WWYD? Oldie

fidleyspromise

fidleyspromise

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I'm finding this so hard.
GSD will be 13 yrs old in January.
She has slight arthritis and we tried Metacalm but there was no difference in her.

She is wobbly going in and outdoors. Struggling to stay standing when she poohs and sleeps 98% of the time. She is now incontinent at night.

Try to take other dog out a walk without her and she howls and paces. Her body is giving up although her mind is still there.

I've got an appointment with the vet but wondering is it fair to let her go on? Will speak with vet about all options, but are there any?

This is the first time I've had to go through it and finding it hard to know whether to let her go or not.

Then, I got told that for the first time in years, she decided to go up the stairs today (something she's been unable to do).

Any advice?
How did you know when the right time was to let your furry friend go?
 
It sounds to me as if she has CDRM, there is no physical pain so the metacam wouldn't help. It is a horrible condition as , as you say, their brains are still active but their legs won't do as they want. I have been in the same situation as you on quite a few occasions, and I have made the decision to pts sooner rather than later. Sadly they are not going to improve, and I think it is best to let them go whilst they still have some dignity. Ultimately only you can make that decision, and my heart goes out to you.
 
If it were my dog, I would be putting to sleep, we called the vet the first day our old GSD struggled to get up on her hind legs, she was 14, and she was gone within the hour.
Like all GSDs, she was a proud girl and the look on her face when she couldn't do what she wanted to do, after a very full life, helped us make the decision.

She had CDRM (often confused with arthritis/hip dysplasia, it's actually a neurological condition where the messages from the brain are not transmitted to the rear end properly).
 
What a sad decision to have to make for an old friend and she has done really well to reach 13yrs of age. I agree with everyone else as to letting her go with dignity, its the last kindness for owners to give their dog. Hugs to you.
 
Thanks everyone.
Have been reading up on CDRM - sounds most likely.

I've been thinking PTS for some time but my mum was horrified last time I mentioned it (she started with incontinence this week - dog not my mum - and was ok pottering about).
Spoke to my mum last night and she knows there's a huge chance I'll come home without my puppy.

Can't believe its been 12 years - got her when she was 5 weeks and I was 15. (before I knew better about getting such a young pup).
 
Such a sad decision to make, but it sounds like the right one. I had a collie x with CDRM and it is an awful disease. She has done really well to make to 13.
 
my heart goes ot to you , i was in your position 2yrs ago with my 13yr old rotty,
his mind was fine his body let him down , i watched him struggle to get up ,
watched his sad face at the door when i took our other 2 dogs out and he couldnt come.
the sickening thud when in garden for a wee because his back legs had given way , and the lok on his face when i had to pick him up :{ a big proud boy reduced to that broke my heart, he also was incontinent every night.
i saw the vets face when i brought him in and in hindsight id left it too late , but i bred him and he was my best friend my soulmate and it was the hardest thing i ever have done.
i watched him come into the world and i watched him leave.
i had him cremated and i have him at home which is a great comfort,
you will always question your decision but you will know .
huge hugs for you xxx
 
We have had to make this decision for our old Lab this week. She is blind in her 1 remaining eye, seems deaf, has now become incontinent more than once a day over the last week and seems to live in her own little world. She can't go on long walks anymore and her life now is a shadow of her previous one. Sadly she is going to the Vets in the morning for her last visit. We have owned Meg since she was 10 weeks old, she has been a fabulous dog. Very very intelligent and it is so sad to see her deteriorate.

There fore, hard as it is we are letting her go tomorrow. Love you Meg xx
 
FP, best of luck with whatever you decide. There is no cure for CDRM and tests for it are only at an early stage, we have lost two female GSDs to it. It starts in the rear (you may have seen pics of dogs on carts, which I strongly disagree with in large dogs) and eventually moves to the front. There is literally nothing you can do but it causes no pain, just a lot of confusion.

Early signs are scuffing of the back paws which is particularly apparent if on concrete and slow reflexes/clenching in back paws. Wish more vets were on the ball with this condition, it would save people a lot of heartache, buying meds for their dogs which are never going to work.

As mentioned, 13 is a great age for a GSD, the oldest one we lost was 14 and I can't think of any friends' GSDs who have lasted as long as she did.
 
OP agree with others time to let go. We made the decision with our collie x at 15 she has little quality of life compared to previously had arthritis in back legs coped with small walks but when she became incontinent within a day she was gone.
Izzwizz- brave decision will think of you tomorrow- its the kindest most hard decision we ever make for them but we are lucky to be able to make it and prevent them suffering x
 
My opoinion, spend 24hrs doing what you both loved doing - make a fuss , give dog treats that you only gave on special occasions... Make dog comfortable on your bed ... Then call the vet:(
 
Thinking of you IzzWhizz xxx

It has to be Saturday as I can't get time off work. Its made harder as dog stays at my mums (40 minutes away from my home/Vet).

Was going to bring her to mine, spend a couple of hours fussing her/she'll get treats etc and then take her up.
Fiance speaking to pet crematorium today.

My mind is now 100% made up. Thank you everyone.
 
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