what to do with incontinent old dog.

lily1, in your shoes I'd put the dog's self respect and dignity before my own feelings and send the poor old dear off to heaven.

Nappies? Have others taken leave of their senses?

Alec.
 
cinnamontoast said:
Oh gawd, I hope I'm not being over optimistic: he's very weak behind. The hips splay and he sometimes lies like a frog. He falls over onto his front sometimes. He has arthritis in his right fore and is very lame on it currently, so has Rimadyl and is lots better today (day 3) The vet says this will probably be permanent. He does still run round the field quite happily, so he's coming on holiday with us at the end of the month. He's lively, wants food and to go out but is being rested.

If I thought for a moment the he was suffering, I would PTS, even if it broke my heart. His neurological test where the foot is turned backwards was very positive, he righted himself immediately.

Sorry for hijack, OP.
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Don't worry...........you know your dog and if and when the time comes you will know whats best for him.......but he sounds like he has plenty of life left.
 
Alec Swan said:
lily1, in your shoes I'd put the dog's self respect and dignity before my own feelings and send the poor old dear off to heaven.

Nappies? Have others taken leave of their senses?

Alec.
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even though the OP specifically said:

This is a dog that's super sharp, high energy and shows little sign of old age. She shows no distress in having accidents, far from it, she walks round like lady in the manor.
 
ester said:
even though the OP specifically said:

This is a dog that's super sharp, high energy and shows little sign of old age. She shows no distress in having accidents, far from it, she walks round like lady in the manor.
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Yes, even though …. and if an ageing dog which has always been clean in the house seems oblivious to the slip-ups, then one might expect that senility is coming in to play.

Alec.
 
I would never keep a dog going that was persistently incontinent, for the dogs self respect as well as once house training is over, my clearing up (except for illness) is past. I had my lurcher PTS when she started losing her back end and couldn't get up again, it was awful to watch. She was not incontinient (apart from the odd UTI as she aged, which responded to ABs and then for the last 6 months was on low dose propalin.)
Those of you who don't mind having dogs that cannot support themselves(incontinence aside) do you not feel it must be awful for the dog to have to scrabble and writhe until you pick it up and put it back on it's feet?
 
Clodagh said:
I would never keep a dog going that was persistently incontinent, for the dogs self respect as well as once house training is over, my clearing up (except for illness) is past. I had my lurcher PTS when she started losing her back end and couldn't get up again, it was awful to watch. She was not incontinient (apart from the odd UTI as she aged, which responded to ABs and then for the last 6 months was on low dose propalin.)
Those of you who don't mind having dogs that cannot support themselves(incontinence aside) do you not feel it must be awful for the dog to have to scrabble and writhe until you pick it up and put it back on it's feet?
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I have always taken this as a sign that 'the time' has come. We have had several elderly Labradors, and if they are otherwise healthy, they are prone to arthritis of the back legs, which finishes them off.
 
My dog has just been put on medication. Her incontience is an old bitch condition much like people get and not related to arthritis . She doesn't even know she's done it as usually happens when she's asleep. I definitely wouldn't consider pts when she's otherwise healthy and it's not distressing her in any way. Thankfully the medicine has helped a lot.

My last old dog was pts because his back legs went. We'd been through medication including steroids and once they didn't work anymore I knew it was time. He wasn't even old in himself which made it all the harder. He was never incontinent though so the two aren't always linked.
 
maggie62 said:
Don't worry...........you know your dog and if and when the time comes you will know whats best for him.......but he sounds like he has plenty of life left.
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Given how lively the little lad is today, I'm a lot happier. He is now weight bearing on his bad fore.

ester said:
even though the OP specifically said:

This is a dog that's super sharp, high energy and shows little sign of old age. She shows no distress in having accidents, far from it, she walks round like lady in the manor.
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Same, I wouldn't PTS just because of incontinence, which is an inconvenience to the owner, not the dog unless it can't get up. That would make me call the vet to come round, which we did for big dog's brother on the day after we found out he couldn't walk.

I won't keep mine going for selfish reasons, he stumbles and falls, but otherwise is galloping round chasing pigeons, swimming and is generally very fit. He currently has a good quality of life and is very happy.
 
