Thinking of having my dog PTS - advice needed

Spit That Out

Spit That Out

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Hello

I know you guys have been very helpful in the past and i was wondering if you could help out again?

I have a collie x lab who's nearly 15. We have owned him from 6 months old and we have been though so much together...I really love my little man...

However old age has been creeping up on him for a while now and it's getting to the point where I'm trying to make the heartbreaking decision to have him PTS.

He's deaf, i think his sight is going, he's falling over as his back legs go from under him, he's struggles to get in and out of the front and back door. Some days you have to go and clip his lead on him and drag him for a walk, he gets carried up the stairs to bed and the last couple of weeks he's been peeing in the house even though he goes for 2 walks a day and has access to the garden all night...However other days he runs round like a pup and cook a chicken and he'll jump up and down like he's on a pogo stick!!!
As far as i know he's not in pain and even today he scrambled (with a bit of help) on the sofa for a cuddle.

It's not the peeing (or the accidental poop) as we all have accidents especially when we get older but I'm worried that all of the above out weighs the "good days".

Do i keep him going and have one last Christmas with him?
Do vets come to your house as i don't want to stress him out with the car trip and the slippery floor of the surgery?
Can you bury dogs in your garden anymore? He has a favorite tree that he used to lye under and watch the birds from in the summer!!!
Am i being too hasty...could he have years left in him?

He's had a great life and wanted for nothing. He's been spoilt rotten, been on fantastic walks, holidays, numerous toys and balls, sleeps on our bed and our floor is covered in chews and treats...

This is the hardest thing I've ever had to think about :(
 
OK. His legs are collapsing. You don't need to walk him. The fact that you have to drag him should be telling you that. Little danders in the garden or up the street, you don't force him if he is telling you he doesn't want to go.

Dogs do not understand why they feel pain, why they can't see, hear, (after smell, the senses that tell them absolutely everything) like they used to or why they cannot stand or move as they used to.
The don't know why they are peeing or pooing when and where they don't want to. For them, it just happens.
They can't tell you if they are upset or hurting.

I hate to repeat myself, but you know yourself when is the right time and they also let you know, in their own way.

Hugs for you, I know how hard it is x
 
Hugs to you, its a horrible time.

Only you can make the decision as to when enough is enough for your boy.

My dad had his old girl PTS at home, much less stressfull for all concerned

Thinking of you
 
Aw hun, it's not an easy decision and all credit to you for discussing it here. 15 is a fantastic age for a dog and he sounds like he's lived the life of Riley with you...reading that back I'm sure you know the answer, but I'd have him PTS before he starts to suffer - it will happen at some point, old age is a b*gger. :( I do think it's the kindest thing we can do for our animals. Your vet should come out, especially if you explain the circumstances and as far as I'm aware, it's fine to bury your dog in the garden. What a lovely idea, I wish we'd had our own garden when we lost our girl earlier this year. Big hug for you - I don't envy your decision one little bit.
 
you will know when the time is right and if you arent sure now.. then it isnt the right time. I have a 15 year old lab as well who sounds similar to yours. I too was swithering about what decision i might have to make. Then in october, my 18 month old pup was suddenly taken ill and after a week of nursing her after surgery i KNEW the decision I had to make for her. It has broken me, it really has..... but it has also made me sure in my mind that I will know when it is the right time for my old lad - and he is still content in himself just now. We dont do walks anymore... just potters round the garden.
 
my old dog was the same. We kept putting it off and thinking he was fine then one night he wet himself and was really upset that he couldn't get up anymore.he spent the whole night crying in pain from his arthritis and I knew I couldn't put it off anymore.It just wasn't fair on him. We buried him in our garden afterwards with a little memorial plaque. Only you will know if your dog has come to that stage of his life where the decision is the right one and the only thing I can say is remember that saying ' better a day too soon than a day too late'
 
I think from what you've described and posting it here for advice you probably know the time is right, or getting very close. You know your lad best, and if he's happy til Christmas or beyond that's great. But if you feel he is starting to really struggle at the moment then make the decision now. Dog's don't understand the concept of Christmas, it's a completely human thing. They don't need a special date on a calendar to love you extra-much, they do it every single day.

*hugs* and thinking of you :(
 
From your description I would say that it sounds like the time is right to me :( I know how hard it is, I have been there myself, but you owe it to your dog to ensure that they go with dignity :(

The vet will come to you, and you can bury your dog in your garden :(

Hugs - we are all thinking of you :(:(
 
I think you know when it's time and regardless of Christmas, you obviously need to consider the dog. If he's having issues getting round and up on the sofa, then talk to your vet. Being unable to get up as usual was the thing that made us go, although it's different as ours was only 7.

