Anyone Dealing with an OLD Dog - It Dosen't Look Good, Anytime Now

[key west chick]

We helped my Murray dog cross the rainbow bridge last spring. It was so hard but not as hard watching him fall over and forgetting where he was.

 

[ChickenWisperer]

Poor girl. My sweet baby girl Muffin will be 12 this May. It absolutely breaks my heart when I think about how old she is, and the fact that one day she won't be with me anymore. I literally tear up every time I think about her age.

We're already having the problem of multiple fatty tumors, but she's also going blind - her pupils look milky white or opaque in the right light. She's had awful allergies her whole life and they are compiled by bad yeast infections now. She has a bit of trouble and is sleeping a lot more now, but thankfully she has control over her bladder.

I know (to an extent) how you feel

 

[annie3001]

we are going thru a trying time with our sheltie sammie. he just turned 15 years old in november. he peed twice in the living room, it was in the middle of the night, so now either myself or my husband wake up when we hear the dog walking about, to let him out. my sam's teeth are bad too. breathe is horrific. and although he eats, i have noticed increase of weight loss. but sadly bringing him into the vet for a simple check up would be too tramatic for him.

so i brush his coat and pay loads attention to him. he takes lots of naps, but knows when food is in the air, he comes a running. (smile). i hope our dog passes in his sleep, that would be much easier on us. hes our lovely boy and we love him alot. crying right now, thanks. (smile again). he has had a good life, and for that i am happy and content.

So I know how you feel.

btw: my old man dog, just sat up, pulled my bagel off the couch, while i was typing this out...... yeah!!!

 

[carolinagirl58]

My dogs are not there yet.....but I know that it's not too many years down the road for one of them (my oldest is almost 11). I am putting vinyl flooring in the sunroom (hardwood in the rest of the house) so that when the dogs get old, they can live in there and won't be able to hurt the floor. I know it's got to be so hard on them to have accidents beause the do know better, but often can't help it. This is the bad part about having pets.....they just don't live long enough and we are often forced into making hard decisions. Best wishes to you.....I know it's tough.

 

[SillyChicken]

I hate these posts......... just sayin



I have 2 old ladies that surprise me some days and fill me with dread on others. Both the girls are 10yr old mastiffs. One is actually doing fairly well, drinking more water tells me she's having kidney issues, and even though she has an OFA of excellent for her hips, she is still having some problems with them. The other, suprised me she lived past 2 yrs with the terrible seizures she had early on. Her back legs keep collapsing under her, like she's forgetting they're back there. Otherwise they play like puppies most of the time.

The last dog I had to put down just about killed me, I've not been the same since.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I know exactly how you feel. My boy turned 14 this year, and he looks older every single day. He's not having any accidents yet, but I know he's got pretty bad arthritis and he doesn't see or hear to well anymore. It breaks my heart to see him stumble up and down the steps or run into things. He's the best dog I've ever had, and I've had some pretty good ones. Mick:

 

[sparkles2307]

Aw I'm sorry, it so hard when an animal has to go, no matter the reason.

We've had dogs be put down for age (blindness, hips went out, and became agressive the poor dear), for attacking me, for being ill, you name it, and its never easy.

 

[Highlander]

I have a 12 year old ESS that until this summer could have been mistaken for a 6 year old but he got run over and ever since has been deteriorating at a fast rate. He's almost totally deaf (the reason he got run over) and has arthritis and bladder issues too. We've noticed in the last couple of weeks his eyes are starting to cloud over too. It's very sad that we see him getting older every day but we've given him the best life we could and he's still a happy active dog, so we'll continue to deal with the health issues until it's no longer an option.

 

[bufforp89]

My dog Katie was 18 when she finally passed....For me, it was all about quality of life. When she started getting to the point where she had trouble moving around, couldn't hold her urine anymore (I swear it was worse for her then it was me, I didn't mind cleaning it up of course but she would get so ashamed even though she couldn't help it

) and just didn't feel good anymore I started thinking about euthanasia. Then she took a turn for the worse and had a terrible time standing very suddenly, I made the app. to get her put to sleep. She was laying on my couch waiting, in her favorite place the last time I saw her alive. I came back into the room to get her and to my surprise she had already passed away peacefully in her sleep. It was not even an hour before her app. we were literally going to be leaving in the next 10 mins. It was very sad but I was very glad I didn't have to take her as I was very emotional about it. It was the kindest, best thing she had ever done for me in my opinion.

I also currently have a chowX that is due to be put down later this week (outside dog, not my choice though

). He is very lame on one of his shoulders, his longtime companion died last year and he has had a really rough time of it. He is just not doing well in general. I doubt he would be dying soon if left to his own devices but he is just having such a rough go of it and is so elderly (15) that its just not fair IMHO to make him suffer any longer.

Good luck with whatever you do. She is lucky to have a caring owner such as yourself. Just remember that its all about quality of life and if you feel she is truly suffering it may be time to say good bye even though its hard. It can be the kindest thing for some older dogs.

Katie PitX 18 years old in this pic

Duke ChowX 13-14 in this pic

 

[GreatPyrLover]

I know exactly how you feel....my oldest dachshund is almost 16 and she is going down hill....her mouth is in horrible shape...took her to the vet and he said he didnt want to put her under for a dental b/c he thought it would be too hard on her...so he sent us home with some antibiotics...she is completely blind, has trouble holding her urine and acts like she hasnt a clue where she is, but I cant part with her....when I talk to her she barks at me...she eats really good...she just takes lots of naps now....I am enjoying my time left with her b/c I know its numbered.....I give her what ever she wants!!!

Best of luck to you and your baby!!!!