Why do dogs have to get old :(

littlemisslauren

littlemisslauren

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As some of you will know (I complain about her often enough!) we have a very old Rhodesian Ridgeback (she is 12 in october), She has been daft as a brush her whole life, never had any medical problems at all untill the last 6 months.

Her back legs have started to give up :( Some days she will stumble or struggle to get up but others she will ping around the house like a pup.

Today is a bad day, she is really struggling with them, she seems to be almost dragging them behind her :(

She is also panting alot and I have seen her vomit while she was outside. Her food and water intake as well as toilet habits are normal.

She is a very stressy dog, very stressy, and loves each member of the family. She is happiest when she is asleep at your feet so I have moved into a carpeted room and sat on the floor with her to try and relax her, it has worked a little. But she will sit and whine constantly for 20 mins if I stop stroking her or leave the room.

I am not in any form of deniel. I know her time will soon be up but she is my mums dog, not my own. I cant make that call.

I dont even know why I am posting to be honest, I'm just very upset and dont know what to do for the best. I just want to make her comfortable.

She is an amazing dog, she really is. If today signifies the end she deserves to be as happy as she can be :(

When do you give up hope? When do we give up the good days with her?

Sorry for the emotional post. If she stays like this for the afternoon I will be having a word with my mam about having her PTS but it wont be easy.

:(
 
So sorry you are going through this with her - {{{{hugs}}}} to you, it's incredibly hard to know what to do for the best.

I'm not the best person to give advice but have been through this with my boy last year.

The fact that her eating, drinking and toilet habits haven't changed are really good signs but I would consult her vet for further advise TBH. You can then make an informed decision.

Continue with the cuddles though and i've got my fingers crossed for her :)
 
I would get her to the vets soon re the vomiting and distress x

She is your dog, you know if she is not herself, you can see in their eyes when they are tired.

As a general rule, once large, weightbearing dogs start to lose their legs, I think it is kinder to let them go rather than they go through pain or confusion.

But she is your pet and if the vet thinks she has more time and can make her comfortable, then that will be all the better.

Loads of hugs for you, I'll never get over seeing my old girl go downhill quick after a very active 14 years, it is **** to see them like that.

The best we can do is give them a happy, active life and a dignified end x
 
Thank you both. I am in tears, I'm so scared seeing her like this.
I called the vet but have to wait untill tomorrow for them to come out. If she stays like this much longer I will be demanding they come out today, I will throw money at them if thats what it takes.

We cant take her there when she is in this state. She is far too stressy, a trip to the vet usually ends with her hyperventilating in a heap on the floor. We cant do that to her now.

Vet said to keep her fluids up re the vomiting which we are doing by taking the water to her.

She is becoming detached and is slinking off and hiding under tables etc :(

For the first time I think I have seen that look in her eye :(
We have had her since I was 10 years old, she has been my mums constant companion over that time and has guarded us all well. She doesnt deserve to suffer :(
 
Aw petal :( try not to get stressy or upset yourself, hard as it is, she will sense it, try and make a nice dark, safe place for her, if she has a crate or even let her lie under the table in silence for as long as she needs, pop a blanket over the table etc x
 
Will try to make a space for her, she just is not interested in moving.
My terrier is following my ever move, i think he knows I'm upset.

My mum will be home from work in an hour, I spoke to her and she understands that she is not going to get better. But my little brother is away at college, he wont be home untill tomorrow night and he worships the RR. If she doesnt improve I will ask him to come home early so he can say his goodbyes :(

This is so horrible :(
 
I so feel for you, it is horrible when you fear they are possibly nearing the end. If you explain your concerns to the vet, and remind them of the state she gets in when she visits the surgery, I would hope they would reconsider and come out to see you today. ((hugs)).
 
She has improved slightly... very very slightly. She is moving more and seems more interested in what is going on around her, breathing is still fast and her legs are still packing in :(

She has just done a poop that was apparently very skinny an contained alot of hair :s Her poops are usually huge great mountains.

Vet is out tomorrow, if there is any change for the worse we will demand they are out tonight.

:( the poor old girl
 
CaveCanem said:
you know if she is not herself, you can see in their eyes when they are tired.
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^^^ This is so true^^^

We had our 15yo dog PTS 2 weeks ago yesterday. He had a few minor medical problems that were being easily managed by the vet but seemed to suddenly get very old around Xmas just gone. He would seem quite tired and a bit listless but then perk up again for a few weeks. The vet said he had a liver infection for which he gave medication that helped for a while. We'd been talking for a few weeks about when it would be time, and that the time was coming soon, but one morning we all just knew it was time.

You could see in his eyes the night before he was PTS that he was ready, he was just so incredibly tired and not himself at all. We'd gone through a few episodes like you are now, where we'd thought it was time and the vet was able to give him something which seemed to miraculously make him better for a while. Fingers crossed the vet can do something more for your dog but it's true what everyone says that you know when it is time.

It's very strange as I felt worse before it was done than after. I've never cried so much as when he was PTS and it still upsets me now, but once it was done there was more of a sense of relief that he wasn't in any more pain or distress.

((hugs))
 
I am so so sorry i know what your going through ive got a 17 year old who has good and bad days and Cayla on here has been a star to me she is always there for me.
They give you so much love and so much pain at the same time hugs to you xxxx
 
Bit of an update for you all.

She has vomited again but is alot more keen to drink her water and more interested in her surroundings.

She is walking around.. but very slowly and she is generally weak.

There is some spark back in her eyes, but I'm not sure how long it will last.

Luckily my mum has decided that if the vet cannot make her more instantly comfortable then we will have to say goodbye to her, my mum has been in deniel about the poor thing for weeks. We just hope my brother gets home in time tomorrow to see her before she has to go.

Fingers crossed the vet has something up his sleeve (And that the dog doesnt try to eat him - its always a concern!) than can give her a couple more days - even if its just to let my little brother adjust.
 
:(:(:(:(:(
Just seen this. Everything crossed your vet can help her be more comfortable so you all have time to say good buy.
(((((((hugs)))))) to you and your family at this awful time.
 
Fingers crossed and hope the vet can help. our 15 year old dog who had been very healthy until 2 months ago, has deteriorated over the last 2 months. He is on medication for heart failure and has rallied round. He has the occassional bad day but then picks up. we have to be very mindful about his quality of life
 
Reddie, you've just reminded me - OH's brother's dog who I posted about last week, has heart disease and his kidneys are failing. When I arrived last Friday I thought he was dead, he was lying in his basket, all that was moving was his eyes and he wouldn't get up, their Mum and sister were imploring him to make the call to the vet.

The next day, he followed us all the way into town, wagging his tail, and would not 'Go home!'

So, they do surprise us.
 
:) we have much more improvement today!
She is up and about - still slowly but there are no stumbles so far, she is alert and interested in what is happening - she even had a good bark at the window cleaners :)

She is drinking well and going to the loo as normal, although poop has been very loose.

The vet came out today and thinks she has eaten something she shouldnt and just has some sort of bug, he said if she gets it out of her system soon we should be able to have another couple of weeks with her - providing her legs don't deteriate (sp?)
 
littlemisslauren said:
:) she even had a good bark at the window cleaners :)
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Lol - always a good sign! :D

Glad she's having a better time of it. Also you said previously that there was hair in her poo? This would tie in with the vet thinking she ate something she shouldn't as can't think why the hair would be present otherwise :confused:

So fingers crossed they're right! :)
 
Yep, it looks like she has found a dead mouse or rabbit and decided it was her lunch.
She is so much brighter now, its such a relief :)
 
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