Barney, our wonderful little man, is gone.

We took him tonight to a new vet for a second opinion about his immediate diagnosis of diabetes, the way he has been since treatment began, and a general prognosis in the context of his overall condition.

The news was not good.  In addition to the diabetes, he almost certainly had Cushings disease which, in all likelihood, was interfering with the insulin, rendering it ineffective.  The vet was very honest and straight with us.  She said that to continue trying to establish his full condition and determine what was needed to control the diabetes, would have involved many tests over a two month period (possibly more), at the end of which there was no guarantee of an accurate diagnosis.

Even then, assuming a course of treatment could be found that would work against all of his ailments, we would have been looking at most at a few more months, during which his quality of life would not have been good.  In short, it was too little, too late.

In the end, the decision was not a hard one to make for him, just a painful one for us.  Barney is now at peace, and reunited with Shannon - his one true love - at Rainbow Ridge with all the other dogs.

Goodnight, and God Bless you, Barney Rubble.  You were our one and only, loved and never to be forgotten

I'm so sorry. It's so hard -but you certainly took the best decision for Barney. HUGS.

so sorry, run free Barney x

Run Free Barney, (((((hugs))))))

So very sorry for your loss.
Run free Barney.
Karen

So sorry to hear this, run free with Shannon x

would have involved many tests over a two month period (possibly more), at the end of which there was no guarantee of an accurate diagnosis.


This statement was at least honest, many vets will put an owner and dog through all this testing and expense to be none the wiser, in the end it is left to the owner to decide how much more and how long you wish to continue testing and trying out different medications etc.

You can only do what your heart tells you, if that was your decision which is not an easy one to make then it was the right one.

Sending hugs at this sad time.

Jenna
x

Jenna it was our decision and one of the hardest I've had to make....

Finally we found a vet that was up front and honest but she also cared.......most of all...... big difference.  This had been the case with our original vet when Barney was a pup, but latterly, he left the practice in the hands of an associate, who was not the vet we would have chosen to deal with Barney's crisis when it came.

We learned a hard lesson here.  Stick with the one you feel is doing it for your dog, no matter what.  When our vet left the practice we should have gone too, but he moved out of the area.  This new vet was found purely by instinct, and when we needed someone to care, she came through for us, and for Barney.

So, remember to trust your instincts.

JP

So sorry, run free at the bridge Barney xx

Good advice JP. Run free Barney. Sending cyber hugs
Marion

Poor you and poor Barney.  We are thinking of you with sympathy.