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I shot my beloved 'Foxy' last night. I had this dog from a pup and she was with me 24 hours a day. She'd been to the vet's who wanted to open her up for exploratory surgery. The x-rays showed nothing conclusive. She had been fussy over her food for weeks, was gradually losing weight, and finally stopped eating. I suspect cancer but at ten she'd had a good life and I wanted to spare her what the OP's dogs seems to be going through. Foxy was always spotless in the house and I'd trained her to ask to go out when she wanted. But she had an accident and I could see she was mortified by it. Time to call it a day and for her to leave this world with dignity.

Death is a matter of timing. Everything dies. To keep an animal hanging on with the dubious "help" of veterinary meddling is, to my mind, simply selfishness. I always put my old dogs down myself. They don't like going to the vet's and I don't want to subject them to that. I have shot and fished all my life and I make sure they are never aware of what is about to happen, but rather alert to something they enjoy, in this case the possibility of hunting rabbits although she was past chasing anything.

I don't post on this forum much these days and only do so now because this has left such a big hole in my life. Please, OP, do the right thing by your dog. I am sure she is as upset as you are whenever there is an accident. You will just be prolonging the inevitable for no good reason.
 
Such sad news about Foxy. I am so sorry Dry Rot. Your dogs all enjoy a wonderful life so I hope you can take some comfort from that.
 
Derry my friend, I am so sorry to hear of your news.

I remember Foxy from when she was young and you used to put up pics. As I said at the time, and as she remained, to my mind she was perhaps as close to perfection as any GSD bitch which I have ever seen. Perhaps it was her expression which exuded confidence and as she was your constant companion, I've no doubt that she 'grew' with you and acquired a countenance.

You haven't been on AAD much over the last few months, and I thought to write to you several times to enquire how life's treating you, but then thought 'tomorrow'! You've saved me the job! Apart from your loss, I hope that this note finds you well.

Alec.

[edit] I didn't read all of your post to start with, but now that I have and in your plea, not a word out of place. It isn't easy, there is always a hole left, but when we put the interest of the animal before our own, then we have done what's right.
 
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Good to see you posting again Dry Rot, albeit sad the circumstances that bring you to do so. You're a brave man. Sweet dreams Foxy.
 
I'm sorry to hear about Foxy DR. Nearly 10 is too young to have to lose her, time goes so fast doesn't it, seems no time since you were posting about her pups. At least you have them to remind you of her .

With regard to OP, if a dog was really not bothered by the incontinence then I would just carry on. However once any of my dogs start struggling to get up, or falling over more than occasionally then I feel it is time to let them go for me personally.
 
To update; cushings test came back inconclusive. We have started her on DI medication and should know soon enough if its this and if its treatable.

I've always been of the rather a week too early camp when it comes to letting them go; its just in this case its not that straight forward, to me anyway, as apart from the water intake and output she is a bright and otherwise healthy. If she was going off her legs, not enjoying life etc I'd make the call but she's not. I wish she was frankly as making the decision would be a lot easier. Today for example I was late taking them for a walk and she goes on and on at me until I take her. Skipping a walk with this dog is not an option! She has a good 1 hour walk off lead every day and she runs rings around my younger dog.
 
Sorry to hear about your dog Dry Rot

This is a recent pic of mine. Still wading in water to fetch sticks. I just don't think its her time yet.

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Thanks for the update Lily, she looks great. Fingers crossed the meds maybe help.

Bit of a change of mind from earlier there Alec.
 
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I've got loads of action shots over the years. She (Annie) has always been an up for anything type dog. At one point I didn't think she'd make it to old age given the amount of high speed accidents and trips to the vet. She's been stitched back up a few times over the years and was pretty wild in her heyday. She's had a good life and whatever happens I'll not let her suffer. She's always been a free spirit and she'll go with dignity while she can still do what she enjoys. Getting out and about is her priority, she really doesn't care how many times she piddles on my floor.
 
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So sorry to read about Foxy, Dry Rot. Too soon. I don't hang on to them too long either. Have missed you on here.

Glad your dog is feeling better though Lilly, I am sure you will do what is best for her.
 
Another update. The DI medication did nothing so we are back to the cushings theory. I really thought it was DI. She's has another blood test for cushings today and should get the results soon. If its not cushings there is nowhere else to go :0(.
 
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