Author Topic: Poor Penny! (Read 8667 times)

Perry · « **on:** October 02, 2016, 02:27:46 pm »

Friday evening Penny and Copper went out in the backyard for their last outing and when Penny came in she was not using her right rear leg at all. No noise or screaming of any kind to let us know what happened. By next morning her leg at the first joint above her foot was extremely swollen and she was panting quite hard. We took her to the vet and x-rays determined a broken bone and a fracture in that area. She is splinted for now and on pain medication.
Our options are limited, amputation of the leg ($1600 above what we have already spent), euthanasia, or a trip to the next province for orthopedic surgery (screws and pins, and I am not even going to begin to tell you what the estimate for that is).

It looks like poor Penny and I are going for a road trip to PEI to the Veterinary college at PEI University on Monday. She is only 2 1/2 years old and deserves a chance. I ruled out amputation immediately and was leaning towards euthanasia but Jane brought me back to my senses. I am and always have been an animal lover an am disappointed that I forgot that for a moment.

To those that are perhaps more practical in nature and choose to offer comment, I would ask that you reserve judgement on what has been a personal and difficult decision.

Wandering Man · « **Reply #1 on:** October 02, 2016, 02:41:47 pm »

I am so sorry you have to make this difficult decision.

These are really hard decisions to make. If it was a child, euthanasia would never be a choice. And because it is in the mix, that makes it so much harder.

We paid $5,000 for back surgery for one of our dachshunds. Three years later he reinjured his back, and we put him down, rather than put him in a wheel chair. It was the hardest thing I've ever done, and it still chokes me up thinking about him. But it was also the right thing for us to do, due to our circumstances at the time.

Prayers for you and Penny.

Jen · « **Reply #2 on:** October 02, 2016, 04:00:11 pm »

Awwe Jees! Times like this are hard. Second picture, she's sure enjoying her pain meds

If it were me... broken bones are fixable and I would head straight for the vet college as well. Penny will come back home and resume her life and the students will gain experience.

If my pet had been diagnosed with a terminal disease, then that brings in other aspects of quality of life. I believe I would keep my pet comfortable and pain free and let him/her die at her own pace, with her family and in her comfortable home.

However, I have put 3 pets down. My wonderful yellow lab was old and starting to have seizures, he would get up and run into the furniture and tables and fall down. He was so dizzy that he couldn't eat or drink or stand to poop. We went to the vet and he went to heaven.

Then our other dog, about 6 years old, for some reason, started biting people for no reason, drawing blood. The meter reader, the mail man, the house painter. We kept him in the house and back yard with warning signs on the fence gates. Then one day, our nice neighbor was in the garage with his 7 year old son visiting with us. Our dog came into the garage to be with us, but instead went and bit the boy. Off to the vet he went to go to heaven.

Pleased that you and Penny have the option of the vet school. Sending love and comfort for Penny and her family

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #3 on:** October 02, 2016, 04:01:34 pm »

Oh those greyhounds! Look at that face in the second picture!
Our greyhound, Eddie, would come back in the house after galloping around, with a cut or wound. Not a peep out of him.
No matter what any body says, you have to live with the decision. It's yours to make.

iddee · « **Reply #4 on:** October 02, 2016, 06:05:57 pm »

I am one of the more practical you mention. I see one pro and two cons.

Pro....The puppy gets saved.

1st con.... It costs you many dollars you may not can afford, especially if your wife is still not working.

2nd con, the important one in my opinion.... How much pain is that poor puppy going to go through. How healthy will she be afterward. In spite of what the law says, I believe the amount of pain and suffering can determine whether death would be a better choice, human or animal.

I won't attempt to make the decision for you, I am just pointing out the things I would consider.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #5 on:** October 03, 2016, 11:41:43 am »

Awwww..... That IS painful.

My Wife had a Doby when we Lived in Maine... I opened the door to let her in... she was limping as you said and rushed her to the vet... She had been kicked by one of our horses. Her leg and part of her hip were terribly crushed... WE did not get the option of trying to save her.

I agree with Iddee....
But I will say this... Three times in my life I have been in enough pain that I BEGGED to die, to PLEASE put me out.. I am still here, and I am thankful for the opportunity.. I can honestly say that WHEN the time comes again.. and it will... I do not want to go through it... Give me the option and I will say goodbye... BUT I am sure I will change my mind a year later, just as I did the last three times....
What can make a person (or animal) survive and accept so much pain?

The love they know in their heart, and given by those that love them when the pain begins to fade.

My hopes and heart are truly with you and your family Perry!

neillsayers · « **Reply #6 on:** October 03, 2016, 10:11:56 pm »

Poor Penny! Sorry about your sweet pet's troubles. They sure are part of the family. Hope she gets well soon.

Mikey N.C. · « **Reply #7 on:** October 06, 2016, 01:55:34 pm »

Our thoughts are with the whole family. I think all animal lovers have been through this situation more than once.

