At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

If this was a person, a full care nursing home, with Haldol and Attends, would be indicated. That's probably not an option. You can't have the dog wetting the floor constantly. It will hurt, but it's time to go. Your son deserves a nicer sibling. I know I'd sound more sensitive if I knew your dog, and I am sorry for your family's dilemma.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

Buddy, our dog is 12 years old though he does not wet the floor all the time he does it occasionally. We think he is losing his hearing and he is friendly to the kids and the new cat that's only been in our house for 4 months. I wouldn't put him down since the dog is not in obvious pain. The only issue I have is the dog with your son. If you have another place to send the dog like outside or his own dog house it might help.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

My dog is 13 and even though I haven't had to wrestle with that question yet, I know it's coming.

She is starting to show her age. Her eyes are starting to glaze over, her hearing isn't what it used to be, and she can't get up and down from furniture like she used to.

The seeing/hearing issues are pretty easy to deal with as a dog ages. But the loss of 'house training' is the biggie isn't it? If/when my dog loses her house training, that's when I'll start to consider putting her down. It will be tough, but what else can you do with a dog who can't control their urinating?

I don't look forward to that day. We are all attached to her. My son especially. Our dog was 1 1/2 when our son was born, so they have grown up together.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

Randy: I, too, feel the pain of your situation.

Just a few months ago I had to have Hudson, my beloved 13-year-old Yellow Labrador Retriever, put down in a situation which has parallels to yours.

The question you ask about "why am I doing this--for us or for the dog's sake"? is a common one. I would think in most instances, the answer is a mix of both. The best way to be sure is a trip to the vet.

Dogs have a way of dealing with pain that is different from humans. A vet will be able to tell you what issues your dog is dealing with. They have a trained eye to see if your dog is in pain. I would guess that the change in demeanor you described is likely caused by some kind of pain (arthritis is common in older dogs). While a vet cannot tell you what to do...they will give you guidance and assurances.

Then, even when you know you are doing the right thing...it will still hurt like hell and you will still question what you did. But know that you did the right thing...not just for you--but for your pet, too.



All the best to you and your family.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

This is a very tough decision. I would say it's the dog's time, but that's too easy. I have an 11 year old border collie named Trixi, she's the best damn dog I've ever owned in my entire life. I know one day her time will come, but for me to have to make that decision for her would be just heart wrenching. If you're a man of faith then praying about this would be appropriate.

Trixi:
http://www.badongo.com/pic/253776

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

My thinking is that the dog has given you and your family unconditional love and enjoyment for all his life, so dealing with problems like these in his old age is not that big an issue. The quality of life changes for all of us over time, as long as he is not suffering, I'd have a hard time justifying having him killed. There are ways to contain the pet indoors to limit accident damage. I feel I owe it to my pets to do everything possible to keep them happy and comfortable while I can. I put my dog down only when he developed cancer and was obviously in a lot of discomfort. Even then it was incredibly hard to do as he still enjoyed walks (even though he couldn't do it very easily). It is a tough decision, no doubt. I would want to be certain that I was not just doing it for my convenience.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

The decision was made when we realized that her quality of life was not there anymore. She was losing control of herself and as much as people say they can't feel shame, I know that Scheiden felt shame when she couldn't hold it in until she got outside.
Also, look at how they are eating and drinking and generally interacting with the family. Is this a dog that usually loves dinner and can't wait to play with the family but can't do it anymore? Is the dog in pain a lot of the time (signs include severe panting and ears pinned back...watch for this carefully)? If these things are happening with your dog then the only fair thing, the only humane thing to do is to end it.

It will hurt like hell but you will have to be comforted in the knowledge that it was the best thing to do.
Just the fact that you are asking says to me that it may be time.

I'm sorry.



Scheiden.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

Richard: Beautiful picture of a beautiful dog. ...and well said.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

A trip to the vet is good advice. Ask your vet "what is his quality of life?" Your vet may say the time has come or he may recommend some treatment.

