a 16 year old through that as the only treatment she will (understandibly) put him through at his age is pain killers. He on previcox (sp?) but it doesn't seem to do much for him. He's had 3 lots of librella in the past but that did nothing either. Owner messaged me earlier saying he wasn't doing well and she was worried about him, she called the vet to say could she add paracetamol in and was told yes. Anyway I've got here and he's limping really badly, panting ( could be heat or pain or stress) and generally not settling but he does take quite a while to settle when they go on holiday. Do I call her and say I'm not happy with how he is? Keep an eye on him and see if he seems to get better when the temp drops? I don't want to ruin there holiday on the first night when this might be his usual "my mum has abandoned me" stress, but likewise given how his lameness has been it could slso be pain. I don't know why the vet hasn't changed his medication, I would have thought he should of tried something different or stronger, gabapentin or something? I would like to give him some of my tramadol but obviously won't. Well done anyone who got this far.

 

[Clodagh]

If the owner is happy to keep a lame dog going then I’d not do anything dramatic, he’s probably stressed about being left as he must have been in pain for a long time.
How long is she away? And if he’s bad I’d tell her on return you aren’t happy looking after such a lame dog. I wouldn’t want to, and it might make her think.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Was dog the same at handover earlier?

 

[slimjim86]

If the owner is happy to keep a lame dog going then I’d not do anything dramatic, he’s probably stressed about being left as he must have been in pain for a long time.

That's kind of what I was thinking, I thinking she is burying her head in the sand and hoping what's happening isn't really happening. I just can't understand the vets reluctance to either medicate more or suggest things are coming to an end, but I don't think just a daily dose of anti inflammatory is the end when there are so many multi modal options to try

 

[slimjim86]

Was dog the same at handover earlier?

They had left by the time I got here.

 

[slimjim86]

I've had him at mine in the past when they've gone away before the lameness issues and he would pace and pant then though so probably more stress and I'm just feeling anxious about being semi in charge of a dog that I would have made other decisions about. Although he does seem more stressful.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

They had left by the time I got here.

Oh pants.
Then I'd monitor overnight and reassess in the morning. Temps will be more cool and vet practice hopefully open for phone advice if needed.
Hoping its 'just' heat and worry. Good luck x

 

[slimjim86]

Sounds like good advice, she's just messaged to ask how he is so I've said very lame after a 5 minute walk, panting and anxious. She says it might be heat and her leaving, hopefully he will be better later tonight or in the morning. Just wish he would lie down and settle as he's not bloody resting his leg like this!

 

[slimjim86]

Pizza delivery just arrived and the begging mode seems to have taken over from stress mode

 

[Jenko109]

So sad that people will allow their dogs to live in this condition.

There is a smooth collie that I see walking local to me. Obviously lame. It has been lame since I moved in three years ago

 

[skinnydipper]

I don't think just a daily dose of anti inflammatory is the end when there are so many multi modal options to try

Amantadine can be given as an adjunct to NSAIDs to treat chronic arthritis pain.

Our guide to Amantadine | Davies Veterinary Specialists

Information and advice from Davies Veterinary Specialists Therapy and Fitness Centre's Pain Clinic on the use of Amantadine for pain relief in dogs and cats.

www.vetspecialists.co.uk

 

[slimjim86]

Amantadine can be given as an adjunct to NSAIDs to treat chronic arthritis pain.

Our guide to Amantadine | Davies Veterinary Specialists

Information and advice from Davies Veterinary Specialists Therapy and Fitness Centre's Pain Clinic on the use of Amantadine for pain relief in dogs and cats.

www.vetspecialists.co.uk

Thanks I will forward that for her to talk to vet about, I just think there's so many options that could be tried but time is running out for trialing things to be fair any more if that makes sense.

 

[skinnydipper]

Thanks I will forward that for her to talk to vet about, I just think there's so many options that could be tried but time is running out for trialing things to be fair any more if that makes sense.

Oh, I agree, you have to know when to draw the line. I wouldn't let a lame dog of 16 struggle on.

 

[pistolpete]

Poor old fella. We had this in our 15 year old spaniel. It was so hard to let him go as he’d been the dog of a lifetime. Sometimes opiates help with pain control. Tramadol?

 

[slimjim86]

Poor old fella. We had this in our 15 year old spaniel. It was so hard to let him go as he’d been the dog of a lifetime. Sometimes opiates help with pain control. Tramadol?

I just feel that 6 months ago was the rime to try the alternatives or additions or nsaids, he's been to the vers several times but nothing seems to happen, if he were mine I would of changed vet or just given him some of my tramadol or bils gabapentin, obviously not going to drug someone else's dog.

 

[Jenko109]

I also used to dog sit for this woman with an elderly collie and a few smaller dogs.

The last time I dog sat for her, she instructed me not to walk the collie as he had gone downhill and was not up to going for a walk anymore.

So when I walked the other dogs he would scream as in his mind he still desperately wanted to come.

It was honestly so f'in awful and did leave me really rather upset.

 

[splashgirl45]

I hate it when people keep old dogs going when they are so uncomfortable. 16 is a huge age for a bigger dog , those sort of people seem to boast about how old their animals are when I say I lost mine at 13, but at least I let mine go when she couldn’t be kept comfortable on pain relief.. I think most of us horse people have a different way of deciding when to PTS

 

[I'm Dun]

I just feel that 6 months ago was the rime to try the alternatives or additions or nsaids, he's been to the vers several times but nothing seems to happen, if he were mine I would of changed vet or just given him some of my tramadol or bils gabapentin, obviously not going to drug someone else's dog.

