Question by ItzDaina: Hi. I’m very worried about my dog and I can’t sleep. ?
Hi I have a 13year old lab/dalmation female and I’m very worried about her. I am physically sick so can’t walk too much but 3 weeks ago I noticed she keeps peeing a lot. She drinks normal water. Right after she goes, ten min and again she needs to pee. She is eating ok and her weight seems same. I finally could walk a bit today and took her into the vet. He took X-rays and blood and urine that I’m still waiting for. X-rays showed arthritis in her back and hips and I’m praying the blood and urine tests will be ok. He gave her antibiotics in case she has an infection. What could this problem be? Does anyone know what are best natural herbs to keep a dog that’s getting old to get her energy back? She has been so sluggish and today she is worse. I don’t want to lose her just yet. I keep telling her to wait for me so I can get better and take her to the beach bc she likes that. If she gets really sick on me, I don’t know what to do if I’m not better yet. I have 3 dogs and they have been there for me these past few years I cant walk. I wake up everyday praying I’m better so I can take care of them better. Financially been hard bc I can’t work but I’m doing my best. And things keep happening to them one after another. So main question(sorry needed to vent) I don’t know what results r yet but how do I keep an old dog full of light? I feed the nutro natural chicken oatmeal for sensitive stomach. I physically can’t make them food and I don’t like raw diet. Do u think maybe she also isn’t getting enough nutrients? Should I give her vitamins? Her stomach can’t handle vitamins too much though.

Best answer:

Answer by vettech2013
Have you tried and NSAIDS (non-steriodal anti-inflammatory) like Rimadyl or Metacam. They help with my very arthritic kitty and there are also glucosamine supplements you can use to make it to were she she won’t get any worse. The bloodwork should show if she could handle a NSAID (make sure her kidney and liver function is normal) if she has sensitive stomach before a medication, ask your doctor about carafate, it coats the lining of the stomach to so the stomach can settle before giving a medication. The urine issue sounds like maybe an infection, I’m assuming they took x-rays to look for stones? SO that is great that we don’t have any of those.
Hope this helps at all

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Question by Mandy: How do I convince my grandma to put our dog to sleep?
Ok so my grandma has had this dog named Archie since I was in kindergarten. The dog is about 15 years old. In the last year he had develeoped some very bad health problems. He has grown a tumour on the left side of his body that restricts his breathing, its about the size of 2 base balls? Also he has a tumour on his right, back hind-quarters, another protruding on his back right leg and another on top of his back by the base of his tail. He has gone blind in both eyes, gloaccoma, and has a whole in his left cornea. In the last month a tomour swelled up his left ear entirely. He is a fox terrier and beagle mix and is medium sized. He has terrible arthritis and he is deaf. He doesnt even enjoy life anymore. What can my family do to convince her that it is time? Please, no rude comments I know he is bad-off but i just saw how bad he was for myself last weekend. I love this dog very much but my cousin said that my grandma may get fined for the dog looking this way when he is taken in?

Best answer:

Answer by uptowndoggie
Your grandma is keeping Archie alive for herself, not for him. His quality of life is gone and he is suffering. Tell her it is the last kind thing she can do for him. It is very difficult letting go of a pooch you’ve loved for so many years, but ask her who she is really do this for. Any vet will tell her it is the kind thing to do and she can comfort him while he is being euthanized. Good luck to you!

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Question by Emily: When should you put a dog to sleep?
My dog is about 13 years old. He has gone deaf, is partially blind, is covered in fatty tumors, pees in his sleep, has arthritis, and seems to have dementia (He barks when he’s hungry. If we get off of his schedule by just a half hour or so, he’ll forget that he’s eaten and walk around barking until we feed him again, even if all we give him is about 1/4 of a cup. Maybe he’s just really smart, who knows. lol). We’re trying to decide if he is still living comfortably or if it’s time to let him go. When is the right time to put an old dog to sleep?

Best answer:

Answer by Cyrille104
There’s no definite answer to this question. But I’ve euthanized dogs in better condition than this – if he’s really just not there anymore, it might be time.

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Question by Spirit Of 76: Putting My dog To Sleep?
I’m not usre what to do. My dog has problems getting up and around as much as he used to. He’s 13. He’s always been fiesty but lately I can’t keep him happy or properly groomed. He is also very tempermental and not himself. He has bitten me twice in the last few months leaving a very deep bruise and it bled. I can’t take the uncertainty of his behavior. There is no specific problems other than age and arthritis. He has always been a bit aggressive but this can’t go on. The shleter in our town says due to said behavior he is not “adoptable”. Do I just turn him over and let them put him to sleep? Or can I go to vet? Will a vet have criteria that he will have to meet to be put to sleep. He’s become kinda weird and scary to be around.

