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

[Lunachick]

Even though it was sad to read everyone's take on their old friends, it makes me feel better that I'm not alone with this. AND more importantly that we all love our fur friends and do the best we can for their comfort and ease on their last days.

Penelope has gotten a bit worse each day. But surprises me at times, like I piled a bunch of bricks outside the steps so she didn't have to jump down or up the two steps to go outdoors. But she sees that as an obstacle and tries to jump overthem instead! So forget that idea. I think I'll build a ramp of some sort

She sleeps most of the day & night, and when she does get up, she wanders off to the other rooms and goes into the corners and just stands there

I follow her thinking she might want something, but no, she's just wandering

that's Ok. Wander on honey.

Her nose is still good and she still sees OK. I give her what ever she wants........If we're having pasta & meatballs.....she's wandering into the room with her little black nose sniffing in the air, well I make sure she gets some, otherwise - sleeping in her pink puffy bed. I hope she goes in her sleep...

Here's a pic or two of Penelope in 2008

 

[jerseygirl1]

My dog JEssie is 15 and every day, I pray she makes it to Christmas - I got her from the no-kill when she was 8 and had been there for two years. Everytime I think of her leaving, I totally freak out. She also wanders to the corner and just stares, sometimes barks. I wonder if she is talking to someone who's passed already

You are definitely not alone

 

[stilldeb]

We lost our 20 yr old cat a couple years ago. I found her in a ditch many years ago right after she was born, where someone had thrown her and her littermates in a box. I bottle raised her and she was a very old kitty when she died.

In the last year, we lost three dogs. All of them were strays. One was part of a litter of 11 six wk old labs that were dumped in my yard a long time ago that I found homes for all of but one. All three of them were 17 yrs old when they died. Couple of them had strokes, one of them just went to sleep and didn't wake up. They all had good lives. We only had to put one of them down, but sometimes you just do. It was my little weenie dog. We had him in a diaper for quite awhile before that, though, and by the way you can get an awesome doggie diaper at www.onlynaturalpet.com - unlike anything else I've seen, and you toss the whole thing in the washer and it fits/adjusts great and they come in all sizes, if that is an option for anybody.

 

[Lunachick]

Quote:
Me too, just make it through the holidays.....don't want to be sad right now............I wonder too, what do they see in those corners?????

 

[jerseygirl1]

Lunachick, your dog - reminds me of the Worlds Cutest Dog - have you seen him?? Penelope looks just like that dog, only full grown instead of a pup!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Longhorns&Chickens]

So hard when our pets get old...I'm thankful for this thread even if its soo sad. One of my AB is 9 1/2 now and he just isn't as perky as he used to be. I can tell his hips are stiff and causing him some pain, and his teeth aren't what they used to be. I feed him a lot of extras to keep his weight up!! But he still greets me with his wagging tail and a doggy smile. I just don't think its his time but I hate to see him suffer, he has been a good old boy. I guess what really has concerns me is a large lump growing on his back leg on the curve, of what I would call his thigh? Any how it is in the muscle and bone not on the skin. I have poked and prodded at it and it doesn't seem to hurt him, it bothers me more I guess. As a younger dog he had issues with his body producing too much estrogen and he has big nipples, lol, I know my boy dog has nipple issues, but the vet thought it might be a problem late in life, ugh I think we're there. Other than his hips he doesn't seem to be bothered a whole lot, however he is an out side dog, his choice not mine. He eats things when mad and poops for revenge. (He ate my couch when the hubby didn't take him with him one time, and no he was not left loose in the house he broke open the door to get to it!) He was my hubby's dog when we got married, and the dog was never properly house trained as he lived in the back of the hubby's truck with a cap on it. Some men are soo strange about their dogs! Since we've been married the dogs have become my department, and I just don't know what to do for the old guy! The dog hates going to vet, even as a pup he was distrustful of strangers and can be a handful. I used to take him to work on vet day at the farm. The farm vet just dealt with him and the dog was more comfortable, now I don't work and this could be an issue! The dog has been great for cattle work and as a gaurd dog, and has been nothing but loyal to our family so I am just at a loss. I love the big dog, but I hate to make him suffer....

 

[dela1991]

Quote:
The vet told us that staring at walls and barking all night were the most common things she heard about older dogs. Ours does both. I just gave her a bath this morning and washed her bed as most mornings when she gets up she is wet. We have an appointment on the 26th for bloodwork and I am going to ask about the pill that helps control the bladder problems. I just feel that she is already on so much medicine that I feel bad adding one more. She is still eating and drinking good. It is a dilemma.

 

[jerseygirl1]

Quote:
The vet told us that staring at walls and barking all night were the most common things she heard about older dogs. Ours does both. I just gave her a bath this morning and washed her bed as most mornings when she gets up she is wet. We have an appointment on the 26th for bloodwork and I am going to ask about the pill that helps control the bladder problems. I just feel that she is already on so much medicine that I feel bad adding one more. She is still eating and drinking good. It is a dilemma.

I give this to Jessie, my vet recommended it - it helps with the dementia - I swear it does!!! I highly suggest anyone with a senior dog ask your vet about this - it's a vitamin

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170729271954?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

 

[dela1991]

Quote:
The vet told us that staring at walls and barking all night were the most common things she heard about older dogs. Ours does both. I just gave her a bath this morning and washed her bed as most mornings when she gets up she is wet. We have an appointment on the 26th for bloodwork and I am going to ask about the pill that helps control the bladder problems. I just feel that she is already on so much medicine that I feel bad adding one more. She is still eating and drinking good. It is a dilemma.

I give this to Jessie, my vet recommended it - it helps with the dementia - I swear it does!!! I highly suggest anyone with a senior dog ask your vet about this - it's a vitamin

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170729271954?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

We have been using Neutricks since September for Ajax. I kind of feel that she was too far gone as far as dementia goes for anything to help. I wondered if it would have been better to start before she really started showing signs that she had lost all of her marbles. Not to say that she doesn't have good days on occasion. My husband came home yesterday after being away from home all week for his job and he thought that Ajax looked terrible. She was kind of listing to one side. She was very agitated last night and it took a while for her to fall asleep. Even after her tranquilizer. Today she seems to be a little better. I don't know if the good days are related to the Neutricks or not.

 

[jerseygirl1]

Quote:
I give this to Jessie, my vet recommended it - it helps with the dementia - I swear it does!!! I highly suggest anyone with a senior dog ask your vet about this - it's a vitamin

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170729271954?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

We have been using Neutricks since September for Ajax. I kind of feel that she was too far gone as far as dementia goes for anything to help. I wondered if it would have been better to start before she really started showing signs that she had lost all of her marbles. Not to say that she doesn't have good days on occasion. My husband came home yesterday after being away from home all week for his job and he thought that Ajax looked terrible. She was kind of listing to one side. She was very agitated last night and it took a while for her to fall asleep. Even after her tranquilizer. Today she seems to be a little better. I don't know if the good days are related to the Neutricks or not.

Do you give her Tramadol for her tranquilizer? Jessie takes them at night to help her sleep, otherwise she stays up all night whining............