We decided to put our 11 year old Maltese mix Ava down this afternoon. She started rapidly declining and I think she was in liver failure. Her skin was turning yellow, trembling, not eating (when she loved her food). I booked an abdominal ultrasound for Thursday but she started throwing up today.
I feel such guilt but my husband said we were preventing longer suffering.
I miss my silly little friend. My house feels so quiet and empty without her.
I am at a loss of what to do. My dog (11 year old Maltese mix) started rapidly going downhill on Friday - not eating, not drinking, lethargic, shaking. We took her to an emergency vet and did subcutaneous fluids and an anti-nausea med and asked they blood test her kidneys (one of our previous dogs died from kidney disease). Her kidneys were ok but the serum was orange which the vet said probable liver issues.
Today we went to a regular vet and got a blood panel and apparently the liver enzymes were "off the charts". The vet basically said they don't know, it could be infection, ate something toxic, cancer etc. My husband asked her to be honest if it's really bad and she said yes.
Options are x-ray, abdominal ultrasound or potentially putting her to sleep. The vet said don't want too long to decide.
With my other dogs it was easier to know it was time, they seemed ready. There are moments my dog now seems a bit normal , but she still won't eat (but she does drink). My husband says he doesn't want her to suffer. I feel lost... I don't want to give up without trying but I don't know if because she isn't eating she is suffering. I guess I would just like the opinions of other vets.