Would you PTS this dog

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Daytona

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I'm currently having a heart breaking issue

I have a boxer who is 10 years old, she has had incontenant issues for a number of years , slowly getting worse.

She has been in propalin syrup for a number of years but it stopped working, the vet then tried incurin tablets which she gets daily.

The issue is they seem to not work either all the time. We put a nappy in her but come down most morning to find her and her bed and the floor soaked in urine, and it's stinking and I mean stinking , our house is getting wreaked.

We have a baby on the way as well and also in dec are moving I to a brand new house, my husband is upset about the thought of our new house being covered in pee. He said well we can build her a kennel or put her in garage

I've had this dog since a puppy and she wants to be with the family, if I shut her away I know she would be utterly miserable so I'd not do that to her.

Apart from peeing she is happy and healthy in every way, and very active

I'm so torn over what to do, would you PTS a dog just because it pees, I know it's totally not her fault, she has no idea she us doing it bless her

I'm so upset about this matter, it's breaking my heart.
 
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What a horrible situation to be in .
What I would do is not really the point .
In your shoes with a baby on the way ( congratulations btw I had missed that hoe exciting ) and moving I would I think seriously consider pts if the dogs been a house dog I would not be comfortable moving her out the house I agree with you totally on this .
I don't know the condition perhaps the dog experts on here may have some ideas .
You have to consider your OH's views on this .
I feel for you what a horrible thing to have deal with .
 
A horrible situation to be in. I have had a bitch who was been slightly incontinent but not to the level you describe, and we have quarry tiles so coped. I certainly wouldnt consider putting her out in a kennel and run, if she has been a house pet all her life, so I think pts may be the kindest thing for her. I sympathise with you its not a decision I would like to make.
 
My husband feels very guilty too he loves this dog, she is his dog more and we have two staffies who are more my dogs, Steffi the boxer drips constantly which the nappy sorts out but when she goes to sleep and relaxes it must pour out of her.

Her pee stinks like rotten fish, and no it's not a UTI as she been checked it's most likey hormones the vet said , to do with drugs she gets

She sleeps down stairs in the hall which is wooden floors, but her pee smell is so strong when u wake you can smell the rotten fish smell up in our bedroom it's that stinking. As I say it's not every night maybe every 3 nights . My husband is getting upset with it as does not want a stinking house - who would..?

He is worried that as I get more pregnant how am I going to cope cleaning it (he works away month at a time) and what will we do when baby arrives ..??

We not moving to new house till around Dec maybe even start of next year by time building work starts.

God I feel so guilty but at same time cleaning up after her is getting me down. She such a lovely critter too and just wants to be sat with you all the time. A very affectionate dog.
 
Such a hard situation, I really feel for you. I have a boxer bitch who is 11 and was slightly incontinent, but still lively and fit for her age. She is now on propalin and it's working well for her at the moment. But I know there will be that decision to make in the future if she gets worse.
Only you can decide, but please don't beat yourself up about a decsion to pts (if it comes to that) the dog has obviously had a long, lovely life with you and a peaceful, quiet passing is the best anyone (or any beastie) can wish for.
xxx
 
I'd say that you only really have one option, and in your heart, you'll know what that is. Better to put her down now, whilst you have the choice, than struggle, have the dog suffer, and wait until you reach crisis point, and the point where you have no choice.

Difficult days, and all so often when a similar question appears on here, my answer is just about always the same! I seem to be such a doom-monger, but I believe that when we have a dog which reaches the stage where it no longer has dignity, then we have a duty, and that duty extends to doing what's right for the animal, no matter how it hurts us.

It's your dog and it's your choice. I wish both you and your dog well.

Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
I'd say that you only really have one option, and in your heart, you'll know what that is. Better to put her down now, whilst you have the choice, than struggle, have the dog suffer, and wait until you reach crisis point, and the point where you have no choice.

Difficult days, and all so often when a similar question appears on here, my answer is just about always the same! I seem to be such a doom-monger, but I believe that when we have a dog which reaches the stage where it no longer has dignity, then we have a duty, and that duty extends to doing what's right for the animal, no matter how it hurts us.

It's your dog and it's your choice. I wish both you and your dog well.

