carhoch
Pearl Clutcher
Be yourself everybody else is already taken
Posts: 3,000
Location: We’re RV’s so It change all the time .
Jun 28, 2014 21:46:39 GMT
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Post by carhoch on Oct 5, 2021 1:03:04 GMT
Euthanasia is a hard decision to make for a beloved pet but remember that it also the most loving thing you can do for them , you take their pain and make it yours and for me personally quality of life is more important then quantity , the way you describe her if she was mine I would probably help her cross over .
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luckyjune
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,685
Location: In the rainy, rainy WA
Jul 22, 2017 4:59:41 GMT
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Post by luckyjune on Oct 5, 2021 1:15:09 GMT
We were where you are three weeks ago with our 15 year old Lab, Abbie. And, of course, as soon as I arranged for the vet to come to the house to help her pass, she perked up with an energy streak that didn't seem possible a few days before. I talked to my three closest neighbors, all dog lovers, and they all agreed that it was probably time. One said her dog did the same thing, causing her to question if she's made the right decision. In hindsight she was thankful for that burst of energy because that is her memory of her sweet pup.
It wasn't easy. DH and I shed a lot of tears that day, but I did feel at peace. I know she wasn't at her best and keeping her alive because I didn't want to say goodbye wasn't fair.
Good luck and hugs to you over these. next few days.
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schizo319
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,030
Jun 28, 2014 0:26:58 GMT
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Post by schizo319 on Oct 5, 2021 1:26:38 GMT
We've had to make 'the' decision a couple of times ober the years. What helped us was to be really honest with ourselves about whether we were keeping her going for *her* or for us. It's a horrible thing to go through, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Oct 5, 2021 1:54:34 GMT
What you’ve written sounds a lot like my Jack Russell at the end. Daily accidents, barking at blank walls, walking around aimlessly in circles, really not able to enjoy much of the things he loved in his youth.
Our vet said make a list of his ten favorite things, and once he can’t enjoy more than half of them it’s time to start thinking about his quality of life. I know I was hanging on more for me than for him in that last year of his life. It was sad letting him go but he really wasn’t very happy anymore.
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Post by worrywart on Oct 5, 2021 2:44:46 GMT
I have an old dog in similar shape. It is hard but she still has things she enjoys. Being outside on a nice day, rolling in the grass, walking freely outside (not much to bump into) and going on short walks. She has lost so much of what she used to be able to do but she still has things she enjoys. We try to 'hide' soft dog treats for her around the den each night and she enjoys searching them out..well she can't see but it definitely gets her nose going. Rachel Ray makes some soft burger treats (amazon) that we are using now since our dog can't eat hard foods that well.
I'm sorry - it is definitely challenging and so hard watching them age. ((((hugs))))
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Post by papersilly on Oct 5, 2021 5:38:13 GMT
papersilly that sounds exactly like her. It is rare when she eats in the morning and right now is wandering aimlessly. Hugs to all who have been through this, it is heartbreaking. I've seen videos where older dogd will just walk themselves to death. Sometimes in a circle but just continuous. I never want it to come to that. We will make a compassionate decision before we ever let that happen to her.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Oct 5, 2021 15:13:16 GMT
I've seen videos where older dogs will just walk themselves to death. Sometimes in a circle but just continuous. I never want it to come to that. We will make a compassionate decision before we ever let that happen to her. Something similar happened to one of our other dogs... she had an inoperable brain tumor. She had some facial paralysis, and we were managing her symptoms with multiple medications. Then one morning, she suddenly had a HUGE change in her personality- she was obsessively pacing back and forth, panting, and just could NOT STOP-- it was scary to see. We managed to keep her still in the car long enough to get her to the vet neurologist (they had been treating her), and they determined the tumor finally started pressing on a part of her brain that was affecting her behavior. The only thing we could have done at that point was sedate her. Our Bisbee, as we knew her, was gone- the tumor had taken her from us. The obsessive pacing dog was not 'her' and sedating her wouldn't have given her (her personality) back to us. So as heartbreaking as it was, we made the decision right then. I like the idea of thinking about it in terms of a 'what things do they love to do, and how many of them can they still do' mindset. If your pet can't enjoy some of the things they love, then it truly is NOT in their best interest to prolong their life only because it's tough for us to let them go. It really IS the hardest-- and most loving / selfless-- decision we can make for our pets.
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,884
Jun 26, 2014 22:49:09 GMT
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Post by tracylynn on Oct 5, 2021 15:23:56 GMT
This sounds like my dog at 15. Almost exactly.
I had multiple conversations with my Vet about it. I didn't really realize how bad it was until I started researching dog dementia and he had like 8 or 9 of the 10 warning signs.
The topper is that he would nip at me if I startled him. The Vet indicated that was a sign that he actually didn't know who I was, therefore, he was protecting himself. That broke my heart.
It took me several days, but finally I asked the Vet what he would do. He was honest and said it's about quality of life for not only the dog, but for you. I wasn't sleeping because I was always on edge because he wasn't sleeping well (whining, trying to get off the bed and falling, etc). And he told me if this was their family pet he would feel it was time. There was absolutely no pressure or judgement, and I was glad he was honest.
I still sometimes wonder if I could have waited, but ultimately know it was the right decision. My first dog a couple of years prior was much easier, he was very sick. It was obvious. This one was much harder.
I'm so sorry you're going through this.
