How do you decide to let your dog go?

[StarLight StarBright]

I know alot of you have been through this recently so, thought I could get some opinions on this. I have a White German Shepard who is 11. He has had hip problems for a while, limping, that kind of thing. Maybe in the last few months he has started falling, or more like slipping on our wood floor. He also sort of plops down the 3 steps he needs to go down, to go outside and do his business. He still has a great appetite, likes to go outside and bark at night(no close neighbors)this is something he has always done, and he still runs a bit outside(very short distances). I don't think he is in pain all the time, he will whine a bit if he tries to get up too quickly.Everything was OK at his last vet visit.
I just hate to see him limping and falling, and it has got me wondering if it is time to have him put to sleep. On the other hand, I think that's crazy, he is fine. I don't know, I try to talk to DH about it and he just sort of sighs, like he doesn't even want to think about it. I don't want to think about it either, he has been the BEST dog, very protective of my kids, I don't know what to do.

 

[FoxberryJam]

We just had our dog of 12 years put down back in May. She was in bad shape, all sorts of internal issues, she barely even moved her last few weeks. There was no question it was time, yet it was STILL an agonizing decision. And it was brutal to go thru the process, I'm not going to lie. Doesn't sound like your dog is quite at that point yet, but sounds like she is heading down that path, very sorry. Vets are very careful not to offer their opinions on what to do, they just present you with the facts of your dog's current condition and you have to decide when the right time is.

 

[robinb]

Isn't 11 still young for a GSD? I guess I would look into possible treatments for him. I had a friend who tried massage and acupuncture on her dog with good success. Here is some more info from the OFA: http://www.offa.org/hiptreat.html

 

[EllenFrasier]

I know alot of you have been through this recently so, thought I could get some opinions on this. I have a White German Shepard who is 11. He has had hip problems for a while, limping, that kind of thing. Maybe in the last few months he has started falling, or more like slipping on our wood floor. He also sort of plops down the 3 steps he needs to go down, to go outside and do his business. He still has a great appetite, likes to go outside and bark at night(no close neighbors)this is something he has always done, and he still runs a bit outside(very short distances). I don't think he is in pain all the time, he will whine a bit if he tries to get up too quickly.Everything was OK at his last vet visit.
I just hate to see him limping and falling, and it has got me wondering if it is time to have him put to sleep. On the other hand, I think that's crazy, he is fine. I don't know, I try to talk to DH about it and he just sort of sighs, like he doesn't even want to think about it. I don't want to think about it either, he has been the BEST dog, very protective of my kids, I don't know what to do.

You didn't indicate if you have him on any kind of medication for arthritis? If you don't, you might want to look into that first. I think Rimadyl or something like that is what we had Cody on for a few years. We had a Golden Retriever that we had put to sleep when he was 13. He had problems getting up, problems walking until he got going and problems with stairs. Near the end of his life, I would lift his hind end until he was standing and steady and then he'd walk on his own. Sometimes I had to help him up or down the couple of steps we have into our yard. He had a good appetite, walked around the yard, did his usual thing of laying under the picnic table.

We knew it was time to help him say goodbye when he could not stand even with help and would not eat or drink. That was the last day or so of his life that he had extreme problems with standing and it made me cry just to see him like that.

From what you describe, it does not sound like your dog is in so much discomfort that he cannot get around, seems to be enjoying his life and still eating, etc. so from what I can tell he's not at that point yet. But everybody has to decide these things for their pet as you know him best.
Good luck to you all.

 

[StarLight StarBright]

We just had our dog of 12 years put down back in May. She was in bad shape, all sorts of internal issues, she barely even moved her last few weeks. There was no question it was time, yet it was STILL an agonizing decision. And it was brutal to go thru the process, I'm not going to lie. Doesn't sound like your dog is quite at that point yet, but sounds like she is heading down that path, very sorry. Vets are very careful not to offer their opinions on what to do, they just present you with the facts of your dog's current condition and you have to decide when the right time is.

So sorry about your dog, but you're right the vets won't tell us what to do, at the last visit, they were like "Pick 3 things he really loves to do, and when he can't do them anymore, then you have to make a decision" ugh...I'm not a dog expert...tell me what to do! I guess that's why I was hoping to get some actual opinions.

