After several days of soul searching...I have made the AGONIZING decision to return Nova to her breeder.
I need some support. I know no one can make me feel really good about this, but hearing other peoples' take on it might help give me a little bit of peace.
I love my dog. We have been together 24/7 for the last three months. She is very well trained and very sweet. We were about to embark on a move across the world together.
But this is unreasonable and unfair. She is a sick dog. Every time I think something is finally clearing up...something else happens. She has been free of medications for a total of 4 days since I brought her home. She is currently back on medication.
When I brought her home she had a rash on her stomach. No problem. On antibiotics. She had chronically runny eyes. No problem. Eye drops. She had diarrhea from day one, no matter what medication she took to clear it up. After weeks of watching it get worse and worse (and about 500$ in xrays, labwork and medication), we learned she had a bacterial infection. Started heavy duty antibiotics.
The runny eyes came back, as did the rash on her stomach. She also got an ear infection and some kind of itchy skin issue while dealing with the bacterial infection. Probably allergies, or possibly an autoimmune issue (which I'm starting to lean towards). The diahrrea cleared up after 6 weeks on antibiotics 3 times a day. She couldn't be vaccinated during this time and was exposed to parvo. After two weeks of negative tests we could be sure she didn't contract it and finally vaccinate her.
At her vaccination appointment I mentioned to my vet that she had been limping off and on for two weeks (though, more "on" over the last few days). He palpated the long bones of her back legs and she had strong painful reactions. He was concerned about pano and ordered an xray. After looking at the xray he felt that it was more likely to be Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy. More xrays were ordered and were to be sent to a specialist for a real diagnosis.
I also mentioned that her diarrhea seemed to be coming back (after stopping the antibiotics for a few days). He suggested that I had a quick convo with the internal medicine specialist Nova saw for her bacterial infection and see what he thought. After talking to the specialist briefly he felt that it was likely Nova has an autoimmune issue affecting her intenstines' ability to regulate her gut flora. She may need to be on medication for life to assist her digestive system.
After the allergies, rashes, bacterial infection, parvo scare, etc...I told myself that if the limping issue was anything more series than just a cut on her pad or a sprained toe I would really have to consider taking her back. I'm moving out of the country in a few months. If she's too ill to make it through the vaccinations and bloodwork, through the travel, or through the quarantine (where they won't administer medication)...it's not fair to make her do that.
The cost, financially, has been very hefty. I have had every test, xray, specialist, every everything that could possibly help her. Everything that had the faintest chance of helping her, I have done it. But once I leave the country and have to start new pet insurance there...all of this will be considered pre-existing. Nothing to do with her digestion, allergies or bones will be covered because of what she's already experienced. I won't be able to afford it if she need medication for life for her digestion. Or if she needs surgery or some other therapy to keep her mobile with her bad legs.
Nevermind what this has cost me emotionally.
This has been a very difficult decision. She may stop limping tomorrow. Her diarrhea may clear up tomorrow. She may never have another medical issue for the next 12 years. But my gut is telling me that's not the case. From what I've see over the last 3 months...I have to say, I'm quite convinced that she will continue to have serious medical issues. I believe that she has a weak immune system (accounting for the rashes, allergies, bacterial problems and this new bone thing can be an immune system issue as well).
I have decided not to have her xrays sent to the specialist for diagnosis. The breeder's opinion is that if it's pano "it's no big deal". And, while I'm aware that pano goes away eventually, I am not able or willing to have her hobbling around, taking heavy duty anti-inflammatories for the next x number of months...up to 2 years. So I don't want to know one way or the other. Either way, she has substantial pain in her legs and I can't manage it in the long term. And the bottom line has always been...I don't think this is the end of her medical problems.
So I have decided to take her back. It makes me sick to my stomach, but that's the decision that I have made. The breeder will replace her or give me a credit for another pup later...which I have no intention of making use of. Nevermind the fact that I don't want another dog...I don't want another dog from her after all of this. I'm in over 2500$...and no dog. But this is the best choice for all of us. I will talk to the breeder later today...give her my final answer. Hopefully I can take her back tomorrow. If she's going...she needs to go. It's too hard for me to have her around.
So....some support would be much appreciated! Advice on her medical issues...not appreciated. She has received the best care possible and I trust my vet and our specialists. I am going to miss her so very badly. Everything in my house is going to remind me of her. The three hour drive to drop her off is going to be NOTHING but tears.