I'd delete that. I might be paranoid, but its a controlled substance, so not like normal prescription drugs, and you never know who sees something like this. Not that I think your wrong though, from another tramadol user with dogs

 

[slimjim86]

I hate it when people keep old dogs going when they are so uncomfortable. 16 is a huge age for a bigger dog , those sort of people seem to boast about how old their animals are when I say I lost mine at 13, but at least I let mine go when she couldn’t be kept comfortable on pain relief.. I think most of us horse people have a different way of deciding when to PTS

I just don't think the vet is helping here, they seem quite happy to just leave things as they are, the dig is so bright and happy in himself he just needs a painkiller that works.

 

[splashgirl45]

With mine the stronger pain killers made her really ill and miserable so I felt between a rock and a hard place , whatever I did she wasn’t comfortable so I took that decision which was one of the hardest decisions ive ever made but I looked at QOL. Dogs are very stoic and although he may look happy if he is donn be lame he must be in a fair amount of pain and why keep him going? My friend has just lost her lab at 12 due to cancer so 16 for a lab is very old

 

[poiuytrewq]

It’s a really horrible situation to be in. I’d video and send to the owner with a message saying he seems in a bad way, would you like me to call the vet.
In the hope that if nothing else it might make them realise that what they are accepting is not right.

I used to look after a couple of dogs for a friend when they went away. The one suffered horrifically with some kind of ear infection and they wouldn’t/couldn’t do anything about it.
The next time I was asked I said no and I told them that I couldn’t deal with seeing a dog suffering like that and I was no longer able to help with him, unless he saw a vet.
I never looked after him again…

 

[slimjim86]

With mine the stronger pain killers made her really ill and miserable so I felt between a rock and a hard place , whatever I did she wasn’t comfortable so I took that decision which was one of the hardest decisions ive ever made but I looked at QOL. Dogs are very stoic and although he may look happy if he is donn be lame he must be in a fair amount of pain and why keep him going? My friend has just lost her lab at 12 due to cancer so 16 for a lab is very old

When my old girl went lane at the end the only thing that stopped the pain was gabapentin, unfortunately at even as little as 1 5th dose she was pretty much paralysed on it, just had no control of her limbs so we had to let her go. She went from happily jogging down the drive on her walk on Friday to little bit lame over the weekend then pts on Wednesday, had some horrible people tell me that I hadn't given her a chance, or tried enough with her but the level of pain she was in there was no way I could of kept her going whilst trying different things. Don't know if it was a sudden injury or a longer term thing she had been hiding well ( she always reminded me of the black Knight from monty python with the 'tis but a scratch' line). Its heartbreaking when they get old

 

[slimjim86]

It’s a really horrible situation to be in. I’d video and send to the owner with a message saying he seems in a bad way, would you like me to call the vet.
In the hope that if nothing else it might make them realise that what they are accepting is not right.

I used to look after a couple of dogs for a friend when they went away. The one suffered horrifically with some kind of ear infection and they wouldn’t/couldn’t do anything about it.
The next time I was asked I said no and I told them that I couldn’t deal with seeing a dog suffering like that and I was no longer able to help with him, unless he saw a vet.
I never looked after him again…

Good idea, I think he needs a new vet or someone who is more forceful with the vet which I'm happy to be, just got my step mum on the waiting list for 2 new knees by being a bolshy cow with her consultant and not accepting "everything's fine" as an answer.
Edited to add, he is booked in at the vets when they come back as she knows he has gone downhill a lot in the past 7-10 days.

 

[Goldenstar]

Do you have access to a cool mat ?
I would just keep him quiet and as cool a possible .
I would be having a proper talk though after the holiday .
The vet sound useless.

 

[slimjim86]

Do you have access to a cool mat ?
I would just keep him quiet and as cool a possible .
I would be having a proper talk though after the holiday .
The vet sound useless.

Will grab a cool mat from my house this afternoon although I doubt he will stay in, without having a pen or crate it's difficult to stop him moving too much, he's also a dog that goes upstairs and on sofas etc which probably isn't good for him now and one of the reasons I've never let mine do this then I don't need to say no to them when they get doddery.

 

[slimjim86]

Owners just replied to my offer to take to the vet and try to get a different type of painkiller (opioid/ something else) and said vet won't give him anything different without further tests, so just try to keep him as still and settled as possible. I defo would have changed vets by now!

 

[AmyMay]

I think as a pet sitter you have to be very clear about what you will and won’t look after in terms of an animals health. It is a massive responsibility looking after other people’s animals when they’re well, let alone in poor health.

If we have any doubts about an animal’s health we will refuse the contract to care for it.

 

[slimjim86]

I think as a pet sitter you have to be very clear about what you will and won’t look after in terms of an animals health. It is a massive responsibility looking after other people’s animals when they’re well, let alone in poor health.

If we have any doubts about an animal’s health we will refuse the contract to care for it.

If I'd known he wasn't comfortable in the house I might have not taken this one, last time I saw him he was just at the stage of only being OK for very short walks. She's going to call vets now and say that nsaids clearly aren't cutting it and that given his age she thinks the liver / kidney risk of opiode is worth it to keep him pain free for a bit longer. I think she's becoming very aware that we are getting close to the end

 

[AmyMay]

If I'd known he wasn't comfortable in the house I might have not taken this one, last time I saw him he was just at the stage of only being OK for very short walks. She's going to call vets now and say that nsaids clearly aren't cutting it and that given his age she thinks the liver / kidney risk of opiode is worth it to keep him pain free for a bit longer. I think she's becoming very aware that we are getting close to the end

I think she needs to get her backside home now.

 

[slimjim86]

Hallelujah, got an appointment at vet hospital tomorrow!