quality of life issue

[puglover22]

HM has a vet visit today. She has started the tail drooping, won't/can't jump up on her favorite chair any longer, is wobbly getting up and has slowed in walking. But she eats like a horse, perks up at the sound of our neighbor coming in (she loves Mr. Will and knows he keeps treats), and still gets around ok. She has no bowel or bladder issues, so hopefully some medication will help. She was 11 in April and has been the epitome of health... so far.

Don - how about some doggie steps for her highness to get up in her favorite chair?

[3pugmama]

I'm new to the forum but I do know that before my puppy had his surgery where they had to remove his socket bone they put him on Rimadyl which is an anti inflamatory medication that did wonders for him. He also stayed on it for about 2 months after the surgery and i'm happy to report, is doing great. The vet calls him an "absolute miracle" that he is up and completely normal as normal can be for what he has been through.

[Pat's Crew]

I had a boston that beat the odd big time..........
she had a spinal injury at age 2
she slowly recovered but not completely took a long long time
then she had to learn to swim to keep active
she got hot baths and massages her whole life
she ate **** dogfood because that is all she would eat..
and she lived to be 19 and half years old..

she went down hill really fast.....
the vet told me she was shutting down
and I made the decision to let her go
I cried like a baby that day
but I do know for her that was best

she could still catch a mouse in the house
blind and deaf at age 18.

don't remember if she had an bowel or peeing issues
but she sure was old for her breed
one of the oldest in the world
and let the vet said.....they tell you when it time
with her
she stopped eating and was not drinking and stumbling all over the place
she was pale and NOT happy at all..

sorry you have to go through all this
it is tough
quality of life to me ends when they just do not want to eat anything anymore....at all

[LuLu_Cooking_Monstor]

My friends Lab Nikki was very much like my own too since this is my bestie and we were with each other almost every day growing up. Nikki acted funny and looked sick and they found cancer in her lymph nodes and was in the far stages....only a few months to live. Though she was weaker and wasn't feeling too well, she was engaging everyone. She wanted to cuddle like usual, give kisses like always, go on the couch and cuddle (with a little help getting up) so no one in my friends family thought to put her down. She may be sick, but she is still wanting to keep up with living life and I think for the love she gave it is very fair for her family to continue to aid her in keeping her usual routine, keeping her quality of life until she chose not to live. She one day was really sick looking and the next morning would not get up and could barely wag her tail. It was time to end it then and not at the doctors office when she first got sick. She lived a few months from diagnosis and was able to be loved and spoiled and gave her family time to say goodbye.

To each their own, but I feel like if they are just old/declining, sick and still want to live and I put them down, I'm doing my dog, a family member a disfavor. It's like I didn't put them down to ease the pain, I killed them since they were still trying to live and I stopped them from doing so. I wouldn't put to sleep my grandpa just because he's feeble and we don't have all the time...my parents try to make time and hired him a "sitter", later a medical professional. I'm cutting back expenses to be able to do more trips to be in California to see him. If my dog is old and I am at work, I seriously would change my schedule so the BF and I are opposite or get them a sitter for the gap time....I owe them that much. If LuLu survived her seizure I know she would have issues, maybe paralyzed parts and I would do everything to make sure she was loved and not alone.

Really the short of it is love her and spoil her. We dont know how much time she has, for all we know she has years in her (some dogs lose their bowels earlier than others just like people), but I would use my time wisely and love Miss Princess Pansy as much as possible. And when she has declined to a point where YOU feel it has affected her quality of life drastically and her pain is greater than her enjoyment, then only you will know if it's right to help ease her to the Rainbow Bridge.

[hotrod351]

youll know when its time. my vet had told me that about a 12 year old shitzu i had, and i did. i just went through this about 5 months ago with my male pug. he could stand up any more. he was 16 years old and had hip problems for years, but he was still happy, talked a lot. it was the hardest thing i ever did. i still have his 6 year old sister so it wasnt to bad and found a puppy within a month. still miss him. only thing good is that ill never live to see this one go, im 60 and if she lives to at least 15, well 75 for me would really be pushing my luck.

[pugaddiction]

You will no when it is time. We struggled with the same thing with our 13 year old dalmation. He couldn't stand long enough to eat his food and he was peeing everywhere. There was one day when I looked over at him and he was just staring at me, standing straight up yet peeing. He didn't even know that he was peeing. I talked to my vet and she asked me, "How do you think Chevy would feel if he knew that he was peeing everywhere". That answered my question, if he knew he was doing this he would be devistated. Chevy crossed the bridge March 14, 2009.

[never2manypugs]

Assuming you can meet the demands...when "the light" goes out of her eyes, when she is no longer happy, interested and alert, and/or when she is no longer interested in eating are good indicators she is ready to go.

I am so sorry you and your old girl are facing these issues. Spend the time you have left wisely and generously.

Take care,
Lisa

Exactly....


My Tasha is almost 16 and has been a paraplegic for over a year now. I have been expressing her bladder for over 2 years. But she is so happy and alert and loves being around me and going places.

You will know when the time comes.