If you don't want to feel guilty about making the final decision, then you need a vet to asses his condition. IMHO, this is your next step.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

We took my 16 yr old Shih-Tzu to be put down the day he appeared he was going to die naturally. His last day, he was moping around, could not walk well and just layed down all the time. We decided then to take him, and on the way to the vet, he started barking and howling and such, and crapped on my pants on the way there (I had him in my arms). We got him inside and on the table but by then he'd pretty much died and wasn't moving much. About a year and half prior to that, I'd notice several changes in him, he fell in the pool a few times, but luckily made it to the top step but could not get out. He was slower, but didn't appear to be blind or deaf that much. His last few months, he had trouble getting himself up while he was sleeping, so sometimes he would pee in the spot where he was. And other times he would bark to get someone to prop him up so he could get some water or food. That being said, I would never have put him down before his time just simply for peeing or pooing on the carpet or whatever. That sort of stuff goes with the territory of having a dog. Although he could not get up very well, he did not seem to be in discomfort otherwise (didn't bark or yip).

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

It's for yours.

One of the biggest misconception people make about pets is that they view life in the same way humans do. They simply don't and as such they don't have the same standards to apply to the "quality of life" argument.

Ultimately from the facts presented in the original post your decision boils down to one simply reality, what is best for me.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

My wife's family's dog is about 15 now (she was a stray they took in, who was at least one, and that was 14 years ago). She dislocated her hip about a year ago but recovered. She was always a very lively, (hyper)active dog, but nowadays sleeps a lot. She also used to have excellent bladder (and #2) control, but nowadays can't always hold it and sometimes makes a mess in our flat.

But it's clear it's not her time yet, she has good days, and bad days. On good days she's almost the lively doggie she used to be, running madcap up and down while trying to wangle a treat, but those are rare. She's also obviously getting cataracts, and has gotten more fussy when eating, or wants to be fed literally hand-to-mouth at times.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

So sorry to read about your dilemma, Randy. We've had to travel that road twice in the last few years. Each dog was 15 when their time came and the second was actually the daughter of the first. They both had very full lives. Our current Sheppard/Lab male and Great Dane female are two of the sweetest dogs we've ever known.



I'm happy to see that "quality of life" has been mentioned several times. That's really the key. True, animals don't view it the way we do, but then neither do small children and this is where I vehemently disagree with the ascertion that the decision to let our pets go is completely egocentric. The question is not, "how do they view their quality of life?" To the best of our knowledge, their comprehension is more simply about comfort vs. pain. As the ones who love them and are responsible for their well being it is up to us to assess it for them to the best of our abilities. It is a serious decision to make and it isn't only about the dog nor is it only about you. Regardless of the previous crass appraisal, the fact that you're struggling with is demonstrates that you are genuinely concerned for the dog's well being.

Both of the dogs we let go had fought cancer at more than one point in their lives and before we proceded with any treatments we asked ourselves the same question you're wrestling with. Were we doing it for us of for them? In our case, their long and active lives which followed was our answer. As mentioned above, a trip to the vet is certainly in order for you. There may be something that can be corrected regarding the urination, and the aggression could easily be attributed to arthritis pain which can also be managed. The weight issue is likely contributing to his discomfort so back off on the food a tad and (forgive me) the extra treats should really be curbed until you have a handle on the situation medically. Just because a dog will take food when they're whining doesn't mean that's what they were after. I understand that his vision is compromised, but does he get a regular walk? Most times anxious behavior like the crying at the table is pent up from lack of exercise. Even if you have a nice yard, dogs benefit immensely from a daily structured walk. Again, check with your vet first, but barring major disabilities there's no reason he shouldn't be able to go up the block and back with you each day.

This should not be a completely emotional decision, but it can not be a purely analytical one either. No compationate vet will tell you definitively whether or not to put your dog to sleep. They will simply give you as accurate a prognosis as possible and inform you of the likely success of any options there may be. Refusing food and water and lack of bowel movements are probably the biggest red flags and it doesn't sound like he's there at this point. Trust your instincts and your vet.

All the best to you, your family, and your furry companion.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

I hate to be a downer, but Patrick is correct IMHO.

I've had dogs my entire life as pets, friends, companions, and even patients (my Mom was a vet's assistant for years.) What I've learned through experience and reading is that a dog is first and foremost an animal, not a human. They have instincts and feel pain sure, but not really in the same sense that we do. They are pack animal though and as such have a high need to socialize within the pack. As people we mistake this socializing for human "love" or "affection". Really for a dog it is part of survival, of fitting into a pack.

This is why when you leave your dog with a friend for longer than say a week or two, they don't pine more than a couple of days. They integrate into the new pack and once acclimated are as happy there as they were at "home". It's not a betrayal from the dog, it's just that well ... they are a dog and that's what they do.

