[rfuerst911sc]

We have three daschunds and our youngest Dexter is 11 years old. He's been in pain for the last month or so with a bad back. Took him to the vet three weeks ago and they put him on steroids and pain meds ( robaxin + prednisone ) . The vet said carry him up and down stairs for the next 3 - 4 weeks and lets see how he is doing. He was doing much better up until yesterday morning. Out of the blue he seemed to be in pain again and losing control of his back legs. He woke us this morning at 3:00 with his crying so we took him to an emergency vet office. They say he has intervertebral disc disease and the only way to correct it is with surgery. We texted our vet and my wife just spoke to her and based on the current diagnosis and the exam she performed three weeks ago she agrees with the current diagnosis. So here we are......Dexter is 11 years old and mentally sharp as a tack but he is 11 . The surgery is going to be somewhere in the range of 7 - 8 thousand and like any surgery no guarantees of success. My wife and I are torn.........I don't want to put my buddy down but I do not want him to suffer. He is sitting on the couch right now and I'm on the verge of tears.........I need some advice guys . As of right now Dexter can't walk his rear legs will not function........it is very sad to see .