KittyKat67 Posted May 26, 2016 Posted May 26, 2016 (edited) She is 15 golden, chow , husky and really my only source of comfort and love for the last years. She has doggie dementia really bad now. She paces and wanders if she is not sleeping. She walks in circles paces, goes outside and walks along the side of the fence then come back gets stuck in corners can't see too well but she has alot of energy still. Paces for hours at a time. GEt stuck and doesn't know how to back up. Her hind legs are now weakening and she has to be helped up if she is not on carpet. I have now put alot of carpet in my hardwood floors. She also pees if left for too many hours now. I know this is not a good life for her. Do I put her down? She does eat good, enjoys her walks for about 15 min a day. She came and licked my face the other day so she is AWARE. That is why I don't know what to do. If she is out of it totally then ok. but she is aware still. She has a smaller dog in the house but rarely pays attention to him. She is in her own world. I love her so I don't want to let her go but I will if I know she is suffering. I imagined bringing a cancer stricken dying dog to the vet to be put down. Not one that is still capeable of going for walks and enjoying eating. Is it something you would put a dog down due to the dementia? In my heart I knwo this is no life for a dog. In the wild, they would die along time ago, we as humans keep them alive. I don't knwo what to do. Edited May 26, 2016 by KittyKat67 1
katiegrl Posted May 26, 2016 Posted May 26, 2016 She is 15 golden, chow , husky and really my only source of comfort and love for the last years. She has doggie dementia really bad now. She paces and wanders if she is not sleeping. She walks in circles paces, goes outside and walks along the side of the fence then come back gets stuck in corners can't see too well but she has alot of energy still. Paces for hours at a time. GEt stuck and doesn't know how to back up. Her hind legs are now weakening and she has to be helped up if she is not on carpet. I have now put alot of carpet in my hardwood floors. She also pees if left for too many hours now. I know this is not a good life for her. Do I put her down? She does eat good, enjoys her walks for about 15 min a day. She came and licked my face the other day so she is AWARE. That is why I don't know what to do. If she is out of it totally then ok. but she is aware still. She has a smaller dog in the house but rarely pays attention to him. She is in her own world. I love her so I don't want to let her go but I will if I know she is suffering. I imagined bringing a cancer stricken dying dog to the vet to be put down. Not one that is still capeable of going for walks and enjoying eating. Is it something you would put a dog down due to the dementia? In my heart I knwo this is no life for a dog. In the wild, they would die along time ago, we as humans keep them alive. I don't knwo what to do. Oh sweetie, I am so sorry, this breaks my heart..... seriously. If she is suffering, then yes please put her down. She lived a happy 15 years, let her rest in peace poor thing. Again I am so so sorry. hugs 1
Liam1 Posted May 26, 2016 Posted May 26, 2016 She is 15 golden, chow , husky and really my only source of comfort and love for the last years. She has doggie dementia really bad now. She paces and wanders if she is not sleeping. She walks in circles paces, goes outside and walks along the side of the fence then come back gets stuck in corners can't see too well but she has alot of energy still. Paces for hours at a time. GEt stuck and doesn't know how to back up. Her hind legs are now weakening and she has to be helped up if she is not on carpet. I have now put alot of carpet in my hardwood floors. She also pees if left for too many hours now. I know this is not a good life for her. Do I put her down? She does eat good, enjoys her walks for about 15 min a day. She came and licked my face the other day so she is AWARE. That is why I don't know what to do. If she is out of it totally then ok. but she is aware still. She has a smaller dog in the house but rarely pays attention to him. She is in her own world. I love her so I don't want to let her go but I will if I know she is suffering. I imagined bringing a cancer stricken dying dog to the vet to be put down. Not one that is still capeable of going for walks and enjoying eating. Is it something you would put a dog down due to the dementia? In my heart I knwo this is no life for a dog. In the wild, they would die along time ago, we as humans keep them alive. I don't knwo what to do. It sounds as if she is not suffering. My vets advice is to wait until they stop eating. When a dog stops eating that means they are no longer enjoying life. There are also new drugs to treat doggie dementia. Can you ask your vet about them? 2
Gloria25 Posted May 26, 2016 Posted May 26, 2016 It sounds as if she is not suffering. My vets advice is to wait until they stop eating. When a dog stops eating that means they are no longer enjoying life. There are also new drugs to treat doggie dementia. Can you ask your vet about them? Agreed, until it gets to a point where they cannot walk, defecate, rest, eat/drink. Now, yes, she may need a lot more help and if you cannot be there for her then if she's at home dragging herself around and/or getting almost hurt then I believe she should be put down. ***Hugs*** I know it's hard, cuz while in the wild they probably wouldn't make it past 5 months, IMO, when we domesticate them, we become responsible for them. For me it was hard to play God with my beast, but I wasn't going to spend $5K with no guarantee of how long she'd live afterwards. It was a painful and tough decision. I was inconsolable for days. 1
