thoughts/advise on old dog

[Engieman]

We've had to do it two times. We waited too long, pretending things would stabilize, or get better - actually we put if off for us. Not humane at all. Our vet came to the house to do it in a very gentile and loving atmosphere. Dogs are family - there's nothing more painful. Good luck with your decision.

I totally agree with and can relate to this perspective. Been there...and in hindsight regret my procrastination. The problem with all of us humans is we really don't know when our dog is not feeling well. Mine was always happy to see us, tail wagging, turning in circles, etc. We did know she was sick, she did show some physical deterioration.....but she was happy. Or was she putting on a show? I fear I may have waited too long for her sake...still makes me cry. Funny I don't have the same emotions when it comes to my fellow man.

 

[Laketime]

Your dog will let you know when he is ready to die,you won't have to ask.

 

[GKC]

I just went through this. I had a dachshund mix that was the happiest dog I've ever known. He was always playing with his stuffed toys, and he loved to go with me everywhere I'd go...he followed my every step at home as well. He was so goofy, and loved it when we'd throw him treats...he'd catch them in the air, it was a game to him.

Last year, when he was 14, I first noticed that he started missing some of the treats I'd throw to him...and eventually he couldn't catch any of them. He also started losing his hearing...he wouldn't react to sounds like he used to do. I took him to our vet, and sure enough, he was losing his sight and hearing. It was amazing how fast it progressed...within a few months, he was completely blind and deaf.

The vet said he would adjust, but he never did. This happy, goofy, lively little guy now moved so slowly, uncertainly, and seemed to be afraid all the time. Riding in the car now scared him, I guess because he couldn't see or hear, and couldn't relate to the motion, and this used to be something he loved. The only time he seemed to be content was when he could be in contact with me...he'd sit leaning against my leg, or lay on his bed if I'd put my foot on it where he could feel it. Once he'd go to sleep, I could move my foot, but if he woke up, he'd whine.

He still ate with good appetite, as long as I'd keep the food bowl in front of him...he'd "lose" his bowl if he took his head out of it, like he didn't have a sense of smell anymore either. I took him out on a leash all the time, and he didn't have any accidents in the house. He didn't lose any weight.

Finally, we decided that he was miserable living like this...I know I would not want to live if I was both blind and deaf. So, we made the decision to put him down. I held him in my arms as he passed, and I literally felt the life leave his body. It broke my heart to let him go, and I've cried many, many times since, to the point that I didn't think I'd have another tear left...and then I cried some more. I'm getting better now, but I still do and always will miss that dog. He was so special to me...my wife has always had dogs, but I've never cared much until I got this one, and he was truly my best buddy. I think every day about him, and I look forward to seeing him again someday...I just can't think that God would give us such a loving creature like a dog, if He didn't also make a place for them to be with us in Heaven.

Let your friend go...it's a kindness. He's not happy, and he deserves a dignified and peaceful end.



R.I.P. Stretch 12/20/13

 

[Rangerpat]

As others have said, go to the vet and ask his/her advice.
If your dog can go outdoors to go to the bathroom, is eating well and you know that she is happy, then maybe Blondie is not ready yet to go to the Rainbow Bridge.
It is a very difficult decision to make but you will know for sure when the time comes. Quality of life over quantity of life.

 

[POPPER]

My black lab stayed with me as long as can remember and stayed beside me always at night when I was laid up from a bad truck wreck till right before it was her time to go she slept and stayed by the basement door wanting me to let her go to die I guess. I let her out and the second day she was never to be seen again. Not a fun thing to go through trust me. Popper

 

[16thVACav]

Except for the weight loss, your description would fit about half of the members of this forum! Hope no one is debating about whether to put us to sleep!

 

[GKC]

Except for the weight loss, your description would fit about half of the members of this forum! Hope no one is debating about whether to put us to sleep!

If I am ever blind and deaf, and completely miserable, I hope that I'd be allowed to make a decision about my own life. The ultimate freedom is the ability to decide how to live one's life and when to die.

