should I have my dog "put to sleep"

[Partridge4ever]

I have an almost 16 year old fiest. He has lost most of his teeth; in fact his bottom lip is curled in. To eat he sort of laps the food. He was born w/a lame leg but until recently he could run as fast as any 4 legged dog. His hearing and eyesight are poor. Lately he has had a hard time getting up. Sometimes he falls right into his food while trying to eat. This is painful to watch, but he doesn't seem to be in pain. I've been wondering for awhile now if it's time to let go.

He's always been an outdoor dog. I used to bring him inside when he was a puppy and he really just prefered to be outside. When we moved to a subdivision that doesn't allow outdoor dogs, we gave him to my mother. Two years ago my mom moved in next door to me. We've been breaking the rules by having him. He barks; not excessively, but especially in the early morning and the evening. This makes my mom a nervous wreck because she worries about the neighbors. Last Sunday night a neighbor called to complain. So I've been putting him in the garage at night but even with a fan, it's soooo hot. And in the daytime when he's outside, it's in the upper 90s. In the daytime when he barks, she squirts him with water and tells him to stop. I bought a citronella colar but it has no effect. What's there to life for a dog other than barking sometimes?

Then two days ago he somehow dislocated his good back leg. Now he can't get up at all. He can sort of drag himself on his front legs but only for a few inches. It's painful for me to watch him struggling to stand. He has been urinating and defecating right where he lays...not because he can't "hold it" but because he can't move.

Finding him a new home is not an option. Anyone who would take him would have to be a true dog lover and so would already have dogs. I think he'd be miserable with other dogs bothering him and lonely wondering where his family is. We have an indoor dog already...they bother each other. Mom does not want him in the house and really he doesn't want to be inside either. When we've brought him in when it storms or gets really cold, he whines at the door the whole time wanting out.

So I think I should let go, but I also am afraid that the grumpy neighbor is rushing my decision. On the other hand, I wonder if the dislocated back leg is a sign that it's time...something to make me feel like I'm doing it for the right reason and not just to satisfy the neighbor.

 

[tazdev3225]

I have been in your shoes and it is a hard decision to make. I do think it sounds like it may be time to let your furbaby go however. Good luck no matter what you decide.

 

[lizandjason]

Please ask your vet what you should do.

Whatever you decide, I hope that you keep your dog's best interest in mind first and foremost. Not your own, not your mother's, and certainly not the neighbor's. Best of luck.

 

[CookieGVB]

Is he in pain with the dislocated leg? Have you taken him to the vet? I have a feeling you already know what to do - good luck with your decision.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

It's a horrible situation to be in - i can totally sympathise. Speak to your vet about your options, but the time always comes (sooner than you would like occasionally) when you need to let them go. Whatever your decision, make sure you have time to think about it and don't feel rushed or pressured.

Di x

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I had a standard poodle that I had to euthanize last year. From reading your post, it seems like your dog's quality of life has deteriorated to the point where it would be a kindness to let him go. It will be difficult and heartbreaking, but later when you've had a chance to grieve you will ask yourself why you waited so long and made him suffer longer than he needed to-I did, I wish I had not made her feel so bad for as long as I did (she really struggled for about 3 weeks before we brought her in to the vet's).

 

[MoniqueU]

Ummmm yes for sure you should.

 

[mrsstats]

Yes, it appears he has no real quality of life. That is what you need to base your decision on. It is not an easy choice but a very humane choice.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I had a standard poodle that I had to euthanize last year. From reading your post, it seems like your dog's quality of life has deteriorated to the point where it would be a kindness to let him go. It will be difficult and heartbreaking, but later when you've had a chance to grieve you will ask yourself why you waited so long and made him suffer longer than he needed to-I did, I wish I had not made her feel so bad for as long as I did (she really struggled for about 3 weeks before we brought her in to the vet's).

I was going to type something very similar to this. We had to make this decision with our cat recently. It was a terribly difficult decision to make, but as this poster said, in hindsight, I put it off only for my own sake.

