1.  After producing intermittent bad poohs, I had a fecal done and it's come back totally clear of any nasties.  She's now on RC Gastro tinned which thankfully she's loving as I bought a 12 can tray.

2.  On her way back from her walk with my husband yesterday, she suddenly started limping.  I can find a corn on her left front.

3.  However, much as she's eating up and has normal stools, she's very quiet today and not like her usual self.  As said before, her heart murmur has gone from a Grade 2 (last year) to a Grade 4 now and my vet wants to do a heart scan which I have been having to think about as she's not insured, and my means are very limited now.  Given my reduced circumstances, I have to give spending around £250 on the scan (and then what .... she'll still have a Grade 4 murmur). 

4.  I have decided to book her in asap for her corn to be looked at and treated as needed, and for a discussion about what's going on.  She's had no exercise today.

Would you all agree - given my personal circumstances?  Could this be the end for her?

Sorry to hear this MamaBas, I wouldn't say it was the end of the road based just on an upset tum and one quiet day.

Like you I wouldn't get the heart scan, what's the point, it doesn't change the circumstances.

So I'd give her something like stoolfirm, it's cheap and really works, assess again in a week or so?

When she's had corns in the past have they made her quite down? If not I'd probably leave it for the moment to see what else is going on, frankly there may not be any point in you paying to have the corn removed, or putting her through that, if it is the end of the road anyway. Maybe give her some metacam or similar meantime?

The scan may  give an indication of medication that she can take to prolong her life at a good quality .maybe give it a day or so and see how she goes.may just be having an off dat
A difficult choice I agree

This doesn’t sound like the end of the road to me, it sounds like you are panicking - I do it myself when I lose a dog or one is ill I start to look for problems with the others , always imagining the worst. My old vet knew this and said never worry, just bring the dog in and I’ll have a look at it.
Teazel had a dicky tummy- could have been a bug picked up on a walk- could’ve been the heat-it’s sorted.
She has a corn, that can be sorted just like before
She has a heart murmur but isn’t medicated yet, so it can’t be affecting her too much.
I don’t think a heart scan would make any difference to her and maybe your vet is making you feel like you’re not doing all you can for her when  in reality you are ensuring she doesn’t have to undergo any unnecessary, doubtless expensive, treatments which will make no difference to her condition.

I am so sorry you are going through this.  I think I would ask the vet what they can prescribe for her murmur without doing the scan. They must have a fair idea what is going on and what may help, ie a water pill is pretty usual for heart problems.-and they are cheap.  I think it pays to be up front with the vet and say you simply cannot afford lots of investigations and ask them to work round it.  I hope you can find a way forward that works for you.

If her heart is causing issues then I would be discussing options of medication for her. The corn is easily sorted. I'm not sure a scan will give you much, maybe it's the same or worse but all the same she will need meds if it's causing her an issue.

It's hard to think logically sometimes when so much is going on around you

Treat her symptomatically. How old is she?

If she's limping, how about some pain meds for a while?

Thank you all so much - yes, I'm panicking!  I did ask Richard, vet, about whether he could or even needs to at this point,  prescribe medication for her heart without doing the scan .... he told me scanning was 'best practice'.  Hum.  Bearing in mind he specialises in hearts and indeed early days after we joined the practice, was the first vet to tell me Frankie had a heart murmur which I knew nothing about and he'd had a few general anaesthetics previously!

Having slept on it, and knowing her corns can be treated so she's not limping, I may book her in to have that done.  She is brighter this morning (no her previous corns haven't made her lethargtic, just lame) and eating up well.  So to myself, stop panicking!!

Teazel will be 13 in October.

Best practice doesn't mean she has to be scanned if the owner decides otherwise but the vet is being ethical by telling you the ideal situation
I would discuss with the vet and see if he can offer medication if he thinks its needed at this point.
She may just be having an off day and as u have seen this morning is improved to day

When I do take her in for her corn to be seen to, and it will be Richard who does that as he's been good at sorting them out in the past, I will be asking him more about this heart scan he seems to feel he needs to do.  Playing with his toys - at my cost?

