How long did your oldest dog live?

[Strangeite]

Not my dog but my mothers. Roger is currently 16 years old. Unfortunately he has had two strokes in the last six months but has recovered fully each time. She know she only has a limited amount of time left with him.

We are leaving for Disney in 12 days and my mother wants to come along but only if Roger has passed on.

It really is sad, I know she wants to see her grandkids at Disney; but, she can't bring herself to put Roger down before his time.

Really breaks our heart.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

We never had a dog live past 12 years until now. Tara will be 15 in March. The vet is pretty surprised that she has no major health issues "for someone who's pushing 100!" She has some allergies (controlled by meds), has trouble hearing and refuses to go up and down the stairs in the dark; she has false ligaments in her back legs and can no longer jump up on certain chairs, but otherwise, she's doing very well. She still runs around and plays and demands rides in the car...

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My Cody lived to 13 1/2.

He was gray-muzzled, almost blind, deaf, on wheels, and his teeth were almost completely flat (from years of frisbee), but he was happy as a clam so we kept him going until he let us know it was time.

I will always miss him.

 

[MushyMushy]

Who ever said we don't have enough time with our dogs sure nailed it on the head. For the amount of joy they give us, they should be with us our entire lives.

A 18 year old Pomeranian named Calvin.

He was deaf and had no teeth, but in good shape, until he passed in his sleep.

I think Charley hates you. He looks so undignified in those ears. Bwahahahaha!

 

[babylisa4]

Our little beagle mix is 18 1/2. I think they are just good healthy dogs. Last year she developed a malignant melonoma on her gum/lip. We had it removed but it has recently come back. We are faced with either removing it again or putting her down. (It stinks really bad- the vet said mouth tumors smell.) The vet says it will return because they can't get all of it. I hate to put her down because she still greets us at the door, eats and sleeps well. She doesn't run around much but she doesn't seem to be in any pain.

 

[CathrynRose]

I think Charley hates you. He looks so undignified in those ears. Bwahahahaha!

No way! He's comfortable and He is man enough to pull off the ears!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Our little beagle mix is 18 1/2. I think they are just good healthy dogs. Last year she developed a malignant melonoma on her gum/lip. We had it removed but it has recently come back. We are faced with either removing it again or putting her down. (It stinks really bad- the vet said mouth tumors smell.) The vet says it will return because they can't get all of it. I hate to put her down because she still greets us at the door, eats and sleeps well. She doesn't run around much but she doesn't seem to be in any pain.

I was in a similar situation with another one of my dogs (she was 11, and sister to my dog mentioned above). We elected to do the surgery since she was otherwise in good shape. Unfortunately, the skin tumors she had eventually metastasized to her brain, but she had many good months of living before that and I have no regrets at all. Good luck with your decision.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[bumbershoot]

My mom's first Alaskan Malamute lived to 15.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

To all of you who had to make the decision to put your pet down, my heart goes out to you. That would be the most heartbreaking decision of my life (hopefully one I will never have to make).

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My 1st collie, Natasha lived to be 16.

She still showed in agility until 11 years old and showed in Veterans obedience for the last time at 14 years old with a first place I might add.

We had to put her down because she developed arthritis in her hips and doggie senility.

 

[HelenePA]

my first dog was an Irish wolfhound sweet sweet dog my parents had him before they were married lived to be 16. I also had a English springer spaniel that lived to be 17. My dog I have now is approx 15 we aren't sure of her age. Her former owner die and her family could not take care of her..

 

[Dee & Greg]

Our oldest, Serena, is a small, yellow dog and is about 14 (we got her from Animal Control in 1995, and the vet thought she was about 9 months)
she's in great shape except she's completely deaf. Loves her food and her toys!
Lucy is 12, and a beagle-something. Hard to tell if she's slowing down, because she hasn't gotten off the sofa in 12 years!

 

[AnnR]

My brother has a lab mix that is 17 years old and hanging on. I was there when they adopted her, so I am pretty close to her also. She follows me everywhere when I am over there. Unfortunately, she is getting near the end. She has arthritis and her back end is pretty numb. She falls sometimes and can't wag her tail. But, she is still there. She gives me the same looks she did when she was a puppy. My brother thought that it was the end a couple of times when she couldn't get up. One time even had the vet's phone number out when she got up and walked across the lawn! She has been his best friend for a long time and doesn't seem to be in a lot of pain. He won't put her down until she can't walk or acts like she is in pain. He always tried to act like the dogs weren't that important but now he feeds Anna by hand, cleans up her accidents every morning (she doesn't seem to know when she has to poop because of the numbness) and has carried her up and down the steps outside. She is an angel and helped him and his kids through a nasty divorce. The vet actually told me the last time she was in that they do not see dogs that old!! The vet said we would know when it is time but I wish she could tell us how she feels.

 

[kimluvswdw]

Our 2 Schnauzers lived to be about 15 years old. I had them put down when their quality of life was no longer good.

 

[phragmipedium]

I adopted a basset at age 14 (guessed by vet). I had to put him to sleep at 17. I always said I'd have to put him down because after living in a cage for a year before I got him, he probably thought he'd already died and was in heaven, so he wouldn't go naturally!

Bless you for adopting a senior animal, knowing not many years would be left. That's a hard thing to do and I'm sure he was very lucky!

 

[MushyMushy]

To all of you who had to make the decision to put your pet down, my heart goes out to you. That would be the most heartbreaking decision of my life (hopefully one I will never have to make).

It is heartbreaking. But I think they let us know when it's time. You can just tell that they've lost the will.

 

[Mommy2three]

I have a dog named Baby, she is still alive and acting as young as can be, and she is 20 years old....yes thats right....I said 20 years old. Vet said she is the healthiest oldest dog he has ever seen and that she will probably end up falling asleep at home and never waking up.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

Our little beagle mix is 18 1/2. I think they are just good healthy dogs. Last year she developed a malignant melonoma on her gum/lip. We had it removed but it has recently come back. We are faced with either removing it again or putting her down. (It stinks really bad- the vet said mouth tumors smell.) The vet says it will return because they can't get all of it. I hate to put her down because she still greets us at the door, eats and sleeps well. She doesn't run around much but she doesn't seem to be in any pain.

Babylisa,
Please research Cimetidine (Tagamet) for treating your dog's melanoma. Many vets don't realize how well it works on melanoma, or they don't want to prescribe it because it is so inexpensive. It has been a miracle drug for my Arabian horse's melanomas. The first time I treated her with Cimetidine, it shrunk away all of her melanomas (7-8) completely. I pay $12-$14 for 100 tablets, which is a two month supply. If you will Google Cimetidine and melanoma you will get some good information. I truly believe this drug can help your dog and it sure won't hurt her!

My oldest dogs have lived to be 15, 15 1/2 (two) and one lived to be one day shy of his 16th birthday. I have had several live to be over 14. I LOVE old dogs best!

 

[lucas]

Our dog is a Yorkie named Chewie - she is 16.