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My dog is very sick, antibiotics failed. Vet can't diagnose. Help!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Boxer | Male | unneutered | 10 years and 2 months old

swallow legs, leaking blood and body fluid, leaks himself non stop, smells bad, has pus on both sides, antibiotics x 1 month. Nothing is working. Help what should i do？ Vet is unable to diagnose or properly treat

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 5th, 2017

There is not enough information here for me to properly help you. If a vet, in person, has not been able to help you I don't think us, over the internet without examining the dog or knowing the history, will be able to help you.

My recommendation would be to get a second opinion from another vet if your current vet is unable to help you. If he is unresponsive to antibiotic therapy the type of antibiotic may need to be changed or he may need to be on a couple antibiotics at the same time. Not to scare you but cancer is VERY common in Boxers and being that he is older and he is not responding to therapy I would have this a differential diagnosis. I don't know what diagnostic testing has been done (if any) but that is often important. If you don't allow any testing to be done the vet is only doing his/her best to guess what might help. Some things cannot be fixed without testing.

Regardless of all that, it sounds like his condition is very serious and that he may be suffering. If nothing can be figured out then you may need to consider humane euthanasia if his quality of life is not good. Of course, you know him best and I am just speculating but you should have that in the back of your mind if treatment is failing to cure him.

I am sorry you are going through this. I hope this was helpful. If you have more questions please feel free to ask again. Best wishes.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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