Help Me Keep My Dog Alive (Vent)

[bufforp89]

You will know when it is time. I had a pitt/lab cross that was 18 years old that passed away last year. I had her almost my entire life (Im 21) and it was very heartbreaking. I still think about her and miss her everyday (tearing up just writing this lol) She was fine and lived a very healthy life, she had some joint probs but they were easily maintained with a supplement. One day she started acting funny, just not being herself, I knew that it was time and made an appt at the vet for later that day to have her put down. She ended up passing on my couch while I was getting ready like a half hour before her appt. It was as if she knew how stressful it would be for me to have her put down. It was very peaceful. I took her and had her cremated and now she sits on my mantle.

The point is you will know when your dog is ready to move on, its all about quality of life. If she is comfortable and happy why put her down? If it were me I would sit down with my parents and explain that you feel she is not ready, explain how active she is and maybe offer to help pay for or work off the cost of her food, in my experience senior dog food is expensive. Whatever you do good luck to you and your dog!

 

[Brindlebtch]

I just had to put down a 13 year old AmStaff. She had a very bad heart and had cancer for a while that was inoperable because her heart would not allow it. She was on very good pain meds and so was not in pain. When she started to refuse to eat, even really yummie things, I knew it was time. That is my criteria. When an old dog refuses to eat for a few days (even after tweaking the meds) they no longer wish to live. That is when they are put down in the most humane and loving fashion while I hold them and tell them I love them.

If that is a recent photo of your dog, it would be heartbreaking to see one so full of vitality and life put down.

There is no real reson to feed senior dog food. It is mostly a marketing ploy made by the dog food companies. You can feed any regular dog food, just a little less of it so she doesn't get fat.

 

[Jess N Jeff]

I have a 14 year old boxer who has gone down hill in the past 6 months. Its been really hard trying to decide when he is ready to be put down. As of right now he has about 1-3 seizures a day, he lays around and only gets up to eat or drink and has lost a lot of weight. This is a far cry from how he used to be just 6 months ago. For our dog I believe its his time.

You will know in your heart when its best for him to move on...not best for you, but best for him.

 

[Roy]

No animal should be put down unless absolutely necessary

 

[HenPen]

Quote:
I agree...

 

[flakey chick]

Quote:
When our cat became "a certain age", mom started spoiling it with table scraps and canned cat food. He had lived on dry food up until then. He got senior onset diabetes and when it got bad, mom had him put down.

That's how I want to live. As long as I've had a long, fulfilled life, then I would take a sinfully pleasurable diet that will kill me over battling cancer with chemo. (But if I got cancer tomorrow, I'd go the battle route.)

 

[Wifezilla]

Feed dog food without grains. Reducing portions has its own issues...mainly a dog with nutrition problems. Skinny doesn't always mean healthy. Arthritis, cataracts, tumors, etc... are all CAUSED by corn and grain based dog foods.

 

[sourland]

If she has serious arthritic pain, Rimadyl can buy her some more time. Closely monitored it is a great drug for older crippled dogs.

 

[EweSheep]

Any updates on the dog?

 

[SarahBeth9394]

Quote:
I have to agree with you. We really don't know the age of the poster or what is wrong with the dog. The poster has very vague information. Some of the comments were things it would not be wise for the kid to say and would only make things worse. My advice would be that he talks to his parents and asks what is wrong with the dog. It's possible that one of the parents has taken the dog to the vet already and there is a problem that isn't immediately visible.