Senior citizen dog

[leftyguns21]

i prefer asking strangers this over close friends. more honest answers and people not close to the situation.

i have a black lab/aussie mix dog who turned 14 this past July. i have had him since he was 8 weeks old and we have been on many adventures. He has been to 13 different states. He has swam in the pacific ocean from Cali to WA and in glacier lakes at 13,000'. Hes hiked from sea level to just under 14,000'. He has been in temps from -15 to 115. He has played with dogs, cats, horses, cows, newborn babies and unfortunately a rattlesnake. He has had a good and long life. He is my best friend and really the only consistent thing I have had. We visited the vet in June and had all his vitals and blood checked, the vet gave him a clean bill of health, she was suspicious his abdomen is lower than it should be. The obvious health issues he has are due to old age. decrepit claws, deteriorating bones, losing weight and fur. He isn't all that active anymore with his age but he still has some energy. He can get up and down the stairs and eats consistently. hes had a couple accidents in the house. At night he seems a little uncomfortable when laying down and kind of gets antsy/restless with his pacing around. He does breath pretty heavy if he moves around a lot. walking to the mailbox (100 yards) tires him out. if hes been laying down for too long he does struggle a little to stand up favoring his rear legs. 60-70% of the day hes sleeping.

for those who have been in this situation, when did you know. or when does it get to a point of i am just keeping a dog around to keep him around. i love him to death. he really is my best friend and i love having him around. but i don't want to keep him around if hes not comfy or has a low quality of life. the quality of life is two ways too, i have had to adjust my work schedule, travel schedule, sleep schedule to accommodate him. i have never had a dog this long or old and not sure what i should expect. people keep saying "you'll know when you know", i am afraid though if i wait till then its too late and hes past being a happy dog.

 

[MN4runnerman]

God it’s so tough to decide because you can never tell how much pain they are really in. If he’s eating alright and doesn’t have any health issues besides just being old then I don’t think there’s much you can/want to do. Does he have hearing and sight issues? Take any medication?

 

[CXS]

I’m sorry to say that you’re asking because you know his end is coming. From your description it sounds as though he’s beginning to find routine movement and routines difficult. When walking 100 yards tires him out and you’re adjusting your life around his than his life is coming to an end. Obviously only you can make the final decision but I urge you not to wait until he’s in real bad shape and in pain, having trouble getting up and breathing heavily all the time, that’s horrible for him and you.

 

[2flyfishin]

Unfortunately I was somewhere close to where you are for a while. Last month I had to put my old girl down and it broke my heart. I had her for 12 years, was her 3rd owner, we think she was about 4 when we got her. Not knowing if what you're doing is right by them is hard but when it came time I knew in my heart it was time. It doesn't make it any easier though knowing you're going to lose your best friend. Trust me, you'll know and it will break your heart.

 

[TK-422]

I just went thru this with Yana, my 15 year old best friend. He was a German Shepard / Boxer mix. I had him since he was a puppy when I picked him up from the pound.

He was the same, wanted to walk every day but he started where he would walk down hill but couldn't really walk back up. About a month before he had a seizure in the middle of the night but seemed to mostly recover. Since then he had lost a lot of weight and was having trouble standing with his back legs.

I could see it in his face so on Memorial day I made the call and took him to the vet. At least this way he went peacefully in his sleep and I could have a clear continence knowing I wasn't selfishly keeping him going too long. I was anxious while taking him there but felt so relieved after it was done.

RIP Yana

 

[Mass 4runner]

You know your dog better than we do, but from your description it sounds like he wants to hang in there for a while.

If he is still interested in eating, and he can still shuffle through his aches and pains, and he is still happy to see you, and the accidents are still infrequent, I would say he is not ready to go.

If he loses interest in food, and/or loses control of his bodily functions, then it might be time.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

You made your dog swim from Cali to WA? :jk:

Dogs are very smart and will tell you when it's time, you can see it in their eyes. Making the decision to let my first dog go to sleep and never wake up was the hardest single decision in my life, but I knew when it was time. If he's still healthy, eating, not in pain and enjoying life, then all is well. Getting winded going to the mailbox, the dude's 100 years old in dog years, don't stress that stuff. You'll know when it's his time, just enjoy his golden years and spoil him as much as humanly possible. I've started to see my oldest dog who I've had since 6 weeks old start to show her age and slowing down, so I've made a conscious effort to spoil more and just love her more every day as much as I can. Just listen to your boy, and he will tell you when it's his time, in the mean time cherish every second and enjoy his company as long as you can

 

[Billynath1988]

Ive had dogs my whole life.. so I understand the situation your in as ive seen it more then once and its one of the toughest things to deal with. That said.. [MENTION=51033]97BlackAckCL[/MENTION] said it right.. the dog knows when its his time.. Old dogs have good days and bad days.. keep him comfortable and keep his spirits up.

