Question:
A freind of mine has a dog that is 18 years old. That walks around in cirles stands in front of fridge or in a corner seems to be losing it balance. This dog eat very well. Still plays when she comes in from outside. she drinks alot of water. was scratching it ears about 6 months ago but that has stopped... the dog seems to be in no pain.. My g/f is on a fixed income and will not bring the dog to the vet... Is there anything that I can do to help this poor old girl..... She seems to be getting worse eveyday... It is heart breaking to see ,.,,,, does anybody have any ideal what is wrong with this dog...

Answer:
At 18 it could be a number of things.

PLEASE take this dog to a vet ASAP.If it is so heartbreaking to see,then this person will do everything in their power to find a way to pay for a vet.

When was the last time this dog saw a vet?

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Poor dog,at 18 she needs some compassion and care,please get her to a vet,if your friend has had her for all this time,she must mean something to her.
Don't let her suffer,please :(

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Walking in circles is a sign of a problem and it could be serious. It could be many things.

If your friend CHOOSES not to bring the pet to a doctor, there is nothing to say and no reason to speculate.

The ONLY thing you can do is
1-Lend her the $$ to go to a vet.
2-Keep encouraging her to go to a vet.
3-Get her to imagine that the dog is her parent, brother child etc. What would she do then?

Answer:
Sounds to me like it is time to get a new girlfriend. If she can't find money to take her pet of 18 years to the doctor,it makes one wonder where her priorities lie.

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The ear scratching and present problems make me think this dog had an untreated ear infection or ear mites that have done severe damage to the inner ear.

Does your girlfriend know that denying animals necessary medical care is illegal in many places?

This is just terrible.

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Art. 446(1) a) Criminal Code: Causing unnecessary suffering - Every one commits an offence who wilfully causes, or being the owner, wilfully permits to be caused unnecessary pain, suffering or injurty to an animal or bird.

Art. 446(1) c) Being the owner or the person having the custody or control of a domestic animal or a bird or an animal or a bird wild by nature that is in captivity, abandons it in distress or wilfully neglects or fails to provide suitable and adequate food, water, shelter and care for it.

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Thanks mako - we should keep that handy around here.:(

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I find it interesting because it emphasises that it's not something to be taken lightly. Especially for an 18 year old pet. At this point I think it's a matter of respect more than a matter of "doing what is right".

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In my opinion, any 18 year old dog cannot be in perfect health and must have had some decent Vet care through the years to get this far, so why stop now? She should have a great relationship as a client with at least one regular practice and I'm sure as a regular client her Vet may let her "float" on a emergency visit. Most Vet's I know value their long standing client's and understand sometimes one may fall on hard times. I have seen them take a $1.00 a week payment (example)..or defer any payments until a later date just to see them through. With 18 good years this is hardly the time to give up.... Please make some phone calls...

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My g/f is on a fixed income and will not bring the dog to the vet

So then you loan her the money!!!!!!!!!!!

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to all that gave concearn about this dog.....


I took the dog to the vet for my freind.... Unfortnatly the dog was diagnosed with Encephlitis sorry not sure how to spell it.... The vet was unbeleivable .....I explained that the dog was not mine and the situation my g/f was in and he gave me a resonable rate.....Some really do care..... I knew what i had to do ....Just sometimes you need some help making the decission my g/f is not a bad person.... she has 3 children and no money she is really sad at this situation .....but thankfull to me for helping her out.... I have to thank all of you for getting me off my bottom and do the right thing..
We had a small funeral for the kids and buried the dog at her home.... thanks for the insight

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Thank you for doing that and ending this dog's suffering.

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I'm sorry for the dog having to be pts, thats just heartbreaking.

I have to ask, how did the vet diagnose encephalitis?

Enceph is swelling of the brain and can be caused by specific virus or vaccination. HOWEVER diagnosis is difficult and usually made through a combo of blood work and CAT scan or MRI. Otherwise it's guessing, unless blood work came up positive for a disease which is directly related to encephalitis. Such as West nile.

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the vet diagnosied this with just a guess I would say he told me that the dogs breed is known for encephalitis usually found in younger dogs but not uncommon in elderly dogs....He took the list of symptoms and that is how he diagnosed... He stated that the only way to diagnos this in pugs was doing a brain biopsy after the dog had either died or had been uthenized... I did not ask for him to do that... I trusted the vet and my g/f. was satisfied with this diagnosis......

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