 

[Pembo]

Our vet told us we would know when it was time and I fretter over it for months but the night he couldn't get up was how we knew for sure. It was very hard. I'd talk to your vet again. Maybe there is something else you can do for him. Best of luck.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I asked a friend (who grew up raising dogs) the same question. Her response was simple -- he looks you in the eye and tells you, "I'm not having fun anymore."

I'm so sorry.

 

[StarLight StarBright]

Isn't 11 still young for a GSD? I guess I would look into possible treatments for him. I had a friend who tried massage and acupuncture on her dog with good success. Here is some more info from the OFA: http://www.offa.org/hiptreat.html

I don't think 11 is considered young, but my sister works at a hospital and they have a GSD therapy dog who is 14...so he might have more time, I hope. I will look into the massage, thanks. That could actually help him, he even seems happier after he gets a bath so maybe he needs some extra TLC.

As far as Rimadyl, he was on that for a while, and I honestly don't know if it helped him. But, he takes Glucosamine(which the vet recommended) but I think they have to take it for a while to see a difference so, hoping that will help him.

We recently got a chihuahua puppy and that has helped him I think, you know he has to keep the young one in line

 

[mishasmom]

I'm so sorry you're going through this. But I agree with other posters who think your dog probably isn't at the stage where you need to put him down yet. He's still eating and enjoying life. It sounds cliche, but I think you'll know when it's time. He won't eat or drink, or won't be able to stand at all. We had to put our dog down a year and a half ago. It came on very quickly-she became incontinent, and then wouldn't eat or drink. We watched her for a few days and then decided it was time. It was the worst day of my life! But I really think you have some more quality time left with your dog.

 

[StarLight StarBright]

I asked a friend (who grew up raising dogs) the same question. Her response was simple -- he looks you in the eye and tells you, "I'm not having fun anymore."

I'm so sorry.

That is heartbreaking!!! I don't think I've seen that look.

 

[We_Love_Disney]

You will know in your heart when it is time. I still can't type about my beautiful dog without crying, and it has been 19 months. I knew it was time when her quality of life had become so bad, that it would be inhumane for me not to put her down. It was the single most difficult decision I have ever had to make. In my heart and in my mind I did what was best for her. I miss her every single day.

 

[StarLight StarBright]

Hugs to all of you who have had to make the dreaded decision. I knew you all could help me!

 

[minkydog]

You didn't indicate if you have him on any kind of medication for arthritis? If you don't, you might want to look into that first.

I was just about to suggest this. YOu beat me to it! OP, my Minky is 10yo and has severe arthritis in his lower back and both hips. He has been on Mobic (an NSAID) for several years for that pain. About a month ago he suddenly started limping, crying, and whimpering, kind of "hopping" on both back feet. He didn't want to walk, or play, or even eat. Turns out he has a partial tear to the ACL in his left knee--I never even thought of his knee! The vet doesn't think surgery is going to be a good option for him, so we have added Tramadol (like Ultram) to the NSAID. It has really helped him a lot. Every now and then he'll run on it funny or slip and fall, and he's reminded of that ACL for a few days. But just giving him some appropriate pain relief and anti-inflammatory has made a big difference. He's back to "smiling" again.

 

[MiniGirl]

Man, just reading this thread brings tears to my eyes.

OP, your dog sounds very much like our beloved standard poodle a while before we put him down. Do ask the vet about arthtitis medication. Our vet said it has been used with mixed results but does help some dogs a great deal.

Our dog had a steady decline. We did hear him fall down the steps a few times, and we put up a baby gate to keep him on the lower level. Just doing that was hard because he wanted nothing more than to be with his family. Then one day he could not move anymore. One night I heard him struggling to get up and realized he wasn't just laying there by choice but that he couldn't move. It was too late to do anything, but the next day we called the vet and brought him in. It was time and we had no doubts about it. It was very hard, but it was the right thing to do.