Perry · « **Reply #8 on:** October 06, 2016, 04:40:36 pm »

I was on the road yesterday for almost 9 hours (there and back). They did a cat scan and operated on Penny this morning and she now has 2 screws in her hock, but amazingly she is already putting weight on the leg, something she hasn't done since she broke it. I may be able to pick her up tomorrow if she is well enough, they will call in the morning, otherwise I will head out after the market on Saturday, which will put us back home around midnight.
Amazing what they can do if you are prepared to throw enough $$$ at them.

Jen · « **Reply #9 on:** October 06, 2016, 04:48:47 pm »

Great News for Penny and her family! Not especially for your wallet, but you'll get thru it.

riverbee · « **Reply #10 on:** October 07, 2016, 01:42:04 am »

loved the pix of penny perry!

what's money? what's practical?

your jane is a good soul perry. my animals probably have had better health care than myself.......

if we 'own', care for, rescue an animal, bring them into our homes, they are a family member. they deserve our care. i am not rich in dollars, but i am rich in heart......sometimes money can't fix everything.....but when it can, therein lies the decision......and given the situation.

what i am saying is, yes a hard choice. a trip to an orthopedist a province over, surgery, some pins and screws.......cha ching.....she deserved the chance.
money?
ya can't place a dollar amount on the joy and life she brings to your family.....money well spent and then some. and yeah i have paid off many vet bills and then some and i don't regret any of it. ( and some i really couldn't afford) my critters were good to me and i was good to them.

i would have done the same as you and jane.........

maybe someday i will be rewarded for being rich in heart..............

hope penny is doing well perry, she will probably amaze you now after the surgery .......keep us posted on her recovery!

Wandering Man · « **Reply #11 on:** October 07, 2016, 10:54:41 am »

That's good to hear. You'll be repaid tenfold through her unconditional love.

efmesch · « **Reply #12 on:** October 08, 2016, 03:01:20 pm »

Beautiful and well said message Riverbee. We're with Perry and Penny sticking together for a long time. I'm sure she'll repay your kindness Perry with love that can't be bought by money alone. Perry, we were with you when you welcomed her into your family . Now we're with you as you do your natural duty.

Perry · « **Reply #13 on:** October 08, 2016, 05:33:12 pm »

Penny is now home, but pretty doped up for the next while and will be on pain meds for a few weeks. She now has 2 screws in her leg. 9 hours road time on Wednesday and another 9 hours today to fetch her (Jane did the market for me completely on her own and we had a good day).
Penny is wearing a splint and bandage to cover the incision, and they even made it a festive one.

Jen · « **Reply #14 on:** October 08, 2016, 06:35:36 pm »

40 Acre Bees · « **Reply #15 on:** October 08, 2016, 07:32:21 pm »

Perry, today is the first day we seen the post. So sorry to here about Penny, but we know that with you and Jane on the job she will make a full recovery. Six weeks ago today a vet in Bridgewater told us that we should take our dog home to die, she was at the end or her life and she had kidney cancer with only days to live. A second opinion some good medication, and a change of diet and shes as good as new. They are resilient when they have a warm bed, good food and loving parents.... Richard & Linda

Perry · « **Reply #16 on:** October 08, 2016, 07:53:31 pm »

Quote from: 40 Acre Bees on October 08, 2016, 07:32:21 pm

Perry, today is the first day we seen the post. So sorry to here about Penny, but we know that with you and Jane on the job she will make a full recovery. Six weeks ago today a vet in Bridgewater told us that we should take our dog home to die, she was at the end or her life and she had kidney cancer with only days to live. A second opinion some good medication, and a change of diet and shes as good as new. They are resilient when they have a warm bed, good food and loving parents.... Richard & Linda

When I first met Jane, she had a cat named Polly. After a few months Polly started to lose weight and we took her to the vet. He told us she was diabetic and we should take her home and enjoy (?) the time she had left with us. We had her for 2 days like that and heard about another vet we should try. We met the new vet and she showed us how to manage the diabetes and Polly lived another 4 years. Every morning she would greet us at the fridge where she got her morning treat, and while she would eat that we would inject her in the shoulder/neck skin with insulin.

Jen · « **Reply #17 on:** October 08, 2016, 08:55:27 pm »

My favorite stories are about 'against all odds'. One of my fav movies is Seabiscuit, a story about a horse that was too small and a jokey that was too big.

Warms my heart for Perry, Jane, and lucky Penny ~

Les · « **Reply #18 on:** October 08, 2016, 08:58:00 pm »

Late to this post too but so glad to see Penny made it through the surgery. It may have cost a significant $$
But the love you get in return wipes away the debt! Best wishes for a speedy recovery for her.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #19 on:** October 08, 2016, 10:53:01 pm »

This old dog.. (The one on the right) lived to be almost fifteen years old. the last five years she was diabetic.. TO the very last day she was happy and playful. always wagging her tail.. She got to the point she could no longer stand on her own.. we bought carpets to cover our concrete floors and did all we could to keep her going, as long as she was happy.
A little love goes a long way, be it with a person or an animal.