Not sure if it is 'time' for my old boy

[Winters100]

Hi,
I would welcome some views on this. i am an experienced owner with 3 dogs, including one 'very old' boy, we don't know how old, but the vet said he was very old when we found him in the street 4.5 years ago. He has had a good life for the last years despite some serious medical conditions (arthritis, heart murmur and a pretty rare auto immune disease). I am a firm believer in not letting animals suffer, and in the past it has always been clear to me when the dog has lost his joy of living, but with this old boy I am just not sure. I spoke to the vet this morning who said that beyond continuing with pain medication he does see any benefit in further treatments due to his age. The dog is now eating only delicious things (soup, bone jelly, chicken, denti sticks etc), while in the past he competed with our greedy lab to be first to finish. He sometimes seems to find it difficult to get up, but other times runs and jumps up onto the deck rather than walking a few metres to his ramp. Every time I make 'the' decision he seems to temporarily rally. I really don't know what is right for him now. I don't want to rob him of happy last months, but only if they can be happy ones. Any thoughts?

 

[{97702}]

Dogs live in the moment, they have no sense of whether life may or may not continue for them. You wouldn’t be robbing him of any time.

From what you have said it is impossible to give an opinion to be honest - do his good times exceed his bad times? Is he mostly enjoying life and happy, or is he mostly carrying on with life quietly but with no joie de Vivre?

Whilst it is impossible to generalise, quite often I find that if an owner is asking themselves that question it is because they suspect the time has come ???

 

[Sandstone1]

I think if you have doubts its not quite time. You will know without doubt when it is.

 

[Winters100]

Is he mostly enjoying life and happy, or is he mostly carrying on with life quietly but with no joie de Vivre?

That is exactly how I would describe it - carrying on quietly but with no joy. Picks at his food and eats only when he has something truly delicious, spends most of his time on his bed, but peaceful there and I do not believe in any significant pain.

Poor old lad has had a rough life - he was in a horrible condition when we found him

 

[{97702}]

It is so difficult because that for me is bordering on the ‘existing not living’ situation? I had that with my little white greyhound girl with heart failure, and it was a really tough decision to make - ostensibly she wasn’t in pain, she was eating (although very fussy about what she would choose) and was still able to move around/go out in the garden etc.

But I felt her spark, her vitality, her personality had gone? She was a subdued little version of the dog I knew so well and loved so much, and it struck me that she wasn’t really getting much out of life any more. So I made the choice for her and she slipped away quietly in my arms, I knew from her demeanour that it was totally the right choice in her case.

My thoughts are with you, it is such a very very difficult decision ?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I am in the 'better a week too soon, than a day too late' camp, so unless the 'down' days are infrequent, I would say the time is rapidly approaching it it hasn't come. If you are beginning to think that it is time, it probably is.

I'm sorry, it really is a difficult decision.

 

[ycbm]

I always feel that when a person begins to seriously question whether an animal has sufficient quality of life to carry on, that it is time for the animal to be PTS.

It's very hard, so sorry Winters.

 

[Lots of Gift Bags]

We're going through this with Suzie our 14yo Westie at the moment. Mr JB is taking her into the vets next week for a general check up but I'm wondering how good her quality of life is. She does seem fairly content but is pretty much deaf and blind and spends most of her time sleeping. She likes to go for a little pootle around the block but isn't that interested in walks nowadays.
It's really hard as she doesn't seem to be suffering and we love having her around .

 

[Winters100]

We're going through this with Suzie our 14yo Westie at the moment. Mr JB is taking her into the vets next week for a general check up but I'm wondering how good her quality of life is. She does seem fairly content but is pretty much deaf and blind and spends most of her time sleeping. She likes to go for a little pootle around the block but isn't that interested in walks nowadays.
It's really hard as she doesn't seem to be suffering and we love having her around .

So sorry JennBags - it is a hard decision when they are just 'not themselves'. I've pretty much decided to give some last days, but they will be days not weeks Helps that I have a sensible vet here. The last dog I had to pts was a very old and arthritic boy, and we were living in Hungary at the time. As my own vet was away I had to call another out, and he was adamant that I was trying to "get rid" of the dog - said that the time to pts was only when they could not get up unaided, which for me is far too late.

 

[splashgirl45]

i feel for you winters100 but it sounds as though the time is right. when the weather gets colder he may not even enjoy a little pootle around. my collie cross is over 14 now and has arthritis in her front legs and i am always watching to make sure she is enjoying life. as soon as she stops eating and we cannot find a reason ,( teeth etc. ) i will know that it is time. its the hardest thing when they are gradually declining...only you can see him but i think as you are posting on here you feel its almost time. hugs xx

 

[Lots of Gift Bags]

So sorry JennBags - it is a hard decision when they are just 'not themselves'. I've pretty much decided to give some last days, but they will be days not weeks Helps that I have a sensible vet here. The last dog I had to pts was a very old and arthritic boy, and we were living in Hungary at the time. As my own vet was away I had to call another out, and he was adamant that I was trying to "get rid" of the dog - said that the time to pts was only when they could not get up unaided, which for me is far too late.

It's so tough isn't it? Sorry I didn't mean for it to be about me, was trying to empathize with you.
Somehow it always seems more clear cut with horses. Well it has done for me anyway.

 

[Winters100]

It's so tough isn't it? Sorry I didn't mean for it to be about me, was trying to empathize with you.
.

