That is such a hard situation to be in not knowing what to do for the best.
Hugs to both of you.

Well its your choice, but Ive known 4 dogs have the op and all 4 have been 100% afterwards, never heard of this 25% pneumonia thing either, but as I say its your dog and your choice, I just didnt want you think LP is a death sentance because it isnt its 100% curable with the dog returning to full function very quickly.

Again I say its a specialist thing and Id be VERY sceptical if a normal practising vet would even consider operating, not recommended at all and opening them up isnt the way to diagnose it, a specialist will only listen and touch the dogs throat to diagnose it. My opinion only, been through this with somebody before and their all knowing Vet, he killed the dog trying to operate!!!

At this age? Just curious.

Thinking of you and Biff. As my Mum always says you know when the time is right.

Yes at that age, why would you be curious? LP usually affects dogs over the age of 8/9, the dogs I have known have been about 11/12, very good ages for their breeds, however they were literally very ill one day and 100% soon after the op. LP is a degenerative disease that can take years to come on, other symptoms are often masked or confused as the dog being "off it" or aging, when in fact they arent.

Dawn, I don't know anything about LP. That's why I asked.

Thanks
I know Dawn, I know totally why you posted and I am really grateful. I think I have exchanged a few PMs with the person you are talking about when we first realised Biff had LP, I think I posted on here asking about it?
The only definite way to know for sure it is LP is to look under a GA. A vet can have a pretty good idea without it though, as I say this vet is dotting the i's...he will never ever say for sure one way or the other usually, which is why I trust him when he says that surgery isn't really an option. It isn't I assume, just because of the risk of the GA and ther trauma involved for Biff, it really is the whole picture of Biff...he just isn't up to it and in all fairness they could cure the LP but his arthritis will still cause him massive problems and his stomach problem will still be there and to be honest they could finish him off just with his system trying to get rid of the GA.
I know LP isn't a death sentence in most cases...but in Biff's case, taken with everything else, it may just be the straw that broke the camels back. I didn't expect for one moment that it would be the LP that would be the catalyst for us losing him, I thought it would be his tummy problems or heart (he has a low grade heart murmer too, I'm wondering if the vet has heard something else today though given the tablets he's popped him onto).

I do appreciate your post...thanks Dawn, I know exactly where you are coming from on it and I am really really grateful. It is also important that the info is on the thread as if anyone reads it in the future that has a dog with LP I think they need to know this is just one of a catalogue of problems with Biff.

Thanks Dawn xxxx
Yes..I have read of dogs of 15/16 being operated on successfully. It isn't necessarily the age, it's the whole picture. Had this been my oH's old BC at 13 we would have operated...but he only had mild arthritis at that age. He lived til he was 15+

Thank you that is really kind.
Sometimes you need someone to help you know that time is closer than you thought. Or to confirm it at least and i think that is what the vet did today.

Sorry about Biff.

I have had four dogs have tie-back surgery successfully but they didn't have any further problems at the time. However, years ago I had a dog which I now know had LP but nothing was known about it then. He slowed down,coughed, panted a lot and his bark had changed. One day he collapsed in the kitchen going blue (he was suffocating). I managed to get him to the vet but they were unable to do anything for him and he was pts before he suffered anymore.

Hugs to you and Biff

Sue

Thanks Sue. That is what I dread for him as I am sure you have gathered. Hugs to you, how awful for you and for him.
When you say your dogs that had the tie back done had no other problems at the time, do you mean no other health problems? I think that is the concern with the vet.
I know when it was initially thought he had LP (and I think I spoke to you about it then) he had the other problems too...the LP was just an additional one and way down on our worry list, perhaps we should have pushed more then. Our other vet said he did have it but that it was mild...obviously not so mild anymore.
Hugs xxxx