Anonymous wrote:Have a golden who is going on 13. We are lucky he has lived this long. His arthritis has gotten so bag that he can basically no longer walk. He has no use of his rear legs and lower spine. He is large (about 90 lbs) so getting him in and out is a huge huge effort. Lately he has been going to the bathroom wherever he is sitting because he cannot even stand to go to the bathroom, it requires daily baths/washdowns. Basically he cannot move on his own and 98% if his time is spent on his bed.

What makes this so hard is that he still eats and seems fairly happy yet there is no quality of life for him. My vet has strongly suggested we do this, and I told her it was unthinkable. But I pulled my back the other day trying to get him outside and am starting to have to rethink this. I am feeling like maybe I am keeping him here more for me than him, having never gone through this would really appreciate any input or advice. Thank you.

I'm so sorry your poor dog is going through this. Please do not look to the internet for a decision as huge as your dog's life! I have had to put down three animals before, who were like children to me. How long have you been seeing this vet? Do you trust the vet?

You may want to find a veterinary hospice service who can come to your house. They are run by veterinarians and like a mobile vet clinic. They can come and assess your dog's quality of life and help you in making the best decision for your dog. And when the time comes, your dog can cross the rainbow bridge peacefully at home.

Hugs to your dog and to you, OP. Golden retrievers are the biggest sweethearts.

Imagine if you had no control of your bowels anymore, and couldn't move your legs to get yourself to the bathroom quickly enough. Sometimes a nurses aide would pick you up and get you to the bathroom in time, but you're at the mercy of their time schedule so there will be lots of times when you will wet/poop yourself. And that will be horrifying, because you KNOW better. And it's wet, squishy, acid eats at your skin, giving you a rash.... You'd be put in a diaper and parked in a chair or bed - and you'd pee and poop yourself and be so unhappy. Would you honestly like to live like that for days, weeks, months, years?

But we CAN do better for our pets, and we SHOULD do better - and that is the gift of euthanasia. It isn't because you threw your back out, it's because your loving, sweet, wonderful dog has lived a wonderful life but now is living in pain (trust me, he's in pain even if he's not showing it - but does he lick his lips a lot? lick one area (like his legs?) alot? that's because he's in pain and that's one way they show the stress of pain.

OP, It sounds like you're really struggling with this decision. I hope you've come to a conclusion. Just in case you're still on the fence - I agree with the previous posters that veterinarians are usually really reluctant to recommend euthanasia so I would let that recommendation carry a lot of weight. I also HIGHLY recommend having a vet come to your house for the euthanasia. It makes a horrible day a bit less horrible when you don't have to take your pet to the office, wait in the lobby, cry in public, then eventually leave and drive home by yourself. There are a couple options in the area including Tranquility Veterinary Services and Lap of Love, and some mobile vets who do vaccines etc also. ::hugs::

Anonymous wrote:I agree with 11:53 and 14:13.
OP, you know your dog best.

-1000.

Op has lost perspective on this because she loves the dog and has no experience with pets. Natural, but not the correct decision.

I think the best and most appropriate thing I've heard is that when you make this decision for your dog you are not only giving him one final gift but you are taking away his pain and making it your own . It is the most selfless thing a dog owner can do .

Vets have a saying - it's better to euthanize 2 days too early than 2 minutes too late.

It sounds like your boy is well past that 2 minutes. Give him peace.

We had to put our beloved dog down and it was heart wrenching. But seeing peacefully go surrounded by love, we knew it was the right thing. He looked so at peace after many many weeks of suffering. He is missed terribly but I know that our final gift to him was letting him go knowing we had shared a beautiful life together.

I'm going through a similar situation with my beloved Lab. He is losing control of his hind legs. He has DM. Eventually he will become incontinent. The day that happens is the day I make the call to have him put down peacefully in our home. He is my sweet, loving boy; he always wants to make me happy; he would be upset and ashamed at having accidents like that. It's no way to live.
Hope you are ok, OP. I know it's the hardest thing but if your vet is calling you to encourage you to do it, it's really time. There's no ambiguity here.

I agree with 11:53 and 14:13.
OP, you know your dog best.

Well I am in the minority here but my advice is if you really not sure do not do it. I did that once and to this day, 7 years later still regret it.

My chocolate lab, Bessie is going on 12, has had a myriad of health issues and her back legs failed her a few months ago. She too can only walk with a lot of assistance and it's only to relieve herself and back. She is physically incapacitated however happy and eager to please. Still eats like a maniac and delights when we bring her treats. These little things make her happy. I would never put her down as long as she is finding some happiness in her life.

We have a thermapedic mattress a little baby pool for her, keep her room cool and have a radio playing soft music...in other words we do all we can to keep her happy and content. We are not doing this only for ourselves but for her too, we know she wants to be here and she is happiest when one of my three kids are on the floor with her petting her or using a pet massager to rub her back and legs (often).

When she stops eating, when she stops being excited over new treats...then that is when I will know. If i had to list the top three things that she has always loved doing it was running to catch a ball, swimming and eating. She still eats and we put her in this little pool so she can both cool off and feel the weightlessness that feels so good in water. She cannot run anymore but because she can still partake in the others I believe her quality of life though not as good is still good enough to keep her around. I am a SAHM and we are a very hands on family, someone is always around her and she is pretty much never alone.

If that was not the case, we would have to think differently. It is highly personal and you really have to feel its the right thing before you do it.

Our golden was in a very similar situation but could control his pee/poop. If I lifted him up he could walk enough to pee/poop. He didn't seem unhappy so we let him continue like this for a couple of weeks. We did get him a doggie wheelchair which some dogs with nerve damage will happily use, but ours did not like it. Two days after we received the wheelchair, we woke up and he was having trouble breathing--kept kind of coughing. we took him in immediately that morning. Honestly I don't think we waited too long. He did seem happy just lying in our house with us petting him and did not seem like he was in pain unless we tried to make him take a walk.
Watch for panting--that is how Goldens often show stress or pain.