Thanks for letting me share & God Bless you if you are dealing with this tragic disease! You can stop now. I stumbled across if when I was trying to make sense of what I just did to my 17 year old rat terrier Macy. Almost a year since my beloved & I said goodbye. I cradled our boy in my arms the day before and day of and wouldn’t put him down. I have a 15 year old toy rat terrier, PennieLou, who i am pretty sure has doggy dementia. . I waited too long with Duncan, it will always haunt me. Even now I still feel this to a degree.
He gave words of sympathy. She has had dementia for about 18 months now. the vet has said that for her age she is in very good condition apart from a bit of arthritis in her back legs. It isn’t an easy choice, I have been hoping ginger would go peacefully on her own, in her sleep. I’m struggling with whether he should be euthanized as our cold hard winters are going to be tough on him.
If she is at a water bowl, she just laps at air. She now has poor to no vision, hearing loss,incontinence and forgetting how to drink and eat, let alone find her bowls.
When to Put Down Your Dog checklist and survey, alongside the more scientific Dog Quality of Life Scale from vets, will help you with this tough decision.
A few months later we noticed she was only sleeping a few hours a night. My Welsh Terrier, Riley, is 15 years old. To have to be the one to decide to do this is unbearable. If we feel like we can control the pain of whatever condition they might have, we take “not eating” or sometimes “unable to walk” as the main turning point. But I’m seeing a marked decline. When we let he do it, it gets worse. He does have balance issues, is unable to jump onto furniture anymore, can’t walk up the stairs at all and seems more unsure daily of how to get down safely but he also has arthritis which is likely the cause for that.
Her dementia is getting worse and she no longer seems to know me or show any interest in affection.
Don’t worry about whether or not your vet is bringing it up, very few do. He still eats and drinks, he doesn’t pace, and has not yet started having potty accidents in the house. You don’t usually get a lot of praise or affirmation from the world for all you are doing. Rest easy, my precious girl.It’s been four weeks today Dec 8 when we said are goodbyes Oscar,I still cry and think about you everyday,man i miss you so much little buddy.life will never be the same.I can remember the day I brought you home that beautiful day in June of 2002 you were so full of life and gave me one to.I miss and love you so much.Ive taken my dog Jess 18 years old twice to the vet to be put to rest each time I broke down and couldn’t go through with it I am in pieces …she has dementia constantly incontinent and snappy when I fuss her People say I will know when time is right Im torn between mopping urine and faeces and her snapping at me and her enjoying her run in the park Can anyone advise me .Vet says I need her put down before she gets worseAnne,my Princess was in the same predicament.
Getting up in the middle of the night and would stare until I put her to bed with a snack. God bless you!Sorry for your loss Mark. She is a breast cancer survivor and survived a triple mastectomy 3 years ago this month.
She ate her breakfast and came over for a few pets before continuing her circles. 2 months after, she suffered the same corneal ulcer issue with her left eye and not only it hasn’t been healed still but also she lost her vision. She didn’t spend time with us outside anymore or have much interest in doing anything.
I’m glad the site has been a comfort to you.This article and reading these comments were just very helpful to me. I am heartbroken and crying but I know I’m doing the right thing.
I see the vet tomorrow and will tell her that it is her time even though I know that she will probably try to convince me otherwise. She has been with me since she was 8 weeks old and even went away to college with me as a puppy. I would ask yourself one question, are there moments of true happiness in the course of your pets’ day (not primal instincts like eating)?