The worst decision we didn't have to make

There is perhaps nothing more frightening (to someone who doesn't have kids) than to be faced with the fact that you might have to put your dog down.  Moe is 14, and while we know that each day he is with us now is luck and blessing, we never want to see him suffer.  But late last night, Moe fell in the kitchen (something that happens from time to time, since he does not have great control or strength in his back legs).  But when I got him up, he couldn't bear weight on his front right leg.


Earlier in the day we took the dogs out to walk on our land out in Macedon...something we've done a million times, and on worse terrain.  Moe was tired, but seemed fine.  But he might had hurt something during the walk, or getting in and out of the car.  Regardless, at 9pm last night, he was literally whailing in pain, and biting at us when we tried to see what was wrong.


Moe NEVER bites.


After all, this is a dog who had six warts frozen off his neck and face while laying in our vet's lap and never flinched, never moved a muscle.  I'm sure cryotherapy hurts, but Moe seems to understand when someone is trying to help.


But not this time.  He bit at both of us...and we knew this could be really, really bad.


We contemplated going to the ED, but a burglar in the neighborhood (who passed through our yard....long story that I really don't want to post here) kind of derailed our train of thought.

crying in Moe's fur before we head to the ER

When we woke this morning, Moe wasn't even moving.  We loaded him in the car (I am still amazed that D can carry a 110 lb flailing dog into my Subaru) and headed to the ED...anticipating the worst in terms of prognosis and the bill that we will receive.


Long story short, our vet was just wonderful, and Moe is okay.  The theoretical diagnosis is a strain to the brachial plexis and pectoral muscles, resulting in a spasm bad enough to render his limb useless.  We decided against doing X-rays because 1) The vet really didn't feel that it was a fracture 2) doing so would require a lot of sedation, which Moe historically has not come out of very well (and may have contributed to the problems he has in his back legs today) and 3) An xray would only show a break, or a tumor...and we already decided that if there is a tumor, that treating it will not do much for his quality of life at his age. We didn't do bloodwork since he already had a full workout a couple months ago and aside from this injury, his meds and health have been stable. 


Our vet told us that if this was a true strain, Moe should be okay in about a week.  But if not, we may have to consider his benign fatty tumor in his right axilla may be impinging his leg...and that we would have to consider what to do next.  But the vet was very understanding...he said he recently had to put down his St Bernard who had surgery for an ortho issue, but was found to also have cancer.  He said looking back, he wouldn't put his dog through all the treatments that tend to not be as successful in larger breeds.


So...while we were relieved that our vet bill was quite small, and that Moe is okay, we had the headaches from hell.  But as I look at Moe snoring soundly (effects of his muscle relaxers, I'm sure), I'm thankful that I got to take him home.  As we were waiting to be seen at the ED, we watched two dog owners, in tears, bring their pets in, and then leave shortly after with their arms empty...no dog to take home.  Watching this was painful (and I even cried as the vet explained their euthanasia procedures, should we ever have to get to that point).  But, I'm cherishing this very moment, listening to my dog snore, and watching my other dog - a chihuahua - watch over him like a protective little brother.