Quality of life?

zaksmum

My dog Lucy is 12 and my vet has recommended she should be put to sleep. The vet says she has end stage osteoarthritis and she does struggle to walk at times.

But her tail is still wagging and her appetite is good. She has our company all day and she still plays with her toys and our other younger dog.

She is on Metacam, which worked well for a few months then stopped helping her. The vet said to give her a break from it and then restart it. She is also on Pardale V and Tramadol for when the pain seems worse.

She is having a break from the Metacam now and will restart it on Monday but her mobility has deteriorated this week. It's all she can do to walk 200 metres and she is obviously struggling.

I can't bear to see her in pain but she needs to walk if only as far as the garden for toilet purposes.

Does she still have enough quality of life to merit keeping her with me, or am I being selfish because I can't bear the thought of losing her?

pawsies

Personally from experience I think pts now means although she is in some pain you would be preventing that pain from getting worse.
At least now she can walk to the vets office to be pts.

My dog lost use of his back legs, it was awful and sad to watch. I wouldn't recommend letting it get to that stage.

I would give her one day of happiness- playing, getting treats etc whatever she likes and then make an evening appointment to pts. Also let any other dogs see what has happened so they can grieve too. In my experience it's horrible for a dog to lose their friend and not understand where they have gone, best to let them know.

It's such a tough decision though. I struggled with it for a long time and delayed it too long.

krlyr

Have you tried the turmeric paste yet? You've nothing to lose by giving it a try - lots of people have seen great results with it. I'm about to start mine on it as our vet has just diagnosed her with a touch of arthritis in an old injury.

Iain_L

Oh what a decision.

We're going through the same with Sammi, our 13 1/2 year old puppy (that what she still believes she is). She has a mass in her abdomen that is causing her no discomfort, and not affecting her life at all, but, and it's a huge BUT, it could rupture at any stage, leading to severe internal bleeding. That could happen five minutes after we left to go to work one day.

She is off to Royal Dicks in Edinburgh Tuesday for a referral with the cancer surgeons, but we feel 99% certain that it'll be a one way trip.

It's a heartbreaking decision, trying to get the timing right, and I feel for you having to even think about it.

moneyistooshorttomention

pawsies wrote: »

Personally from experience I think pts now means although she is in some pain you would be preventing that pain from getting worse.
At least now she can walk to the vets office to be pts.

My dog lost use of his back legs, it was awful and sad to watch. I wouldn't recommend letting it get to that stage.

I would give her one day of happiness- playing, getting treats etc whatever she likes and then make an evening appointment to pts. Also let any other dogs see what has happened so they can grieve too. In my experience it's horrible for a dog to lose their friend and not understand where they have gone, best to let them know.

It's such a tough decision though. I struggled with it for a long time and delayed it too long.

That sounds very much the right approach to me.

orlao

I'm so sorry. It's such a hard decision.

The thing that jumped out from your post is that PTS is what your vet advises. IME it is very rare for a vet for a vet to say it's time unless they are asked directly or they really feel that they can't keep the animal comfortable. Would it help if you got a second opinion from another vet?

For what it's worth, while I've always been devastated when I've lost a pet, the only times I've felt guilty is when I've let them go on that day or two too long.

rising_from_the_ashes

orlao wrote: »

The thing that jumped out from your post is that PTS is what your vet advises. IME it is very rare for a vet for a vet to say it's time unless they are asked directly or they really feel that they can't keep the animal comfortable.

Absolutely this ^^^

pawsies wrote: »

I would give her one day of happiness- playing, getting treats etc whatever she likes and then make an evening appointment to pts.

And this ^^^

Sorry you're facing 'the decision' it really is an awful thing to have to face

However, I very much believe in 'a day too soon is better than a day too late'

Don't leave it too long - you will regret it and it will eat away at you - however, hard, think of her. If she's struggling - ask what is she really getting out of things. Is say an hour or playing / enjoying herself enough of a pay off if the other 23 hours are a bit of a struggle?

zaksmum

Thanks for the input. The vet made his PTS recommendation two months ago and Lucy has had some good times since.

The idea of her walking into the vet's to be PTS just kills me. I lost my last dog like this 7 years ago and it still chokes me up to think about it.

I just don't know what to do. I love her to bits.

suki1964

zaksmum wrote: »

Thanks for the input. The vet made his PTS recommendation two months ago and Lucy has had some good times since.

The idea of her walking into the vet's to be PTS just kills me. I lost my last dog like this 7 years ago and it still chokes me up to think about it.

I just don't know what to do. I love her to bits.

My heart goes out to you. I had the same decision to make 11 years ago and it hurts as much today as it did then

My vet wanted to put my lad to sleep whilst he was under an anaesthetic having an ultrasound I refused and said I would bring him home so we could say our good byes. He bounded out of the vets, I couldn't believe this was to be his last night. But yes come the morning, he could barely walk and I had to call the vet out. My darling lad took his last breaths cuddled on my lap eating malteasers.

It's hard. So very hard. But you know in your heart it's time else you wouldn't be posting. Arrange for the vet to come to you, cost more but it's less distressing. Give her a last day and say your goodbyes


(((Hugs)))

sheramber

Are there more good times than bad times?

If It Should Be...

If it should be that I grow weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep;
Then you must do what must be done,
For this last battle can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand;
But don't let grief then stay your hand.
For this day more than all the rest,
Your love for me must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years;
What is to come can hold no fears.
You don't want me to suffer so
The time has come, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend,
But please stay with me 'til the end
To hold me close and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you will agree,
It was a kindness done for me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I'm saved.

Please do not grieve that it was you
Who had this painful thing to do.
We've been so close, we two, these years;
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

rising_from_the_ashes

zaksmum wrote: »

The vet made his PTS recommendation two months ago and Lucy has had some good times since.

mmmm has she had a check up since - what did they say then?

If it was a 'one off' low spell and she's recovered, then great

However, if we take say 60 days ... how many of those days have been filled with fun and no pain / not a struggle (and I don't mean the odd hour in the day - all day)

If less than 50% then ..... sorry but you need to think of her - not you.


It is the greatest gift we can give them when their time has come - we must think of them