As those of you who have breathlessly been tuned to my “I’m worried about my dog!” saga for the past few years know, Haplo is 16 and his health is starting to fail somewhat. His kidneys are evidently not so good anymore and he gets subcutaneous fluid every three days, plus we think he may have arthritis for which he gets pain pills.
Nevertheless, he’s been very vital throughout except when he seemed to have hurt himself possibly in addition to his arthritis, and then anti-inflammatories cleared it right up. He’s on a special kidney food, also. He’s never felt sick enough to miss a meal, even though the kidney stuff is seriously nasty (at least to my nose.)
Today, though, his poor back legs were shaking so badly they made him clumsy, and I had to carry him down the steps to the yard. Also, he didn’t eat his breakfast, although he seems to have pawed at it a bit.
He’s going to the vet tomorrow, but every time I take him to the vet these days I’m afraid they’re going to tell me I have to make a choice.
He didn’t eat last night or this morning, either, although he did eat one of his gross smelly dog treats. He was shaking like hell when I brought him to the vet this morning. I’m just terrified they’re going to call and tell me I need to decide if I want to put him down or not.
That will be a tough decision. I am going through something similar. Keiko is fifteen-year-old black Lab with terrible arthritis. She has also experienced kidney problems in the past, and has most recently been having bouts of diarrhea - in the house. A trip to the vet is on the horizon, and Zsofia, I too am fearing that call and inevitable choice.
As hard as it is to think about, you’ve got to consider whether your dog’s pleasures are outweighing his pains. I took my own dog when I knew he still had life in him, but he was never going to get better. Now I am starting to doubt my decision but I know deep down that he was no longer having fun. Whatever your decision, you have my deepest sympathy.
Yeah, I don’t want to be one of those people who hold onto the suffering dog for selfish reasons. At the same time I totally see how you end up doing that.
You know that I know what you’re going through. Good luck and a wish for peace for Haplo, either way . . .
I think it was here I read a remark from a veterinary worker who said that she had never seen a pet that was put down too soon; in other words, it was always the right decision.
I’m so sorry but there is some hope. My dog is in the same shape and we thought we were going to lose him on Saturday from a massive seizure but the vet had us switch him to plain aspirin and he’s been up and around and eating again since then. His legs are still weak and shaky but he’s clearly not in any serious pain right now. We know that the time is near, but now every moment that I get with him feels precious. You’ll know what the right thing to do is when it comes because you won’t be able to stand seeing him suffer.
I’m kind of afraid I’m going to have to bring it up with the vet instead of the other way around - they hadn’t been able to really look at him yet because another dog needed emergency surgery, but they did offer him some sort of “really stinky sick dog food” and he wolfed it down, so that’s good, but she said they’d do blood tests and that it might be necessary for him to get a fluid IV for a day, and since there’s no vet there on Thursdays he’d be better off spending the night at the emergency vet. Well, of course the blood work isn’t back, and I’m okay with that if it’s just one day and one bill and then he lives a happy healthy life until he dies more than a few weeks hence, but if we’re going to have this again and again, you know…
I know. My partner loves the dog but he’s practical about it, so I don’t think that he would be OK with spending a lot on putting off the inevitable. I just keep telling myself that I wouldn’t want anyone to keep me alive by artificial means or watch me rally and fail over and over again because of temporary measures. Our vet is very blunt about things and he’ll tell us if he thinks that we’re dragging it out for too long or giving up too soon. They understand that we ask because we aren’t sure and don’t want to see them suffer for too long.
Last week I had to put my 15 yr. old lab down. Bad kidneys, bad hips, hearing loss, and the start of vision loss. It’s not easy to watch a dog fall, and be unable to stand back up. You have to keep in mind that the dog is suffering. The dog will never simply give up, so you will eventually have to make the decision. It sucks, but remember that you don’t want your dog to suffer.
Best wishes with your decision.
I’m sorry - I know how you feel. I have a lab mix that is almost 17. He gets shaky every once in awhile, too. Not so bad that I need to carry him, but bad enough that he trips often. Fortunately he is eating fine (but he’ll hold out if there’s even a slight chance he will get some people food), so I feel he is still OK.
Well, this is it - the fluids and the special food aren’t helping, and it’s time. I would have just gone and done it this afternoon, but my dad is out of town and he’d want to say goodbye, and there’s no vet Thursdays, so I decided to do it Friday, which is absolute torture.
Zsofia - I’m so sorry you have to make this decision, and even more sorry you have the next couple days to have to live with it. Be strong, and know you’re doing what’s best for Haplo.
16 years is realistically a good run for a cat or a dog, but it never seems that way at the time. It’s one reason I could never bring myself to get one of the larger breeds, much as I am fond of dogs like Newfoundlands. They just seem to have such tragically short lives
I’m so sorry, Zsofia. You gave Haplo a good life with a lot of love. He can’t help getting old and having to leave you and you can’t help mourning it. I’m taking it day by day with my much-loved mutt who’s 15+ now. You’re letting him go gently. Ease to both of you.