The vet will come out: I don't know which would have been worse for us, actually, but at home was definitely the right choice for our boy's sake.

Big, big hugs. I'm ruddy crying typing this and reading your post: it's so damned hard. :(
 
It does sound as if he is coming to the end, if you feel his quality of life is not as you (and he) would wish, then maybe now is the time, but only you can make that final decision. It is a horrible time and sadly I think most of us have been there.
Your vet shouldn't have a problem coming out to you, and there is certainly nothing to stop you burying your lad in the garden, I have all mine in my garden.
Thinking of you.
 
Hugs, i know how you're feeling as we are having to make the same decision at the moment. Our lad s 16 and has heart failure. He doesn't always recognse us anymore and as other people have said, its best they go with dignity and its the kindest thng you can do. Hard decision tho
 
Big hugs to you, he sounds just like my old dog ben i lost him april and it was the hardest thing putting him in the car to go to the vets but it was his time. In a strange way once it was done i felt better knowing i helped him on his way. I miss him every second of the day i had him 18 years but i know he is playing up there and i have his ashes back at home ( i wont bury a dog at home as ive got a thing about moving house and dont want to leave them )

Big hugs to you and you will know when it time i always say its better doing it early then a day too late. xxx
 
I had a mongrel, she was put down on her 16th birthday, thats just how it fell unfortunately, it came to a point where she was just existing and didn't have a life, she had to have tablets for her kidneys which she hated and was a nightmare getting it down her every day, but I did obviously. She stopped eating, was very shaky. You know your dog, you know when its time, in a way its better like my GSD he had a heart attack, its not your decision then. Its when you have to make that decision and take him is heartbreaking, my vets were lovely and let me spend time with both of them after they'd gone...........

Best wishes
 
I agree with Carey and MurphysMinder I'm afraid, so sorry, it's so damn hard. One of my worst nightmares would be to come back and find him spark out having been struggling for heaven knows how long; I would hate to think of him struggling like that and not being there for him so would far rather it never had the chance of happening for both our sakes.
All of ours are in the garden and they all have a bush or a tree over them, they are buried quite deep because of badgers and foxes and are wrapped in their blanket; in Ben's case, his toys are with him. The burying is the saddest part to me, it's then you realise they're not with you any longer, the putting down part is a relief because you've done the best last thing for them; they couldn't ask for more.

Huge hugs, thinking of you and cherish all of your memories.
 
My old boy had me thinking the time had come for a vets call 6 months ago. He's 17 and his legs were going from under him too. He can't have anything from the vets because he's on steriods so metacam and rimydl were out of the question so I decided to try alternative methods to help his pain. He's now on Green Lipped Mussel (high human grade doses), Devils Claw, Cod Liver oil and Synflex and the difference is outstanding!! Took a good few weeks to notice the difference but he now manages 2 walks a day (he's choice he always woofs for his lead and pushes out the door to the van!) and although yes of course he's still stiff he's most definately not ready for his final journey.

Might be worth investigating different methods of pain relief with your vet first.
 
Sedgemoor Chaos said:
Hello

I know you guys have been very helpful in the past and i was wondering if you could help out again?

I have a collie x lab who's nearly 15. We have owned him from 6 months old and we have been though so much together...I really love my little man...

However old age has been creeping up on him for a while now and it's getting to the point where I'm trying to make the heartbreaking decision to have him PTS.

He's deaf, i think his sight is going, he's falling over as his back legs go from under him, he's struggles to get in and out of the front and back door. Some days you have to go and clip his lead on him and drag him for a walk, he gets carried up the stairs to bed and the last couple of weeks he's been peeing in the house even though he goes for 2 walks a day and has access to the garden all night...However other days he runs round like a pup and cook a chicken and he'll jump up and down like he's on a pogo stick!!!
As far as i know he's not in pain and even today he scrambled (with a bit of help) on the sofa for a cuddle.

It's not the peeing (or the accidental poop) as we all have accidents especially when we get older but I'm worried that all of the above out weighs the "good days".

Do i keep him going and have one last Christmas with him?
Do vets come to your house as i don't want to stress him out with the car trip and the slippery floor of the surgery?
Can you bury dogs in your garden anymore? He has a favorite tree that he used to lye under and watch the birds from in the summer!!!
Am i being too hasty...could he have years left in him?