What I'm getting at here is that for a dog quality of life has a different meaning than for people. Usually a pack will tear a dog that can no longer contribute to the pack apart, ever seen a 15 yr old wolf? When a dog gets old enough that it cannot contribute anymore, they actually withdraw from the pack (or your family) out of instinct that they may be destroyed. But the pack is everything, it's like if I put a person in solitary confinement and allowed no human contact of any kind. No physical pain, but is that life worth living?

If your dog has withdrawn from its pack and will not socialize with anyone, it senses the end even if you do not. Just be aware that it might be time now, best bet is to go to your vet steeled to recieve that news.

I'm sorry, I wish dogs could live a lot longer (it would make it a lot easier.)

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

I lost two pets close to each other less than a year after my divorce. Not a fun time. One died on the way to the vet, which was merciful in that I did not have to make the call. The other one I had to. My son was there, and we talked about it. She was suffering, though giving few outward signs of it.

I still wonder if I did enough for the two of them...if the outcome would have been better had I acted sooner on their behalf, or was this inevitable? The dog was of unknown age, but at least 14. The cat was 16. But I live with the comfort that they were loved and treasured, and having both been rescued strays, had much better lives than what they would have had.

And neither of them had significant improvements in their quality of life in their future. Even in stable condition, they were both elderly, and sure to deteriorate.

I don't envy your position.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

I'm going to disagree based on the original poster's note that the household has changed with the arrival of the baby, which likely has meant the attention the pet once received has diminished to a certain extent. It could be that the behaviour is due to feeling pushed aside (abandoned by the pack), and not just age related. It would not be surprising if the dog had a resentment of the child either.

I would agree with others that the question of putting the dog down sounds more like it is driven by inconvenience than deterioration of the animal, but a vet should be able to tell you whether the animal is indeed on the decline.

One point about having animals is that they are not in their wild environment, and don't necessarily have to be treated as though they are. I've had many pets who would have been killed by their peers in the wild, but my involvement saved them from that, and even if they didn't live the full life span a healthy animal would have, they lived a lot longer than they would have otherwise. Just becaus ethe pack would have killed them off doesn't mean we have to at the first sign of a change in their quality of life.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

So Sorry to hear about your dog.
We just had a loss and both me & my wife are total wrecks.
He was having trouble with his bowels also.
Funny now that he's gone I even miss cleaning up after him..... he was always so happy and thankful when we cleaned him up.
Don't give up on him too quick. he lived another month after the doctors told us hours.

....hates our son, growling at him....
We got our 10YO terrier from a rescue and he became very grumpy after a few months.
My wife gave him a quarter a quarter of a baby asprin and he became the sweetest thing around. His bones were hurting and it did the trick

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

That right there is usually the exact signal that the dog needs to go. Dogs will not soil their den, when they do it usually means they're too sick or too gone to help it.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

If there had not been the addition of a child to the house, I would agree that this signals a decline, but dogs will also urinate in the house if they are unhappy, as it is a way of getting attention.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

Very hard decision. My mother just had to put down the family cat, Springs, today (photo at left). Her age was somewhat unknown, but we had her for about 16 years so she was probably somewhere around 18 to 20 years.

Pets leave pawprints on our hearts.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

take him to the vet.
he may be having a treatable health issue.

if a dog cannot control his peeing and pooing, doesnt even know he's doing it, then that is a bad sign.
but if he just cant hold it in long enough, might be medical issue, treatment.

we have been using pads and homemade wraps that we put around the midsection to keep from getting pee on the floor.

i wish i new about this practice many years ago as it would have saved several rugs from being pulled up.

and example.
http://www.markout.com/home.htm
they work for male dogs.
we used small baby diapers for the female with diabetes.

as to when the right time to put a dog down.
that is on an individual case by case.

it is not just about you it is about the dog too.

for those that say he is just an animal, well no kidding but guess what,
for many people they are as important as any human and sometimes more so.
these pets may be the only friends or family they have. they are family.

it doesnt really seem nesasary to be pointing out that they are "just animals"
in this thread. thats really NOT going to be helpful advice.

keeping a dog around for too long when you know better is really just for the dog owner and is a bit selfish.

if a dog is in pain and there is nothing to do to comfort and aleviate the pain, it's time.

