Having a "healthy" dog put to sleep

MatyMoo

Poor Bonnie and poor you

I don't have any experience of an older dog with these sort of issues but how about a dog walker or doggy day care for while you are out at work?

bugslet

As ever, kylyr comes up with every possible solution, her knowledge is just outstanding.

I have nothing to add, but to say that whatever decision you arrive at, I think you have and will have done everything that you could. Many people would have given up before now and you really should not be down on yourself if even after the great suggestions on here, nothing works.

Best of luck for the future.

jumpedtheshark

I just wanted to thank you, OP, for trying so hard to help Bonnie.

How is she if you leave her with someone else at their house? Is that more distressing than leaving her at your house with someone else? If so, I suppose that dictates the way forward. If it were me, I'd probably pay for a professional dogsitter to come and sit with her in your home every work day for a month. If she improved, then you know there's a way forward, albeit an expensive one... but you might extend that to being able to take her to day care / one elderly individual's house for the day, etc. If she doesn't improve with your hard work and being left with the same person every work day for a month, then the path forward is much harder.

When we first got our two, one had severe separation anxiety. We were told by the rescue centre that confining her to a small, safe space and making sure there was no routine when we left (as - so the theory goes - she'd get worked up in the process of us getting ready to leave her) would help. All I can say is neither was true for our dog. She does much better with a very fixed routine, with us getting ready in a very particular way, etc., and with having the full run of the house with babygates instead of closed doors. So, in my very limited experience, every dog is different, and separation anxiety is one of the most difficult things to overcome.

Darren_G

Do you live anywhere near a Dogs Trust centre?

They have a no kill policy, but also value the need for stimulation, exercise and one to one time.

The centre near me have one old girl who cannot be homed. During opening times she spends all day sleeping in the reception area and goes home with either a member of staff or a vetted 'foster carer'

Padstow

I hope it's not bad news thay the OP hasn't updated in a while.

Pollycat

Padstow wrote: »

I hope it's not bad news thay the OP hasn't updated in a while.

I hope it's not bad news either.

But I think the OP may have been surprised by the amount of support she's received on this thread (I suspect she thought she may get some flack) so I do hope she feels able to let us know the outcome - be it good news for Bonnie or not.

pawsies

I think you should take Bonnie to the grave so she can see her 'master' at rest.

When she knows he's gone she may settle down better.

LCK73

Ah, this is such a sad post. I haven't had chance to read everything but do wonder as a last thing to try, a combination of dap diffuser (as others have suggested) and some meds like calmex (available from vet) or something like skullcap and valerian tablets.....warm wishes at this very tough time.

snookey

Hi how about taking on another calm dog. If she gets on with other dogs then this might stop the stress she feels.