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[cubanb]

Heres the story:
Our family dog, a mutt, is now 16 and a half years old and the last few years her physical condition has really deteriorated. She is losing cartilidge in her hind legs and has trouble sitting. She has to lie down or stand up. Getting up is a whole problem too. For example: One day in the garage I watched her attempt to get up or turn around from her place in the garage and she couldn't. It was pathetic and I had to get out of there.

Her hearing and eyesight are both almost gone and she always has labored breathing. She does get up and exploring in the backyard, jogging around with the energy of her younger years, but for everyone of those times there are many times where she is on the ground in the same spot all day without moving from it, where we have to step over her and she is oblivious to the fact.

It is obvious she is in pain, as her tail is always between her legs nowadays. She has also had two growths removed over the past few years.

Oh yea, she uncontrollably shits in the garage all the time now, she cant help it.

So my Mom and Dad have had arguments about whether to put her down or not. My Dad is for it, as she is in obvious pain and he would rather have her go out easy then have to deal with her having a stroke or something painful.
My Mom is on the other side of the fence, citing the moments she still has the puppy attitude, even at 16 and 1/2. She believes it would be cruel to put her down.

I am not sure where I stand, not that its my choice at all, but I think in this case I think it may be time to put her down specifically because of her trouble getting around, it is hard to see her struggle even turning around.

What's everyones take on putting your dog down? What are ok circumstances? Does the dog have to have a condition that means they will die for sure? Or is suffering in the everyday routine OK? I never imagined she would live this long.

 

[Solo]

Based on your post: about 3-4 years ago.

 

[IJoel]

What's the vet's opinion?

 

[Slo]

I think it's time.

 

[cubanb]

What's the vet's opinion?

Thats the weird part. last time we took her for her growth (8 months I think, I was away at school), they said she was fine (besides the hind legs) and didnt mention the possibility of putting her to sleep.

 

[mrklaw]

your arms get tired?



Sorry.


Basically, if you think its time, its probably too late.

Most people let their dogs suffer - partly unknowingly, partly because they don't want to let go. I know we were the same with our dog.

There are obvious signs if its old age - dribbling, incontinence, confusion, cataracts, lethargy. Pretty much like an old person.

But when is it 'putting them out of their misery', and when is it 'cutting a life short'. There is ultimately no good answer.

And thats the longest drive to the vets you'll ever go on. And your dog will know what its for too. ;_;

 

[ToxicAdam]

It's time. If it were a younger dog (8 or 9), I would say try some medications/doctoring. But 16 years it too late for your dog to make some sort of comeback. That is truely a full, long life for a pet. Consider yourself lucky to have a pet live that long.

 

[Bluecondor]

My dog was 16 when we had him put to sleep. Basically - we waited it out several times - but - it was becoming clear that he was suffering and there was no way that he would ever recover. He was just too old.

Maybe the thing to do is to talk to your Mom, one on one, and discuss what will happen when you do take him to be put to sleep. In my dog's case, the doctor and I went into a room, and the doctor gave my dog a shot as I held my dog and looked at him (since I didn't want him to die alone). My dog died instantly, and his suffering was over. I did this over 10 years ago and I am still at peace with it. I can't think of a better way for him to have gone, as he was clearly going to die.

Good luck man - this is a really difficult decision and it is hard to do......

 

[Umpteen]

It is obviously a discretion issue. We put our family dog down when he was no longer happy to see us coming home. He was going blind and had terrible arthritis, but as long as he came to the gate/door to see us with a tail wag we figured his life still had enjoyment.

When he no longer seemed to have joy in anything, we decided it was time.

So sorry for you.

 

[J2 Cool]

Speaking of putting an animal down.. I went to pick up some worms today for my brother, and drop him off at a lake nearby to fish. When we get to the place for worms, there's a bird that can't fly on the side of the street pulling in. So I pull around it, and park. He runs into the caretaker store, just 1 creepy bad legged man. He sleeps there, watches over this private country club entrance, and sells a box of worms for $2. Anyway, so I'm looking at the bird wondering how to help the damn thing. It's not like a bird that can walk but can't fly. It's like, tipping over and shit and flapping wildly. I'm thinking vetenarian but don't have guess, an borrowing the car, and haven't even gone to a vetenarian by myself. Not to mention how the hell do you hold on to the thing. So tell the caretaker right?