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edie3
Drama Llama
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Posts: 5,507
Jun 26, 2014 1:03:18 GMT
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Post by edie3 on Oct 5, 2021 16:40:33 GMT
These stories of your dogs are so heartbreaking, but you made the right choice. Some days she (Peanut) seems better and more like her self, and then she does something bizarre. I don't think we are quite there yet, but I appreciate the love and support. And how can I post about her without a photo!
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Post by papersilly on Oct 5, 2021 17:35:23 GMT
I've seen videos where older dogs will just walk themselves to death. Sometimes in a circle but just continuous. I never want it to come to that. We will make a compassionate decision before we ever let that happen to her. Something similar happened to one of our other dogs... she had an inoperable brain tumor. She had some facial paralysis, and we were managing her symptoms with multiple medications. Then one morning, she suddenly had a HUGE change in her personality- she was obsessively pacing back and forth, panting, and just could NOT STOP-- it was scary to see. We managed to keep her still in the car long enough to get her to the vet neurologist (they had been treating her), and they determined the tumor finally started pressing on a part of her brain that was affecting her behavior. The only thing we could have done at that point was sedate her. Our Bisbee, as we knew her, was gone- the tumor had taken her from us. The obsessive pacing dog was not 'her' and sedating her wouldn't have given her (her personality) back to us. So as heartbreaking as it was, we made the decision right then. I like the idea of thinking about it in terms of a 'what things do they love to do, and how many of them can they still do' mindset. If your pet can't enjoy some of the things they love, then it truly is NOT in their best interest to prolong their life only because it's tough for us to let them go. It really IS the hardest-- and most loving / selfless-- decision we can make for our pets. i'm sorry you had to go through that with Bisbee. it must have been so frightening and sad for you. it's what i fear too. on a hopeful note, our dog displayed a burst of her old self yesterday. that evening we had a thunderstorm come through. there was lightening, thunder, and strong rain. DH and i were at a football game so we dreaded what chaos we would come home to. well, she had gotten into my trash in my craft room. in that trash was a BLACK stamp pad i threw out. well, she found it, stomped on it, and walked dangerously close to my white couch and club chairs. dangerously close. LOL. but that burst let me know she's still mostly there. although, normally she would be soaked because she loves standing in the rain. she was bone dry and that was odd. so she was "there" and not there at the same time.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Oct 5, 2021 19:48:05 GMT
in that trash was a BLACK stamp pad i threw out. well, she found it, stomped on it, and walked dangerously close to my white couch and club chairs. dangerously close. LOL. but that burst let me know she's still mostly there. ![:shocked:](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/JvSt42CUoZ9LG952aAaF.jpg) and ![:love:](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/W4b_Om5roEadLiOzGo_l.jpg) lol. Thank you for your kind words; it was a tough situation to go thru. One of the things I regret the most is that we thought we would have more time, and we didn't do any of those 'bucket list' type things with her... let her eat a steak, or a cheeseburger, or give her an ice cream cone, etc. You know, those things you're not supposed to let your dogs do because it's not good for them. By the time we wanted to, it was too late. So now, I give Prescott (he's 11 1/2) tiny pieces of my people-food sometimes, etc. I don't want to not 'have time' with him someday, too. edie3 , your Peanut (what a cute name!) is a sweetie. Give her some skritches and kisses for me (if she'll let you, lol)
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Post by papersilly on Oct 5, 2021 21:05:09 GMT
in that trash was a BLACK stamp pad i threw out. well, she found it, stomped on it, and walked dangerously close to my white couch and club chairs. dangerously close. LOL. but that burst let me know she's still mostly there. ![:shocked:](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/JvSt42CUoZ9LG952aAaF.jpg) and ![:love:](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/W4b_Om5roEadLiOzGo_l.jpg) lol. Thank you for your kind words; it was a tough situation to go thru. One of the things I regret the most is that we thought we would have more time, and we didn't do any of those 'bucket list' type things with her... let her eat a steak, or a cheeseburger, or give her an ice cream cone, etc. You know, those things you're not supposed to let your dogs do because it's not good for them. By the time we wanted to, it was too late. So now, I give Prescott (he's 11 1/2) tiny pieces of my people-food sometimes, etc. I don't want to not 'have time' with him someday, too. edie3 , your Peanut (what a cute name!) is a sweetie. Give her some skritches and kisses for me (if she'll let you, lol) i always tell my dogs that if they ever hear me say we are taking them to McDonalds for 20-piece nuggets, they'll know it's time. LOL on a serious note, we've only had to put one dog down (the first one just died on his own). i remember when we were pulling into the vet's parking lot, someone cut us off and pulled in ahead of us. i was already emotional at what was about to happen. when the other driver got out of her car and said something like "watch where you're going", i remember yelling "we're about to put our dog down you bitch, so F^&* you!". mind you, i'm the least confrontational person out there. at that moment, though, it all just spilled out. she just stopped and mumbled an apology. whatever, bitch.
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Post by maryland on Oct 5, 2021 22:53:38 GMT
That's so hard! So sorry you are going through this. Such a hard decision when you love your pet so much and they are part of the family. Thinking of you!
My german shepherd is only 9 but was just diagnosed with degenerative mylopathy. We are taking her to underwater treadmill and laser therapy once a week. She is having trouble walking, but we are trying to do what we can to slow the progress of the disease. I hope to have her around as long as possible. But it's so sad to see her struggle.
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