Suggestions? Is it time let her go?

[blehmannwa]

We will have had Crusher for 14 years tomorrow. The past year, her arthritis and DM has become worse. She can no longer do stairs and my husband and I are up multiple times during the night to help her from cool floor to dog bed. She cries every evening but it's more demanding than pathetic and since she has always been a vocal and demanding dog--it's hard to know just how much discomfort she is in.
But my husband and I are both suffering from lack of sleep. I am becoming especially cross. I took care of most of our pup's sleep issues. Now he would sleep through the night except for Crusher's barks. I've only had two or three uninterrupted nights since Jan. and it is taking a toll.
I want to take Crush to the vet and see about upping her pain meds at night. She's been on Deramaxx for many years and I'm wondering about Tramadol or stronger painkillers--heck, I'd take opiates! Everyone might feel better with a good night's sleep.

I've always said that incontinence and appetite loss are when I would consider end-of-life but even with eating, walks, and no accidents I question her quality of life.

[Bee]

If you are asking the question here then maybe it is. I'm sorry to say that to you as it's not n easy decision to make. Long n short is you know your Crusher better than anyone. 14 is a heck of a good age! You have to love enough to decide if letting go is the best thing for her or not. Best wishes

[KZoppa]

I have to agree with Bee. Only you can really know if its time to let Crusher go. 14 years old is a nice age for any dog to make it. Arthritic and suffering from DM... well that cant be easy, even with pain meds. Its got to be downright frustrating for Crusher as well as you. perhaps with seeming to make sure you and your husband lack sleep, Crusher is trying to tell you its time. Quality of life all around sounds like its walking a fine line. Lack of sleep leads to other problems both mentally and physically. if you trust your vet, i would ask their opinion as well. In the end its up to you.

[vat]

I agree, if your thinking about it then maybe it is time. I wish they could tell us, it would make our choice so much easier. You live with her so only you know for sure, talk to our vet and see what he has to say.

[RebelGSD]

I had a dog with health problems that barked several times a night to get out. I don't have proof, but he also wanted company. It might be with to try some medication that has a sedating effect, such as tramdol.

[vegathegreat]

Originally Posted by KZoppa

if you trust your vet, i would ask their opinion as well.

I had a vet tell me it was time to put a pet down. I was avoiding the decision but it was the best thing for her. I heard someone say "when you can't get the tail to wag anymore, it's time".

[Draugr]

Incontinence is something that is now very manageable in dogs. There's several medications and if worse comes to worse, diapers (or some kind of absorbent pad on the floor which would especially work well if she's not very mobile). I wouldn't ever put a dog down just because of incontinence but that's just me. Usually the incontinence is accompanied by other stuff though - dog stops eating, stops playing, depression, etc, things like that.

I think it sounds like your dog needs her pain med dosage upped. She can't make it through the night right now because of pain I'd imagine - a better dosage, a different med, etc, might give all three of you a better night's sleep.

She needs a lot of help and maintenance right now but that's old age for you :3. One day all of us will reach that stage, too.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Well, she's actually eating, walking and NOT incontinent according to that post if I am reading it right. She's barking at night. Lots of things happen to them and they try to communicate with us. They can't hear so well, so they bark, sometimes I think to hear a noise, like Rebel said, needs attention, or it can be discomfort (is she also panting, has "pain" face?).

Tramadol is an opiate drug. Tramadol I like the articles at the bottom: Holistic Care for Pets

I think YOUR quality of life may have gone down with a senior and a puppy both needing nighttime attention but only half of that is her fault!

And congrats on the big 14!!!!!!!!!!!

[Freestep]

When dogs begin to lose their hearing, they go through a phase where they bark for seemingly no reason. I don't know why they do it, but I have seen it happen many times, with my own dogs and other peoples'. As the hearing gradually goes away, so does the barking.

If your dog is already deaf and has been for some time, I would take the barking more seriously, and look into upping the pain meds. If that doesn't help, then you have a tough decision to make.

[PaddyD]

If you are up multiple times to move her from cool floor to bed that indicates that she can't move on her own. Also, as Vega says, is the tail still wagging? Her quality of life may have reached that point ..... Having been through it, where the dog had to be carried to go outside or the dog no longer ate nor was happy to see me and the tail no longer wagged, the hard decision had to be made. It is never easy and there is always guilt and regret and 'what if'. Very sorry that you and Crusher may be coming to that.