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I don't know what I'm going to do. I just don't see the purpose in waiting until he breaks his hip or his leg.
He's a very large 14 year old lab with long legs. We won't be able to heal him. He will have to be put to sleep when he can't get around.
I'm thinking: why put him through that.
btw, I didn't use the words "preemptive strike" when talking to my children. I just used to in this thread because that's really what it is.
I'm hoping the new vet gives him steroids so he can get better mobility. I'm committed to caring for him. He's a great dog.
I just don't want to see him suffer more than he's suffering now.
This is so hard.
Steroids may help!
Also, my friends' parents took their dog to Texas A&M University and got into that stem cell hip replacement process...I don't know if that's worth looking into for y'all.
Hopes, my prayers are with you and your dog. Don't worry about your wording here...we all know how tough this is.
I think by 'pre emptive strike"; she meant to avoid pain and suffering. Which, we all agree, is best for the dog when time is drawing near.
But, you are right, her son may never agree with it. However, it is not his call nor, thankfully, his responsibility. He will have to deal with euthanizing a pet one day, most likely, if he has pets of his own. Then, he will understand what agonizing decisions must be made somtimes.
Thanks, Ringo. You're right about it not being his decision or responsibility.
It would be a terrible thing to allow him to make the decision. Either way, he would have guilt.
If he were to say no to euthenasia, he'd have guilt when he sees the dog suffer in the future.
If he says yes to euthenasia, he'll have guilt for putting him to sleep.
It shouldnt' be his burden. This is a decision for a mature adult who can handle the emotional consquences of making the decision.
Seriously. Every few hours, we have to get him up and help him turn around to alternate sides he lays on.
We know his old bones hurt when he laid too long on one side because he would change positions very often.
Now he can't change positions without help so we help him change positions---like you do with humans to avoid bed sores.
It's like we have an invalid, like humans who are bedbound in an old folks home who need to have physical therapy in the bed.
This isn't going anywhere good. It's only going to get worse. Why wait until his suffering is unbearable.
But he's happy as can be. He lays there and rests his old self. Wakes up wags his tail and smiles at us. He appreciates all of the help and support we give him.
I know it's hard. I'm living it. I hope the steroids help!
Quote:
Originally Posted by stan4
Also, my friends' parents took their dog to Texas A&M University and got into that stem cell hip replacement process...I don't know if that's worth looking into for y'all.
Thanks for suggesting it. He's a 14 year old lab. BIG DOG. Big dogs dont' live this long.
I think putting him through invasive treatments would be us thinking of ourselves more than thinking of him.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stan4
Hopes, my prayers are with you and your dog. Don't worry about your wording here...we all know how tough this is.
Thanks, stan. We're just doing the best we can here. I appreciate everyone's prayers. He's a great dog.
He's actually pretty happy. He's not in pain. I just woke him up and turned him around. He's sleeping soundly again.
Well, that's sort of the point of a preemptive strike. Plus, he's losing mobility by the day. It's winter. There's snow and ice outside. When we take him outside to do his business, we do our best to prevent him from falling. But he's a big dog. Even if he's not in pain, how long do we keep a dog that can't move around? What few muscles he has left will just waste away until he can't get around even with our help. I had to push his back legs together and support his hips in the air while he ate his dinner tonight. I don't mind doing it. Not at all. But his mobility is getting worse and worse. Hopefully we can get steroids and that will help.
Yeah, my friend's parents' dog is a giant 13 year-old german shepard mix...but I understand the sentiment of wanting to spare him more painful procedures.
This is a tough decision. If the dog is not in pain, I don't think I would be setting a date just yet. One thing I would try is veterinary accupuncture. It can be a great help in giving a dog with displasia or arthritis relief.
As far as your son is concerned, you should listen to his input but not necessarily follow his wishes. I would arrange a consultation with your vet that includes you, your husband, and the kids. This way you could all give your opinions of the best thing to do for the dog and your vet could give his/her professional opinion. Then you could make an informed decision based on what's best for the dog.
This is one of the most difficult things any pet owner has to do.
A few years ago Henry, one of my dad's dogs was a 12 yr. old Malamute X Collie. He was over 100lbs so was a big dog. He developed problems with his back legs and got to the point where he could not get up so someone had to get him up and usually he did OK but sometimes he would fall and wait for someone to help him up again. My dad lived alone and was 84 so it was not easy for him. Next he had trouble staying on his feet so had to be walked outside using a beach towel wrapped under his lower quarters and being held up by someone (sort of a sling) . He slept on blankets with a tarp under them to protect the floor if case my dad could not get him up in time. I had gotten an appointment to see a veterinary acupuncture specialist but it was a 2 week wait. Henry remained in good spirits and would lift his head up and wag his tail if someone walked into the room but the fact was his dignity was gone as what dog wants to live such a life? My dad decided he could not ask Henry to live like that anymore and he had my brother come over and the two of them got Henry into the car and to the vets where they had him put down. It was not easy but it was the right thing to do.
I recently had to put my 14.5 yr. old Jazz down due to a tumor in her zygomatic salivary gland outside of it displacing her eye and causing it to rupture she was in great health and a very active old dog. I could have opted for surgery and radiation but felt it would not be fair to ask my sweet old girl to go through with that just so I did not have to face the pain of her loss so soon. I did what I had too and took her pain away and made it my own by granting her that one last act of love and kindness...letting her go. Yes it hurt but it was the right thing to do.
At eighteen I think your son needs to learn that some times the best thing to do for beloved pet is also the thing that will cause us the most pain. We have to put the animal first and do what is right by them even if it may not feel that it is what is right for us. I think people fear doing this as they think the dog will be mad at them for doing so. When you look at what living dogs are able to forgive of man I have a feeling they know that our choices in such matters are for their best interests and they leave us feeling very loved not angry or mad at us.
During my child hood as well as adult life I have had to say good bye to many animals and while it was never easy it does teach us that death like birth is just a part of life. In a way it is sad that we celebrate birth but death we don't even wish to talk about.
I can tell your heart is in the right place but keep in mind we can not always protect our kids from life as lifeis about changes.. if we want it to or not. We learn from dealing with these changes and yes kids survive them.
PS while steroids may help some keep in mind that they do make a dog drink and pee more which is not an easy task if he can not get up easliy.
Hugs to you from someone who has just recenlty had to make that decision to say good by to a faithful loved friend.
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This is so hard.
