17 year old dog can't walk anymore what should be my next step?

[Panthro]

This thread makes me sad. We humans create with our dogs one of the most interesting and loyal bonds we will experience in life ...knowing all the while that at some point we will have to say goodbye.

[Panthro]

As I type this from the throne my Aussie breaks into the bathroom just so she can lay down near me

[Johnny Rockets]

He's been my best friend since forever and for the last day he hasn't move except to maybe change his position by using his front legs he doesn't eat unless i manully feed him and i havn't seen him drink water. he's had a long life but i don't know if i should take him to the vetand let them put him down or let him pass away peacfully here at home and bury him here. i live in the country so i have a big back yard where he used to play. What is the best method for him.

 

So I have a bit of very recent experience with this with my 17 year old dog also. About 2 months ago she wouldn't eat, could barely walk, was going blind and was pretty much completely deaf. She went from about 60 lbs to 27lbs. My son came home from college to spend one last night with her since they basically grew up together and my dog went to the vet to be put down the next day. In fact, someone started a thread about losing a dog and I mentioned that mine was being put down that same day.

Well, the vet asked if we wanted to put her down or go through a bunch of tests because for a 17 year old dog, she seemed to be in relatively good health and not in any obvious pain. Well we did all the tests, she was having serious liver issues and a bad infection but the vet said that we may be able to nurse her back to health with proper medication. Well, we did exactly that and she started eating again and she sprung back to life as much as a 17 year old dog could. She was eating good and actually playing again as much as an old dog could. I felt comfortable that we made the right decision and not just a selfish one.

 

One important thing the vet said is that when it came to the point where she started to urinate where she laid or slept, it was probably time. Well, again she stopped eating this past week and started doing exactly what the vet said and was going down hill fast. She was put to sleep at about 1pm yesterday and she went very fast and peacefully.

Take your dog to a vet, listen to their opinion and do what is best for the dog. It's not easy and I hate that you or anyone should have to go through such a thing but I don't agree with not putting a dog down via a vet because they will hang on as long as possible no matter how much pain they are in.

[thefuzz]

If you really cared you would smother the dog with a pillow.

What kind of person asks an internet forum what they should do about their dog that can't walk, won't eat, or drink water. Clearly your dog is taking the suicide route.

Sent from my XT1080 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

 

I wish that I could return the favor.

[thefuzz]

He's been my best friend since forever and for the last day he hasn't move except to maybe change his position by using his front legs he doesn't eat unless i manully feed him and i havn't seen him drink water. he's had a long life but i don't know if i should take him to the vetand let them put him down or let him pass away peacfully here at home and bury him here. i live in the country so i have a big back yard where he used to play. What is the best method for him.

 

 

I lost mine in November of 2012, worst day of my life so far.

 

If you can't get a vet to come to you, please go ahead and do the big guy a favor and get him there.

 

My bully was in horrible pain, but wouldn't show it, and wouldn't let go either.  We laid together on the vets floor, and I fed him vienna sausages and let him lick ice cream off my finger until he was happy.

 

The doc gave him a mild sedative so his last minutes with me he wouldn't be nervous about being in a vets office, and that's all it took.  Just getting him to relax and take his mind off of living for me made him slip away.  He never had to get the poison shot.

 

Take him asap, he is probably ready to go, but can't.

[The Saltman]

If you really cared you would smother the dog with a pillow.

What kind of person asks an internet forum what they should do about their dog that can't walk, won't eat, or drink water. Clearly your dog is taking the suicide route.

Sent from my XT1080 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

I'm tempted to ban your ass for being such a rude dick.

[The Saltman]

Btw I'm sorry to hear about your dog. I'm hoping whatever you do is peaceful and he goes away as he came, your best friend.

[MadHatter]

I'm tempted to ban your ass for being such a rude dick.

 

I was thinking the same thing.

 

Hell, I can be a dick on here....and often am.  But a comment like that is way over the line.

[thefuzz]

P.S. you can still bring him home and bury him on your land.

 

I wrapped my guy in a set of my sheets (not allowed on my bed ever, but it was his favorite place), built a coffin for him, and buried him at our beach house overlooking the sound.

 

Then proceeded to drink too much bourbon and cry for a long time.

[dos poptarts]

As I type this from the throne my Aussie breaks into the bathroom just so she can lay down near me

 

My lab mixes will look for me on the toilet if my wife asks them to look for 'daddy'. If I'm actually there, they won't stay, it's sniff and go.

 

 

[Guest Irv]

i plan on getting a house visit this week and having him put down. Im also getting a gravestone made for when i bury him in the back yard. losing a friend like him is hard i don't know if ill have another pet for awhie.

[frash.exe]

Trust me, when your dog is sitting there helpless and dying you'll never follow through with actually smothering it, no matter how much you want to end his misery

[thefuzz]

i plan on getting a house visit this week and having him put down. Im also getting a gravestone made for when i bury him in the back yard. losing a friend like him is hard i don't know if ill have another pet for awhie.

 

Tell them to hurry up if possible.  You are doing the right thing, doubt will creep in that you aren't, but stick with the plan.

 

And as for getting another, I haven't even been able to come close to doing that, and it's been 16 months.

[Anybodyhome]

I've written about my dogs a couple times here, but our vet is a tremendous woman who made a house call for our black lab of nearly 16 years. Frankie was able to pass comfortably and with dignity in her own house in her favorite spot on her blanket.

 

A little over a year later and we adopted Chief, our Rottie/Dobie/St. Bernard/Husky mix and it was because of his youth and watchful eyes that our Gabbie lived to be almost 18 years old. He gave her a new reason to enjoy life and she actually had a pretty active last year with him around. She passed last June and Chief spent a couple of weeks always on the lookout for her. I cried just watching Chief and how he kept waiting for her every time a door opened.

 

Chief- Christmas 2013