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Post by k8smom on Jun 29, 2014 5:00:47 GMT
We lost our little guy today. He began to have seizures and the vet said they could run some tests and see if it was cancer or a tumor but that at his age his changes of recovery were not very high. She reassured us again that he did not appear to be in pain, thank goodness. He got to play outside all weekend and seemed fine right up until the seizures began. It was the hardest thing ever to see him go, but it would have been even harder to watch him suffer. Thank you all for your advise and kind words. RIP, Spud.
We have an 18 year old toy poodle who is blind and deaf at this point but otherwise healthy. (Verified at his last checkup.) We have some issues with incontinence but use puppy pads and wash his little bed and blanket every other day. He can't find his way in when he goes outside to potty, so we pick him up and bring him back in and we also pick him up and put him in front of his food and water dishes, although he can still sniff his way to them sometimes.
We love him dearly and are of the opinion that until he is in pain or suffering, we will continue to love on him and care for him. The ladies at my work all think we are being selfish and that we should put him down for quality of life issues. I feel like maybe I am losing all objectivity because I don't understand why the conscientious is that he should be put down. He is our first family dog and he's been healthy and happy his entire life without any main issues, and just because we have to pick him up and help him now doesn't translate to a quality of life issue in my mind. He still plays and rolls around on the floor like a puppy, and he still snuggles us and seems happy. I imagine that unless he develops a sudden illness, he will just not wake up one day. In the mean time, I'm happy to be his caretaker in exchange for all of the love he's shown us all of these years.
Do you agree with the work ladies, am I being selfish? I know the peas will tell me the truth.
Kerry
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luvnlifelady
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,428 
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Post by luvnlifelady on Jun 29, 2014 5:15:06 GMT
I agree with you. Until he exhibits being uncomfortable, I think what you are doing is fine.
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sharonoz
Junior Member
Posts: 54
Jun 27, 2014 5:08:57 GMT
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Post by sharonoz on Jun 29, 2014 5:16:02 GMT
I think as long as is happy and you are able to care for him, he is fine. We put our first family dog down after a series of seizures left her unable to walk. She was so distressed not being able to go to the toilet outside and the vet said she wouldn't recover. Our current dog is at that age where her health could go downhill any time now so I really feel for you.
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Post by Scarlet Ohana on Jun 29, 2014 5:17:35 GMT
It's clear you love and care for your pup greatly. I think you will know when it's time and no one should be judging you like they are.
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Post by mcscrapper on Jun 29, 2014 5:19:07 GMT
Sadly, I am right there with you. My Chesapeake Bay Retriever is 14! That's way old for a Chessie!
I was thinking the same thing today about my pup. She is deaf and is having difficultly getting herself down when lying down. I think that's why she stands up so much. She is also falling from time to time when walking up and down the 2-3 steps into my house. I always feel so awful when I see her stumble!
I am considering some arthritis meds for her to help ease the discomfort at least.
I'll be keeping an eye on this thread and thinking about you and your pup!
meredith
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Judy26
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MOTFY Bitchy Nursemaid
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Post by Judy26 on Jun 29, 2014 5:20:41 GMT
I went through this 2 summers ago with our toy poodle. He was such a sweet dog. We finally had him put down when he had sores that wouldn't heal and he wasn't able to walk much without lying down. In hind sight I should have put him down a few weeks earlier because he wasn't comfortable. But he would perk up a bit or enjoy a special treat so I would put it off. Honestly, only you will know when the time is right. You will see him one day and know that he is losing dignity and there is no more joy for him. Unless your co-workers are close friends who see your pup often, their opinions are just that. Trust your heart.
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perumbula
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,439
Location: Idaho
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Post by perumbula on Jun 29, 2014 5:21:12 GMT
There are lots of dogs who are born blind or develop blindness or deafness at a young age, should they be put down too? As long as your dog is healthy and happy, that's all that matters.
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marianne
Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys. . . My monkeys fly!
Posts: 4,176
Location: right smack dab in the middle of SC
Site Supporter
Jun 25, 2014 21:08:26 GMT
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Post by marianne on Jun 29, 2014 5:24:38 GMT
No, I don't think you're being selfish. I think you're being a loving, responsible pet owner. Making life a little easier for him as he ages doesn't translate into poor quality of life in my opinion. As long as your little guy is deemed healthy by your vet, I see nothing selfish at all about helping and caring for the animal that has given you so much love and companionship over the years. I have no doubt that when the time comes, you will do what's necessary to insure he doesn't suffer.