 

[1engineer]

I've had to have four dogs put to sleep in my life. Three to old age and one to illness.

I'm not an emotional guy, yet I bawled like a baby every time.

The dog will let you know. You will know they are letting you know.

Example of a final day:
My last dog (Copper - Australian Shepard) was 16, I let her out to go to the bathroom. It was snowing and we had about four inches of snow on the ground. She went across the street and couldn't get home. She just stood there. I whistled... nothing. I called to her... nothing... I went over and petted her... Nothing. I had to go carry her home. I knew it was time. When we were at the vet's office waiting to go in, she looked at me like she had so many times but this time, there was a finality in her eyes. A look that will be with me forever. A "thank you" look. A knowing look that her time was ending. When the vet gave her the injection that put her to sleep, it was... peaceful.

I have tears in my eyes as I am writing this. You will know when. I love dogs.

 

[CXS]

I have tears in my eyes as I am writing this.

Only the most cold-hearted among us wouldn’t.

 

[Hepar]

I also think appetite is a good sign.

My dog is also 14. If you knew him (and his various medical issues) it's pretty crazy he's made it anywhere past 10. He's now blind, but his appetite is massive as well as he still has his puppy moments every morning where he plays with his basket of small stuffed animals.
[MENTION=16474]leftyguns21[/MENTION] - I don't envy your position. I personally don't know what I'm going to do without my dog around. There's never been another living heartbeat that has shared as much time with me as him. Just love him and make his life as comfortable as you can, even if that means a little uncomfortableness in yours.

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/54400273@N03/23960820188/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5639"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4463/23960820188_8180b3e19a_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMG_5639"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Billynath1988]

i more often then not accept the fact that I like dogs more then people in general lol

 

[wcjeep]

Work with your vet. They would know. I do recommend avoiding Costco and similar pillows for aging dogs. Costco type pillows lack proper support for older dogs. After going to every local store I ended up on Amazon. They have orthopedic memory foam pillows with waterproof internal covers. At the time I also ordered a second washable cover for our aging Black Lab. He was becoming incontinent. One cover was always in the wash. I also inserted puppy training pads between the waterproof cover and the outer denim cover to absorb any mess while I was at work.

The orthopedic pad gave him enough traction to stand. It was also more comfortable for him while sleeping. The Costco type pillows have no provision for cleaning after pee accidents.

Amazon Link for ortho pad

 

[97BlackAckCL]

I've had to have four dogs put to sleep in my life. Three to old age and one to illness.

I'm not an emotional guy, yet I bawled like a baby every time.

The dog will let you know. You will know they are letting you know.

Example of a final day:
My last dog (Copper - Australian Shepard) was 16, I let her out to go to the bathroom. It was snowing and we had about four inches of snow on the ground. She went across the street and couldn't get home. She just stood there. I whistled... nothing. I called to her... nothing... I went over and petted her... Nothing. I had to go carry her home. I knew it was time. When we were at the vet's office waiting to go in, she looked at me like she had so many times but this time, there was a finality in her eyes. A look that will be with me forever. A "thank you" look. A knowing look that her time was ending. When the vet gave her the injection that put her to sleep, it was... peaceful.

I have tears in my eyes as I am writing this. You will know when. I love dogs.

I teared up just reading this and remembering my own moment when this happened, very similar to your story

 

[Hepar]

Let me also throw this out there (and this obviously applies to anyone with a senior pet). There are companies (at least around Seattle) that will come to your home when the time comes to put your pet down. I know that is what I'm going to do with my dog, unless circumstances prevent that. The last thing I want is for my dog's last moments to be in one of those vet rooms.

 

[Nervo19]

I feel for you. I've had three once in a lifetime dogs so I've been through this. The $50 lab/weimaraner puppy my son got on his sixth birthday lived until March 1, 2016, his senior year of high school. She was really my dog. Since age 10 he was really good about walking her. She was the best family dog.