RecentChange Posted May 26, 2016 Posted May 26, 2016 Ahh its tough - I have never had to deal with dementia - terminal diseases and acute injuries have always made the decision fairly easy for me. What does your vet say? Personally, my mantra has always been "animals fear pain, not death" - they don't think about "tomorrow" or the future, or make plans, or have things that they really wanted to do one day. Animals live IN THE MOMENT. So, how are the majority of those moments? Do you think she is usually fairly comfortable and content, or does she appear confused, nervous, and uneasy? This pacing, is it relaxed, or more of a nervous tick? How are her vitals - especially during these times? Is her heart rate or respiration elevated - an indicator of stress, or is she fairly relaxed? Another mantra I subscribe to "better a week early than a day too late". We don't want to cause undo suffering for our beloved pet, just because *we* can't let go. Sometimes its better to let them pass on a "good day". On a day when the sun is out, on a day when they seem more lucid and are comforted by our presents. On a day when the discomforts aren't so unmanageable. Some times its the day that is "good to be alive" is the good day to go. Waiting until it gets BAD, until there is no choice - I do not think is a very good way to go. Plus, the stress that causes the animal, and the human who now must act fast... is less than ideal in my opinion. Euthanasia ("gentle death") is a GIFT we can give to our pets. Especially after a long life lived. We humans, can take away all of their worldly pains - and in turn, we take the emotional pain on for ourselves. One thing I highly recommend, is finding a veterinarian who will perform an at home euthanasia. This is something I have been able to provide for my elderly pets, and it was a god send. No stressful car ride to the vet, no unusual sights, sounds, smells etc of the office. Instead, they are able to pass on peacefully, in the place they know best, comforted by the one they love most. I had my 19 year old cat put down in my home, on my bed (I placed plastic under the comforter just in case), as I gently stroked her. She was COMPLETELY at ease and her passing was totally peaceful. While I was SO SAD to lose her - my heart swelled with joy that I was able to give her that gift. No more suffering, just a sunny day, enjoying tender strokes, laying in her favorite place - and peacefully drifted into unconsciousness. 2
katiegrl Posted May 26, 2016 Posted May 26, 2016 Your precious pooch is 105 years old in people years...... Which you probably already know. Whatever you do decide OP, do what is in the best interests of your dog. I think dogs do know what is happening to them and around them.... more than we think. Best of luck though, tough call! 1
JustGettingBy Posted May 27, 2016 Posted May 27, 2016 If you feel you can keep her comfortable, I'd say keep her chugging and get what she can out of life. If not, let her go gently.
ChickiePops Posted May 27, 2016 Posted May 27, 2016 Your precious pooch is 105 years old in people years...... Which you probably already know. Whatever you do decide OP, do what is in the best interests of your dog. I think dogs do know what is happening to them and around them.... more than we think. Best of luck though, tough call! Just want to point out that the whole dog years vs human years has been proven false. Many times. I'm so sorry for your heartache OP. You know your dog better than anyone else does..whatever decision you make, I'm sure it'll be the best one for your poor pooch.
Just a Guy Posted May 27, 2016 Posted May 27, 2016 Hi Kitty Kat, I'm not very knowledgeable about dogs as far as their health and general well being goes. I like dogs and cats for that matter but have never, personally, kept them as pets. Others here who have much more experience with pets have given you invaluable advice. Of course you will have to take the final call since you know your pet best and would know intuitively whether she was suffering or not. What I do want to say is that it is so ironic that if it were a close relative of our or our spouse we would go to the ends of the world to ensure that they get the best treatment and stay alive for the longest possible time. Sometimes we may feel that it is time that they should go because we can see them suffer and yet we can not intervene in the process of their passing on. Euthanasia for humans is not legally permitted in most nations. Thus we see our loved ones suffer till the last through pain which can be insufferable at times till Nature intervenes and they pass on to a more peaceful place. However, for our pets, who are loved as much and sometimes more we have the power to intervene and often do so to let them die a death of dignity. What is better, how we deal with our human relatives or how we deal with our four legged ones? May be if we can answer this question then you will have yours! Warm wishes.
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