How to decide the end is nigh?

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The_Burg

Original Poster:

4,845 posts

213 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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Our eldest grey really seems to be struggling. Bad arthritis in the bag legs. Has been checked over a few times and nothing really can be done.

Now dogs mask pain to an amazing level, the back end goes most days now and she sort of stomps on the back end.

But she generally seems quite happy, gets excited when we get home and does the doggy dance.

Not been walked for months, last time we tried she was so bad i had to fetch the car after after only a few 100 yards.

So bad at that point we nearly took her straight to see Mr Heriott.

She collapses often, but seems so happy in general. SO am i a bad owner and should put her to sleep?
Younger dog suffers too as you can't take him out alone without her getting upset.

She's around 14 now and ex racer, lives in the utility room during working hours as we can leave the door open for toileting. Cant leave her in the main house as she messes.

She's a lovely old girl and doesn't look her age apart from the back legs and almost no teeth.

Hard decision soon. Advice required. Do you think she suffers and hides it?


Turn7

23,504 posts

220 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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I cant say exactly, other than you WILL know....

Its a horrible thing to have to do, but often the kindest.

I sympathise with you for being at this point with your loved one.

The_Burg

Original Poster:

4,845 posts

213 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
Problem is i don't know, she's always been a bit of wreck since we took her on 3 years ago. Far better than when we first saw her. Dental work to remove the wrecked teeth for one thing, about 6 left after. Hugely under weight etc and generally abused.

She has had a crap life and wouldn't want her to suffer, wife says it's my decision.

Hardest one to make!


rambo19

2,737 posts

136 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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A hard hard decision to make. but the fact that your struggling with it proves your a good man.

The_Burg

Original Poster:

4,845 posts

213 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
rambo19 said:
A hard hard decision to make. but the fact that your struggling with it proves your a good man.
Not the sort of comment you get often here, thank you sir.

Turn7

23,504 posts

220 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
rambo19 said:
A hard hard decision to make. but the fact that your struggling with it proves your a good man.
Nicely put.

Trust your conscience.

The_Burg

Original Poster:

4,845 posts

213 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
And she has just farted in that special doggy way. The gentle lift of the head and innocent look.
Disgusting as the smell is, i would miss it.
Hope i'm being a good owner keeping her going.

Lv2spd2

33 posts

117 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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The_Burg said:
And she has just farted in that special doggy way. The gentle lift of the head and innocent look.
Disgusting as the smell is, i would miss it.
Hope i'm being a good owner keeping her going.
It is terribly hard emotionally when this time comes. The trick is to try to detach yourself emotionally from the problem long enough to decide if she has any quality of life. I would say if she seems happy more often than not, it's not yet time.

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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Difficult decision to make.

When it was time for one our cats last month we both knew that morning it was time. You could see it in his face.

The_Burg

Original Poster:

4,845 posts

213 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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Maybe it's just the heat? She don't look to good.
Though legs not too bad, probably.

Not asked for any food, though nor has the youngster. Just too darn hot.


Morningside

24,110 posts

228 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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It really is a hard situation. I took George to the vet with the dreaded blanket ready to have him put down and the vet asked whats wrong. Apart from his back legs going he really had a great and strong outlook on life so I purchased a wheelchair for him.

Yet my Bassethound who also lost control of his legs was and looked a sorry state and become incontinent and just could not cope. So I suppose it depends on the dog itself.

Its a hard thing to weigh up and only you can make that decision for her.

I sadly had to let George go when his front legs went. The sad thing was that he was still such an alert all with it dog. (

On my profile. This is him aged 18.5 years old.

oldnbold

1,280 posts

145 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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We had this dilemma with our last dog. She was 14 also, we finnally took her to vets because she couldn't get into the garden on her own and we were having to support her when she went to the toilet. She had also more or less gone off her food by then. The above only went on for about a week with us hoping she would perk up a bit before we took the decision.

We have aften wondered if we left it to long, but it is a very hard decision to make.

Hilts

4,383 posts

281 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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Tough one.