Alec.
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Wish I could have put it so well, totally agree.
 
We had a JRT who was 19 when we had the decision to PTS, she was well enough in her self, but as you describe incontinent. We would come down every morning and have to bath her, wash her bed. She used to love coming and lying in front of the fire but it got to the stage where when she moved she had left a wet patch. It got to the stage where her quality of life was reduced and the kindest thing to do for her was have her PTS. It was a horrible decision to make, but I feel it was the kindest, she died with some dignity left and before she had no quality of life.

I think deep down you know what the right decision is. Especially with new baby and new house. If you do decide to PTS, book the appointment with your vet for a week or so's time and take her on some lovely walks, feed her some yummy treats and spoil her rotten.
 
I would put this dog down. Not because of the house wrecking as I've had plenty of cats that have done unspeakable things on what felt like an almost daily basis. I'd be doing it because it is no way for a dog to live, wearing nappies and covered in its own waste.
 
My husband has just left for a month, I think when we gets home I will most likely agree she can be PTS at home.

I feel so guilty as she seems very much alive and happy, but I guess I have to be realistic. I thought it could be done at the end of the year before we moved but having woken to yet another stinking mess I'm not sure how much more I can cope with, not helping prob with my hormones making me a little crazy

This is her , some pics took recently and our annual dog Xmas Holiday in the highlands
As you can see she looks still so very much a healthy dog :-(
 
Yes I would, for 2 reasons. Firstly, as someone has already said, it is no way for a dog to live, wearing nappies and with a body that is letting her down. Secondly, for your own well being, once the baby arrives you will struggle to cope with the extra work, the keeping everything clean, the smell etc, you will end up stressed and possibly spoiling your relationship with what is obviously a much loved pet. Let her go now at a time of your choosing, whilst the memories are still good. However, a horrid situation for you, I do sympathise x
 
She has only been wearing the nappy a few weeks , and only at night. The drugs seem to of stopped working quite rapidly. She was totally fine then bam they stopped hence why it's all a bit of a shock

I've just spent £4000 (no insurance) and 5 months on nursing her through eye ulcers , which to be honest I did consider PTS then as she was in vets every 2/3 days for check ups for months

But the vets told me it was ok , and they are slow healing things.

So for her to recover from that then me to PTS a couple of months later feels like a kick in the teeth if that makes sense .

The thing with steffi is you cannot tell her off for anything

If she does anything wrong and you shout at her she just sits wagging her tail, like it's not registering she in trouble even if you give her a tap on the bum she thinks it's a game and jumps about all excited like yeah this is fun , slap me again - honestly no joke.

So I have given up years ago ever trying to get the dog in trouble when naughty as it's pointless

So when I comedown and fine pee she is not in the slightest bothered , just the normal greeting of jumping about excited wagging tail

Where as if one of the staffys every have a accident they will hide and be scared and know its naughty type thing and be really upset.

So it's not bothering steffi in the slightest , she is her happy normal clown self , which makes it harder for me.

The only ones bothered about the mess is me and my husband.

The dog could not care less. She lives in her own happy little crazy world where nothing is ever bad and every day is a game full of excitement.
 
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Zero00000 said:
Honestly, I would have a long time a go, sorry OP
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Why would you of a long time ago..?? Although she been incontenant for a number of years it's not until recently the drugs have stopped working..? I don't see why I should of PTS when her health issue was controlled by medication.
 
Daytona, nobody is criticising your level of care for the dog, you asked a question and people are answering it, in terms of what they would do if it was their dog. Thinking of you and your dog at this difficult time.
 
Daytona said:
Why would you of a long time ago..?? Although she been incontenant for a number of years it's not until recently the drugs have stopped working..? I don't see why I should of PTS when her health issue was controlled by medication.
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If the only issue was her being incontinent during the night then no, I wouldn't be making the decision to PTS right now.

I would, however, be keeping a close eye on her (which I'm sure you are doing anyway) as to whether she deteriorates in other ways and her quality of life starts to be compromised.

She looks lovely, not a nice decision for you x
 
Arrrgghhhh I'm so torn , head says consider PTS

Heart says No

She still so full of life, hauling giant logs, tyres , traffic comes anything large she can find on walks for miles, charging about like a dafty.