 

[MerMom60_94]

I know alot of you have been through this recently so, thought I could get some opinions on this. I have a White German Shepard who is 11. He has had hip problems for a while, limping, that kind of thing. Maybe in the last few months he has started falling, or more like slipping on our wood floor. He also sort of plops down the 3 steps he needs to go down, to go outside and do his business. He still has a great appetite, likes to go outside and bark at night(no close neighbors)this is something he has always done, and he still runs a bit outside(very short distances). I don't think he is in pain all the time, he will whine a bit if he tries to get up too quickly.Everything was OK at his last vet visit.
I just hate to see him limping and falling, and it has got me wondering if it is time to have him put to sleep. On the other hand, I think that's crazy, he is fine. I don't know, I try to talk to DH about it and he just sort of sighs, like he doesn't even want to think about it. I don't want to think about it either, he has been the BEST dog, very protective of my kids, I don't know what to do.

My dog sounds a lot like your dog. We have a brittany who will turn 13 on September 7th. We put her on rymadil last year and it definitely has helped with the limping, but she does fall and have trouble jumping up sometimes. She is also just beginning to have trouble controlling her BMs so we have to be sure not to feed her unless we are going to be home for awhile afterward. I don't think she is quite at the end but I do think I see the end coming. I keep wondering if this will be her last summer. It sounds like your dog isn't quite there but when you see him in constant pain and no longer enjoying life you'll be faced with that awful decision. We have been there before and it is never ever an easy one to make. Enjoy him and give him extra love and attention. Did you ask the vet about adjusting the dosage of rymadil? It's been a miracle drug for Misty and I know the vet said he could adjust the dose if she starts to have issues again.

 

[Christine]

Many older dogs have terrible problems on hardwood floors. My dog is 10, the arthritis is starting, and the wood floors are giving her trouble. I've bought a lot of throw rugs and I scatter them through the house in her "path". I put a big one at the bottom of the stairs so she doesn't completely fall down when she hits the floor (my stairs do have a runner on them). She loves those rugs and learned to make them her "path" almost as soon as I put them down. You could almost see her saying "Thanks, it's about time!!"

Your dog still sounds full of life. I would look into some arthritis meds and throw rugs. I don't think you are anywhere near putting the dog down. If your home was fully carpeted, you probably wouldn't even notice half of it.

Stairs can be a problem. My older German Shepherd (who was 14 when she died) finally gave up on the stairs and stayed on one level.

 

[CowboyCO]

Why don't you put down some carpet runners in the major walkway areas? That way, he's not fighting to keep traction.

 

[Jennasis]

Our greyhound Janky had to be put down this past May due to a massive cancerous tumor in her jaw. She was 12. Somehow I just knew in my heart that May would be her last month. She was diagnosed with the tumor last year (in June). Vet gave her 6 months to a year. She was too old for surgery or chemo, so we decided to love her and keep her happy and comfortable as long as possible. The tumor began to crowd her mouth making eating very hard, so we switched her from dry food to canned food. She LOVED that.

We had her on the wet food for about 2 months, and then one morning she woke up and wouldn't eat. She just nosed at it and then looked at me like "DO SOMETHING. HELP ME."

My heart shattered into a million pieces, but I knew it was time. We had promised ourselves and her that we would NOT let her suffer, and that the day she couldn't eat would be her last day.

The vet agreed with us (I tried everything I could to get her to eat), and she died peacefully in our arms. We miss her everyday.

 

[DisMN]

Please please don't prolong your beloved pet's suffering simply to postpone your own.
Having been through it many times I know how agonizing the decision is. I even think we may have done it a bit too early on one occasion but don't kick myself over it because I know it was coming soon anyway. It is what it is, you know?

It's a huge misconception that our pets will let us know when it's time. I've seen pets in horrible anguish who's owners should have given them the loving gift of euthanasia months earlier.

It does sound like your guy is responding to massage therapy and having a younger animal in the house so IMHO it's probably not quite time.

Good luck in your decision...and lots of hugs to you and your family. This stuff is rough.

 

[StarLight StarBright]

Well, I'm glad to hear you all think he is still full of life- as we speak he has rolled around, and laying in some mud outside, so he is still up to his old tricks!
I think I will take him back to the vet and discuss rimadyl again, or maybe a different drug. Also, I do need to put some rugs in his path...He never falls in the bedrooms, which are carpeted. Only in the kitchen and living room, which are wood floors. I wish I could keep him off the 3 steps I mentioned, but we have three steps at three different doors leading outside, so no choice there, although DH has talked about building a little ramp for him. The things we do for our pets, right?