One Last Summer

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Arizahn

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:( Our eldest dog is heading up towards twelve. Had her at the vet for her annual check over and he found what seemed to be the beginnings of an issue with the ligament in her left hind leg. Sort of confirmed our own fears as she has been favouring it. So she is on medication and he will review her again mid August.

Her muscle tone has started to fade and she sleeps most of the day. Still enjoys her food, and her walks: she has developed a three legged bounce for when she is off lead that allows her to get up to quite a speed, lol! She has never been a dog that accepts doing things slowly.

Her heart, etc are are fine and her teeth are excellent. But her eyesight is not 100%. She also has less patience and doesn't want to bother with the other dogs or the cats. We have had some occasional issues with her forgetting to go out to the toilet: she sometimes wees while on the bed. And she was wobbly yesterday when weeing. She no longer grooms herself at all, so we spend a while each day tending to her coat. You know how an old dog starts to sort of moult constantly, only in little tufts?

We won't put her through an operation for ligaments at her age. At the moment, the consensus is to have the vet check her over monthly, or as needed. Hopefully we can give her the rest of the nice weather before having to make the call. She definitely wouldn't manage another winter like last one: the heavy snow was almost too much for her then. And she is not a dog that will settle for a walk on lead. She needs her daily run or she's miserable. It exhausts her, but the alternative is a very unhappy dog.

Sorry for the essay, just needed to talk about it. Please no flaming, this is a hard thing for us. Our family and friends are being crap about it, as she was a very bouncy dog when young and hard to train. They don't understand why we aren't glad or why we even kept her to begin with:mad: All they saw was this bouncy dog - that they encouraged to leap up at them as a pup - they never saw the good stuff. There was so much good stuff. Between all of the bouncing, and the barking at other dogs, and the pulling on the lead because slow is boring...there was the butterfly chasing, the nannying of the kittens, the incredible gentleness, especially around children and elderly people.

Have to stop typing, am in bits.
 
So sorry you are facing this. For what its worth I think you are doing absolutely the right thing for her, and being a great owner for putting her first before your need to keep her for longer. To me quality of life is far more important than quantity, a dog doesn't understand that if he/she doesn't run and play like a loony he may have a few more months of lying about the house, they live for today. I really hope you have a wonderful summer with her, creating lots of memories to look back on. I very much doubt you will get any flaming on here, most of us have had to make this decision at some time and know how painful it is.
 
Firstly, massive hugs. I know we will be in the same boat soonish with one of ours so it is something we have thought about a lot.

FWIW, I think you are putting your lovely dogs needs above your own wants and that is the definition of a great animal keeper.

I just wanted to post to say that my thoughts are with you and that you will know when it is time. She will let you know.

Big hugs xxx
 
As _GG_ has said so perfectly. She doesn't know what is happening, so make the most of the summertime together to add to your wonderful memories you must already have.
 
If every dog in this country had such an owner who's as devoted, whilst being practical and humane, and managed to put the dog's welfare before their own, then our canine world would be a better place.

Facing up to the loss of a beloved animal is never easy; some can't face it and keep the animal's suffering going in the misguided belief that they're doing the right thing, whilst others refuse to watch an animal suffer, and they put the welfare of the animal before their own grief. You're one of the latter, and I applaud your stance. You will know when the balance is tipped, and when the time has arrived.

There's nobody on here, or elsewhere who's qualified to judge you.

Alec.
 
Big hugs. I know how u feel as going through the same with our boxer. He loves his ball playing and if i dont play he will be miserable or finds a stick which i wont play with. He lets us know if he wants a walk or he lays on his bed and doesnt lift his head if he doesnt want to go with the other dogs. Like urself once he has decided he cant keep going we will make that choice but while he is happy this summer we will make the most of every minute with him.
 
I am sorry to hear you are going through this but as others have said you have shown you are a responsible owner. A responsible owner puts their dogs needs before their own, we all love our dogs but unfortunately sometimes we have to make this decision which never gets easier how ever many times you do it.

My advice to you is spoil her rotten, take lots of photos and celebrate your time together, dont make the mistake of grieving now she will pick up on your sadness and finally make every day count. Hugs to you.
 
I know neither you nor your mum would let her go a moment too soon, just do what you are doing and you won't let her go too late. It's hard, really hard, but they will let you know. I only wish the same act could be applied to people. Lots of hugs. xxxx
 
Thank you all so much. I probably won't be on this thread much, as just reading it has me howling. The dogs are convinced I've lost the plot. I must figure out how to post pictures though. I have a lovely one of her up at the river that actually isn't a blur.
 
Well, she enjoyed her walk this evening: took her and the others up the hill and into the meadow. Grass and flowers up to my waist, moths fluttering out everywhere. Eldest dog did her now usual bouncing run, so every so often her little head would appear over the tops of the greenery! Finished off with a paddle in the brook on the way home. She actually walked quietly on her lead coming back. I never thought we would see this dog tired.
She's back asleep now, with her head squished in under my leg on the sofa. I have put some photos up on my profile page, I will add more when I can.
 
I went through this with my dog a few years ago. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do when I made the decision to let her go. My OH and myself decided when we would make the call and spent the final week with her in the sunshine doing normal things but with a heavy heart. When the final day came it was unbearable, all I could feel was guilt and was I doing the right thing. I must say it was very hard. My head said let her go, my heart said keep her longer. Luckily for Lady my dog, my OH was stronger and we finally said goodbye. I still miss her 3 years on, and she is buried in a special place in the garden. She is often in my thoughts and I now know that to have kept her any longer would just be a life of pain and suffering for her. Her symptoms were similar to those of your dog and once she couldnt eat, wee and poo normally enough was enough. Be strong, I know how you feel. x
 
Just an update everyone :(

We are going to the vet first thing tomorrow morning with her. It is time. Many thanks for all of the support.
 
I'm so sorry :( This is the hardest thing about having animals. I'm anohter one with a dog that most people dont understand why I keep, and I adore him beyond words!

My thoughts are with you both tomorrow. When its over, try and remember the good times and the fact she never suffered thanks to you caring enough to do the right thing. Thats all you can do in the end
 
:( Thank you everyone. This summer was indeed good for her. Sadly this last week has seen her start to deteriorate rapidly on the mental side of things and she is no longer keen on hugs and snuggles. Just wants to sleep, or to sit by herself with a bone. Still has all her teeth - ok, sorry am going to bits again now, got to go.
 
Alec Swan said:
If every dog in this country had such an owner who's as devoted, whilst being practical and humane, and managed to put the dog's welfare before their own, then our canine world would be a better place.

Facing up to the loss of a beloved animal is never easy; some can't face it and keep the animal's suffering going in the misguided belief that they're doing the right thing, whilst others refuse to watch an animal suffer, and they put the welfare of the animal before their own grief. You're one of the latter, and I applaud your stance. You will know when the balance is tipped, and when the time has arrived.

There's nobody on here, or elsewhere who's qualified to judge you.

Alec.
Click to expand...


I was going to type a response, but I just couldn't say it better than this.

Hugs.
 
Again, thank you all, this thread has got me through it :) Your support is greatly appreciated. She's sleeping at the moment, has no idea that tomorrow will be the end. Just a visit to the vet - who she loves - maybe sausages for breakfast first. Had her last walk today, but didn't want to do more than potter along and sit and stare at the river.

That's where she'll go when it's done. The mountain, and the woods above the river. We'll feel her there when we walk the rest of our dogs.
 
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