Is it true....do you really know when it's time?

[mysweetkaos]

We have a 9 yr old German Shepherd who is the heart of this family. We could not have asked for a better companion for our family. He has aged quickly in the last year or so. He had torn cruciates in both of his back knees and was not a candidate for surgery so we bed rested him for 3 months and followed all orders to a tee. Well.....arthritis has set in and is pretty aggressive. He is on a array of suppliments as well as tramadol and even with all that help he cannot go into the sit position...but it keeps him comfortable enough to keep up on small walks. So today I had to leave the house for a couple of hours (I am usually home with him) I came home he was crying on the kitchen floor I didn't know why at first, so as I watched him I realized he had tried to get up off the tile floor and due to the lameness in his back legs and his front legs having no traction on tile he couldn't get up. He tried and tried, I tried to harness him with a towel which he was obviously unhappy about. Our entire house with the exception of one bedroom on the second level is tile or wood, we have rugs placed everywhere, we have about 4 beds on the main level, but yet he likes to be on the tile. So I guess my question is as more and more activities become impossible or painful even with meds.....every one always says you'll know when it's time, is that true? On his bad days I think I know we should start preparing for what is inevitable, but on his good days (or good times as most days are a mix of both) I think we can keep trying things, keep adding things doing things to make him more comfortable....but then I feel guilty am I doing it all for him or me? I am so sorry if this is rambled, I am crying and scattered as I didn't ever want to think we'd be even close to saying goodbye to him

[msvette2u]

It's heartbreaking...but sometimes it is a kindness.
If the dog cannot be "himself" without humiliating himself (and it sounds like he's reached that point) it may be time.
Yes, in our hearts we know, but sometimes our minds tell us to hang on.
But for them...it's all about quality of life.

Our senior Basset we'd only had 11mos. began collapsing, he could not get up, and could not make it to the door. He'd often pee a puddle right where he stood. When we brought him in to the vet, she told us he was just too painful to get up and get out the door. She also found a heart murmur. And he needed another dental (to add to the $900 one we did on him upon intake as a foster dog!!)

He would not take tramadol at all. Hated the taste. I gave him vicoden (cut into pieces) the last week of his life just to ease his pain. We then brought him in for his final visit.

If your dog is losing his dignity...if he isn't "himself" any longer and if he's in pain most the time, then it is probably time.

[LifeofRiley]

Yes... I believe so. You will know when your pet has lost that joy and longing to go forward. And, I truly believe that only YOU will know what that threshold is for your pet. In retrospect, I have, on a couple of occasions, waited longer than I should have but I think I would rather err on that side than the other... I am someone who will try any reasonable therapy first.

[mysweetkaos]

Ever since we watched our neighbors hold on to their Pit mix for at least 4 years after it was obvious to everyone else....I have always swore I would rather do it a day early than a day late. I am finding that is so much easier said than done. I try and remind myself that it will never get better and he has been far too good of a dog to let him suffer even for a minute, but then other times he'll be outside following the kids around and I can't imagine not seeing that. Like right now he just came over sniffed me and licked the tears on my cheek....such a sweet boy.

[katieliz]

i am so sorry. there is a quality of life checklist in either the health or senior or maybe the preparing to say good-bye section, sorry i can't remember which right now. might be helpful for you to read that. it's so hard to know when the right time is, and harder yet to make the decision. take care, many blessings.

[LifeofRiley]

It is so hard to see our beloved pets age. My last dog also had a lot of mobility problems at the end... I was very bonded to this dog and I will admit that it took me a long time to come to terms with his decline. However, as long as he showed excitement and interest to get up and go out (whether or not he needed a little help) I saw that as his way of telling me he wanted to keep going. I lost him around this time last year. I am still not over it. My heart goes out to you.

[mysweetkaos]

Thank you all for your kind words. Kaos shows excitement (as in coming to greet us at doors, or in the morning, or coming to the door when he sees you headed outside) probably about 1/2 the time. Even when we are all in the living room and the younger dog is crated (to give him some peace) he will come in lay his head down for us all to pet and then go to the other room and sleep. I definetely have a lot to think about and discuss with my husband.....as for the kids I can't even begin to imagine how to deal with that.

[BowWowMeow]

It seems a lot more straightforward when it's someone else's animal. When it's your own it's a lot harder to assess quality of life issues. My cat is 19 and having a tough time right now and I really can't imagine letting her go. She has bounced back so many times in the past that I can't imagine a time when she won't bounce back. It really is so tough to imagine them gone.

What are you supplementing with? Does he have an orthopedic bed? Does he have an adaptive harness? That makes it much easier to assist him when he falls down or when you need to do steps, etc. with him.

For now I would block him from the kitchen when you go out (if that's possible).

I would start a new thread detailing his issues and ask for suggestions.

[Anja1Blue]

Firstly I am so sorry for what you and your dog are going through - no matter how many times you are faced with this kind of decision it doesn't get any easier. The way I look at it, having had to face the end of my companion animals lives many times over the years, is that basically it is a simple formula - when the bad days outnumber the good (and the hard part is being objective about it. Two good hours out of a day and 22 bad ones is not quality of life) - it is time to say goodbye. I do believe that they let us know when they have had enough, the problem is most of us choose to ignore that "look" because we love them so much and don't want them to leave us. It's selfish in a way, letting them linger because of what WE want. (And then there's the guilt thing - let them go too soon and we will always regret it, wait until they are in extremis and we regret making them suffer unnecessarily. It's a very fine line.) I think you just have to sit down with your family - kids included - and, painful though it might be, look at your dog's life from his perspective. Put yourselves in his place and think about what he would say to you if he could. Today might not be the day, nor next week - but it is better to start facing (as I think you are doing) the inevitable ahead of time rather than when that time has run out. In the meantime, as Ruth said, make sure he has comfortable bedding away from the tile, and use a properly designed harness (plenty out there) to help him get around. My heart goes out to you all........
____________________________________________
Susan

Anja SchH3 GSD
Conor GSD
Blue BH WH T1 GSD - waiting at the Bridge

[jocoyn]

I am sorry with what you are going through-it never gets easier.

I can't answer your question. After owning dogs for almost 40 years, I still don't "know the time" and for some I have kicked myself for waiting too long but for others I wonder if we couldnt have done more......