He's had a great life and wanted for nothing. He's been spoilt rotten, been on fantastic walks, holidays, numerous toys and balls, sleeps on our bed and our floor is covered in chews and treats...

This is the hardest thing I've ever had to think about :(
Click to expand...

Heartbreak, every owners nightmare. Spend as much time as you can just being with him; old animals push themselves not to show weakness, (Some get quite depressed like the elderly when they cant function as they did, like long walks). It's a pack thing I believe, in the wild they'd be left or killed maybe by the others? Guess we can just try and reassure them for as long as they can that they're ok. As others have said, you know him best, The vet will come to you, it's so much less stressful for an old friend and a comfort for you as he's to be buried at home. He's a lucky dog to have such a thoughtful owner.
 
Many thanks for your kind words and thoughts...I've been in tears reading your posts.

I phoned the vets today and they said they do home visits and can come out the same day. It's not as expensive as i thought (£110)...although of course cost doesn't come in to it.

The vet delivered to my work some tablets (sorry can't remember what they are called) that will help him on days he gets stiff, so I've bought him some yummy ham to wrap around them to take the taste away!!!

He was bouncing at the front door for a walk tonight and trotted all the way round, as if to say "I'm all right mum, don't write me off yet!!" He even had a go at a Springer Spaniel walking on the opposite of the road...he's such a grump!!!

Today isn't the day but i feel better now i know that the vets can come out, they confirmed i can bury him in the garden and they will come out the same day...being prepared has helped.

I know the day/week/month isn't far off but your advice has really helped, thanks again everyone :)
 
Sedgemoor Chaos said:
Hello
I have a Alsation x lab who's nearly 17.
However old age has been creeping up on him for a while now and it's getting to the point where I'm trying to make the heartbreaking decision to have him PTS.

He's deaf, i think his sight is going, he's falling over as his back legs go from under him, he's struggles to get in and out of the front and back door. couple of weeks he's been peeing in the house even though he goes for 2 walks a day and has access to the garden all night...However other days he runs round like a pup and cook a chicken and he'll jump up and down like he's on a pogo stick!!!
As far as i know he's not in pain and even today he scrambled (with a bit of help) on the sofa for a cuddle.
Click to expand...

We're going through the same, Except for him its Poo, and not wee.
I do believe he'll tell us when its time. I just hope I don't miss it. :(
 
I'm glad you are feeling a bit more prepared now but I just wanted to add to all the good advice you've been given.

If you know the time has come please don't try and hang on til after Christmas. We made this mistake once with our old dog who had had a series of strokes and we ended up having her put down on Boxing Day, knowing we had left it too long. I still feel so guilty about it nearly ten years on.
 
Brownmare said:
I'm glad you are feeling a bit more prepared now but I just wanted to add to all the good advice you've been given.

If you know the time has come please don't try and hang on til after Christmas. We made this mistake once with our old dog who had had a series of strokes and we ended up having her put down on Boxing Day, knowing we had left it too long. I still feel so guilty about it nearly ten years on.
Click to expand...

Thanks Brownmare, It is one of the things I'm really worried about...leaving it too late but don't worry even if it's Christmas Day when the time has come i wouldn't hesitate in getting the vet out (not sure he'd be too happy to let his Brussel sprouts going cold!!!) But like tonight he's hanging around the oven (squeaking) waiting for his chicken breast to cook...the dog not the vet!!! :D

Thank you for your advice.
 
Hi, I just wanted to keep you all updated...

We had our wonderful friend PTS today :(

Old age finally got to him and today we made the very painful decision to let him go.

My heart feel like it's been torn out but the photos and memories are keeping me going at the moment.

Thank you everyone for your support when i originally posted and i though you would just like to know that i took on board all your suggestions and advice.

My OH wants another dog right now and if he could he would go and buy one tonight...I think i would like to sleep on it however i think i do want another one as Charlie was such a huge part of our lives for the last 14 years and the house seems so quiet and empty :o

Miss you so much little man but now your free to chase as many squeaky balls, eat as many socks and hunt as many squirrels as you want xxx
 
Dear God, I'm so sorry. No matter how much you think about it or how ready you know the dog to be, it's still the worst thing. :(

I know what your husband means about getting another very quickly: we waited precisely a week.

Big hugs to you at this truly rubbish time.
 
very sorry to hear this, big hugs to you. It is a very brave decision. We had our old dog pts a couple of weeks ago, it was awful and i haven't cried so much in ages. But now I know we made the right decision. having 2 other dogs made it a lttle easier.
 
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