thoughts/advise on old dog

[cougar14]

Our part Golden, Blondie, is 17. She is mostly blind, deaf, and apparently losing her nose, because we have to wave her meals near her nose. However, she seems to be happy, eats well, and plays w/us as best she can. She weighed about 25 last year, closer to 12 now, lost most of her muscle mass. We keep her dog house heated with a little heating pad under her pillow, and she sleeps most of the time we're not out.
Here's my question. We've been told that it's best to put down an animal when they get to this point, because they've had a good life, and don't deserve the kind of things that they are susceptible to in they're greatly weakened state.

Thoughts?

 

[pawncop]

One of hardest decisions to make. So long as she is not in distress I would put it off. But when they hurt and there is no resolution the hard part kicks in.

 

[427mach1]

That much weight loss would concern me. Take her to a good vet and they should be able to give you good, educated advice. Never an easy decision.

 

[DGT]

I completely agree with pawncop.

 

[cass]

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.

 

[Bill_inBouse]

As a person who has had more than a few pets go before me, when your "friend" is near that time, ask yourself if you would want that quality of life, and with the advise of your friends Vet, make that decision. It's a tough one for sure, I've cried like a little girl at more than one.

Best of luck in your decision.

 

[Jimmyjones]

Mine have thankfully always let me know when it's time.

I agree with pawncop.

 

[Aticus]

I think it's time Blondie was given a dignified farewell! Man can"t do that for himself but he can for his canine friends.

 

[hangnoose]

old dog x2

Laying in bed with my wife, brother & sister 14 y/o French Brittany's, last night, watching a dvd of the day we first brought them home at 10 weeks old, & noticing their decline in health, it really hit home how little time we may have left with them. Whoever said big boys don't cry obviously never owned & lost a dog. We decided on going with their quality of life. Now what to do when 1 goes before the other, or to put down both at once? I still remember my first dog loss like it was yesterday, I was only 5 y/o and his last act in tremendous pain was licking my hand. Sorry but I have nothing other than 17 years is a good run, and best wishes for wisdom, at this difficult time.

 

[vigil617]

I agree with the posters who point to quality of life and the issue of pain. Perhaps your vet can give you an idea whether your pet is suffering physical pain or just a combination of old-age maladies. The weight loss is troubling, but my thought is that as long as your pet is not hurting, and seems content to do what little it does, then the time has not yet come for you to need to make a decision about ending its life. On the other hand, when the time comes, be quick. You and Blondie have had a great run; be thankful and pay it forward in whatever ways you think are best.

 

[M29since14]

Our part Golden, Blondie, is 17...
She weighed about 25 last year, closer to 12 now...
Thoughts?

That much weight loss would concern me. Take her to a good vet...

If you mean 12 pounds, yes - PLEASE take her to a good vet. I can't imagine a Golden Retriever that weighs but 12 pounds. Otherwise, all I can say is what others have already said. It is a terrible, tough call. Good luck with this and whatever you do, when you make your decision based on doing what you truly believe is best, don't look back and don't second-guess. "You did the best you could."

 

[BigBoy99]

My Australian Cattle Dog was doing just fine until one moth before her 22nd birthday. She still had her vision and sense of smell and would let us know when someone arrived in the driveway. One day she could barely get up and had trouble walking. She was taken to vet he concluded that she had a stroke and was partially paralyzed on the left side. The vet said there wasn't any cure and her quality of life would never be what it was before. She was put to sleep before I left the vet and she was brought home and buried. She was one of the best dogs I've ever had.

 

[cougar14]

If you mean 12 pounds, yes - PLEASE take her to a good vet. I can't imagine a Golden Retriever that weighs but 12 pounds. Otherwise, all I can say is what others have already said. It is a terrible, tough call. Good luck with this and whatever you do, when you make your decision based on doing what you truly believe is best, don't look back and don't second-guess. "You did the best you could."

Well, she LOOKS like a Golden, but 25 pounds is all she's ever been. She's a mix that took on all the appearance traits of a Golden, but the size of a smaller dog. So the weight loss might not be as bad as you were thinking. Everything that's happened to her has been in the last few months. I would expect cancer but she appears to be in absolutely no pain and eats well.

 

[427mach1]

Well, she LOOKS like a Golden, but 25 pounds is all she's ever been. She's a mix that took on all the appearance traits of a Golden, but the size of a smaller dog. So the weight loss might not be as bad as you were thinking. Everything that's happened to her has been in the last few months. I would expect cancer but she appears to be in absolutely no pain and eats well.

She has lost 50% of her weight, that can't be healthy no matter how you think about it. PLEASE take her to the vet!

 

[Engineer1911]

Yes, Blondie's time has come. Please, don't delay any longer. You owe to her. I've been there and know the decision is really agonizing.

 

[reddogge]

I believe that a dog should be put down if any of the following is present:

In pain.
Can't get up and walk
Can't hold urine or looses bowels in house.

Otherwise I think they can exist as a very old dog and must be treated as such. Blindness, deafness and loss of smell is not life threatening to me.

BTW I have a good friend who is going through this right now with his 17 year old Jack Russel. Very hard to hear about too. He's spent $1,600 the past two months keeping her going.

 

[Harvey T.]

Quality of Life

Our part Golden, Blondie, is 17. She is mostly blind, deaf, and apparently losing her nose, because we have to wave her meals near her nose. However, she seems to be happy, eats well, and plays w/us as best she can. She weighed about 25 last year, closer to 12 now, lost most of her muscle mass. We keep her dog house heated with a little heating pad under her pillow, and she sleeps most of the time we're not out.
Here's my question. We've been told that it's best to put down an animal when they get to this point, because they've had a good life, and don't deserve the kind of things that they are susceptible to in they're greatly weakened state.

Thoughts?

Rely on a qualified Veterinarian's advise. Do what is considered best for the dog. It is difficult, but consider the dog and not your
emotions. You owe her that.

 

[badge]

The animal will let you know friend. Having recently put a 13 year old or so Dobie to sleep, ( she was a rescue ), it became obvious that she wasn't having a good life anymore so we had our Vet to our home and our Abbie was at least in a comfortable environment when she departed. It's always a sad day but we rescued another Dobie and a Weiner dog too. Mutt nd Jeff, as they say. Good luck.

 

[Doug M.]

She has lost weight, for reasons that may vary. Anyone not concerned by that is not in their right mind. BUT: "she seems to be happy, eats well, and plays w/us as best she can." This tells me that although she is declining, no surprise at that age, she is not suffering and still seems to have some enjoyment and decent quality of life. It is not yet time as far as I can tell from the description, but you should be prepared for a time when it is.

That time may suddenly come; I don't know. It is the last duty we owe them, and it has sucked every time for us.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

You know your dog better than anyone else. You say the dog is eating well, willing to play a bit and appears to you to be otherwise happy (not suffering). I wouldn't be in a hurry to put the dog down based on that. 17 years... the dog has earned a trip to the veterinarian to at least get the weight issue checked out. Probably not much can be done but ya never know... it could be worms. In any event, and at the risk of repeating myself even more than I usually do... it's time to take a ride to the the dog doc.