At what point do you call it a day with an old dog?

Just to conclude this thread and if anyone is looking for advice there are quite a few things that people should take in from reading thread comments and also what Mrs and I have just been through:

- It was worth an extra week on heavy painkillers to know the right decision has been made
- Make sure you have the vet you know
- When the time is right, you will know and the vet will let you know too
- You do have to stamp your foot down
- Make sure the setting is right
- Make sure you know what parts you want to see
 
ending the torment is the only right decision, have had so many dogs euthanised in my arms you would think I'd be beyond numb, I'm not, it never gets easier, it gets harder... thoughts are with you Blue
 
Sorry for your lost mate, it’s a very sad time but think about all the happiness he brought you and your family and the great life you gave him.
 
Feel for you. Sorry for your loss.

I have a 13 year old dog too. Im becoming increasingly worried about this, every minor health issue now worries me considerably and i dread the day i have to say goodbye.

She's had joint problems from an early age so that's not really a sign for me. She takes supplements to help which work remarkably well and I make sure to give her a massage regularly, I also try and carry her up and down stairs just to save her the bother. She'll have her moments where she seizes up and might limp for a short while especially after longer naps but in general she's not deteriorated too much beyond the problems she has had most of her life and never shows signs of distress aside from the mentioned limp.

I think when they dont want to or can't do things you know they would otherwise want to do if healthy, then it is time to start considering it and planning for it.

As it happens I spoke to a random guy whilst on a walk 2 nights ago and we were discussing something similar as he recently lost one of his dogs and he said im his experience having had many dogs over the years, the best thing to do is go and get another straight away and give them all the love. Not sure I'll be able to do that myself, think it will feel too much like a replacement, I'll likely take some time to reflect and remember her before eventually looking at getting another.
 
ninjamonkey said:
Feel for you. Sorry for your loss.

I have a 13 year old dog too. Im becoming increasingly worried about this, every minor health issue now worries me considerably and i dread the day i have to say goodbye.

She's had joint problems from an early age so that's not really a sign for me. She takes supplements to help which work remarkably well and I make sure to give her a massage regularly, I also try and carry her up and down stairs just to save her the bother. She'll have her moments where she seizes up and might limp for a short while especially after longer naps but in general she's not deteriorated too much beyond the problems she has had most of her life and never shows signs of distress aside from the mentioned limp.

I think when they dont want to or can't do things you know they would otherwise want to do if healthy, then it is time to start considering it and planning for it.

As it happens I spoke to a random guy whilst on a walk 2 nights ago and we were discussing something similar as he recently lost one of his dogs and he said im his experience having had many dogs over the years, the best thing to do is go and get another straight away and give them all the love. Not sure I'll be able to do that myself, think it will feel too much like a replacement, I'll likely take some time to reflect and remember her before eventually looking at getting another.
Click to expand...
We had Ben on ear drops, anti-allergenic pills, monthly injection for allergies and occasional pain relief injections. The one thing Lucy and I agreed on is that we did not want him to put him on long term pain relief. He has been on pain relief for 2 weeks and he has just been making himself a liability (catching him falling down the stairs, also knocked himself out trying to jump on the sofa),

You cannot replace. I think it is all about turning another chapter in the book when the time is right. Replacing a void does not make too much sense to me, but I can see why people do it.
 
ninjamonkey said:
Feel for you. Sorry for your loss.

I have a 13 year old dog too. Im becoming increasingly worried about this, every minor health issue now worries me considerably and i dread the day i have to say goodbye.

She's had joint problems from an early age so that's not really a sign for me. She takes supplements to help which work remarkably well and I make sure to give her a massage regularly, I also try and carry her up and down stairs just to save her the bother. She'll have her moments where she seizes up and might limp for a short while especially after longer naps but in general she's not deteriorated too much beyond the problems she has had most of her life and never shows signs of distress aside from the mentioned limp.