Best answer:

Answer by Mandy J
you would have to speak to your vet

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Question by Georgia: When is it time to put your dog to sleep?
I have a 16 1/2 year old Queensland mix (pound dog) and am torn up by not knowing when it’s right to put her down. She does have arthritis, and will hurt her knee, limp for days, have to go on prednisone, I’ll be terrified that “this is it.” Then she comes out of it and seems better for a while. She’s quite deaf but it doensn’t seem to bother her. She does have a little trouble laying down and getting up (and those are her two positions: standing or lying down).

She’s now peeing on the floor in little spots several times a day. She has good days and not so good days. But on the other hand, she still wags her “nub” when I come up to her, still begs for table scraps (when she was 14 I decided she could eat whatever the heck she wanted,) still drinks, still follows me and lays down next to wherever I’m sitting.

When not on the Prednisone, she’s on Rimadyl for arthritis pain. She’s on a hormone pill once a week for bladder continence, takes glucosamine every day, etc.

I know I don’t want her to suffer, and yet i don’t want to steal any of her lifetime away by putting her down if it’s not time. And she’s my girl; I had her before I got married, before kids. She’s been the most wonderful, loyal, amazing creature in my life.

Thanks in advance for any advice
Wow, thank you everyone for your kind responses. It’s only been an hour and I’ve gotten so many wonderful, supportive responses with great advice. Thank you so much.

Best answer:

Answer by snoppy
it is very hard i had to have my 9 yr staffie put down due to cancer and i had her before my kids and was one of my children its been over a year with out her and still think there could of been more to do when really knowing there wasnt

i think when you know they are suffering more then what she has say a year ok my be then it is time if her life is just not the same

may be talk to a vet she has lived a very long loving life but i know ya wouldnt want her to get worse and suffer more

ask the vet about the pain she in will it get better how quick will she go down hill and all that sort of thing and then make your mind up with the family

good luck

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Question by Cassie Make Sexy Time Now: Is my dog ready to be put to sleep?
I have a 15 year old Golden Retriever. He’s had arthritis problems in his two front legs since he was about 7. I know that causes him a lot of pain. He doesn’t sleep well at all during the night. All four of his legs are kicking all night, constantly, and he cries. I don’t know if that is a seizure of some sort, or what… but it can’t be comfortable for him at all. He can hardly see or hear anymore. You have to literally *scream* his name in order for him to hear it across the room. He’s just in generally poor health. I love him with all of my heart, so I would hate to lose him, but I think I have been selfish for too long… and I just can’t let him be in pain anymore. The only reservation I have is that he’s still very playful. He loves his toys, he constantly plays with my other dog, he loves fetch… it just seems like he is too lively to be ready to… pass.

But, I have a couple questions…

First off, does it sound like he might be ready to be euthanized?

And, second, does anyone know if there is vet that will come to your house to put the animal to sleep? I don’t want his last minutes spent in a vet clinic. He deserves to be at home.

And, since I know some answers are bound to be “go to a vet”… yes, I know, I plan to obviously. I just want some answers from other people first. Personal experiences. All that.

Thanks in advance.

Best answer:

Answer by angelica f
only you can really decide that it is a very personal decision.

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Question by Terry: Should i have my dog put to sleep?
I purchased my dog when she was just eight weeks old, she is my first dog, she is now fourteen years old and not doing too well. I am asking all of you if i should have her humanely euthanized because i do not believe i am in the right state of mind to make that decision, i feel like i am being selfish.

These are her current health problems:
- She is completely blind in one eye, and partially blind in the other.
- She is partially deaf.
– She only eats about 1/2 of food per day and is dropping weight rapidly.
– She was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma three weeks ago.
– Her energy level has dropped a considerable amount.
- She has heart disease, which is on the verge of heart failure.
– She has severe arthritis in her hind legs.
– She has a hard time going from a laying position to a sitting or standing position, most of the time i have to help her get up.
- She has seizures at least twice a day – The medication is not helping as much as it used to.
- She has started to spin around in circles multiple times a day and stare at walls for about an hour every day which are early signs of dementia.
– She has to take nine different pills every day, six of them twice a day.

I go to make an appointment to have her humanely euthanized, then she does something like go get her ball and drop it on my lap, or jump around the house and i ask myself “what am i doing? She is fine!” like i am trying to convince myself that there is nothing wrong with her… But other days she won’t even move and it hits me that i am going to lose my baby… It’s so hard for me to decide something like this..I have always worked from home so she has been my constant companion for fourteen years, i know i am being selfish, but i just can’t say goodbye to her. She has more bad days than good days now, but even on her bad days she will still go outside to go to the bathroom. I love her so much and i do not want her to be gone forever, but at the same time i have to do what is best for her.
Do you think i should have her humanely euthanized? I think i should have an outsiders perspective.
She is a Pit Bull if this makes any difference.

