Old Labrador

Beth206

Beth206

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 September 2016
Messages
232
Location
W. Yorks
Visit site
I have a 13 year old black Labrador, he was a rescue and I have only had him since he was 10.

He has a steady but great life, loves going out walking and will walk with you all day albeit at his own pace. He doesn't have any health ailments, he is a good weight (34kg), has a slightly weak back end but doesn't give way and he can still clamber up the stairs and our walks are quite hilly. We have to lift him in the car but he happily jumps out on his own. He isn't on any medication and is just generally happy.

He occasionally messes in the house during the night, I think it happens when he has been laid down sleeping for a while and he pushes himself up that he accidently lets one out. He is lazy when you try get him outside to the toilet but I do make him go and we walk up and down the street until he goes. My partner has just rung me going mad because he has had an accident in the boot of his car (partner probably didn't make him go to the toilet this morning before getting him in the car BTW)

I'm now sat at work feeling awful and guilty about what has happened :(

When does enough become enough? I just feel like he has a great quality of life apart from this and we just need to be vigilant in making him go to the toilet. I took him out in the car yesterday and he didn't have an accident so think OH has been unlucky but I just feel awful.
 
I do feel for you as we have 2 13 year old labs, both a bit creaky but very happy in themselves. Tbh ours will stay with us until they let us know that it is time to go. They have both occasionally had accidents, the chap only recently. I think he is in a deep sleep and wakes suddenly and needs to go. We do try and keep them on a strict routine and make sure they do the deed, lol. The joys of living with elderlies, Human, Canine and Equine!.
 
Thanks Nettle, you have made me feel a bit better! I think that's what happens with mine too, it never happens during the day and if he is desperate to go he will bark which he did at 4am today (yawn)
He will always stay with us too, I just feel like whilst he still has some get up and go about him I couldn't end his life because of a few accidents.

ETA a picture of my old boy and my 4yr old JRT (if it works!!)

10gllwg.jpg
 
Last edited:
I know how you feel Beth - our old Dobie had an accident in the house first thing this morning - not her fault - I wasn't quick enough getting her out. She's always been a clean dog and seems mortified when it happens. OH and son kicked off as usual (note - they never bother to put her outside first thing!)It's hard work looking after an oldie - tell your partner to lighten up and be a bit more attentive to the dog - he'll be old one day!
 
Beth206 said:
My partner has just rung me going mad because he has had an accident in the boot of his car (partner probably didn't make him go to the toilet this morning before getting him in the car BTW)
Click to expand...

tell him to wind his head in. old dogs take some looking after, if he can't be bothered to get him to go first then thats his look out. besides, its just dog poop in a car-not something to get bent out of shape about and nothing thats going to kill anyone.
 
Thanks cowgirl and MOC - I honestly was starting to feel like I was being selfish keeping him going. It is hard with an oldie - he is our first proper oldie too so I am bit unaware as to what to expect from them. Glad I am not the only one!
I don't usually have the hassle from OH as he leaves the house for work in the early hours so he is doesn't really know about the occasional accident here and there but he is off work following an operation at the moment.
Our JRT is the apple of his eye and I often tell him that it will happen to her one day too!!

ETA OH is a slaughterman too so doesn't have many feelings!!!
 
We too have a lab this age.

It's the other half that would get the talking to here! What's a bit of animal mess to him in that line of work anyway.
 
Beth206 said:
When does enough become enough? I just feel like he has a great quality of life apart from this and we just need to be vigilant in making him go to the toilet. I took him out in the car yesterday and he didn't have an accident so think OH has been unlucky but I just feel awful.
Click to expand...

I think I'd get rid of the OH first, as the dog sounds as if he has a good quality of life. Like having a young child, take him out to toilet after eating, drinking, waking up, etc. Hope your OH didn't have a go at the dog.
 
rara007 said:
Whats a bit of animal mess to him in that line of work anyway.
Click to expand...

My thoughts too.

Nicnac, think i got all the wrath. He's not one to shout at the dogs.

Thanks for everyones support - I feel a lot better about the situation with my old boy. OH will definitely get an earful tonight!!
 
I agree with everyone else at the end of the day accidents do happen and when they get older it can be more frequent and it sounds as though his quality of life is good.

give the oh a good kick up the backside this evening:)
 
MotherOfChickens said:
tell him to wind his head in. old dogs take some looking after, if he can't be bothered to get him to go first then thats his look out. besides, its just dog poop in a car-not something to get bent out of shape about and nothing thats going to kill anyone.
Click to expand...

Great comeback MOC :D - and I totally agree. I have an old collie, who sometimes needs a hand getting up if he has been lying down for a while. It is not a bother to me to help him and once up he wanders around and still comes out for short walks 2-3 times a day, he still enjoys his food and a cuddle or a sleep in the sun. I know there are some who think he should be pts (my OH isn't one of them) but I know my dog, and I know he isn't ready just yet.

Hugs Beth - it is hard seeing them get old x
 
WorkingGSD said:
……..

Hugs Beth - it is hard seeing them get old x
Click to expand...

^^^^ This. It would seem that the problem isn't your dog's, but your partner. If he's unable to support you then that's sad, very sad. Your dog looks bright and attentive and though his apparent lack of bowel control is a pain, in what seems to be his current mental state, no — the time isn't here yet, I'd say.

