God, I am so so sorry about this. Riley doesn’t deserve it and you and yur family sure as hell don’t either.
Dogs are the best gift we can give ourselves, and yet they always manage to rip our hearts out in the end.
You are going far above and beyond what most people would do. Riley knows you love him, deep in his doggy heart. He has known more love in his life than many dogs get in 14 or 15 years. (((hugs))) to you and your family. And to Riley.
FGISE,
Would it be okay to take him to the local shelter to have him euthanized?
I am sitting here with tears in my eyes, because, right now, I cannot help monetarily.
His memory/soul would always be with y’all.
Jesus, this hurts!
I know it does for you, FGISE, and your family, too, but could y’all do that?
Could you take Riley to the local shelter, and just say a very sweet “Goodbye” to him?
Thanks
Q
That may be an option, too, if it comes to that, but Riley seems to still have a fighting chance!
Here’s more hoping that he won’t need that option.
FoieGras,
You need to do what ever is best for your whole family at this stage.
You and yours have gone above and beyond.
You have small children to consider in the equation and as you have said financial considerations.
My five cents worth, and indeed that is all it is worth, is consideration now of the effects on the family.
If you think Riley is beyond help and things are so grim - end it now. You may be giving a life lesson to your boys. They will learn that you do your best for animals you take into your care and when hope is gone you take the humane way out. You end the suffering as soon as reasonable hope is gone and you do not endanger the financial future of your family with a cause that is hopeless.
Harsh words and sentiment? Yes indeed it is. But from what I have read, you have not taken this illness of your much-loved dog lightly. You have nursed him well and with such compassion.
Think also of the lessons you are teaching your sons.
Yours is a hard decision, by the grace of the powers that be it is not mine.
Kind thoughts from me to you as to battle with solutions.
I spoke to my neighbor this morning, she’s a neurologist. She actually really likes my dog, and told me she’d often come into my yard and talk to him when she saw he was out (I had no idea she did this). She asked where he’d been lately and I told her the spiel. She said that it may take a long time for him to recover and relearn his ways, especially since his medication dosage has been doubled.
And then…ahh life and it’s coincidences…
Yay! A breakthrough! My wife just called and said that while home on her lunchbreak that she heard Riley whining at the downstairs door (which he hasn’t done since we got him back from the vet). She went to go pet him and whatnot, and she cleaned him up so he could come out, and he bounded right up the stairs and started playing with my other dog Macy!
He also was able to go outside today, played some more with Macy and then came in and ate like a starving dog (we had been limiting his food to reduce the amount of poop we’d have to keep cleaning up every day in the spare bedroom).
Now my wife just needs to get him into his crate before she leaves.
This is great news!
Oh thank god. I have been following this thread with great interest and pulling for Riley-dog.
This is great news!
I know! I can’t wait to get home to let him out and tell him how good he is and give him treats and hugs!
I’m super excited. It’s just so weird that this morning my neighbor talked to me about how long it can take people to adjust to increased levels of medication, especially a drug like phenobarbitol, and then hours later…he’s much, much better!
My wife did say that he’s still a little klutzy…while chasing Macy down the stairs she said he fell down the stairs, but popped right back up and resumed chasing my other dog!
Go Riley! Go Riley!
That’s great news, FoieGrasIsEvil! I hope the improvement continues.
Virtual scritches to Riley and hugs to you guys. Atta dog!
Thanks to all for your support. When I started this thread, I had about zero hope for Riley’s life. Now…I am hopeful again. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my chest, but I will still have some reservations until I see him for myself.
Anyone want to buy a couple rectal syringes full of pure valium?
(Just kidding!)
Hello, Riley dog. Hello.
Good dog, Riley!
Silly, having tears in my eyes about a dog I don’t even know.
StG
All right, Riley!!!
I’m tearing up with happiness! Great news, great news! :D:D:D:D:D
JOY
I seem to have something in my eye.
Good Dog!!
And here I was all this time thinking you all were a bunch of cat-loving liberals.
Funny, you like dogs, too!
YAY! RILEY!
You say this like it is a bad thing.
If cats = liberals, what, praytell, do dogs represent?
Actually, I am a cat-loving liberal. Also a dog-loving liberal. I guess I’m just a bundle of contradictions. 
GO RILEY GO!
It’s too soon to say he’s out of the woods, and I’m hoping against hope that this isn’t just a short-term flash of rebounding, but my gods, I’m crying like a baby at work wanting so badly for this fella I’ve never met to turn the right corner for a long and happy life.
I don’t pray, but I’m doing whatever the atheistic buddhist equivalent is with all I’ve got.
Come on, Riley. Good boy!
I did a good bit of crying reading this thread from the beginning, a few days ago, and every day since. Now, I’m crying again. It’s happy tears this time, though!
Go Riley!