PLEASE,I need suggestions for my senior SHIH TZU

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

Quote:
I have a Border Terrier who is 13 and It's identical to what you are going through. She is deaf and barks all the time because she forgets what she wants and I think is confused. The vet said is is "doggie dimentia" and says there is a med for it. I chose not to place her on it.

My Hannah also started peeing and on several occasions pooping in the kitchen. Thank God I have hardwood and it cleans up nice. Because she doesn't know when she has to go I just keep her on a regular potty schedule and it helps. Right now she is on the back deck barking because she can't remember which way the door is to get back in, oh here she is now!

We just deal with her because she is old. I never punish her for an accident I just re direct her to outside. She eats really slow so I have to feed her seperate from the other two, and she can no longer roam the property becasue she gets lost. She was gone for three days last spring and thank God was found running with a Shepherd by the dog catcher her in town, 8 miles away! I cried every day it was aweful.

She gets a nice heated bed and baby asprin when she seems sore. She is happy and will still play on occasion, always up for snuggling, and loves her ears massaged! She will continue to decline and I will know when the time has come. I too am grateful for the option of euthanasia. She is my girl.

Wow,hearing all y all's stories helps me to know I'm not alone.
I so much appreciate it too.All of your stories bring tears to my eyes for all of you.
Nottinghamchicks,I hope it doesn't make you mad but I have to laugh about your Hannah.She sounds like a twin to my Tessa.I'm a crazy woman and I sleep[on the couch with my 7-yes I said 7 house dogs.Poor Tessa gets off the couch and then she barks like a maniac because she forgets how to get back up or someone grabs her place.Makes me nuts as I sleep very little anyway.
Last week about 3 in the morning after I had brought Tessa back in I had left the room but the door had not caught and the wind blew it open.Tessa went out like a bullet.I thought oh no you crazy b.It was about 10 degrees,snow on the ground and me in my Crocs.For any of you that don't know,Crocs are very slippery in snow.I was afraid to wait to get boots on because I've seen her in action before.She is slow in the house but like a wild puppy if she gets loose outside.Anyone that knows Shih Tzus know how stubborn they can be as far as acting like they don't hear you call them.I had to take off as fast as I could in those Crocs to try to get her before she was so gone away.Lucky for me after a careful chase I got her.No telling how long she would have been gone if I could have even found her again in her confusion.

ruthless, I totally agree with you about keeping them alive when it is way past time for them to go. Many a time I have thought my cousin was wrong to keep her dogs so long.I have no plans for that.I just think maybe she can offer some ideals about all this.


I would like to say Tessa has had a good day today.She has been very responsive and has thought it was feeding time every time I have moved today.LOL

 

[Skyesrocket]

I'm glad she had a better day today.

Anyone that knows Shih Tzus know how stubborn they can be as far as acting like they don't hear you call them.

I laughed out loud at this because that is my Cosmo. Even if I open the door to call him inside at the same time he is headed towards the door he will have to make one more circle around...just to let me know that it was an accident that he was answering my call.

 

[Rammy]

I had a dog that was great until she reached 12, then it seemed she became instantly old. She didnt run back to the house like she used to, but walked slowly. Then she started doing little circles, then circling all the time. She couldnt walk a straight line. I think she had had a stroke or something, but she acted confused and was in her own little world. One time I couldnt find her and she had wandered up to the neighbors, who had dug out a circle for thier in ground pool. There she was, walking around in the circle. It got to the point I had to carry her up and down the stairs because she had no control over her back legs. Forget it trying to get any traction on a linoleum floor.
I got so mad at her because she couldnt get up to potty, and I would come back from running an errand to find she had done No.2 on the floor and circled in it trying to get up. I know she couldnt help it, and I got mad, but I know I was mad that I knew she was dying, and I was gonna lose her, and there was nothing I could do about it. I just tried to make her last days as comfortable as possible. She lived until she was 14 and a half.
Now I have a shih tzu who is showing signs of doggy dimensia. He wonders around the house and will just stand and stare. Sometimes he wants out every five minutes, but the other day, he went out only that morning and stayed on the couch with me the rest of the day. All he does anymore is sleep. He is about 14 now or so. Im not sure, I got him when he was around 8. He is the greatest dog.
Just because your dog is showing signs of demensia doesnt mean his time is coming. Many live for years with the condition. I think this teaches us to be patient and more understanding of our pets needs and cherish the time we had and will have with them. Even though I got so mad at my Ginger, I still never left her alone for too long, or took her to work with me. The one time I had to leave her alone, I came back and she was gone and I regret it to this day and its been six years.
Im sorry you are experiencing this and it will be hard, but I know you will give your pet the love and care he/she needs and do what is right when the time comes.

Rammy

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

Rammy,Thanks.
Yes it is going to be hard.I don't handle my very good friend animals dying very well.I understand about getting mad.I have to feed Tessa by herself yet the other 6 eat together.A few months ago I started to put Tessa in the bathroom to eat.When she was finished she would bark and bark and bark.It drove me nuts.I couldn't let her out until the others had more time to eat.If I let her out with the others when food is down she will pick different food pans out and guards it growing and barking.
Now I am trying having her in the same area but in an X pen at feeding time.I will probably have to keep making it up as I go.Just take it as it comes.

 

[Rammy]

I know. You just want to kick yourself for the times you got mad at them for something they did, or you had a bad day or something that now seems stupid. It made me more compassionate towards animals though, when I was faced with the knowledge that Ginger was going to pass. I had also never had an animal that lived as long as she did and had to face that eventual outcome. Other animals I had as a child had unfortunate ends due to bad drivers and bad timing crossing the road at the wrong time, and that hurt also, but when you care for something that forgives you and loves you no matter what, you realize that it is a privilage to have someone so special in your life. All they ask for is attention, food, and love. Now if we could just do that with people too.


Rammy