I will say that my vet was very compassionate and the actual procedure was "better" than I had envisioned. (I hope you know what I mean, it was very peacful.)

 

[mlclements]

We just had to put our 18 year old dog down. I had hoped that I would never have to make that decision. I hoped that I would come home one day and he would of just past away. He had hardly any teeth left and his hearing and vision were nearly gone. And he went down hill so fast one week that I knew it was time. It has been the hardest thing that I had to do. My dd9 is still so upset. We had watched Hotel for Dogs one evening and there was a dog at the end of the movie that needed a home and his name was Harley. That was our dogs name and she cried and cried. It seemed that we knew it was time when we started asking ourselves if that is what we should do. We miss him terribly and I will never get another house dog again. I don't ever want to have to do that again.

 

[dismom2]

I just thought you could use that. It's a very hard decision to make, but I second going to the Vet.

 

[powellrj]

I'm sorry, I can feel the pain in your post and I know you hurt.

 

[jackemail]

Don't think about your mother, your neighbor...think about your dog and what is best for him. It truly does not sound as if he has a good quality of "dog life". I have had to have several sick pets euthanized over the years---somehow they told me with a look or a struggle that it was time.

A dog does not want to lay in its own urine and feces....talk to your vet and do what's best for the dog.

 

[Disney Doll]

Yes. Your dog doesn't sound like he has much quality of life. He may be in pain from the leg (my vet told us that dogs instinctively try not to show "pain" because whent hey were wild pack animals, any weakness owuld mean the others in the pack would turn on them...only the string survive in the wild. While dogs are now domesticated, some of those early insticntive behaviors never disappear.

He probably hates messing on himself or right where he is, especially if he was always a good dog about going outside. They "know"....

The heat is not good for him, he's unable to move very well, he gets squirted when he barks, he isn't able to easily eat.

He has been a good pet throughout his life. You owe it to him to be worthy of all the love and devotion he has given you by ending his suffering.

Call the vet and make the appointment. It will be the last loving thing you can do for him.

We put our very beloved Ted down 1.5 years ago for many of the same things you are describing. It was the worst day of my life, bar none, but it was the right thing to do for Ted...he deserved not to be made to suffer. He deserved some dignity. His passing was quite peaceful, and I immediately felt a sense of it being the right thing to do....almost like Ted was around saying "Thanks Mom". We had always promised him we wouldn't let him suffer. As much as it broke my heart, I wouldn't break my promise to him.

Read the little saying in my signature on the right hand side. That about summed it up for me.

 

[JoiseyMom]

I am so sorry you have to make this decision. We had to put down our 6 year old 2 years ago. It is very hard. It seems like he has very little quality of life. You will be doing him a favor by letting him go. I do understand how difficult this is.

Our oldest dog is 13 and we know that we are going to have to make that decision sooner then later.

 

[telescope]

I think it would be best, he doesn't understand why all of this is happening. He'll be much happier up in heaven where he can run, play, and all of that good stuff! If it's gotten to the point where he's urinating on himself due to not being able to move, I think it's time.

 

[Pigeon]

This is a decision that only you can answer, in consultation with your vet. In my experience, I've known when it's time based on the behavior of the pet. It is very difficult and I'm sorry you are going through this.

 

[LoraJ]

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I doubt that he dislocated anything. What you describe is something that happens to many older dogs. It happened to mine as well. They lose nerve function to their rear ends and that causes an inablity to walk and control elimination. For most dogs, this means it's time to go. Yours has had a long life, and is uncomfortable and frustrated now. I agree with speaking to your vet who can guide you. I know it's not easy by any means. Good luck, and thank you for caring enough about him to post.

 

[Partridge4ever]

Thanks everyone for posting and sharing your stories to help me make my decision. It's really touching. to everyone who is missing a pet. I will make the appointment first thing in the morning. I know it's the best thing to do; I just needed reassurance that I wasn't jumping to conclusions based on the grumpy neighbor. It's ironic that his leg gave out just days after the man complained. I can't imagine a world without my Lil Bit o' Dog.