 Barked: Tue Jun 21, '11 10:06am PST |
 | |  | | I have another perspective on this only because I have been through it myself. The reason vets do not want to do those kinds of procedures, at least my vets, is not so much because they think the dog is old and not valued. At least in my case, it is because even laser surgery around the eyes requires anesthesia. If you happen to have congestive heart failure, like I do, or anything with the liver, kidneys, etc., anesthesia is very risky, especially in older pups. I also have tumors around both eyes, which I have had for a few years. Mommy wanted to know if there was any way they could possibly remove them with the laser and IV drip, where I would not totally be under, but they said around the eyes is too much of a risk if I should move one bit. So for these reasons, we opted not to have it done. But whatever Mommy had wanted, the vets would have done for me. I am not saying all vets are this way, but there are factors that come into play with them not wanting to do procedures on us Senior pups. The risks involved with anesthesia are probably the major one, though. I hope this helps a little.
Magoo
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6
to the vets last month. Me had this thing on my ear. Me had a few small ones on my eye lid and our old vet where we use to live took them off. Well....this thing was beginning to get a little large and this new vet we have said that she didn't want to take it off, that it could be done by laser method but due to my age wasn't a good idea. Well she called it an Old Man's wart. The nerve or her saying I have warts. Humph!!!!!
I turn 13 tomorrow and was just neutered this past Feb! & last summer I too had some 'old man warts' taken off of my muzzle and one rear toe. My mom gets to stay with me during my procedures because she works at the Vet. I really like that because I get very upset if I wake up and Mom isn't there since I'm deaf. I can't hear the soothing words people say to me anymore, but if my mom's there I know I'm safe. Both of my doctors NEVER tell a pet parent that the patient is too old for treatment. My mom would be offended if someone gave her that excuse! My doctors perform fully anesthetized surgical procedures and dentals on patients of all ages. For seniors they require IV fluids throughout and during recovery as well as full preanesthetic bloodwork beforehand to check liver and kidney function, amongst other things. If my doctor wouldn't help me because I'm 'too old' then I'd be wagging my tail on to the next one. Aging animals need medical care just as much, if not more than, their younger counterparts. Especially if it will increase their quality of life right now, or prolong their qualitly of life for the future, then why WOULDN'T you do it? After all, nobody tells a person they're too old for treatment.
Him is an animal lover for sure. Mommie can not understand how come this new vet didn't at least tell us something. One thing Mommie started putting hydrogen peroxide on it, this is my ear now, don't have any more around my eyes, and then treating it with bactracin and it is helping. It's going down but it did burst prior to that. I can't even find anybody here to care for the birds we have!!! even after she (this new vet) asked me if I worked with birds cause I work with wildlife and I told her yes. My other vet would call me if they got wildlife in, cause sometimes folks drop them off at the vets, and he would treat it, give me the antibiotics and it was good to go. Sheez...don't make good vets anymore ya know. Least not here. I'm gonna look around. 