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Back in 1998, my family adopted a pair of full-grown twin Dalmatians. They had obviously been raised as outdoor dogs beforehand since they were hyperactive and impossible to train, so we built them an outdoor shelter near the house. In 2009, they both developed hip dysplasia, and became bony and emaciated in spite of being fed adequately. One of them died that Christmas.
Immediately afterward, my mother brought the surviving dog indoors, and it's had problems with incontinence. The dog would often urinate and defecate in its sleep, or as it tried to walk. The condition of the house began to deteriorate, with a persistent stench in the air, and carpets needing to be cleaned on a near-daily basis. My mother goes through a pack of diapers and a spool of masking tape per week in order to alleviate the mess.
Since the beginning of this year, the dog no longer even tries to walk. It simply lays on a makeshift bed in the living room and whimpers when it needs attention. If it whimpers after having been given the attention it needs, my mother loses patience with it. The dog literally cannot help itself at this point, and I'd argue that it's been living in misery for at least a year and a half now.
For about the last four to six months, my father, sister and I have argued that the dog is miserable and ought to be put under, but my mother doesn't want to hear it, so it stays and lays there, and she yells at it whenever she's frustrated with it. (This occurs on a daily basis.) I've asked about a dozen other people in the last few days if this dog should be put down, and everybody has said yes, including a firefighter who works with Dalmatians daily.
So now I'm asking dog owners specifically: should this dog be put down? Your feedback is appreciated.
If the dog is in pain and cannot be medically treated, yes I would put it down. It seems almost cruel to keep it alive in the condition it is in if you can't help it (sounds like it's in pain to me, but a vet can confirm that). Maybe your dad can help it if your mom won't. I actually now feel horrible for this poor dog
If the dog is in pain and cannot be medically treated, yes I would put it down. It seems almost cruel to keep it alive in the condition it is in if you can't help it (sounds like it's in pain to me, but a vet can confirm that). Maybe your dad can help it if your mom won't. I actually now feel horrible for this poor dog
I agree if nothing can be done medically the kindest thing is to put the dog down. People seem to view death as such a bad thing but it is just a part of life just as birth is and some times we need to respect that a life worth living has come to an end and ensure a peaceful death. Tell your mom that the last act of kindness or love she can offer the dog is putting it down so it has a peaceful death that ends any suffering. The dog will not hate her for it and she has no reason to feel guilty as it is time and she will be doing a good thing not a bad thing. I had to make that decision for two dogs in the past 1.5 yrs and while not easy I know in my heart that it was the right thing to do and am at peace with it. Good luck.
ETA: Has the dog been to the vet recently? What's their opinion?
I know that it's been a while, and certainly not since it stopped walking.
Somehow I don't think that it's in much pain because it has no feeling in its hind legs, but that's exactly the problem. If it can't even walk, let alone control its bladder or bowels, and if it won't even try, then it's essentially become a vegetable, which seems just as bad as being in constant pain.
Somehow I don't think that it's in much pain because it has no feeling in its hind legs, but that's exactly the problem. If it can't even walk, let alone control its bladder or bowels, and if it won't even try, then it's essentially become a vegetable, which seems just as bad as being in constant pain.
According to these symptoms...yes.
Tough decision to make Gnutella but a needed one for the pup.
The decision to put down a beloved pet is always difficult. It doesn't sound like your mother's dog has any quality of life. It's horrifying to think the dog could be in pain because it hasn't been to the vet since he or she stopped walking. Some dogs are excellent at hiding their pain.
I commend you for trying to step in and do what you can for the dog. Please at least take the dog to the vet and get a vet's opinion.
Location: The other side of the Cumberland Plateau
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What quality of life does this dog have? What quality of life does your mother have, not to mention the rest of the family who are watching this dog suffer?
The kindest thing your mother can do at this point is to help this beloved dog over the Rainbow Bridge where it can run, pain-free with its' twin.
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