But I still think it's for the best. Siiiiiiiiiiiigh.
I need some support. I know no one can make me feel really good about this, but hearing other peoples' take on it might help give me a little bit of peace.
I love my dog. We have been together 24/7 for the last three months. She is very well trained and very sweet. We were about to embark on a move across the world together.
But this is unreasonable and unfair. She is a sick dog. Every time I think something is finally clearing up...something else happens. She has been free of medications for a total of 4 days since I brought her home. She is currently back on medication.
When I brought her home she had a rash on her stomach. No problem. On antibiotics. She had chronically runny eyes. No problem. Eye drops. She had diarrhea from day one, no matter what medication she took to clear it up. After weeks of watching it get worse and worse (and about 500$ in xrays, labwork and medication), we learned she had a bacterial infection. Started heavy duty antibiotics.
The runny eyes came back, as did the rash on her stomach. She also got an ear infection and some kind of itchy skin issue while dealing with the bacterial infection. Probably allergies, or possibly an autoimmune issue (which I'm starting to lean towards). The diahrrea cleared up after 6 weeks on antibiotics 3 times a day. She couldn't be vaccinated during this time and was exposed to parvo. After two weeks of negative tests we could be sure she didn't contract it and finally vaccinate her.
At her vaccination appointment I mentioned to my vet that she had been limping off and on for two weeks (though, more "on" over the last few days). He palpated the long bones of her back legs and she had strong painful reactions. He was concerned about pano and ordered an xray. After looking at the xray he felt that it was more likely to be Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy. More xrays were ordered and were to be sent to a specialist for a real diagnosis.
I also mentioned that her diarrhea seemed to be coming back (after stopping the antibiotics for a few days). He suggested that I had a quick convo with the internal medicine specialist Nova saw for her bacterial infection and see what he thought. After talking to the specialist briefly he felt that it was likely Nova has an autoimmune issue affecting her intenstines' ability to regulate her gut flora. She may need to be on medication for life to assist her digestive system.
After the allergies, rashes, bacterial infection, parvo scare, etc...I told myself that if the limping issue was anything more series than just a cut on her pad or a sprained toe I would really have to consider taking her back. I'm moving out of the country in a few months. If she's too ill to make it through the vaccinations and bloodwork, through the travel, or through the quarantine (where they won't administer medication)...it's not fair to make her do that.
The cost, financially, has been very hefty. I have had every test, xray, specialist, every everything that could possibly help her. Everything that had the faintest chance of helping her, I have done it. But once I leave the country and have to start new pet insurance there...all of this will be considered pre-existing. Nothing to do with her digestion, allergies or bones will be covered because of what she's already experienced. I won't be able to afford it if she need medication for life for her digestion. Or if she needs surgery or some other therapy to keep her mobile with her bad legs.
Nevermind what this has cost me emotionally.
This has been a very difficult decision. She may stop limping tomorrow. Her diarrhea may clear up tomorrow. She may never have another medical issue for the next 12 years. But my gut is telling me that's not the case. From what I've see over the last 3 months...I have to say, I'm quite convinced that she will continue to have serious medical issues. I believe that she has a weak immune system (accounting for the rashes, allergies, bacterial problems and this new bone thing can be an immune system issue as well).
I have decided not to have her xrays sent to the specialist for diagnosis. The breeder's opinion is that if it's pano "it's no big deal". And, while I'm aware that pano goes away eventually, I am not able or willing to have her hobbling around, taking heavy duty anti-inflammatories for the next x number of months...up to 2 years. So I don't want to know one way or the other. Either way, she has substantial pain in her legs and I can't manage it in the long term. And the bottom line has always been...I don't think this is the end of her medical problems.
So I have decided to take her back. It makes me sick to my stomach, but that's the decision that I have made. The breeder will replace her or give me a credit for another pup later...which I have no intention of making use of. Nevermind the fact that I don't want another dog...I don't want another dog from her after all of this. I'm in over 2500$...and no dog. But this is the best choice for all of us. I will talk to the breeder later today...give her my final answer. Hopefully I can take her back tomorrow. If she's going...she needs to go. It's too hard for me to have her around.
So....some support would be much appreciated! Advice on her medical issues...not appreciated. She has received the best care possible and I trust my vet and our specialists. I am going to miss her so very badly. Everything in my house is going to remind me of her. The three hour drive to drop her off is going to be NOTHING but tears.
But I still think it's for the best. Siiiiiiiiiiiigh.
