ChatterBank1 min ago
Old dog problems!
On top of my bickering rabbit problems I'm having to deal with my old dog too and it'd getting really sad.
I would like some advice as to what I should be expecting of his life now and making those kind of decisions that we hate to talk about.
My dog is around 15years (Retriever) and has lost his hearing,sense of smell and he is going blind, he has seizures from time to time which knock him out and makes him sick for days.
He's happy in himself, but more and more we are finding it difficult to wake him in the morning so we can toilet him and he seems to have developed a habit of going for a wee upstairs even though he has access to the garden.
We take him for a health check now and then and the Vet just keeps telling us he's just old. I have two small children 3 and 7 years and I just worried about the decisions that are in front of us. I do fear my little boy will discover him dead one morning.
Any advice please :0(
I would like some advice as to what I should be expecting of his life now and making those kind of decisions that we hate to talk about.
My dog is around 15years (Retriever) and has lost his hearing,sense of smell and he is going blind, he has seizures from time to time which knock him out and makes him sick for days.
He's happy in himself, but more and more we are finding it difficult to wake him in the morning so we can toilet him and he seems to have developed a habit of going for a wee upstairs even though he has access to the garden.
We take him for a health check now and then and the Vet just keeps telling us he's just old. I have two small children 3 and 7 years and I just worried about the decisions that are in front of us. I do fear my little boy will discover him dead one morning.
Any advice please :0(
Answers
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You know that he is going to die soon(ish) and, if it were me, I would let him go before it all becomes a problem for both you and him.
You know your children - and how they will cope with his death. Try and explain to them that he is old and in distress and it would be best to take him to the vet and let him die in peace.
You don't want to distress the children and the next seizure might happen when you are out and he could fall and hurt himself.
It is easy for me to be rational as he isn't my dog - but I have been there. My last cat was blind and a little senile and he started having fits. He was fine afterwards, but for half an hour or so after each fit he was disorientated and terrified. After the third fit we went to the vet and the vet agreed that putting him to sleep was the only course of action.
Best wishes to you all
You know your children - and how they will cope with his death. Try and explain to them that he is old and in distress and it would be best to take him to the vet and let him die in peace.
You don't want to distress the children and the next seizure might happen when you are out and he could fall and hurt himself.
It is easy for me to be rational as he isn't my dog - but I have been there. My last cat was blind and a little senile and he started having fits. He was fine afterwards, but for half an hour or so after each fit he was disorientated and terrified. After the third fit we went to the vet and the vet agreed that putting him to sleep was the only course of action.
Best wishes to you all
Yes I do agree, it's just that when me and my husband decide we'd take him to the vet again and discuss this option, he starts having good days and then we think, Oh well maybe we'll just hang on for a little longer. But I'm not sure if I'm being selfish or sensible here?
He's been everything to me before I had my children when my husband was away in the Army. I feel I'm betraying him by even thinking about the inevitable!
He's been everything to me before I had my children when my husband was away in the Army. I feel I'm betraying him by even thinking about the inevitable!
Don't be afraid of teaching your children about death, they are more able to accept these things than most parents fear. Just don't go telling them all sorts of fairy stories about going to heaven and god taking him, etc. If the facts are explained in an age appropriate way they will be upset of course, but will know what is happening and therefore not afraid.
I believe that releasing a pet from a life that is becoming burdonsome is the last responsibility that the owner has to face. I think you have realised that the time has come so just need to face up to this and accept that it is just one of life's unpleasant duties. If we accept all the pleasure that pet ownership brings then we must also face the downside.
I believe that releasing a pet from a life that is becoming burdonsome is the last responsibility that the owner has to face. I think you have realised that the time has come so just need to face up to this and accept that it is just one of life's unpleasant duties. If we accept all the pleasure that pet ownership brings then we must also face the downside.
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It's such an awful decision to make - we had to make that final choice when Jetspoon, who was 14, started to go downhill. She had a stroke and got over it quite well, she then had another. The vet said she could've gone on for a while longer but her quality of life wasn't what she would have wanted. She also started going to the loo indoors, she was always such a clean girl and I'm sure it upset her to be 'caught short'. When we thought the time was right the vet came in, gave her an injection and she went to sleep. We were all with her and although we were devistated to let her go it was the right thing to do.
Good luck with whatever you decide - my heart goes out to you xx
Good luck with whatever you decide - my heart goes out to you xx
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I do feel for you, Pinkypie - I'm in the same position as you but I don't have any children to explain death to. My darling old lab is nearly 15, and I'm still dithering about what is the best for him - he's having good days and bad days - yesterday I really thought that if he woke up this morning like he did yesterday morning it would be the kindest thing to put him to sleep, yet today he's pretty bright, and seems to be enjoying life more again. So I'm literally taking it day by day, and I'm sure that when the time is right, you will know what is best to do - all my sympathies to you.
Oh so sad pinky!.......it's so ver hard to make the decision!...all I can tell you is that when the time comes you'll know, we went through this a couple of years ago, and didn't know what to do, but when the time is right, you will know!....can't advise you further sadly, but you'll know when it's time.......
I feel for you Pinky, it is so difficult to draw a line between what is best for your pet, and your own feelings of not wanting to let go. Agree 100% with Welsh, you will know when that moment comes to make a decision, it'll be a look in your dog's eyes that says he's had enough.
No doubt your children will be very upset, and have others have said, start preparing them now.
Having said that though, we had to have our beloved 15 year old cat put to sleep last year after a long illness,so we knew the time was coming. Even so my 21 year old lad bawled his eyes out at the vets:-(
Best wishes to you.
No doubt your children will be very upset, and have others have said, start preparing them now.
Having said that though, we had to have our beloved 15 year old cat put to sleep last year after a long illness,so we knew the time was coming. Even so my 21 year old lad bawled his eyes out at the vets:-(
Best wishes to you.
If it should be....
If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
and pain should keep me from my sleep,
then you must do what must be done,
for we know this last battle can't be won.
You will be sad, I understand,
but don't let grief then stay your hand,
for this day, more than the rest,
your love and friendship must stand the test.
We've had so many happy years,
what is to come can hold no fears.
Would you want me to suffer? So,
when the time comes, please let me go.
Take me where my needs they'll tend,
only stay with me until the end,
and hold me firm and speak to me,
until my eyes no longer see.
It is a kindness that you do to me,
although my tail it's last has waved,
from pain and suffering I have been saved.
Do not grieve, it should be you,
who must decide this thing to do.
We've been so close, we two these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
by Julia Napier, copyright 1999
Just make the right decision, you already know what it is. xx
If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
and pain should keep me from my sleep,
then you must do what must be done,
for we know this last battle can't be won.
You will be sad, I understand,
but don't let grief then stay your hand,
for this day, more than the rest,
your love and friendship must stand the test.
We've had so many happy years,
what is to come can hold no fears.
Would you want me to suffer? So,
when the time comes, please let me go.
Take me where my needs they'll tend,
only stay with me until the end,
and hold me firm and speak to me,
until my eyes no longer see.
It is a kindness that you do to me,
although my tail it's last has waved,
from pain and suffering I have been saved.
Do not grieve, it should be you,
who must decide this thing to do.
We've been so close, we two these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
by Julia Napier, copyright 1999
Just make the right decision, you already know what it is. xx
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