My 19 year old cat went in for a check-up, bloods were fine so vet did some x-rays. Found some tumours, they called me in and he was still sedated. Vet advised to PTS, even though the cat was old I wasn't expecting it although I knew he wasn't doing great.

Didn't want to wake him up just to take him home for a few days/weeks only to go back.

So agreed there and then it was best so the decision was kind of made for me. Still tough.

Mobile Chicane

20,740 posts

211 months

Friday 18th July 2014
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OP, I'd put it to you that if you were a dog bred to run and run, but no longer could, what kind of life would that be?

As it's often said, rather a day too soon than a day too late.

Dogs (bless 'em) will want to please you until the end. By the time they've reached the point of no longer being capable of this, you've gone too far.

It's tough, but think of the good times. Meanwhile, you're undertaking a final act of kindness for a faithful friend.

If only there were such an option for humans.

The_Burg

Original Poster:

4,845 posts

213 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
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Well she picked up and seemed to be happier. Tonight she's struggling. It's too darn hot. Been pouring jugs of water over her to keep her cool.
SO hard to make the choice, she seems happy most the time, but really hating this heat.

Would i be killing my faithful friend because she's a bit hot? I really don't know.

bexVN

14,682 posts

210 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
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If you can get her comfortable tonight see how she copes tom as I think it is meant to be slightly cooler.

I'm sorry to say heat can often tip infirmed animals just too far, we sadly see it a lot (esp if the have any circulatory issues)

You are in an almost no win situation and as you prob remember I know exactly what you are going through.

I have never regretted the timing of my decision with Jimmy even though I know he could have struggled on for a few more weeks, I didn't want him to. He deserved so much more than to continue as he was (and risk him falling etc) He had no chance of recovery. If there had been I would have helped him continue his fight.

Many people regret leaving the decision too late. Occasionally I feel some people do rush a decision when we could've improved a pet's qol but that is not at all common and much more common the other way.

I know I'm rambling but I am really hoping I am helping with your struggle. Is there no way your wife will get involved in helping with this difficult time? Ultimately my hubby trusted my opinion but we decided together aswell, I was grateful for this as I would've hated it to have been all on me.

The_Burg

Original Poster:

4,845 posts

213 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
quotequote all
bexVN said:
If you can get her comfortable tonight see how she copes tom as I think it is meant to be slightly cooler.

I'm sorry to say heat can often tip infirmed animals just too far, we sadly see it a lot (esp if the have any circulatory issues)

You are in an almost no win situation and as you prob remember I know exactly what you are going through.

I have never regretted the timing of my decision with Jimmy even though I know he could have struggled on for a few more weeks, I didn't want him to. He deserved so much more than to continue as he was (and risk him falling etc) He had no chance of recovery. If there had been I would have helped him continue his fight.

Many people regret leaving the decision too late. Occasionally I feel some people do rush a decision when we could've improved a pet's qol but that is not at all common and much more common the other way.

I know I'm rambling but I am really hoping I am helping with your struggle. Is there no way your wife will get involved in helping with this difficult time? Ultimately my hubby trusted my opinion but we decided together aswell, I was grateful for this as I would've hated it to have been all on me.
My wife wants me to make the decision as she can't, not like i can either. Sadly suspect you may be right and we are prolonging the decision.

Morningside

24,110 posts

228 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
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Our spaniel did over heat once and we had to take him to the vet where they put him on oxygen. We very nearly lost him frown

On the vets recommendation we wrap our Spaniel in a soaking wet towel and hold him for a short while before it heats up. This does help as he has gone to sleep in our arms before.

Do you have a blower fan for them?

The_Burg

Original Poster:

4,845 posts

213 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
quotequote all
Fast asleep now. No sign of life apart from the rising chest and occasional fart.

Lovely old girl. Used and abused.

The_Burg

Original Poster:

4,845 posts

213 months

Sunday 27th July 2014
quotequote all
Seems happy enough today, let me hose her down in the garden. Seems very chilled again, last night was not nice she was really seeming to suffer. If only they could talk....