Grrrrr...... Jake issue.......

[TeddyGrahamPoms]

Ok guys.... Well, I have more news..... The vet called back, she said she couldn't find ANYWHERE in california that would do a total knee replacement for Jake..... I guess, at U.C. Davis they aren't even experimenting with knee's yet..... So I guess that's out of the question...... The only option for the knee problem is to amputate it or leave it.....

As for the spine 'mass' they could do an MRI or CT to see if it's a tumor, or if it's being caused by him not using his left leg (all his weight is on his rear right leg)....

The vet offered to send Jake's X-Rays off to a 'specialist' to get a 2nd opinion before we proceed.... I think that's a GREAT idea.... Problem is Jeremy.... He doesn't want to spend any more $$$..... I guess he figures Jake isn't 'suffering' so he's gonna leave it be.... Now, I talked to the vet yesterday & told her this..... She said it's got to be hurting him & amputating it would at least get rid of the 'bone rubbing on bone' in his leg..... I agree..... But Jeremy doesn't want to spend the $1200 to do it (which he has, but has been saving up so that we can buy a house)..... If I had the $$$, I'd do it in a heartbeat, but I don't ..... I guess, buying a house is more important to him..... He told me last night that when he bought Jake (6 years ago) that he told himself he wasn't going to put a lot of $$ into him, that his needs come before Jakes..... Now I totally dis-agree with that, if Teddy was sick, I'd move heaven & earth to fix him..... I guess that's where our problem is, we feel differently about this.... I'm home all day with Jake & can see how differently he's been acting (like he's in pain) & have told Jeremy this & he still doesn't see it.... Also, Jeremy is VERY rough with Jake, even with Teddy (who only weighs 5lbs).... I guess he figures Jake doesn't feel pain, even when I can see it....

Can anyone give me advice about how to handle this? It's tearing me up that Jeremy won't take care of Jake the way he should be taken care of.... I can't MAKE him spend his money on Jake.... What can I do?

[Bar B]

One of my Boxers has been diagnosed with Spondylosis. It is a spinal condition and can be seen on an x-ray. What happens is a bone spur is pinching into the spine and causes symptons like lameness. He also has a touch of arthritis but is now being given Deramaxx on a 10 day interval for pain and inflamation. He does a 10 dao period and then he comes off of it and doesn`t go back on it until he is showing obvious pain. He uses a handicap ramp and has lost muscle tone in his rear legs. It is manageable now but in time it will probably take a toll on him. Right now I am trying to find other alternative meds for him to use. The glucosamine that I was giving him was not enough in dosage so after researching I am upping that. Vet said 500 mg. was OK but he needs 650 mg. He is also taking chondroitin. I`m still researching this but Spondylosis is a condition that is prone to the Boxer breed as is Wobblers syndrome is for Dobies. In an x-ray it kind of looks like a mass and is usually at the base of the ribcage just befor the hind quarters. Check and see if you can pull Spondylosis up on your search engine and see if that is a posibility that your vet overlooked. It is treatable by meds but usually they don`t recommend surgery for a possibility of total paralysis.

[Pigsterz]

I know you said it is not your dog but his, but since you are a couple, couldn't you treat Jake like he is both your dog? And I would hope that seeing you suffer due to your love of Jake would make your bf spend the $. Maybe you can split it with him? Or if he doesn't agree to that, then maybe you can take Jake from him in terms of ownership and work out a payment plan for the surgery?

Would he rather give up Jake? Because I believe if there is something medically wrong with your pet, and especially if it is in pain, you the owner has a responsibility to have it medically treated. That might be covered under animal cruelty laws. I saw that once on Animal Cops.

As for the spine mass, you really should get it checked out. If it turns out to be a tumor, wouldn't you want to know if it's something that you can treat before it gets to the point where it is untreatable?

I dunno, I just don't understand people who won't do what it takes for their pets. Last year I blew all my savings and even had to take out a loan when my cat Spanky was diagnosed with cancer. We cancelled our pre-paid vacation and lost all our money on that too, but I knew I couldn't live with always wondering if there was something I could have done to prolong his life.

I'm sorry about your situation. Please let me know if there's any way I can help.

[Pigsterz]

Ok, this might help convince him... I found this statute in California law. I suppose it is subject to interpretation, but I think this is the same law they used in NYC in that Animal Cops (or was it Animal Precint) show that I said earlier.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/di...&file=594-625c

Penal Code 597.1 Failure to care for animals
(b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a) or (c), every
person who overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, overworks,
tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, drink, or
shelter, cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly kills any animal, or
causes or procures any animal to be so overdriven, overloaded, driven
when overloaded, overworked, tortured, tormented, deprived of
necessary sustenance, drink, shelter, or to be cruelly beaten,
mutilated, or cruelly killed; and whoever, having the charge or
custody of any animal, either as owner or otherwise, subjects any
animal to needless suffering, or inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon
the animal, or in any manner abuses any animal, or fails to provide
the animal with proper food, drink, or shelter or protection from the
weather, or who drives, rides, or otherwise uses the animal when
unfit for labor, is, for every such offense, guilty of a crime
punishable as a misdemeanor or as a felony or alternatively
punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony and by a fine of not more
than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).