So my brother comes back, and I see another car pull in. We both agree we should go tell him and see if he can't do anything. We turn around and an old guy is talking already and pointing back towards the bird. The caretaker walks over stump legged himself. He picks the bird up and starts twisting it. I'm like, "wtf?" for a few seconds, then realize he's breaking the thing's neck. Does it for like 5 seconds more and the thing is lifeless. Then he tosses it in the garbage. Messed up man. The old guy didn't say anything more and got back in his car and left. Then the same for us, and as we pulled out we seen another bird who looked like a similar struggling bird. Only not flapping as wildly and sitting instead of rolling around. I thought it best not to say shit about that one, and went on out.

 

[teruterubozu]

I had to put my Beagle to sleep several years ago - he was going on 17 years old.

Basically, once the dog can't do dog-like things anymore then it's time to put it to sleep. A loss of appetite is a BIG sign since dogs love eating.

Dogs usually start separating themselves from the "pack" (i.e. family) when they sense their time is coming. Your dog may just sit outside and stay there even if you call him in for dinner - that's a sure sign that your dog feels its time has come. It's sad but it's the way of nature.

 

[McLesterolBeast]

Thats the weird part. last time we took her for her growth (8 months I think, I was away at school), they said she was fine (besides the hind legs) and didnt mention the possibility of putting her to sleep.

... after which he sullenly accepted payment for his services.

 

[Ryck]

... after which he sullenly accepted payment for his services.

Exactly.......They never mention it...My dog was dying...he had an infection in his lungs and was clearly suffering. The vet says it will be 900 a day to keep him 24/7 in an oxygen tank and MAYBE he would live through the night......fuck that...it killed me to do it...and I still second guess myself...but I knew he was suffering...ughh, judging by what you wrote Id say yeah you might want to seriosuly consider it for her own good. Im sorry.

 

[SickBoy]

Yeah, I think it sounds like time. It's always hard to put a pet to sleep, but it sounds like your dog is suffering.

We had to put two cats to sleep in recent years -- and both a lot younger than 16 -- the first had a painful infection that would not go away. We spent a lot of money on various medications (at one point we even were prescribed a "human" medication to try), but nothing fixed the problem (EDIT: for the record, our vet was really good about it -- we tried a bunch of stuff and he told us, well these are your options. We waffled about putting her down, as there were still possibly other avenues we could take, but he assured us it was not the wrong thing to do and that anything beyond the annoying pilling we had already been doing likely would have just made everyone more miserable)

The cat we got about six months later had to be put down at a really young age -- that was just earlier this year. There was something wrong with him -- he stopped eating -- and we thought that he might have eaten something, as there was an incident involving some thread around the house (our other cat loves to eat anything long, so we thought it was him that strung thread all over the place) and we figured he might have eaten a bunch. So we had him X-rayed, and there was a mass in his intestines. Probably a big ball of thread. So being hopelessly fond of him, and knowing he was still young (2-3 years old), we opted for surgery.

The vet opens him up, and it turns out the mass isn't a ball of thread after all. It's a tumor that's about the same diameter as a quarter. Very unusual in a cat that age. Very emotional for us (and me, who got the news knowing I'd have to call my wife at work and break this horrible news to her). But there's not much that can be done for him that wouldn't basically ruin his quality of life... only one option makes sense, and it sucked.

Anyhow, no need for the long story, just suffice it to say that when it's time, it's time. There's no shame in putting an animal down when they're suffering... but that doesn't mean you don't feel absolutely miserable doing it.

 

[ChrisReid]

What's everyones take on putting your dog down? What are ok circumstances?

It's really up to whenever your arms get tired.

Seriously though, suffering is fine. If she's sufferring, don't feel bad about putting her down. It's very hard to alleviate pain and sufferring like you would be able to do in an ill human in that situation.

 

[Flynn]

My wife is studying to be a vet and sees this come up quite often.

Many people keep their animals around too long, dragging out what is a fairly miserable life.

Though, if you're seeing those "puppy moments" it may be that your pet is still finding some satisfaction in life. It's a personal choice, obviously, but try to see things from your animal's perspective. They don't understand things quite the way we do (even though many would like to believe so).