I took this video of her a couple of nights ago, she makes me laugh so much. She is so daft it's unreal, makes me laugh all the time with who stupid she can be

Mad as a box of frogs

http://youtu.be/FF51W3-EBuw

I think me and husband will discuss it when he returns from offshore.
 
Have you had a second opinion on her problem ? Maybe get her referred to a specialist ? At least then, if you do feel that PTS is the only option, you will know you have tried everything.
 
Rehome her? There may well be someone happy to give her retirement. |Try boxer welfare. Gorgeous girl. Good luck. I took on a sixteen year old dog once, nutters are out there with big hearts!
 
A good idea to get a second opinion, or maybe a homeopathic vet/alternative treatments?

I really feel for you but 10yrs for a boxer is good going, and it can't be nice for her either.

Thoughts with you in making a very difficult decision.
 
Sometimes the vets can give incurin and propalin together. If things are this bad. Better she has quality of life eh? Second opinion sounds sensible idea too. You need to be referred by your vet to a medical specialist not just another GP style vet.
 
I think there is a difference between leaking a bit occasionally and getting as wet as she does at night - which can't be nice for her at all.
 
Lovely dog, horrible situation. Until you do make the decision you could order some incontinence pads online - I bought some for our cat to line her basket with. they are actually for humans to put on chairs etc so nice and large - they may helps short term - that and a good febreeze plug in !!

Whatever decision you make will be the right one but in your position I would probably be thinking PTS however hard that may be - sounds like she has had a lovely life with you. I had my cats PTS at home - over very quickly and not as traumatic as you would think when they are old - still very sad though x
 
Same. Yes its an awful decision but I think it would be the right one. It cant be that nice for her either?
A couple of weeks ago I lost my dog. Like yours he was fine but had toilet problems which I dealt with because as you say I thought it wrong to pts a beloved dog for poo'ing (in my case) in the house all the time. He was old and it wasn't his fault.
However in hind sight I wonder almost if I should have had it done then. I came home from work and found him collapsed and frightened and wonder if I could have avoided this.
Presumably there is a reason- possibly muscle weakness somewhere and this may worsen and it may like with my dog happen rapidly.
I'm also a mother and although my daughters older I can very much remember firstly when they are tiny you want the house clean and fresh and you don't need the extra work load but also when baby gets a bit bigger and into everything it will be a nightmare.
Big hugs I really do feel for you xxx
 
Alec Swan said:
I'd say that you only really have one option, and in your heart, you'll know what that is. Better to put her down now, whilst you have the choice, than struggle, have the dog suffer, and wait until you reach crisis point, and the point where you have no choice.

Difficult days, and all so often when a similar question appears on here, my answer is just about always the same! I seem to be such a doom-monger, but I believe that when we have a dog which reaches the stage where it no longer has dignity, then we have a duty, and that duty extends to doing what's right for the animal, no matter how it hurts us.

It's your dog and it's your choice. I wish both you and your dog well.

Alec.
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Unreservedly agree with this.

I would add that when you do make the decision, think about maybe doing it in a few weeks time. When you make the decision, although you will still be heartbroken, you will no longer be so confused and torn. These are things she can pick up on, so why not have a last few weeks where you make every effort (as I'm sure you already do) to just let go of the indecision, embrace the time you have with her and let her light go out when it is shining at its brightest...after having the most loving few weeks of her life.

I am so sorry you are in this position and I know Dan and I will be fairly soon as well so I am feeling really upset for you, but bless your hearts both of you for being responsible and realistic. It takes a true love for our animals to do what is best for them despite the pain we inflict on ourselves in the process so my hats off to you for facing up to this as you are xxx
 
It's easy to say pts when it's not your own dog and as owners we often struggle to see the true picture as we're so caught up in our emotions - I really feel for you.

My parents had a boxer whom I gather was almost a baby substitute as it took them 9 years of trying before they had me. He became incontinent and they tried everything that was available at that time to treat him however when I was 6 months old they had to pts due to the hygiene issues with me starting to crawl etc. I would try and get a second opinion but bear in mind you will have this to face in the future if you decide to keep going with her.
 
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