Best answer:

Answer by Just Me!
I would talk about this to the vet. But it does sound like the right time to do it.

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Question by harvestmoon: Should I get my dog put to sleep?
I have a 16 year old little terrier cross who has a multitude of complaints and I don’t know what to do. I will list her conditions: She has heart failure and is on heart medication, she has severe arthritis that has effected her spine and has now effected her ability to walk, she can still get about a bit but finds it hard to sit down or get up and her back legs are very weak and her front ones are getting weak too. She walks weirdly on her back paws now and has worn the back nails on one foot down to they bled one time. She has continence issues because of this spinal issue and has constant accidents, I have to wash her bed every 3 days and she is restricted to the kitchen due to constant accidents. She is a bit doting too. She has started getting infections too, discharge down below and eye aswell. She now has an abcess in her mouth too and the vets says she needs her tooth out which will cost 150 quid and also gave her an injection today that cost another 50 pounds. I don’t know if I should put her through general anaesthetic and dental surgery as she’s a wreck to be fair. I sometimes think my vets see me as a pit of money and don’t care about my dog.

She’s in pain every day, shakes at night and looks so depressed. She used to be still happy though incontinant and not good on her feet but now she looks so sad

Should I put her though the sugery or just say enoughs enough and let her have some peace. I just don’t know if anything will make her pain stop. If I thought getting her tooth out would make her better I’d jump at it but she stumbles about and can never get comfortable and has lost loads of weight and never wags her tail or wants to play. She’s looked sad for a month

I love my dog, I just don’t know if it’s time or should I just keep muddling on until she cant walk at all….

Best answer:

Answer by ilovepizza
Yes put her to sleep so she will be out of her misery… it might be hard but it’s the right thing to do

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Question by Sia_27: I had to put my grandpas dog to sleep and I don’t know if it was the right thing.?
My grandma passed away about 2 and a half years ago. My grandpa then moved in with me and my mom. They each had a weiner dog. They were brothers, Oscar an Felix. About 2 months after my grandma died, her dog Felix passed away. Everything has been fine with my grandpas dog Oscar, until about 3 month ago. Sometimes when my grandpa, mom, or I woul go to pet, move or pick him up, he would growl and try to bite us. It was like he was in pain. So we took him to the vet thinking maybe his back was going out, but the vet said nothing was wrong with his back. then about a month ago, Oscar wanted up onthe couch but he was crying as if he couldn’t get up. So my grandpa went to pick him up to help him on to the couch. He cried out and then he just started attackng my grandpa. My granpa had to get a bunch of stitches and Oscar tore off 2 of his finger nails. We took him to the vet again and the vet said it could be arthritis and the pain makes him lash out. So we bought some really expensive arthritis medicine and it seemed like he was happier and movig around better. Then 2 days ago, he rolled onto his back to have my grandpa rub his belly (which he ALWAYS does) an he started attacking my grandpa again! It was like he just flipped out an was a completely different dog. My grandpa was bit pretty bad again, but we could tell he didn’t need stitches. My grandpa was afraid of Oscar biting me or my mom. We also have little kids coming over all the time and couldn’t bare to think of Oscar hurting anyone the way Oscar hurt him. Our vet said the best thing to do was to put him down. That he was obviously in pain. So yesturday, I took him to the vet to be put to sleep. My grandpa couldn’t bare to do it. I stayed with Oscar the whole time. But I feel horrible and I can’t stop crying! What if it was the wrong choice?! I loved that dog so much! And he was a lgIht for my grandpa after losing my grandma. I feel so sick to my stomach, and so empty inside.. :’( did we make the right decision?

Best answer:

Answer by Kyle B
From what you described it sounds to me like you definitely made the right choice. When a dog is at that stage in its life its better for the dog and the owner for it to be put out of its misery.

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Question by Alan: My dog won’t come upstairs to sleep!?
I have a whippet about 13 – 14, and tonight she wont come upstairs in my room to sleep (like she usually does) We carried her up but a few minutes later she came back down and lying on the sofa. Her eyes are wide open and stares at me for a while and then looks to the side?

She sneezed earlier and her leg is abit dodgy (arthritis i think)
is there anything to be concerned about?

Best answer:

Answer by dorothy s
Yes, a changed behaviour could indicate an underlying problem.

Stay downstairs tonight on the sofa and try to take her for a walk in the morning. I so does not want a walk and does not want to eat. Phone the vet.

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