Bugger, I think 'that day' has come for my dog...

Our 11 year old border collie is a loving family pet. Great family dog, but point her at a hare, take her to shift sheep and she's useless. We have had her 10 years. She had epilepsy but that hasn't reared its head in the past 4.5-5 years since just after moving onto our small farm. She got a ripper of a belt from the electric fence and had a Hua of a seizure and none since.

She's just an awesome family pet... last night we went out for a couple of hours, she seems fine with the kids in the arvo, and then at 8.30, she was 'dragging' her back left quarter. Happy as, not pain, but semi paralysed in that quarter. She was still weight bearing on the right rear leg. We probed and felt but there was no pain or tenderness.

Doing a bit of research, seems a lot points to a brain tumour, which could be linked to her earlier epilepsy, but why the rapid decline? Unless its burst and bled out. Otherwise maybe some form of stroke or heart attack.

I'll be taking her to the vets first thing this morning.

If anyone has any suggestions or alternatives?

John

Shit not good to hear just been through it with our dog it had a swollen knee and arthritis in its rear hip its on tablets and gets an injection once a week at the moment and seems to be OK they can Handel a lot of pain before they show it

Ears still up, eyes alert etc. Booked for 9.20 this morning.

Pretty tough seeing my kids going off to school this morning. 2 of the 3 puffy eyed fearing the worst. Th oldest is the closest to her, and I offered her to come with me to hte vets, but she said that if they can't help her and need to put her down, she'd rather remember her as her playful mate, not at the vets making decisions.

Man this sucks!

It not easy mate. I'm glad your showing respect to your mate tho its sad and difficult. Stay strong.

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Originally Posted by Sako 243

Ears still up, eyes alert etc. Booked for 9.20 this morning.

Pretty tough seeing my kids going off to school this morning. 2 of the 3 puffy eyed fearing the worst. Th oldest is the closest to her, and I offered her to come with me to hte vets, but she said that if they can't help her and need to put her down, she'd rather remember her as her playful mate, not at the vets making decisions.

Man this sucks!

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That's one smart grown up kid

Booked for x-rays to eliminate spinal lesion that might be able to be treated with anti-inflammatory and a full set of blood work. Then comes the hard decision, if nothing in either of those, then it's time to say good bye or spend mega bucks getting Massey to do a heap of brain/CT/? scans to see if there's a clot, or a tumor or her epilepsy returned after 5 years.

Thinking of you guys and her. Hoping for best.


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11 isnt that old for a border, i've seen them still herding at 15 !

sad to hear mate i hope things well with the vet i'll be thinking of your dog and family

:(

tough times,
feel for you, mate

Oh man, that's a tough one. Esp with a collie being as smart as some people.

Hope things works for the Best mate, whichever way they go.

Not good mate. All the best.

That sux mate.....I know how you feel both my best mates are booked for the one way vet trip Wed.

Now I have to go carry one of them inside.

X-ray shows a collapsed disc I think she said anyway it's pinching the nerve so next step is blood work and all liver functions are perfect so we have taken the plunge to do intensive non steroidal anti inflammatory for a week long coarse to see how she responds. She'll need enforced bed rest, care toileting etc the. Review in a week.

Pretty much prompted us to start the journey for a replacement sooner rather than later. We've talked about it off and on for a bit but always assumed we have years left with Gypsy... either way she will have a good influence on a pup coming through and hopefully overlap a couple of years to ease the pain when that time does come. My wife loves the labradoodle so I don't know if I get a say in that. I'd have loved a bitch pup from Martin Reid's DD/GWP litters but I just don't have the time with my current job to do it justice so it's on the back burner for now.

Fingers crossed. Cheers for the thoughts guys.

Sorry to hear that about your beloved pet.

Finally home after 3.5 days in the South Island for work, and I'm so pleased to report that the non steroidal anti inflammatories that my dog is on are having their intended affect and she is starting to weight bear on that hind leg when standing or very slowly walking, if moving any faster she still hops and carries it.

So relieved! Looks like I might get a bit more time yet.

Shit hot mate.

Good news Sako:thumbsup:

give her lots of TLC and im sure shell respond heaps.had to make the same decision with my much loved lab x last year as he just faded before our eyes.stil lbrings tears to my eyes when i think about it altho now ive no doubt he was on deaths door as the vet did the merciful deed.
best of luck with the new bloke too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sako 243

X-ray shows a collapsed disc I think she said anyway it's pinching the nerve so next step is blood work and all liver functions are perfect so we have taken the plunge to do intensive non steroidal anti inflammatory for a week long coarse to see how she responds. She'll need enforced bed rest, care toileting etc the. Review in a week.

Pretty much prompted us to start the journey for a replacement sooner rather than later. We've talked about it off and on for a bit but always assumed we have years left with Gypsy... either way she will have a good influence on a pup coming through and hopefully overlap a couple of years to ease the pain when that time does come. My wife loves the labradoodle so I don't know if I get a say in that. I'd have loved a bitch pup from Martin Reid's DD/GWP litters but I just don't have the time with my current job to do it justice so it's on the back burner for now.

Fingers crossed. Cheers for the thoughts guys.

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You'd probably want to get your name on the list sooner than later for one of Martins pups.

i thought my 15 year old bully cattle cross had almost done his dash so i got a pup that turned him around and he lived till he was 17.5 years old so maybe a pup will spark her up
and it it helped the us get over the sad day we had to put him down