I genuinely believe that it is better a day to soon than an hour to late BUT

Big Ben

Big Ben

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When it is your best pal, for many years, the guy that was sent to you in your darkest hour to lead you back into the light at the end of his leash, following that ever wagging tail, it is so hard.

We adopted Muttley back in 2000, took him from death row, he was guessed to be around 2 years old then. We were warned that he was special needs, he had been re-homed and returned a couple of times, but his only special need was that he needed security. I sat on the floor with him for two days while he decided that our house was going to be OK, and that I would look out for him, and from then on we didn't look back. Yes we had issues, you usually do when you adopt, but when he had stopped trying to run away every time our guard dropped, when he finally stopped peeing in the house, life got pretty good.

It took 2 years to finally convince him that sticks were for chasing, or helping me to walk, not for hitting him. About the same length of time to stop him hiding every time a man in the house was drinking beer out of a bottle. Some battles we just had to admit defeat, like the battle of the sofa, and I gracefully admitted defeat and from then on shared with him:D

Now he is old, he has a gammy back leg from an accident damaging a ligament, and he wasn't a good candidate for surgery, given his dicky heart and everything. He has been going senile for sometime, spends his days either sleeping or standing outside barking at nothing that I can see, OH says he sees the grim reaper. He is now losing weight, has cataracts, he has pain pills daily to try and relieve his arthritis pain, but still he has good days.

Most days he wants to come and do chores with me, he seems to enjoy being out and about, but he is for sure on the slide. Sigh, I know that this is my call and mine alone, but dam it is hard.
 
Its horrible isn't it, and as you say it is your call and no one else can decide for you. The only thing I would say is that when I am facing this decision it is so painful that when I am brave enough to let them go it is almost a relief, if that doesn't sound heartless. Thinking of you.
 
I also beleive in a day too early ..... but I think you know when it is right and I think that you don't beleive it is the right time just yet. Soon - but not yet xx
 
I think TBH if he still has some small pleasures in life and isn't incontinent, unable to get up etc then thats a good life for an old dog, we all deserve a bit of enjoyable senility in our old age :)
 
It is very tricky but if you are honest you know when the time is right, a friends old Lab was on his last legs and she and I both agreed it was the right time but her husband was of the opinion as he was still eating wagged his tail and made it outside to do his business then the time wasnt right. He could barely walk and finally my friend wore her husband down and got the dog pts.
 
I don't envy you :( such a hard decision to make. I dread the day I will have to make it too. You will know the time. You love him and you will know when he has had enough. Big hugs xx
 
The grand old man back in the spring

muttley30thmay201210.jpg
 
He is a grand dude and I don't envy the decision you're trying to make with a 4 legged friend you'd do anything for, good luck you'll know when its right x
 
Oh, bless his wise old heart! What a gorgeous boy, BB, and a lovely, lovely post from you. What a great life you have given him. You will find the strength to cope when his time comes. xxx
 
I feel your pain through your post.

My border collie is 15; on 20 mls Metacam daily (except when I forget :o) for her arthritis; practically blind; very deaf; not incontinent, but occasionally will leave a little present when she forgets to go when outside due to her senility; has lost some condition but still eating well.

But thank you to your OH - I now know what she's barking at outside! I think they're telling the GR to go away as they are not quite ready.

It's not time quite yet; she comes out to 'do' the horses with me mornings (as long as it's after 6.30am) and in the evenings and goes for her daily walks but turns around and goes home when she's not feeling up to more than 10 minutes.

We'll know when it's time and will do the right thing.
 
Big Ben,

you've asked all the questions, and you've also answered them. The best that anyone can do is suggest that you put yourself, in his shoes, and ask the question, "What would you want"?

As you say, he's a Grand Man. In your shoes I'd do what I thought was in his best interest, but he's your boy, so it's your choice.

A. x
 
It's your choice at the end of the day and a hard decision to make but I do think if they can still get out and about (unaided) and do enjoy 'doing' things then maybe it's not quite time yet. I think once they are unable to control their motions or are unable to get up and down on their own or indeed require high levels of medication just to get through the day, then it's time. However, I know others would disagree and say it shouldn't get to that stage before you decide.

Our oldie occasionally barks randomly at stuff but, although he is losing his sight a bit he can still see a rabbit / cat in the neighbours garden across the street when he's sat in our house. He still goes for 3 walks a day and, if he whiffs a rotting rabbit carcass then MY can he shift!! Plus, he doesn't forget where it was for days after discovery!

But, he too has these 'senile moments' where he just stops and seems to be deep in thought. He can't hear much either - we 'communicate' with him by clapping (that he can hear). Mind you, he's always had selective hearing anyway........!!! :)
 
When I was deciding when was the right time for my old, old girl (JRT who finally made it to 21 yo) I did my 'list'

Was she happy to pootle out? - even if very slowly and only 100 yards
Was she eating ?- she was always a piglet
Was she happy in herself?- despite having regular metacam and occasional stomach upsets (usually caused by the aforementioned piggishness and a tendency to scavenge!)

