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

[abluechipstock]

My buggyboy turned 13 in may and he has gone down hill so fast. He's not eating like he used to and for bug that's not him, my poor old man I call him. He's been a best friend for a long time. I feel your pain

 

[dela1991]

My JRT is 15 and suffering from dementia. All was well until this past September. She started barking for hours at night. She was anxiety ridden all day. She was no longer going to he door when she needed to go outside. The vet put her on Prozac for the anxiety and a sedative so that she could sleep. She has been on steroids, Medrol, for allergies for a few years. All of this seems to have helped. She still eats good. She does not see very well or hear much. Her October bloodwork showed liver issues so she is also on a liver medicine that contains milk thistle. She will have bloodwork again at the end of the month to see if her liver function is worse.

That being said, we are preparing ourselves for the next vet visit. Ajax has been a good dog, a typical JRT. Can't say that I will ever have another one. She is one of a kind. We have had a lot of laughs with her and when my boys were home at Thanksgiving, we were relating stories about Ajax's younger years to their girlfriends. They have only known her in old age.

We also have an eight year old Great Dane. My husband said that he would like to have a period in our lives with no dogs to tie us down. I disagree. I can't imagine life without a dog.

 

[Athenzchick]

Our old dog, Calib, is about 16 we think. Hubby got him from the pound 13 years ago and they estimated he was 2-3 years old. He's a large shepherd mix of some sort. We almost lost him last year when he developed vestibular disease but came back from that. No he's just slowly deteriorating. His hips are so arthritic it's hard for him to stand up and he's had an infection of the picky gland we've been treating for 2 weeks

. He is also suffering from some sort of doggie dementia I think. When I am home he follows me around incessantly and MUST be between me and whatever I'm working on. Add to that the occasionally forgetting to let us know he needs out and it's getting really interesting at our house. The vet just recently put him on rimadyl and he seems to be doing better on it. Sadly, I don't see him making it through the winter and honestly, if he were my dog alone I probably would have put him down already. But hubby lost his Mom earlier this year and this decision very hard for him to make.

But Calib still occasionally tries to wrestle with Lucy our 4 year old golden mix and acts like a puppy when he sees me with his food bowl so I dunno. It's tough to say good bye, but sometimes letting them finally rest is the kindest thing to do. Give Penelope a hug for me she sounds like a good girl.

 

[GreatPyrLover]

abluechipstock...I looked at your website...I LOVE Parker and Elvis

Two of my dachshunds are smooth and I have one long hair....I am not a long hair fan for life!!!!!

I will never be without a dachshund....they are the best!!!!

Didnt mean to hijack the post

 

[geepy]

My hound (Goofy) is 14. He's blind and deaf, other then that he still gets around good. He's had to strokes, and I think he forgets where he is sometimes. I know what you mean about the peeing, I've nicknamed him Sir-pees-alot.(I just clean up after him, what else can you do).
He still has a good appetite, he weighs 80 lbs. Every once in a while he acts like a puppy and wants to play, kinda funny to watch because he's blind and deaf.

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

All these posts sound like a combo of my old girl,a Shih Tzu.

I have been giving her Co-Q-10 and vit. E. It has helped her not be in as bad of a fog.

She can't hardly hear either but about 2 wks. ago I tried slapping the door and various pieces of furniture as I guide her to where she needs to go. She responds better to the noise of me making the noise on the wood furniture than to me trying to call her name because she doesn't hear well either.

It's so hard to see them going.

This is for all of us

 

[thasista]

Aww man, I hate threads like this, however I couldn't quit reading. I have had 4 newfoundlands. Pandy, got cancer several years ago and had to be put down. She was 8. She let me know when she was ready to go--after she got Priscilla and Grace puppy trained to be good Newfies. That was heartbreaking. Fast forward 11 years. Priscilla had to be put down earlier this year. She got dementia and had a difficult time getting up which is a problem for a 150 pound dog. Now Grace is going down hill. She is eating, but not wanting to do alot of moving around. She gets up to eat her big can of wet food (that I have never given the dogs until they are this old), and she is becoming incontinent. 11 is very old for Newfies so I am thankful she has done so well.

Tucker is a mutt that I saved from the pound when I had to put Pandy down 11 years ago. I kept forgetting to add a year to his age every year, and it wasn't until the vet came and put Priscilla down that I realized he wasn't 4 years old any more. He's 15!!! He is doing great and watched over Priscilla before she died. He protected her food for her and led her to it at each feeding. He is doing the same for Grace.

We went to the pound again. DH wanted a pup to be his companion while I am at work. While there, we saw a 13 year old border collie mix whose owners turned her in because they couldn't afford her anymore. She was on the urgent list. We have a high kill shelter. We brought her home too. She can live out her last years in luxury.

These have all been great companions over the years, so I will not let them suffer. When its time, Grace will let me know and I will howl like a baby. Thankfully, my DH is understanding.

Waaaa.

 

[3goodeggs]

Quote:
What a wonderful thing you did for her.

 

[Felony]

reading all of your posts bring tears to my eyes...we just lost our german shepherd dog to a tumor in his throat, at age 13. once the tumor was found by the vet, we took the decision to put him to sleep, we didn't want him to go through the stress of surgery for an uncertain outcome. It was his time, but we miss him so much...I have another 8 year old dog and I can't even think about when she'll leave us cause I start cying instantly. I know it's the cycle of life, but I have a hard time with it! It's because they bring us so much happiness that when they leave it's so hard...

here's Jarod, about a year before he died:

 

[mrkpero]

I have an old boxer and a really old chihuahua. My chi is 15 1/2. She is blind, deaf, and her teeth are falling out. She did have a problem with peeing in her sleep but my vet gave us a medication called Proin. She only needs half a pill, which is the size of a baby aspirin, once a day. No more peeing in the house. We are vigilant about taking her outside when we are home, but she can hold it overnight now and while we are at work, which is 10 hours with commute.This pill has literally extended her life. As long as she keeps eating we are good to go. A months worth of pro in only costs me $3.00.