She stopped eating and I tried all kinds of different foods. The vet did an ultra sound and found cancer wrapped around several organs. She had just had a check up in December. I slept on the floor with her for two weeks; she had gotten so weak she couldn't go upstairs. Anyway we all knew when it was time. The boys stayed home from school. She was cremated and we got back a nice wood box. I found another weim/lab puppy for $50 in Arkansas and my son and I did a road trip to get her. She is a knucklehead.

 

[derryck]

I wish I could impart some great bit of wisdom to you on this topic but I can't...I can only wish you the strength to make the right decision when the time is right. I have 2 Dobermans now and both are healthy and in the adult stage but my last one had cancer and lived to be 11. She had a tumor that was successfully removed when she was 9 and lived 2 more years. I came home from work one day and she hadn't eaten which was pretty unusual but I shrugged it off...she woke up in the middle of the night and looked at me in a way that I just knew it was her time. I was crushed but still struggle (years later) with how difficult it was to tell my vet to do the right thing. It's amazing how they weave themselves into the fabric of your life and provide ultimate trust and companionship. I wish you the best of luck in making your decision and finding a new one to fill the void left by your friend.

 

[1engineer]

Let me also throw this out there (and this obviously applies to anyone with a senior pet). There are companies (at least around Seattle) that will come to your home when the time comes to put your pet down. I know that is what I'm going to do with my dog, unless circumstances prevent that. The last thing I want is for my dog's last moments to be in one of those vet rooms.

Rural state and town. No such option although I would definitely take advantage of it.

 

[gm350reratliff]

Let me also throw this out there (and this obviously applies to anyone with a senior pet). There are companies (at least around Seattle) that will come to your home when the time comes to put your pet down. I know that is what I'm going to do with my dog, unless circumstances prevent that. The last thing I want is for my dog's last moments to be in one of those vet rooms.

I live in a rural area as well but I sure do wish someone offered something like this.

This has to be the most heart wrenching thread on the whole forum. Like they say, you'll know the time. I've had to put down two dogs in my life. First one was my wife's (girlfriend at the time) Dalmatian who had stomach cancer. It was a rough experience because the vet basically put the dog to sleep right in front of us. Not cool and we exchanged some words, should've turned his ass in.

Second dog was our Siberian husky. Such a really good family dog. He developed arthritis and eventually couldn't control the back half of his body. Honestly, I probably let it go a little too long. I'm not a very emotional person either but the look he gave me after I said goodbye and walked out of the examination room absolutely devastated me.

 

[leftyguns21]

i tried to keep up on this during work but :sad:

he still eats regularly and will attempt to play if i toss a toy his way. every now and then when the temp cools down (he loves the cold) he'll flash signs of being a puppy. those times keep me excited and laughing at him being a goofball. we managed 5 camping trips this summer and he did pretty good. he paid for it when we got home, hobbled around for a couple days recovering. so far the only thing he wont do that he loved is swim. i have taken him to rivers/lakes but he wont really splash around. he'll get his paws wet and that is it. there was a time when if he got any where near water he would go in and i would have to drag him out.

i got him when i was barely legal to drink. i am truly amazed i have managed to keep something alive this long. i know i was not prepared for the energy level. there was no stop the first 10 years. All of his buddies have come and gone and he holds strong. i want to make sure i do right by him for being such a great companion. making sure he is comfortable and happy. i spoil him as best i can, he has a real sensitive tummy and thats the cause of some of his accidents. my worst fear is coming home and he passed while i was away. or something happens and i have to make a rush decision at the vet. i will struggle to make the decision no matter what. i do want to be with him and have a proper goodbye when the time comes. i almost lost him once, when he was 10 he was bitten by a rattlesnake in our backyard. it was the toughest vet appt we have had and i was not sure at all what to do. when it happened he just went to his bed and laid down confusing me. then i saw his face swell up and i knew. i hope he will tell me when hes ready and it is obvious, i just fear he will try and be loyal and not show any signs of being unhappy like he did after the bite.

[MENTION=56396]Hepar[/MENTION] we have that option here. i have looked in to it. i would prefer a vet coming to my house if possible. going to a vet and even more leaving the vet will be water works. it is worth the extra money imo.


he def is spoiled. every time i visit petsmart we get him a new toy