[BrendaLynn]

This is a really tough decision Summer, one that you have to think of in terms of what Jeremy's wishes are.

Pigsterz, I know you mean well but the idea that he would let his dog suffer to a point where animal protection groups would get involved seems highly unlikely. It is not illegal to have an animal that is suffering be put down when quality of life is impaired and most people chose that instead of costly surgeries.
The animal wasn't hurt by him he just has physical ailments that are causing him pain.
He isn't going hungary or being neglected, so to use that code in this instance seems unduly harsh.
Not every one is as passionate about their pets as others. It doesn't mean that they don't care it just means that the reality of the length of the animals life factors into the decisions being made.
You chose to lose money by canceling a vacation for an animal that means the world to you, which is a very loving thing to do, however (I do not mean to be harsh here but realistic) death is a part of life and being ill for a longer time because of your love doesn't change the outcome, some people feel that to extend and animals life when the quality is poor at best isn't always the kindest choice either.
How much money is spent on an animal does not determine how much the animal is loved, it seems as if Jake has gone to lots of specialists meaning that he is loved, but how does Jeremy feel Jake will fare with major surgery and recovery? Will he possibly die while at the vet in a highly stressful amputation, couldn't he die feeling all alone at the vet's office during recovery? He doesn't know what we humans do, or that it is for his own good. He could just feel fear and abandonment. Isn't Jeremy more alert to his dogs needs then us on the computer?
I just think that he will know what is right for his loving companion and it isn't for us to judge his choice.
Summer I wish I could take away your grief over this I know you love your animals with all your heart and this is going to be a very difficult choice for Jeremy. You all are in my thoughts and prayers.

[Pigsterz]

lvynmycritters, I wasn't advocating actually calling the authorities and reporting him. I'm sorry if my post caused a misunderstanding. I was hoping that TGP could "mention" that statute and maybe her bf would do a little more soul-searching on his decision not to spend the money to amputate the leg. Obviously amputating the leg is not the only option. But if Jake is in pain (and of course I wouldn't know this for sure except for what TGP has written), then one way or the other something should be done to ease his pain. He could also choose to give up Jake to a rescue organization so that Jake can receive whatever proper medical attention he requires.

We cancelled our vac and chose to continue trying to get treatment because Spanky was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Until they did an operation, there was no way of knowing if they could remove the tumor or if it has spread. With the operation, there was a hope of him beating cancer. Without the operation, he was only given a month to live in pain. We chose to try and ease his pain. I realize that not everyone would chose the path that we took. Hey, to each his own. But don't let the pet suffer needlessly if there is something that can be done. And if the person chose to put the pet down, then that is their choice and I respect that.

Sorry, I didn't mean to take over this post.

[Dena]

Quote: Originally posted by lvnmycritters Pigsterz, I know you mean well but the idea that he would let his dog suffer to a point where animal protection groups would get involved seems highly unlikely. It is not illegal to have an animal that is suffering be put down when quality of life is impaired and most people chose that instead of costly surgeries.

Just to clarify what TGP did not mention euthinazia, I don't believe her boyfriend feels that is an option and since Jake can't talk we really don't know how much pain he is really in:

Quote: He doesn't want to spend any more $$$..... I guess he figures Jake isn't 'suffering' so he's gonna leave it be....

[BrendaLynn]

I apologize for annoying anyone here, I was incorrectly stating that I thought this penal code in no way applies to Summer's situation and I think that even bringing it up to Jeremy would be inappropriate and cruel.
I mentioned euthanasia only because Pigsterz mentioned her cat with a potencially deadly outcome from her cancer; and a blown knee while being painful might not need and amputation which also can be a very deadly outcome for an animal. I would rather personally put my dog down then watch her suffer from something she mightn't overcome if her pain was that severe. I have watched my grandmother lose 2 legs to amputation and it is a hideous choice to have to make, the second removal caused her death. I don't think compassion plays into it, it is a last resort type of option. Which Summer mentioned that Jeremy didn't seem to feel Jake was that much pain. SO to bring up a penal code for animal abuse was over the top IMO
I will let it rest now for Summer's sake I am sorry for making everyone feel bad.
Brenda

[Dena]

You didn't make anyone feel bad. You have every right to state your opinion. I was just clarifying the facts for everyone because the posts are very lengthy, thats all. I had to go back and read them all twice because I was confusing myself. No harm done.