most of the time a dog will give you signals that it's time.
stop eating stops drinking.
becomes lethargic. doesnt care anymore.

it's time.
but again, go to the vet because the guy might need some healthcare.

my wife and i lost our second dog this year TODAY

she was a yorkie that was diagnosed with cushings about 2 years ago and
diabetes 5 months ago.

we were lucky she lasted in decent health this long.

this past week she started urinating whenever, stopped eating and drinking.

we took her in and the tests showed her kidneys are failing and there really
was nothing we could do.

making it hard was that she was still alert and aware.
but she was so ill from the diabetes that it was time to go.

we could have kept her going alittle longer but it would have been selfish for us to do that.

she was in pain and there was no cure.

For a dog who is walking into walls, stands in corners
appears lost or confused.
stares into space or at walls.
goes to the wrong side of the door for outside
cant remember how to go through an open door.
and even some urinating and defacating problems.

look into a medication called Anipryl.
we have a small sily yorky who has many
of these problems and will be looking into this medicine to see if it helps.
the vet said they have great success with it so far.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

Bowel control is a much more prominent symptom in that regard and even then there are a host of easily treatable conditions that can be the cause...not necessarily the animal's inner sense of impending demise. And the house as a whole is not considered the den for domesticated animals but rather their specific sleeping area.

I'm a big fan of the pack mentality aproach to canine psychology, but I agree that on some fronts Remember that in our home there is no true "Pack" so not every observation of dogs in the wild translates. Pack psychology is excellent for managing basic behaviors and aggression but these are, after all, pets. Because an old or lame dog would be shunned in the wild does not mean that given the right circumstances they could not have happy (in animal terms) lives. Illness and discomfort (treatable or otherwise) can cause animals to withdraw. Humans are social creatures but don't we curl up in a quiet corner when we're sick? I certainly do. It's a form of self preservation to heal ones self. We really need to wait for Randy's vet to check the dog.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

I have a suggestion for you Tony, why not try actually reading what has been posted before commenting.

The "just animals" concept has been mentioned in terms of not being foolish and applying human standards of quality of life when making a decision concerning the pet. It has been accurately pointed out that pets have a far lower standard and what we may consider a crappy quality of life is just fine by their standards.

No one in this thread has been insensitive and commented that it's "just an animal" in terms of getting rid of the pet. In fact from what has been posted it's clear that those who have mentioned that it's an animal are the very ones who would go the extra mile to care for an aging pet.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

Please let's not start an arguement here about the "just an animal" comment. I didn't intend it to mean that you should callously treat your pets like lesser members of a family, just that to you and them family can mean different things. And I'm definitely not suggesting that once an animal is past it's natural prime that it should be destroyed because it would be in nature. What I was getting at there is that the symptoms posted lead me to believe that dog is withdrawing and MAY be dying (or very close to it.) So when he goes to the vet, don't expect that a magic pill can make it all better.

This is never an easy choice for an owner to make, I wish the best for Randy and his dog. Let's not make it harder by arguing while he wrestling with this. If it upsets people, I'll delete my first post and we can move on.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

i guess i meant the "for those that say just an animal" to be more in general to those that will eventually add it to the topic.

its been a rough day here and i didnt intend on sounding antagonistic.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

This reminds me: on vacation in New Zealand, there was a vineyard which had a sign posted at the entrance saying something to the effect that a 20-yr old one-eyed and deaf cat lived there, so drive slowly. Sure enough at the cellar door there was an obviously very elderly cat, just sitting on the counter, minding its own business. After a while I noticed the cat wandered off elsewhere in the shop.

I suppose with a family-owned and operated vineyard, the family pet would of course be a integral part of the place. Nice touch I thought, that warning sign.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

Its time to go to the vet and leave him. I've done it with all my dogs,one after 11 years and another after 13 and its hard but best.

Re: At what point do you choose to put your dog down?

randy, ask your vet about the medicine i posted in one of my previous posts.
we're getting this for our dog and the vet has said it will either work perfectly or do nothng.
there is a 30 day free trial offer that should be available at the vet, if you inquire about it.


one thing that i forgot to say i an earlier post

if you need to have a dog put to sleep, please stay with him/her during the process.
if he was your friend for many years or even a short time he is entitled to your presence during his last moments.

it is very quick and the worst that you should expect is some poo and or pee
to come out.

don't leave him alone when he has his last moments of life. Be there for him.