Old dog when is it time ??

paulsad

Hello I have a dalmation now aged 13 she has had back/hind legs trouble for some years and now needs help to get on and off the settee she rests on (we have been through all the medicine ie rymadil, stages). Walks have to be brief as she does stumble and often falls on her side or flat on her front - needing to be lifted up - not too difficult for me but my wife struggles as the dog is quite a large breed (A man stood and watched her lift the dog up twice the other day but thats another story!).
As her walks are getting less we often find her pooing herself at night and wake up to a mess most mornings (blankets on the chair I hasten to add needing frequent washing)- she seems to have lost control as sometimes she poops all over the kitchen (she can't stay in one place) after being let out in the back. She does eat ok and still wags her tail and doesn't seem to be in any obvious pain unless she tries to get up on her chair. Laminate floors have been a mixed blessing as you can appreciate in all the above mentioned.
The house is smelly although we clean rigorously after each "episode", we are about to put the house on the market so I am dreading any viewings ( although this may seem selfish).
S'pose I'm after a bit of guidence as to others views as to what to do or am I being selfish even considering it? You do find yourself hoping she'd just pass away in her sleep one night as she hates the vets and taking her one final time is going to be harrowing to say the least - a friend has offered but I consider it my duty.
Any thoughts appreciated.

EmptyPockets

Ohhhh, I really feel for you - it's a horrible position to be in, I've been there myself. Our dog was only five-years-old, so young, but she developed Osteosarcoma (bone cancer), and towards the end, she was in terrible pain with it. The only thing that would end her pain was total amputation of her leg and shoulder, a massive op, and we were fully aware that we could lose her during the operation, so we put it off and put it off...

We finally realised that her pain was too much for her to bare, even with massive doses of painkiller - she was miserable alllll the time. She went off her food totally, which was SO unlike her, the weight started to drop off her, and she couldn't walk or move around without crying out in pain. It was heart-wrenching and soul-destroying to go through, and we did decide it was time that week, for the amputation.

We lost her during the op, she never came home. But we had to find comfort in the fact that her suffering was over and she was at peace. That's the most important thing. Like you, I used to feel terribly guilty for sometimes wishing that she would just pass peacefully in her sleep one night...

You know that only you and your wife can make this decision, but I know how tough it is. Have you discussed all the options with your vet? What are their thoughts..?

hot.chick

Sorry to hear that your beloved pet is in this condition.

I would discuss it with your vet, I have heard of vets coming to put dogs to sleep at home to reduce the trauma.

Wishing you all the best in this difficult time.

paulsad

Did mention it to the vet last innoculation time - he said he isn't keen on home PTS. He said usually the owner has to hold the dog and help him while he finds a vein! Then if anything were to go awry he hasn't the facilities of the surgery - quite scary!
She's looking at me with her big brown eyes while I type this quite comfy on her settee - hell of a life this isn't it!

EmptyPockets

paulsad wrote: »

Did mention it to the vet last innoculation time - he said he isn't keen on home PTS. He said usually the owner has to hold the dog and help him while he finds a vein! Then if anything were to go awry he hasn't the facilities of the surgery - quite scary!
She's looking at me with her big brown eyes while I type this quite comfy on her settee - hell of a life this isn't it!

If I were in your shoes right now, I would definitely want to speak to another vet about it, even using a different practice if needs be - having the procedure done at home would undoubtedly be better for your dog and, at the end of the day, it really doesn't come down to what the vet prefers, or what he isn't 'keen' on - it's what will be best for your dog that is most important.

Paradigm

paulsad wrote: »

hell of a life this isn't it!

Isn't it just!

To be honest I don't think there is ever "the right time" from an owners point of view! It's the hardest decision a loving pet owner ever makes.

Given what you have posted it seems unlikely her quality of life will improve & that will make everyday more distressing for you & her. As a house trained dog she can't be happy with being unable to control herself.

Also how much longer can you continue to clean up after her?

I'm sure you can find a vet willing to come to your home...

Sometimes the hardest, most painful choice is the right choice for all!

Mayflower10cat

I'm so sorry for you - this is the most heartbreaking time in any pet lovers life....

From my own experience, each time in my life I've I dared raise that awful question in my head - 'is it the right time...?' sadly we've been very close indeed to 'the time'. I'll mention briefly our very elderly cat aged over 20 (possibly as old as 23) who in the last six months of her life would lose control of her bowels almost daily and always at night as she slept. Yet she struggled on, still eating, still purring. When my husband gently suggested to me it really was 'time' I was so grief stricken I honestly thought he was simply sick of clearing up after her. That was a terrible thing for me to believe, but I wasn't being honest with myself or with my poor cat. He pointed out that she was tired, thin as a rake, starting to forget where she was, howling as she'd become deaf, almost afraid to fall asleep in case she messed herself.... What sort of a existence was that for any animal. He was absolutely right and I was being cowardly and selfish.