Enjoy your little guy while you can (how lucky you are to have him so old!) and don't let your work ladies make you feel bad.
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~Tessie~
Shy Member
Posts: 37
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Post by ~Tessie~ on Jun 29, 2014 5:26:24 GMT
It's clear you love and care for your pup greatly. I think you will know when it's time and no one should be judging you like they are. I agree with this. |
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by tracylynn on Jun 29, 2014 5:59:33 GMT
Blind and deaf, but otherwise healthy? Absolutely not being selfish.
I would be doing the same thing you did, and in fact did. My had to put my toy poodle Jack down on March 1st - he would have been 14 this month. He was over 50% blind, but that was just an annoyance compared to the his real issues(liver damage due to long time steroid use for skin allergy issues, kidney stones, etc).
I carried him a lot in his last few months, and it didn't bother me at all. People say all the time that you'll know when it's time. I never believed that. I couldn't imagine the day would ever come where I would be able to make that decision - I really thought someone would have to step in and tell me. But you know what? They're right - you just know. Your dog will tell you.
It sounds like your dog has a good life still and a good dog-mommy! Make good memories while you can!
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linda~lou
Pearl Clutcher
Keep calm and eat crumpets
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Jun 25, 2014 21:57:08 GMT
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Post by linda~lou on Jun 29, 2014 6:15:41 GMT
My baby girl a Lhasa Apso is 15 blind and probably deaf. She's not even close to being put down. Yes she has accidents in the house, other than that she is fine. She can smell a snack from 10 feet away. She has a healthy appetite and is in no pain. I think as loving pet owners, we will know when it's time. As long as your baby still plays and eats, enjoy him and don't listen to what others say. I always think would I put a parent 'down' because of hearing loss or incontinence? Hardly. Your pet deserves the same thing. When it's time, you'll know. From what you say, I don't think it's time. Here's my blind little girl. Attachments:
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Post by justjenpeas on Jun 29, 2014 15:11:54 GMT
It's clear you love and care for your pup greatly. I think you will know when it's time and no one should be judging you like they are. I totally agree with this. We have a 16 year old lab and would do that exact same thing you are doing if we had to. |
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back to *pea*ality
Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys ~refugee pea #59
Posts: 3,149
Jun 25, 2014 19:51:11 GMT
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Post by back to *pea*ality on Jun 29, 2014 15:29:13 GMT
Having been through this myself, he will let you know when it is time. Tell the work ladies to mind their own business.
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momto4kiddos
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,153
Jun 26, 2014 11:45:15 GMT
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Post by momto4kiddos on Jun 29, 2014 15:48:12 GMT
You sound like a wonderful pet owner! I do wonder if your co-workers are pet owners? My mother had a friend who wasn't a dog person and who often didn't share the same point of view as my mother on pet ownership/end of life stuff.
Unless his life was stressing him, I don't see the issue. Sounds like he's well loved and well taken care of. I imagine he's very content.
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Post by miominmio on Jun 29, 2014 15:57:37 GMT
It is difficult to know when to put a pet to sleep when there's no sudden illness. (I have owned horses, cats, dogs and bunnies, so I have faced this several times). The problem is, as an owner who has never had to make the decision to euthanize before, it's a risk that you won't know when the time is right, or at least that you won't be able to admit it to yourself. Failing to recognize it's time, will mean your dog will suffer, and that's actually really painful to acknowledge afterwards. I'm not saying you should put your dog to sleep now, I obviously haven't met your dog, but perhaps you can ask your vet to tell you when it's time?
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Post by lillieleigh on Jun 29, 2014 16:02:33 GMT
I absolutely agree with the path you are taking. I have a neighbor with the same situation and she is doing the same thing. You are such a loving dog mom.
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Post by k8smom on Jun 29, 2014 21:52:32 GMT
The problem is, as an owner who has never had to make the decision to euthanize before, it's a risk that you won't know when the time is right, or at least that you won't be able to admit it to yourself. Thank you ladies for your replies! The conversation got heated one day at work because my next door cubicle neighbors do not have dogs and insist that "accidents" will diminish my house value and that I am putting my own interests ahead of my dog's. This is my real fear, miominmio nailed it. My dog has check ups or "check ins" every 6 months so I will let the vet guide me but she did tell me when we first spoke about it last year that "people put their pets down for a lot less these days and it's not up to them to judge", which I thought was very heartbreaking. Kerry |
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refupea #245
