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I love him so much that I'm not ready to give up all hope yet.
I'm going to research and look into a better food for him - I never thought about allergies,but that could easily be part of the problem. He always got more itchy and sore the longer his fur grew and I thought he might have been alergic to his own fur. Which is why clipping him is so important.
I'm going to read through the posts again when I'm not so tired and upset (tomorrow) and make a list of these suggestions and try everything I can.
If nothing helps - I'm not going to watch him suffer. Then I know it'll be time. I just can't say goodbye yet. I've loved him since the day I got him.
There is lots of good advice in here, but it really is a decision only you can make.
It is possible he has some internal issues going on. Many times, if a dog is in any kind of pain, they will snap of out nowhere. People who come to me and tell me their sweet, loving dog snapped at them out of nowhere and ask me why that happened...I always tell them to take their dog to the vet and see if something internally is wrong. My mothers dog did it when she started to get sick with cancer. Although, with your dog it may me the skin and eye issues that are making the dog uncomfortable. I would still make sure, though.
I wish you the best with whatever decision you make.
I was just showing hubby the original thread and discussing some of the suggestions with him when he pointed out that there were a couple of things I didn't talk about in the original post that would help to round out the situation better and help you to understand what is happening to my beloved Lucky.
His eyes have no tear ducts which means there is no moisture in them at all. We put drops in them all the time but that doesn't stop him from rubbing his head on anything he can, even cement and carpet, and making this odd painful whimpering when he does it. It's horrible to listen too and it's even worse when I realize there's nothing I can do to help him.
Has anyone else ever had to deal with something like this? Any suggestions will be followed up on I promise you.
I was just showing hubby the original thread and discussing some of the suggestions with him when he pointed out that there were a couple of things I didn't talk about in the original post that would help to round out the situation better and help you to understand what is happening to my beloved Lucky.
His eyes have no tear ducts which means there is no moisture in them at all. We put drops in them all the time but that doesn't stop him from rubbing his head on anything he can, even cement and carpet, and making this odd painful whimpering when he does it. It's horrible to listen too and it's even worse when I realize there's nothing I can do to help him.
Has anyone else ever had to deal with something like this? Any suggestions will be followed up on I promise you.
Corinne
If the dog has KCS (dry eye) what kind of drops are you using? Is he on cyclosporine drops? These drops are kind of oily and tend to last longer than the artificial tears kind. There is a surgical procedure that can restore normal tear production, but it may be too expensive for you. You could consult a vet. opthalmologist.
Many dogs live happy lives with dry eye. Our rescue group sees this problem frequently, and in every case so far we've been able to manage the problem and place the dog in an adoptive home. It takes a competent vet to prescribe something that works and good owner management.
It sounds as if you are committed, so perhaps another vet opinion would be a good idea.
My heart and sympathy goes out to you. It's never easy. For me, when they are having more bad days than good days, it's time to let go. Hanging on longer is just selfish.
I was sent this when I had to put my 8 year old rottie down. It brought me a little bit of peace. Maybe it can bring some to you as well.
Quote:
"I am sending you on a journey to a land free from pain..not because I didn't love you but because I loved you too much to force you to stay."
I don't know who's quote it is, but it's really how I felt.
Hugs to you in your time or sorrow. You'll do what's best when the time is right.
I never realized it was there until I was able to clip some of the fur off his back. At first I thought it was just a hot spot or an area where I might have accidently zinged him with the clippers, but it is a lump approximately three inches long and two or two and a half inches wide. It is very noticeable.
The decision might have already been made for me, if this is cancerous I cannot let him suffer.
As others have said, you already know the decision that you must make....and trust me, it's never easy and one that's not taken lightly. Search within, your answer's already there....be strong in making your decision, for it's one of love for your friend and one that sometimes we're forced to make for them. If your friend is no longer having quality life....well, it's probably time to make the selfless step to ease your friend to rest. My thoughts and prayers are with you, for I've had to endure the pain and heartache of having to make the decision for my beloved Barnie. I know in my heart it was the right thing to do, and I believe she understood as she quietly and peacefully slipped from this world into the next as I stoked her and stayed by her side.
I never realized it was there until I was able to clip some of the fur off his back. At first I thought it was just a hot spot or an area where I might have accidently zinged him with the clippers, but it is a lump approximately three inches long and two or two and a half inches wide. It is very noticeable.
The decision might have already been made for me, if this is cancerous I cannot let him suffer.
And the hits just keep on coming.
A lump on an older dog is not necessarily bad. Your vet can tell you for sure, but it sounds much like a lipoma, which is a lump comprised of fatty tissue. These are common and almost always benign. I have a Poodle that has at least 6 of them, some quite large, but at almost 17 there's no way that I'll have them surgically removed. They've been tested and they are benign and since they don't affect his activities I leave them alone.
Check with your vet. If it's questionable, he'll do a needle biopsy. It may be nothing.
bansidhbabe -- oh, wow, do i understand some of what you're going through!
i have a 12-year old shih, have had him since he was six weeks old, and love him like he was my human child.
but he is older now, has some serious health problems, and requires 24 hour a day monitoring.
he is a good dog with a great personality, very smart and loving...but...
because of the health issues (heart problems, back back, arthritis, paraphimosis, rocky mountain spotted fever relapse issues, kidney problems, stomach ulcer, suffocation upon vomiting, etc and so on), he has developed severe separation anxiety and some grumpiness.
he will snarl and attempt to bite when he's picked up by anyone other than a family member, and he does sometimes go after me when i try to move him in the bed (b/c he has always slept with me).
he has to be handled with extreme care b/c of the back and arthritis issues, and he is sometimes whiney and grumpy.
now, why do i tell you all of this?
because some days are HARD, they are so HARD. sometimes between his grumbling and groaning, i feel like i cannot even complete a thought.
and the worry. oh my god, sometimes i feel like i am going to have a heart attack from the worry. why is he crying? does he hurt? am i doing this all wrong? should the vet specialists be doing something different?
but every day is worth it.
because he is not always like that. grumpy and complaining, i mean.
and because i know, i can see just by looking at him, really looking deep into his eyes, that he still belongs here with me.
he's still energetic, he still wants to play, he still wants to walk (even though i end up carrying him back home most of the time), he still wants to cuddle...he still wants to live.
and i will do everything in my power to continue to make that happen for as long as i see that look in his eyes.
but that's us.
everybody's situation is different.
the question i would have for you is twofold:
1. what look do you see in your lucky's eyes? when it's calm, and you're not worried or upset, and you sit beside him, what look do you see deep down in his eyes when you gaze at him? do you think he still wants to be here?
2. and how much more can YOU take? because caring for a dog with severe illnesses can take its toll on you, too. and that can be a separate issue from the dog's issues.
good luck, bansidhbabe! i wish you and lucky the very best! shih tzus are the best dogs!
First of all, 9 yrs for a Shih-tzu is not old. If the dog is not happy, yes you need to do something about it. Have you talked to your vet about it. Maybe, try some medications first. You will be very surprised to see how well meds can work. As for the KCS, this is very common in this breed. The Cyclosporine should work for it, if not you can try another medication. Just b/c he has a lump, doesn't mean it's malignant. There are lumps, such as lipomas that are benign. They can be sebaceous cysts also. Your vet can easily test it by doing a fine needle aspiration and looking at it under the microscope for strange cells.
As the OP said, you'll know when it's time. I totally agree about them not suffering. I feel we need to try everything first to see if we can help them. Sorry you have to go through this and I know how much you love him. Good luck!
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