I think we often keep them alive 'for us' for longer than we should.... Not out of unkindness, but because we love them so dearly it's so hard to make the kindest decision of all - to release them from a sick body that has become a hinderance.

If you are really unsure what to do - ask your vet honestly, what would they do if it was their dog? As for being euthanised at home (as we did with our our special diabetic cat) all I can say is I had very mixed feelings about it afterwards. Not wanting to upset you or anyone here, I won't go into detail but afterwards the room where he'd been helped to pass never felt the same again - I always felt sadness and the grim reality of it was replayed in my minds eye everytime I went in the room.

gratefulforhelp_2

I waited until it was really obvious, the poor old girl just conked out, and I could have left her to it, but of course I couldn't IYSWIM. She had gone into organ failure and would have died naturally before the day was out I think, but I didn't want her to be in pain.

I did ask the vet if I was going off half-cocked and he said it was the best thing, but I knew. I called him out and he came out with a vet nurse.

It was better at home, she couldn't have travelled without stress and panic, and she loved being here. Unlike the last poster, I don't feel bad that our kitchen was where she died, far better that than in a vet surgery she hated.

I held her until she'd gone then carried her out to his car, we had her cremated, I couldn't cope with the idea of her being in the garden somehow.

We got the children somewhere else first, but warned them what was going to happen (in outline) and explained why. DH cried worse than me and rather illogically I found that quite irritating as I'd had her way longer than him!!

In retrospect, we waited too long, but she went downhill a few times before this and then rallied, so we weren't sure if she'd make a comeback and have a few more happy months. This time we really were sure, though.

HTH. Hugs.

gratefulforhelp_2

paulsad wrote: »

Did mention it to the vet last innoculation time - he said he isn't keen on home PTS. He said usually the owner has to hold the dog and help him while he finds a vein! Then if anything were to go awry he hasn't the facilities of the surgery - quite scary!
She's looking at me with her big brown eyes while I type this quite comfy on her settee - hell of a life this isn't it!

You'd want to hold her anyway wouldn't you? My vet brought a vet nurse with him, there's no reason why yours couldn't?

Bless that girl.

moon_willow

Hi there
My heart goes out to you as this week we have had to decide to put our beloved 16 yr old Samoyd to sleep .. We thought she was leaving us last year as she would go out onto the lawn use the toilet and then lie down ... and wait for us to go and roll her into a blanket carry her inside and leave her in the kitchen ... where she would rest and then wander around the flat .. But last week we noticed she was slower in doing things and peeing some times in the night if we didn't here her wandering around .... and go in the gardens with her .. Open plan we would be out there at 1.30am or later .. Any way on frid we walked round with her on the morning and then she slept all day and half the night .. then found she was unable to stand .. so we talked and talked all sat .sun and mon .. we turned her over every couple of hours so she was not leaning on one side to long and massaged the legs she'd been on .. towels on the floor to help move her and well we did everything ... on the tue we had to admit this was it .. the Vet and nurse came out .. very loving and caring could not fault them .. they were gentle with her and held her .. we had our hands on her body talking all the time . they wraped her in a blanket and took her ..
These two lovely people came out last year and did the same with our 14 year old baby who had we think had a massive fit .. these were not our vets as they refused to come out to deal with her .. .she was in no fit state to go in a car which we hadn't got so would have had to have a friend take us ..
We ended up phoning another vet and explaining what had happened and as I said these two lovely ladies came .. both times .. so if your vet does not want to come round .. take your courage and phone another one ..
We have two 10 month old pups ,same breed and now take to the new vets .. they are also closer so that's another bonus ... Every cloud has a sliver lining..... even in the saddest of times.. Good luck with what you decide on ... Thoughts are with you .

zaksmum

Oh God how sad.

But I'd say to the OP it's definitely time for your poor baby. She's not having proper walks or eating much, and she must be distressed at the mess she's making in the house. A dog who's been clean in the house all it's life finds it very upsetting when it can't help but make a mess.

Tell your vet you don't ask if he's keen on home visits. You're asking him to just do it for you. Your poor dog is more important than what the vet wants!

When my old dog had to be put to sleep it totally broke my heart. But I knew I had to be there with him, and held him, stroked him, kissed his fur, told him he was SUCH a good boy...just so he'd feel safe and loved and not be frightened.

God knows it so hard...but if your dog's in such a poor condition you have to be able to do it for her sake. It's the last loving kindness you can do for her.

Big hug for you.