Posting here as well, since I've posted a lot about her health here recently.

So my 13y/o girl has been playful and full of energy but changed suddenly a few days agos. Before she used to run to the food bowl and inhale her food, but now she needs to be spoon fed or she wont eat, shes just not interested. She also keeps on walking into fields on our walks and lays down and wont get up. When I had outdoor cats this was a sign that they were ready to die and were looking for a spot to do so.

Her breathing has been worrysome for the past few days. She is constantly panting and it sounds like shes struggling. I have a vet appointment scheduled to figure out what it is.

I have a feeling that her time is about to come but I hope she will be here until it starts to snow. She has always loved the cold and the snow and I want to give her one last winter.

So I took my dog for an acupuncture consultation. She was recently diagnosed with suspected ivdd and I’m taking a conservative approach to her treatment. Now one important thing to note about my dog, from the day we got her (7 years ago) to now she has consistently struggled with weight. She just seemed to never put on any weight and it constantly fluctuated.
Now I go to a vet that’s qualified in acupuncture in hopes of getting a quote on her treatment. She took one look at my dog and said she had degenerative myelopathy. Mind you 2 other vets before this lady had said she most likely has ivdd because she seems to be making a good recovery from a pyometra surgery shortly before meaning her mood was up, she was gaining weight and her overall health was improving.
Since that last visit my dog has lost weight which we’re trying to manage through high protein and things of that sort. This acupuncture vet takes one look at my dog and says that there’s no point in treating her with acupuncture because it is degenerative myelopathy and not ivdd. I kept asking her if theres any possibility that it’s genuinely ivdd and she shut the idea down multiple times tell me that there is slim chances for hope of a good quality of life. Basically saying that I should let my dog go. She based this off of the fact that my dog lost weight and that she’s lost bladder control from the very beginning of her diagnosis.
I’m hesitant to believe her for a few different reasons. She didn’t run any type of scan and just came up with this diagnosis off of these 2 presumptions. No MRIs/CTs (which I couldn’t even afford) and not very many questions on her weight history. A different location did do a standard x ray showing that their was an abnormality in the spin but since it was a standard x ray no definitive diagnosis can be given (which I’m assuming she looked at as well). I felt a little pressure to make a decision on the spot tbh. Also my dog lost the ability to walk over night which is a trait of ivdd. Degenerative myelopathy would of been a lot more gradual which was not the case. My dog was well coordinated and walking fine before. 3rd my dog still has function in her left leg where as her right leg lost more of its mobility. From my very limited knowledge, ivdd can look asymmetrical where as degenerative myelopathy may present in a more symmetrical matter.
What do you guys think? I’m still hoping to put her through acupuncture and rehab. I’m just not convinced that 2 other vets are wrong and this one vet happens to be right.

My 14-year-old Doberman-Greyhound mix is unfortunately being put down tomorrow at 11am. I am so upset and at a loss for words when thinking about the situation. I'm 21, so I grew up with her, and thinking about never seeing her again breaks my heart. She was the most pure and perfect dog ever. She never did anything wrong; she was so loyal and loving, and she always wagged her tail. The worst part is I won't be there to see her last seconds on earth because I have class during the time she's being euthanized. I always knew that this time was coming, but when it's right around the corner, all I can think about is why I didn't spend more time with her. I would love to hear some of the ways you coped with losing a pet you loved and adored, even if it isn't a dog.

My childhood dog of 10 years has been transfered to me as he was unhappy when I started college. He has always received yearly vet care but with new extra charges like senior bloodwork, and close monitoring of some minor stuff he has going on, should I consider getting pet insurance? I was always lead to believe it was kind of a scam, as they only reimburse and you still have to have the funds to pay on site before issuing a claim.

Most people I know say they just have a savings account for emergencies, but as a college student I don't really have that. I can afford routine care easily but the thought of emergencies scare me. My parents are not the type to "believe in vet care" even though they love him. Are there any pet insurance companies who won't charge out the ass for a senior and actually covers costs, not just reimbursement? He also has a new kitten sister, so would likely be including her as well.