I would have a more general conversation about her health and see what he says and not bring up the scan until he brings it up . Then u can discuss if its really necessary to treat her. Meanwhile I would reduce her walks and see how her energy levels go

> I would have a more general conversation about her health and see what he says and not bring up the scan until he brings it up . Then u can discuss if its really necessary to treat her. Meanwhile I would reduce her walks and see how her energy levels go

She didn't go out for a walk at all yesterday but Rob has just gone for a short walk with her.  Our pavements and road were recently mended, so the pavements are nice and smooth which should help her corn at least.

Point taken about a general chat with Richard when I take her in for the corn.  Thanks.

Good luck i hope u hear some positive  news

> She is brighter this morning

Well that's good to hear

FF's point about just a general chat is good, 13 is a good age but I know a lot of older whippets, she may well be around for another 3 or 4 years

> Point taken about a general chat with Richard when I take her in for the corn.  Thanks.

Isn't that just typical (for me).  Phoned for an appointment this morning to discover Richard is off for 2 weeks!!!  I have her booked in with Jon, who has dealt with her corns before, Thursday pm next.  So the chat with Richard will have to wait although I may raise the question of scanning being 'necessary' with Jon and see what he sayd!!  Unfortunately they aren't letting owners in the exam room with their dogs, still.  Chatting with him while he works on the corn would have been so much better .....................

I had a toy poodle with a severe heart murmur!
  It is heartbreaking knowing that your dog has a limited life span.  I did get him a heart scan and an appointment with a specialist cardiologist vet....cost a fortune but it ensured that he was on the right medication and dose for his needs and he lived far longer than the vet thought that he would.
I didn't restrict his exercise ( the specialist vet said he still needs to enjoy life), but when he was getting to the last couple  of months of his life we carried him to the park and put him down for a sniff about.
I was also told that dogs with heart disease do often have loose stools.
I have since found out that there is surgery available to repair the valve.
All the best to you and your dog and I hope that you are able to enjoy and treasure his remaining time with you.

> I was also told that dogs with heart disease do often have loose stools.

Oh boy, do I need to know that .... I just did some online checking and yes - end stage which I don't think Teazel is yet at.  And since she's been on RC Gastro. her stools have been fine.

I just have to go with whatever lies ahead, knowing that she will be 13 in October (not there yet).  It's just upsetting when all my attempts to adopt a rescue anything, have so far failed.  I may yet be without any dog......

It may also open other doors.  In your situation and I could soon be in a similar one
. I would spend your time with teasel enjoying her now and then see what the future brings . It may indeed be much longer with her than u expect

The loose stools could of been a red herring similar to the off colour when we are worried about them we see every little issue. I find myself trying to change my thinking process but its so easy to fall back into "panic panic headless chicken mode"

I wish you all the best

I wish you and the lovely Teazel all the very best Mamas.  Do try to try to enjoy the rest of your time with her,  life is precious.  Sometimes they surprise us and live far longer than we thought.  I once had a tough little rescued Jack Russell (always had been a fighter!!) who lived to be 21.  Very best wishes to you and Teazelxx

So after a number of days on RC Gastro with firm stools, a week ago I started to reintroduce her onto Chappie tins mixed with RC Gastro and a small handful of the Harringtons she'd been eating........ after a week of perfect stools,  first thing, good stools - mid morning MORE YUCK.   As I'm down to 6 tins of the RC Gastro, having just bought 6 more tins of Chappie.  So what now!!  Would you order more RC Gastro or stick with the Chappie once all the RC tins are gone?

I don't get this.  She's hungry for her food, and otherwise bright (no more limping).

Thoughts?  And of course, it's a Bank holiday weekend ........... (how do they know).

If gastro is working I would stick to it . U could try adding small amounts of chappie to see if there is balance that keeps her tummy good but helps with costs

Just a thought but have u looked the fat percentages in the 3 ? I've found that older dogs are more sensitive to fat and by bringing it  down things can improve

Thanks ff - a quick check of fat content -

RC Gastro - 5.9%   they do a low fat so I'll have to look into that
Chappie tins - just says 'low fat'.... just checked the tin itself and it says 3.8%
Harringtons Salmon and Potato (the version she's currently on) - 7%.  The past 24 hours I've been giving her just the tinned meat.  No Harringtons.
The fish treats she has - the dried fish must be 0% fat (actually 1.85%).  She also has fish and potato treats - must check that.  Update on that - Fat - 13.14%  ouch?

I'm looking at info from those with dogs who have pancreatitis.... Teazel isn't diagnosed with that - yet!