Question:
Tinker is my mom's dog. She is having these attacks where she will all of a sudden sit on the floor and her tongue goes in and out and she goes around in a circle. In the front, between her legs, it looks like there is bone sticking out, and her hindquarters look swollen on the sides. I called a vet to come to the home, but she didn't think it was anything serious. And yet these attacks are getting worse.I am a caregiver for my mother. She has Alzheimer's, and Tinker is the only thing that keeps her here. I wanted to take Tinker to a vet, but mom got so upset about it. She has this feeling they will tell her the dog has cancer and just couldn't stand to hear this. Mom is 85 years old, and I want her last years to be as pleasant as they can be, and I need to somehow find out what is wrong with Tinker. The dog is 13 years old. She eats well and tries to play ball with me, but most of the time she is with mom, lying on the bed or sleeping.Taking care of mom is a 24/7 job. My dad passed away last November from A
C.A.L., Selma, CA Feb 04, 2007
Answer:
I greatly sympathize with your difficulties and know what it is like being a full-time caretaker (but not with two parents with Alzheimer's disease, the scourge of Western civilization). Most human health-care facilities for the chronically ill and geriatric patients I wouldn't take my dog to, except to cheer those patients up who are not already in the lost world of dementia.Tinker could be suffering from a treatable middle-ear infection, congestive heart failure or other age-related disorder. Some veterinarians make house calls, and that might be a first step toward getting a provisional diagnosis. Then take it from there, telling your mother when she is lucid that Tinker needs to see an animal doctor because she is suffering silently and is not herself.Good luck and all strength to you.
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