Very sad news today regarding Molly

[AnnieG]

Couldn't agree with PennyB more.  It is quite possible that poor Mollie has been struggling on with chronic pain for a long time, simply unable to help herself from snapping back when it got too bad.  Her owners' love for this girlie is shining out from everyone of their posts.  It seems so unfair for any of the rest of us to label her with a behavioural problem she may not have, without conclusive medical evidence.  Dragon - it is not for any of us to tell you what to do or to urge you to beggar yourself to try and save Mollie.  You don't need anything to make a hard situation even harder. Whatever decision you take, I feel for you and the rotten, rotten situation you are struggling with.  The picture is heartbreaking enough.  God knows what you must be going through.

[scooby's mum]

Don't know what to say - my heart breaks for you all 

[Annette]

What a dreadful situation.

I agree about getting a second opinion, and trying to get a  clearer diagnosis before making your decision.

Just a little extra, I know human anatomy quite well, but not canine, I'm afraid. It bothers me a little  that your vet associates licking her front paws with a spinal injury. I assume from this that she suspects that the injury is in her neck rather than lower down the spine? Is that correct? I really would want as much info as possible to help make the decision which is going to be a difficult one to make in any case. But my feeling is that with more information you would be less likely to do as much "what if" and "if only" afterwards.

I wish  you and  Molly all the very best.

[LurcherGirl]

Have you ever thought of getting a chiropractor to look at her? They can often detect skeletal problems where the vet can't.

Vera

[Miss Poohs]

Can't add anything else, except to say you're in my thoughts.

[Mollycuddles]

I do feel for you but I too would get a second opinion we've had a few issues with George and our vets could do no more and we were referred to the Veterinary College and the specialist there was able to pinpoint the problem straight away ... he's had his op and we will hopefully be picking him up on Monday

But the frustration before going there was terrible he was seen by 3 different vets in the practise who tried this and tried that, ok his temperament remained the same but I don't think he was in pain only uncomfortable whereas it sounds like your girl is. I would see a specialist before making a final decision they can give a better judgement than your own vet.

[DennyK]

Paddy gets extremely distressed at the vets now - ever since being left in overnight last summer - so I feel for you about reluctance to make her go through more examinations.  But have you discussed getting her mildly sedated for an examination to minimise/reduce the distress?

[Terri Carpenter]

My heart goes out to you, as I sit here in tears. At the end of the day you have to do what is best for Molly and yourselves, only you can make that decision. I have to take my cat for an MRI on Tuesday to find out the cause of his fits - epilepsy or tumor and thankfully my insurance will cover it so my thoughts are with you

[cazza]

I've only just caught up with this

You have been given a lot of things to think of from the other posts and I agree I think I would want another opinion too.

Good luck in the many decisions that only you and your family can make, {Hugs} to you and your family 

[CraftySam]

This is an awful situation for you and Molly, and my heart breaks for you.

The only thing I can add is to ask how much you trust your vet and their opinion?  The only reason for asking this is from a situation I was in a few years ago.  I had a rescue Border Collie cross who had a split personality which was getting worse all the time.  I'd had advice from behaviourist, those that would come out as I was refused by two because of the rescue home she came from.  My vet, who was the practice owner, was also very helpful too as were some of his other vets.
I'd gone back again for more advice as she'd bitten me badly, and it had got to the point that she was biting me daily. I saw the vet who owned the practice who said that he thought we should think seriously about what we behaviour we thought was acceptable to live with but he urged us not to take her back to a rescue because she could not be safely rehomed and he especially feared for if she came in contact with a child.  At the time I was really shocked as it came as it wasn't something that had ever even entered my head and I dismissed it immediately on the way  home in the car when talking to my OH. That night she was flopped against my legs being stroke when she bit me again.
Thats when I began to think seriously about what the vet had said. The thing was that I trusted him totally, he'd been my vet for alot of years. However if it would have been one of the other vets who I didn't know that well that had suggested it then I really don't think that I'd have given it any consideration at all.  That trust played a huge part in the decision to have her pts. 

Despite how she was, I still found it devastating and was totally heartbroken but I do think, for her and us, it was the right decision.

Its a decision that none of us ever want to have to make and my heart goes out to you.  Whatever you decide we're all here for you.

[Leah]

It's a difficult decision but your little Lady is not happy.  Constant licking of feet can be due to many things.  We can go to the medicine cupboard and reach for treatment, dogs and cats have to resort to compulsive behaviours in order to destress.  Metacam can be a great help!  But if it's an on-going spinal problem, it will become worse for Molly, maybe without you noticing.

Leah went off her feet - twice.  The first time she looked terrified because her back legs wouldn't work -I could not live with that look.  4 days later it happened again and took longer for her to regain movement: that was the night I decided to have the Vet here the next morning.  The reason her back legs wouldn't work was due to long-term back injury which was intermittent.  She twisted her back whilst running 5 years previously but as she aged, the back became stiff.

She was almost 14 - how old is Molly?  Some breeds carry conditions which happen at an earlier age than we would like  you obviously love her a lot: try to think of that love being extended in that we have the privaliege [sp] of letting our furr babies go to the Bridge to prevent further suffering.  Although devastating at the time, we have to keep their best interests at heart. 

Thinking of you: after 5 years the pain does lessen but it is soooo hard at the time.  Try not to keep her too long - making it the 'right' time is never easy but Molly is telling you something.  I know that with all the money in the World I could *not* have improved Leah's life-style at that point.

Sending you Huge Hugs. 

[Hel]

I agree with those who have said get a second opinion.  As I've just posted on my thread about Pip (who also has been just diagnosed with a spinal problem), my vet in Leeds has found that Pip has a bit of a long-term chest problem (picked up by the xray but also by the vet nurse when he was under sedation), nothing too serious but something that was not picked up at all by my vets in Teesdale despite him having an op there in January.

I've read through your posts and do feel that your vet seems to have jumped to conclusions without doing any real examinations of her potential problems.

[Jan/Billy]

I've read through your posts and do feel that your vet seems to have jumped to conclusions without doing any real examinations of her potential problems.

I totally agree, I'd definately get a second opinion before you make a decision. Thinking of you 

[miche]

I am so sorry that you are going through this.  Last year I had to make the decision whether I should have my dog PTS or not.  Every COL member went through my decision and pain of losing my dog with me so whatever happens we will all be there to help you through such a sad time.

My dog, Ronald had senile behaviour probs and there's a thread back in November following my decision in other breeds.  I haven't posted a link because I don't want you to read it unless you are really sure you want to because I think it's really sad and read it now and then and it makes me cry.

I think that having a 2nd opinion is a must, mainly for your own sake because at least then you know that you did everything you possibly could. 

I did have the option of keeping Ronald going but it would have been a huge monthly outlay for me so that was a contributing factor in my decision to have him PTS.  I felt very very very guilty afterwards that I made the decision to end his life so please for your own sanity get a 2nd opinion and if you do make the decision to have her PTS then don't beat yourself up about it like I did because that really really hurts.

Thinking of you. x

[BabyBear]

What an awful situation.  My thoughts and prayers go with you all at this difficult time.