Dog died of Bloat?

Hi, I just posted a question about my 12 year old lab that died from bloat. Thank you all for answering it helps to hear others opinions. I have one more question. Not that I can change the outcome now but just for knowledge if this ever happens again. My dog was 12 yrs old and lived a long good life I had him from a puppy. After my other dog died of old age last month he went really down hill. He seemed tired and his itchy skin that he dealt with for a long time with meds got worse and his arthritis starting getting really bad.. then he got bloat. He was in bad shape by the time he got to the vet and hours had passed. I didnt opt for the operation.. it was $3500 and I couldnt afford it I could have I like to think I would still have choosen to put him to sleep. I felt that at 12 yrs old and being a 100 pds he was close to the end. Plus with the arthritis i thought the surgery and recovery would be hard. Does the operation usually have a good outcome.. would you have recommended this

Dog died of Bloat?
You did the right thing. Surgery on a dog that old would probably only buy him a few months. I'm sorry for your loss.
Reply:I think you made the right choice. It must have been a heart wreching choice for you, but you did the right thing. At 12 years old you're right, recovery would have been awfully hard on him and he would have spent his last year or so suffering. Maybe if it was on a younger dog and the recovery chances were high, but for all that money and pain you want to be sure that you don't take big chances. I'm very sorry for your loss, and I'm proud of you for doing what's best for your dog. Good luck and god bless you.
Reply:Hi Shelly, Actually no I would not have had the surgery either. At 12 years old and with all the health problems your dog had I don't think the surgery would have given him a better life just maybe a longer one. This surgery even for a much younger dog is very serious and usually the outcome is good, but for a 12 year old just the anesthesia may have lead to his death.


I feel you did the very best thing for your dog.


I say a prayer for the both of you. This is a very tough decision.
Reply:So sorry. But who knows? The way I see it....you did the right thing. And I believe this because your dog thought you were the greatest and trusted you enough to stay in your life! Please don't spend a lot of time second guessing yourself:) Just remember all the great life you gave him.
Reply:The surgery can be life-saving if done quickly enough, but in medicine, as in life, there are rarely sure things. There are potential complications with even the best of scenarios. I don't mean to be ambiguous, but I've seen such patients defy expectations again and again.





Furthermore, it sounds like your dog had multiple other problems, that would have continued to need management. While such decisions are deeply personal, and can not be decided by a third party, I don't believe anyone could justly fault you for making the decision you did under the circumstances.
Reply:You made the right choice out of love for your dog, but anyone with a medium sized breed such as a Lab must understand that allowing the dog to become obese to the point of weighing 100 lbs!!! is the culprit. Feeding your dog to the point of obesity is "killing with kindness".


Beware, please. Obsesity is very dangerous to dogs.
Reply:Many times the anesthetic would be more dangerous than the surgery on a 12 year old dog. You did the right thing. He had other problems too. Rather a day too early than a week too late. He died with dignity.
Reply:Thank you all for your answers.. in response to the last answer on obesity, thank you for your reply and you are totally right. However, he was half rotweiler and took after rotweilers in size and lab in looks.. he was a big dog and at 95 pds the vet recommended he gain another 5, he was far from heavy and was in the thin side, and never appeared over weight.
Reply:I wouldnt of dont the surgerey becuz it is kinda old, and it would be a waste of money


You did the right thing
Reply:You did the right thing for your dog. It's a hard decision to make, but given the circumstances I probably would have made the same choice. Given your dog's age and the amount of time that passed before he got to the vet it is likely that the surgery would have had a poor outcome anyway. In the case of young dogs who are taken to the vet at the very first signs of bloat the surgery usually has a positive outcome. But the more time that passes before the operation, the worse the outcome is, even in young animals.
Reply:even though its a very difficult decision, you made the right choice. I am 53 and have had Labs all my life. A wonderfull breed. Recently,my friend's shepherd died of bloat. He had noticed the dog was not itself. He went out to dinner,came home and found his dog laying motionless. he was devastated. Vet. Hospital called it bloat. Another person,a woman, told me about her 11 year old black lab got bloat and was taken to vet hospital. Treatment was tube insertion of esophagus and other treatment. $3900. Dog was released next day. She brought lab back again next day, same problem. Vet said operation was needed, but could still have complications or die. Asked vets advice. Decision was made to put lab down to end suffering. In my opinion, was the right decision. A difficultand loving decision. You made right choice.