Poor old Fido, and poor you too. I suppose that you could always draw a line in the sand and point out that there is no discussion to be had — shyte or no shyte!

Alec.
 
Beth206 said:
My thoughts too.

Nicnac, think i got all the wrath. He's not one to shout at the dogs.

Thanks for everyones support - I feel a lot better about the situation with my old boy. OH will definitely get an earful tonight!!
Click to expand...

Glad he's nice to the dogs but tell him to be nice to you too! That photo just melts me - those eyes! So trusting and loving.
 
Thanks everyone.

OH had a stern word tonight - i didnt take any shyte Alec!

He is a very happy and alert old man. He loves life and i know that he still has life left in him (i do believe i will know when he has had enough) i just needed an outside opinion to tell me he is ok and im not me being ignorant to his needs.
 
SusieT said:
Have you had a chat with your vet - there are often things that can be done.
Click to expand...

I havent yet, i was too worried of the outcome but now feel a lot more positive about it. The dogs are both due for their jabs in a few weeks and i was going to mention sonething then. Briefly what can they do?
 
When we get older everything slows down and gentle exercise is needed to get things moving again. As you say he probably didn't get time to evacuate his bowels before he was put in the car. Time, patience and possibly a boot liner would help. I say the same to owners of puppies; nobody ever put you in the toilet with an egg timer!
 
When I was younger I remember our old girl started not being able to hold for long periods. She was still well in herself so there was no thought to PTS at first. She just needed to be let out for a wee more often and in the night she did struggle but we bunged some cat litter down in a tub and she learnt to use that! (Probably not the cheapest option but it was easier to clean up). She never got told off for it, we knew it was just age and she was the sweetest girl, she would never do it if she could help it.

She had good year or so left in her and when it was time she let us know :) Your boy looks lovely and certainly not at that time of his life yet :) Just one of those things that happens as they get older! So long as he has quality I wouldn't worry about a few accidents.
 
When I was employed and trained gun dogs at the same time, my elderly and now departed employer had a spinster sister. She was a part of the no-nonsense brigade though underneath it all, she had a heart of gold. Anyway, one day my employer advised me that I would be getting a 'phone call from the said sister, and that she was looking for a dog, and this is how the conversation went;

"Swan?", "Certainly it is". The lady then introduced herself and I was fairly certain that I had a lovely young and biddable dog who would suit her well. Once we'd gone through the preamble, and decided upon what she thought was a reasonable price, she finished by saying …. "Now then, bowel movements. I want a dog which has regular bowel movements but certainly not of the involuntary kind" :D . I assured the dear lady that the dog was only 16 months and that his bowel activity would be everything which she could hope for. :wink3::smile3: "Good" she said "it sounds like he'll suite very well". He did suit her and she him it seems. I received a Christmas card form the lady every year for about 10 years, even after I'd left her brother's employment and then the cards stopped, as I suspect she may have done.

Right, that's about the limit of my experience with continent dogs.

Alec.
 
Last edited:
Thanks All

Amye - thats a good idea re the litter tray. At the moment it tends to happen during the night so he wakes up after a deep sleep, sounds like he gets up in a hurry and because he is scrabbling about to get up he lets one slip so not sure whether he wouls make it to a litter tray.

Clodagh - the first time or so he looked a bit upset about it, he didnt have the best life before i got him so if I am ok about things the he is, if i was to get cross with him he would go in on himself.
 
If he isn't really noticing then it is only you and OH being inconvenienced! Could you put him on an area with carpet, or carpet tiles, as if he has slipperly floors to deal with that doesn't help with a weak back end?
 
I'm not really fussed by it, it's not a lot and it doesnt make a mess. If it did bother him i really wouldn't be selfish enough to keep him going.

He is on carpet most of the time unless he is too warm after a walk and he will sprawl on the kitchen floor
 
I'd ditch the OH and keep the dog, who sounds adorable :D I am not someone who would ever keep a dog going for my own sake, but for me this sort of intermittent problem is sometimes part of having an older dog? I remember years ago my elderly whippet was sometimes like this, but she had quality of life to the end of her days.
 
Replying to an older thread- sorry!!

As long as he's happy and in no pain - accidents happen! My 10yr old lab isn't quite there yet, unless we change her food quickly! That's our fault though!

Just had to comment as your dogs could be twins with mine! Except it's the other way around! The oh thinks the lab can do no wrong and the jrt is the devil (not that he's far off! We just can't have favourites)

On a side note - how have you trained your jrt to come back?
 
Levrier - thanks for you comment. The dog is adorable, OH not so much at times lol. I was just so concerned that i was the only one with a slightly incontinent dog!

BallyJ - he is completley fine in himself bless him. I love having a little and large. Regarding luna (jrt) to be honest im not really sure, she is a very loyal dog and will only go so far infront before she will stop and wait, dont get me wrong if there is a squirrel, rabbit, cyclist or runner etc. She will be off but just always comes back. The hardest problem with her is her agression with other dogs. I find recall harder with raffy (lab) as he is quiet and will just slink off under a bush or something and with his colour he just blends in, he is also a typical male with selective hearing so no matter how much you shout him he wont appear.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top