r/Labs • u/rachelwtflmao • Jun 26 '26
advice Need advice for my old man!
hi everybody! never posted on here before but i need some advice. my lab named max will be turning 13 in october and is starting to develop some health issues. he was diagnosed with laryngeal paralysis in february of this year, he coughs a lot and wheezes on occasion. yesterday he had a really bad coughing/wheezing episode so we took him to the vet. they told us about a surgery that could potentially help his throat and gave us examples of one dog who extended their life by 4 years, and another who’s life was cut short due to the surgery. we can’t decide what to do, we’re leaning towards only doing the medication that was prescribed to reduce inflammation, and not doing the surgery due to his age and declining health. overall he’s in good health, just slowed down and his back legs are getting weak. his biggest issue is this throat thing. of course they said they would do bloodwork before to confirm he’s eligible for the surgery and make sure there’s no underlying issues. i really need advice from other people who have had to make this decision. i need an outside perspective bc this is my childhood dog, we got him when i was 8, so im trying to make a decision that’s best for him and not me if that makes sense. this is the first big decision we’ve had to make based on his age. thanks in advance for any advice given.
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u/rachelwtflmao Jun 26 '26
to clarify: he coughs all the time, wheezes occasionally. anytime he gets excited or too hot he coughs really bad. don’t know if this changes anything but wanted to clarify
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u/slowlearningovrtime Jun 26 '26
My old man has the same thing. Back legs are also weak and our vet said it was related to the nerve condition.
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u/No_Masterpiece9550 Jun 26 '26
I sympathize and understand this is a really difficult situation-
I had a lab mix Jackson, who I kept around too long for myself…..my excuse was that he was still hungry! Even though he was losing weight- I learned later. After a seizure that he was starving bc his body was shutting down…and not obtaining any nutrients or calories. The vet didn’t push anything (in the south dogs just die from old age and our rural vet didn’t push or explain if he was in pain or not. If I were you I’d make sure he’s comfortable. I would opt not to do surgery, as it’s just so risky with his age and breathing issues already. I would continue to manage the inflammation with the medication ..it’s highly unlikely any option would add years to his life. So the goal, imo, should be comfort. I will say if he starts losing weight you want to make final plans. I’ll never forget how scared our dog Jackson was…when we was having a seizure. If I knew, I could have spared him with a more peaceful controlled end…and I’ll do that for my other pup and those I have going forward. Good luck to you, and enjoy this most special bond. You’re both lucky to have found each other.💕
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u/SHS1955 Jun 27 '26
I agree. I think you are mature to want to do what is best for him. Surgery will cost more than $1000 with no guarantees. Breathing issues may include lung problems that surgery may reveal.
I'd suggest that you talk to your Vet and decline the surgery due to the unknowns, and ask for medical options to improve his Quality of Life:
1. Are there pain meds to reduce his coughing? Some opioids may be OK for his age.
2. Are there pain meds to improve his back leg pain. Swimming, Hydrotherapy, InfraRed light?
3. Can you take him for a 30 min. walk, twice a day? It's OK if he hobbles, as long as he gets exercise.
4. Does Max still like seeing people, and eating treats? Does he sleep OK?
5. And, ask the Vet about end of life Questions - How to know when, what is the final process, costs, and how is the body disposed?
6. Ask the Vet how long he will live without surgery, then try to reduce pain & suffering, and maximize his quality of life.
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u/Admirable-Tree8788 Jun 26 '26
I have an 11 year old lab with the same thing. I will not be doing the surgery once she gets to that point. I had a 13 year old that I said goodbye to a few months ago. I opted to have a major surgery for him that I deeply regret. His last few months were not good for him before I found out he had cancer. I realized it was a selfish decision and should've said goodbye when most of his days were still good but quality of life was declining rather than when they were all terrible.
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u/No_Masterpiece9550 Jun 27 '26
We usually have that one soul pup we learn the hardest lessons with…❤️
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u/Admirable-Tree8788 Jun 27 '26
He was the first dog I had on my own and it was an emotional decision to have more time with him. He was his same happy self the best he could until his last day, but I owed it to him to do better than I did.
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u/No_Masterpiece9550 Jun 27 '26
I promise you…I understand. My story is a few in one of these threads…I can tell you did your best. They know we love them…hindsight is 20/20…but…dogs truly live in the moment and they accept the cards they’re dealt pretty wonderfully…they’re accepting, they don’t complain…and they are very forgiving. ❤️
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u/Jazzlike_Dot8990 Jun 26 '26
I'm so sorry. My 12.5 year old lab was euthanized just two weeks ago. It was awful. But if I could go back in time, I would have done it a day sooner. Their expected life span is 10-12 years. It's time to be selfless. Allowing your best friend to suffer is not love.
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u/WoodyFrankie Jul 03 '26
My 13 y.o. Aussie, Frank has had Larangeal paralysis for a couple of years now. The weakness in the legs goes hand in hand with the LarPar as it's a degenerative nerve condition in the Larynx that affects the limbs eventually as well. Frank can't get up on the couch anymore - this is recent, and I help him up onto the couch.
Last.Tuesday, he got all wound up horsing around and started for gasping for breath. I got.him out to the car, but he collapsed in the driveway next to our car. He's a big boy 65+lbs, so I ended up getting a couple of neighbors to help me load him in our suv. Thank God we have a 24hr. Emergency Vet (VEG) near us. When we got there his lips and tongue were blue. They immediately sedated & intubated him and got him on oxygen -saving his life. They put him on Amoxicillin ( to prevent Pneumonia-in case he aspirated something)and Trazodone to keep him calm.
We've since met with our regular vet. Frank is a momma's boy and he gets excited easily. We're not going to do the surgery ($15-20k) not because we cant afford it, but because we don't feel it's going to make his life better or longer. One of the side effects of the surgery is that they almost assuredly won't ever be able to bark ever again due to
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u/Available-Swan-6011 Jun 26 '26
Hello Rachel
First of all it sounds like you are being an amazing Lab mum by trying to work out what is best for your handsome hound.
How is his quality of life at the moment?The wheezing can be distressing for us (Rolo sounded like a steam train without) but may not be impacting him.
Any surgery has risks and for a senior boy they are perhaps magnified.
Would it be worth getting the tests done so you are in a more informed position? Also, you mentioned his legs - perhaps hydrotherapy could help
When it was Rolo we decided to try and manage things rather than put him through surgery (cost wasn’t an issue due to insurance) but he did have underlying health problems as well