Nothing to be sorry for - we are both in the same leaky and uncomfortable boat. I understand how you feel.

 

[Quigleyandme]

Somehow you just know when it is time. For my old girl it was when she didn’t lift her head when I came into the kitchen one morning. This dog has been so blessed to have you find him and care for him in his twilight years Winters.

 

[misst]

I also think when you ask the question it is time or nearly time. I had an old rescue who we lost after nearly 3years. Twice I took her expecting the vet to call time and twice she rallied really well. The last time she just went off her legs so it was obvious and we said goodbuy that day. My old girlie had dementia and was well in herself and that was harder. We "knew" when she wet on my husband when he picked her up one morning. She didn't even know she had done it. She was always a good clean girl. We had been humming and hawing for a few weeks. I am sorry you find yourself in this situation but you will know when
the time is right. xx

 

[meleeka]

Whilst there’s no prizes for getting animals to live as long as possible, it doesn’t sound like it’s time yet. Make yourself a deal, that when he refuses the tasty food it’s time, or when he can’t comfortably get up for x amount of time. Have something in your head that means you’ve reached the end and then you won’t have doubts when the time comes. That’s what helped me anyway.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

I'm sorry to hear about what the "reserve" veterinarian in Hungary said to you. I'm also sorry that you're in the difficult situation when it is all, or mainly, about you having to estimate his quality of life.
Another difficult thing is that one often gets used to small changes, and starts to view it as normal. But, in general, I try to remind myself that they should enjoy life, not just be staying alive.

{{{{Hugs}}}}

 

[deb_l222]

Dogs live in the moment, they have no sense of whether life may or may not continue for them. You wouldn’t be robbing him of any time.

From what you have said it is impossible to give an opinion to be honest - do his good times exceed his bad times? Is he mostly enjoying life and happy, or is he mostly carrying on with life quietly but with no joie de Vivre?

Whilst it is impossible to generalise, quite often I find that if an owner is asking themselves that question it is because they suspect the time has come ???

Yes, this ^^ is no word of a lie. I find when thoughts of PTS start to enter your head, you're probably not too far away from the reality. However, there's only you that knows your dog well enough to know if their 'life' is now an 'existence'.

I have a 16 year old who is teetering on the edge most days - not literally but, let's face it, she's not got long left. A few weeks ago (it was a Sunday), she was dreadful. Falling all over the place, looking terribly under the weather. If it had been a weekday, she would have been whisked straight to the vets and probably been PTS there and then. As it was a Sunday, I figured give her 24 hours. By Monday she was MUCH better and she continued to improve. I did go to the vets that week and we ummed and ahhhh a bit but my vet gave her a steroid boost to see how she got on. Well, she's back to being full of herself at the moment so not out of the picture just yet. Theory is she had another mild vestibular event.

It's not easy and you have my sympathies. You can only do the best you can and don't ever judge yourself or allow others to judge you, whatever decision you make.

 

[Winters100]

By Monday she was MUCH better and she continued to improve. I did go to the vets that week and we ummed and ahhhh a bit but my vet gave her a steroid boost to see how she got on. Well, she's back to being full of herself at the moment so not out of the picture just yet.

Glad to hear that your dog is feeling good - long may it continue Mine has also rallied today, but we are very alert now, and my vet has promised to come anytime when we feel he has had enough. To be honest for him I won't leave it very long, because although he had a good day today in my heart of hearts I know he will suffer if we don't make the call. Good luck x

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

I am sorry to anyone who is having to think about this decision.
We found this resource very useful in adding a little bit of objectivity to what is a very difficult and emotionally charged decision. It won’t be for everyone, but might be helpful.

https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/sites/defau...ionAnimals/HonoringtheBond/HowDoIKnowWhen.pdf

 

[Winters100]

Thank you everyone for your good advice. Today I decided that it was time, he was not visibly in pain, but I could see that he was not enjoying life and was getting weaker every day. The vet agreed that it was the right decision and he went on his way about an hour ago. I don't know if it was too early, but if it was then it was only days away in my opinion. He went peacefully and without distress having spent the day napping on a big comfy bed. I will miss our funny old boy, but I have no regrets x

 

[TheresaW]

So sorry Winters. I know how hard it is, but he’s running free now. Look after yourself xx

 

[ycbm]

It wasn't too early Winters, you gave him a great life and a peaceful end. All animals deserve such owners.
.

 

[{97702}]

Thank you everyone for your good advice. Today I decided that it was time, he was not visibly in pain, but I could see that he was not enjoying life and was getting weaker every day. The vet agreed that it was the right decision and he went on his way about an hour ago. I don't know if it was too early, but if it was then it was only days away in my opinion. He went peacefully and without distress having spent the day napping on a big comfy bed. I will miss our funny old boy, but I have no regrets x

Although he may not have had the best start in life, he undoubtedly had a fantastic life with you - thank you for rescuing him, and for all that you did for him. I appreciate how very hard it is, thinking of you xx

 

[FinnishLapphund]

I'm so sorry for your loss. {{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}

 

[splashgirl45]

so sorry but you had his best interests at heart... look after yourself

 

[MurphysMinder]

I’m so sorry. It sounds like you gave him a wonderful life and a peaceful death , he was a lucky dog .

 

[Lots of Gift Bags]

So sorry for your loss Winters but it sounds like you've done absolutely the right thing, I know that doesn't really make it any easier but I hope it helps to ease the pain xx