 

[Doug M.]

Our demon kitty (I need to find a pic or two for that string) made it 20 years. She was old, and her fur was in crummy shape, but she still ate, went up and down the stairs etc. We came back from a trip and picked her up from the kennel, and it seemed she had waited for us to come home. I found her dead on the couch with one of her dogs the next morning. They had gone to sleep there and she never woke up.

 

[bobcat]

I like people that like their dogs as much as this members of this forum do. I'm going through a health scare right now with my constant companion, and I got some good support and advise from folks here. I'm gonna have to go, my darn allergies are acting up and seem to have some excess moisture in my eyes at the moment.

As I say, another reason this is the best forum on the net...

 

[POPPER]

Your dog will let you know when he is ready to die,you won't have to ask.

Last year my black lab Nellie who always stayed inside with me most of the the time got to acting strange and laying by the basement door for a day or two like she wanted to stay outside all of a sudden. I let her out the door one morning with some water and food by her outside dog house only to come home from work that afternoon to find her gone and never saw her again. It broke my heart because I know she went off to die out in the woods somewhere and I never saw her again. Kind of tough to deal with.

 

[kamloops67]

If I am ever blind and deaf, and completely miserable, I hope that I'd be allowed to make a decision about my own life. The ultimate freedom is the ability to decide how to live one's life and when to die.

get a push button safe, the rotary dial will be tough to handle when you are blind

 

[Laketime]

Last year my black lab Nellie who always stayed inside with me most of the the time got to acting strange and laying by the basement door for a day or two like she wanted to stay outside all of a sudden. I let her out the door one morning with some water and food by her outside dog house only to come home from work that afternoon to find her gone and never saw her again. It broke my heart because I know she went off to die out in the woods somewhere and I never saw her again. Kind of tough to deal with.

As sad as it is, they will actually dig themselves a shallow grave and pass on to a better place. Animals have a much better sense of this passing than people do, and are ok with it.sorry to hear of your loss. Pets are family members to us all.

 

[Mydogmax]

I don't have any advice for you, but please give Blondie a gentle hug from me and Max.

 

[Don 73]

I had to put down a 14 y/o beagle that we got for my son when he was 2. We named the dog "Spock" because that was my son's first word (he was a "Trekkie"). When he was getting older, we got an Old English Sheepdog for him (Spock) to play with and it worked out great. Then Spock started getting mean and would growl and snarl at us. One time he got so bad that the sheepdog actually put herself between my wife and Spock, then when Spock charged, the sheepdog put him down. We knew then that it was time for the final trip to the vet...

I know they say you should be with the dog at the end, but I just couldn't ... I was so bad, the wife had to drive on the way home.

I know what you're going through and I don't envy you the decision you are facing. IMO, if the dog is not in distress and is not getting mean, then let him be, just watch for any change in his condition. I do agree about having a good, trustworthy vet look him over though.

 

[reddogge]

Sorry about your dog Popper. In one way she went on her own terms and spared you the pain and agony of putting her down but still hard to take.

In 1997 we were faced with putting my old duck hunting partner ,lab, down due to age and him having seizures and he had a little siezure one afternoon. I gave him a tranquilizer and went to the gym. Came home to an eerily quiet house and found him dead under my desk. I think he waited until I left to die and founda place he never went to normally. I was sorry I wasn't with him but then again he spared us the pain of putting him down.

 

[wildenout]

Not an easy decision in the least. Though despite her ailments, if she can get around and seems happy I would keep her going! Just me though.

 

[A10]

It doesn't sound like she is suffering or afraid. I would check with the vet on the weightloss, thats a little concerning. It sound from your description that she has some good times left to her. If she is hurting, not eating, or living in fear thats a different story.

I've known a lot of older pets who lost their sight and hearing, but managed well. One of our cats is deaf and blind in one eye but does great and plays with her dog (our doxy).