My big cutoff point was that she wasn't staying at the vets, she could visit daily if need be but there was no way that she would be left there without me for any reason. This was because the last time she was left at the vets was to be put on a drip after a violent bout of D&V (robbed at least one fat ball) I had only got 5 minutes away from the vets before I was called back as she was so distressed and I spent 3 hours sitting on their floor with her in my lap while she had her drip.

In her last year I booked the vets out 3 times to pts - each time she perked right up within an hour of the call being made and I happily cancelled the appointments :D

The reason she was finally pts to sleep was because of an infection - antibs kept it under control but also stopped her eating/upset her stomach which meant that she couldn't have her metacam (has to be given with food) and everytime she was off them for more than a few days her temp would rise...at that point I said enough. Her last 3 days she still met the criteria on the list above - eating well, happy to pootle and content within herself but I knew it couldn't last without more antibiotics and all the problems associated with them. I would have really felt guilty if I had kept treating and it all went pear shaped and she had to be rushed to the vets and pts as an emergency IYSWIM

It is so difficult to know when it's right with the oldies who aren't actually ill - just slowing down and age catching up - the last thing you want to do is wait until they are actually in pain or have collapsed and it's a rush job but you still don't want to jump the gun so to speak.
 
My parents are going through this now, with our old family dog, who the vet has given a few weeks (kidney failure). They are still clinging onto him, whereas I probably wouldnt have.
Its a tough call, he looks lovely :)
 
For me it is kind of a daily check, evaluating how he is, and Christmas Eve I really thought he was struggling, but he has bounced back some. It has been a long slow down hill process, he slides and rallies, and slides and rallies. When he is down he looks awful, but then he is out and about determinedly making his rounds of the yard.

One of the main things is that the cat is still scared of him:) She takes no notice of the **** Hound, is unimpressed by the JRT, and considers Eddie The Beagle, as an equal partner. Muttley though is still to be feared in the feline world, as long as he is a) awake and b) having a lucid moment:D
 
I'm currently at home with the parents, my 16yr old lab is happily curled blissfully snoring in front of the fire.
She is another who stands in the garden barking at nothing!
Whilst she still enjoys a pootle down the road, pesters for food, scrounges of the table and plays with her toys I like to think she still enjoys life.

Not a choice I envy you, nor look forward to making myself.
 
I've had to make the decision twice within the last four or five years....and perhaps will have to make again within a few years as my oldest dog (now) is eleven years old. It's not an easy thing to do, and something that no one who loves their pet ever takes lightly.

What help me make my choice at the end of the line for both my girls was that I knew that as my dogs are "free range" that their senility, blindness (one was also deaf) and advanced age (one was a very OLD 13, the other was 17) and started getting "lost" in my garden, that I worried that they could freeze to death during a solo outing. It wasn't entirely how they were today (though that was a part of it) but what was starting to happen. Both went to sleep on autumn days before winter set in. I don't ever regret it, but still a choice that I hate having to make.
 
It is very hard to make the decision. I had to make it a few weeks ago with my Mastiff. The day he didnt want to get up and couldnt control his bowels was the last day. I do think i left it too late tbh but he was still wagging his tail and looking for affection even on the last day. I guess it is a caes of you know your dog and you know when the time has come.
 
Oh Dozzie... My mums Mastiff was diagnosed with Lymphoma 6-8 weeks ago... Our time is nearly up, and the moment Bodger stops being Bodger will be time.
He is still eating very well, and hasn't dropped weight, but he's not come up the stairs the last few nights, and won't walk round the field anymore.
He's still pleased to greet people, but he won't jump up. He's had a dose of metacam tonight to see if that helps, but come Monday my parents may let him go.

OP, it's such a personal thing, and my mum has already lost a Mastiff to Lymphoma, and having been through it once, won't let Bodger go on as long as her first Bully. She concedes Luther was not put down soon enough, but when you're in unknown territory you wake every day with the hope they may have perked up. Sadly with Lymphoma it's a one way journey, so he'll be PTS sooner rather than later - which we're absolutely heartbroken about.

Better a week too early, than a day too late, as they say. Only you will know when the time is right, but also keep honest lines of communications clear with your vet.
Ours has been fantastic, very honest and not pushed invasive/expensive treatments. He loves Bodger, and has been a pillar of support to my parents all the way through this heartbreaking time.

Wishing you all the best xx
 
When my beautiful Lola was reaching the end last year I was on here asking for advice, answering my own questions and seeking for justification that we had come to the right decision. We had rang the vets and decided we would have her pts the following week, but she didn't make it that long :( We got up one morning to find blood in the kennel, coming from her back end or bladder we assumed, rushed her to the vets and had her pts. In some ways it justified our decision, but I still feel bad that she might have been in pain that night before :(

I think that you are doing as I did. Asking for permission almost to make that decision. You have that in spades, you have given that lovely boy a wonderful life and lots of love.

Bless you, and your boy x
 
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