ok, I have a bigger issue with this post than the 'to groom or not to groom' war, and that is that this owner was considering euthanasia without knowing what the dogs problem was to avoid a huge vet bill. sorry animula, not to single you out, because i know a million peop;e who have the same attitude about vets, but most clinics are willing to work with you if you let them know that money is an issue. i don't know about everywhere, but at my clinic an exam is 65$......if my pets life was hanging in the balance, i would get the 65$ to at least get the vets opinion, if they do recommend bloodwork, x-rays, etc. then maybe euthanasia would be considered, but for something so simple (as say an anal gland infection) that may end up costing 100$ total, and would result in a happy, healthy pet it is worth it to me. i get a little ticked off when people assume that vets are out to scam every dollar they can out of you, (again, i dont know about everywhere) but my clinic has a needy pet fund, and there is also other funding available (such as the Farley fund) for people who can't afford care for sick animals. i'm sorry if i am ranting, this subject touches a nerve with me for a personal reason. years ago my mother had the family dog 'put down' (shot in the field by a neighbour) because the dog had a lump in its ear and she was certain it was cancerous and the dog going to suffer and die. i found out afterwards that it was actually just a hemotoma, a broken blood vessel in the ear, and dosn't require any treatment (there is treatment, but it is not a life threatening problem, if you let it go it will eventually go away, the dogs ear may be deformed after but small price to pay to save a life).

soooo, I guess my point is spend the money for an exam and a PROFESSIONAL opinion before you decide on your own that your pet needs to be put down. I think the years of loyalty and companionship and love your pet has given deserves at least that.

I am honestly at a loss right now how someone could say just because I dont have the money or it is getting close to that time. I would go and take a second mortgage on my house if it meant getting my pet a surgery. Even if the dog only had 2 years left in it. That is just not being a responsible pet owner, Vets will work with you if you need to set-up a payment plan. Pets are not just something you get and feed. You have to take them for yearly checkups just like kids. If you cannot afford something then you should have never kept the animal but given to someone who would be responsible and willing to pay (if needed) for anything that would be life saving or just a simple surgery. I suggest that untill you can afford a pet that you do not get another one any time soon.

Originally Posted by Animula

So, I don't know if I should wait this out another week or so, until we're settled into the new place. Or... well, nip this in the bud, and take him to the vet to have him put down (even if there was some kind of surgery to help him, if he does in fact need help, not only would I not be able to afford it, but he is getting close to "that" time). He's my first pet, and I'm tearing up right now at just the thought of it, but I need to know, is this common in old dogs, this new found, almost 'anxiety' attitude, and does he need to be put down?

We took him to the vet, it ended up being his anal glands. They were too full. So now we've got some antibiotics (because they were infected), and the vet said come back in two months, or whenever he starts acting weird again with his butt (not exact words, but you know what I mean). So, I'll have to search online to find a way to do it myself, because I don't want to pay $80 just for them to do something I could easily (even if it is very, very gross) do myself.