I think when they dont want to or can't do things you know they would otherwise want to do if healthy, then it is time to start considering it and planning for it.

As it happens I spoke to a random guy whilst on a walk 2 nights ago and we were discussing something similar as he recently lost one of his dogs and he said im his experience having had many dogs over the years, the best thing to do is go and get another straight away and give them all the love. Not sure I'll be able to do that myself, think it will feel too much like a replacement, I'll likely take some time to reflect and remember her before eventually looking at getting another.
Click to expand...
Hi
My pooch has joint problems, what are the supplements you give her ?
Thanks
 
pride in battle said:
Hi
My pooch has joint problems, what are the supplements you give her ?
Thanks
Click to expand...
They're pets at home brand Joints and mobility tablets. Never tried any other brand to offer a comparison, these were the first we tried, they worked so we've stuck with them. There is a slightly different version designed for senior dogs that are soft chew form but when we changed her on to them thinking they might be a better fit, they seemed to be less effective so gone back to the standard ones which are a harder form but she's no problem eating them plus she is used to them and see's them as part of her daily feed.

She gets 1 in the morning with her dentastix and then another later on in the day around tea time before she has her walk. The difference they've made for such a minor thing is remarkable. She still has moments of seizing up, they're not a cure but it's not nearly as bad and make a huge difference.

Reasonably priced too. £15 for a tub of 120 at 2 a day they last 2 month

Edit. Here is the direct link

www.petsathome.com

Pets at Home Dog Joint & Mobility Chewable Tablets | Pets

Buy Pets at Home Dog Joint & Mobility Chewable Tablets | Available to order today & Free Delivery on orders over £40
www.petsathome.com www.petsathome.com
 
ninjamonkey said:
They're pets at home brand Joints and mobility tablets. Never tried any other brand to offer a comparison, these were the first we tried, they worked so we've stuck with them. There is a slightly different version designed for senior dogs that are soft chew form but when we changed her on to them thinking they might be a better fit, they seemed to be less effective so gone back to the standard ones which are a harder form but she's no problem eating them plus she is used to them and see's them as part of her daily feed.

She gets 1 in the morning with her dentastix and then another later on in the day around tea time before she has her walk. The difference they've made for such a minor thing is remarkable. She still has moments of seizing up, they're not a cure but it's not nearly as bad and make a huge difference.

Reasonably priced too. £15 for a tub of 120 at 2 a day they last 2 month

Edit. Here is the direct link

www.petsathome.com

Pets at Home Dog Joint & Mobility Chewable Tablets | Pets

Buy Pets at Home Dog Joint & Mobility Chewable Tablets | Available to order today & Free Delivery on orders over £40
www.petsathome.com www.petsathome.com
Click to expand...
Thank you, im so pleased its worked for you, and her ;) when you say 'seizing up' is this when she is upright and in what context ? My girl is 10 and if she's been lay down for a while is a bit stiff when walking for a minute or 2
 
pride in battle said:
Thank you, im so pleased its worked for you, and her ;) when you say 'seizing up' is this when she is upright and in what context ? My girl is 10 and if she's been lay down for a while is a bit stiff when walking for a minute or 2
Click to expand...
Yeah exactly that, would fairly regularly stiffen up temporarily after longer periods of being still or lay down and develop a temporary limp sometimes, the tablets have drastically reduced that, they're much more infrequent and she's bolting around the house regularly.
 
SamTheGuru said:
Just to conclude this thread and if anyone is looking for advice there are quite a few things that people should take in from reading thread comments and also what Mrs and I have just been through:

- It was worth an extra week on heavy painkillers to know the right decision has been made
- Make sure you have the vet you know
- When the time is right, you will know and the vet will let you know too
- You do have to stamp your foot down
- Make sure the setting is right
- Make sure you know what parts you want to see
Click to expand...
Sorry for the loss of your dog mate. I have been through it a few times and it’s hard. Sound advice for those that are facing it for the first time. Best wishes.
 
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