My 17 year old doggie and our holiday!

[Andypops72]

Hi folks,

I'm new to this group and would like your opinions.

I have a 17 year old Lhasa Apso with dementia amongst other things. I just don't think he's a happy doggy. He has anxiety due to the dementia and its got steadily work over the last few weeks. He is riddled with arthritis, can't go for walks due to his paws collapsing (like a human's fallen arches), he's deaf and almost blind. He's incontinent and his back legs splay a lot. He walks around the living room aimlessly. He can't get up and down stairs anymore. We've had him to the vet on a couple of occasions thinking this is going to be it but as he's still eating, the vet is reluctant to put him to sleep.

My husband and I are going on holiday soon. My friend has recently become registered as a boarder and we were planning for him to go there for our almost 3 weeks away. However...........we put him there for a practice run on Saturday night and picked him on Sunday morning. She told us that he just wouldn't settle. She tried everything with him. He just paced the floor more or less the entire stay and barked all the time. She tried cuddling him, leaving him, giving him treats, nothing would work. He eventually fell asleep at 4.30 am with her on the sofa. We picked him up at 9.30 am. He and she were just shattered.

She has 2 young children and is a full time dog walker. She has to get up early for the kids and her work, so understandably, she doesn't want to take him for 3 weeks knowing that he's going not going to be happy.

I really don't have anyone else to ask. I was thinking of phoning the vet tomorrow to ask if he could get anti anxiety medication or a sedative and my friend would perhaps take him them but I keep thinking that's such an awful thing to do.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[dogmatize]

I think it would be unfair if not cruel to leave a dog with so many health issues in the care of a stranger for such a long time. The person you mention sounds too busy to do an adequate job as it sounds like he needs 24 hour care. Surely you must have considered this before arranging such a prolonged holiday?

I feel that maybe you have come to this forum to seek permission to have your dog put to sleep but that really has to be your own decision with input from your vet. If he really has so many things wrong with him and he is longer top priority then after such a long life you owe him the consideration of peace.

 

[gypsysmum2]

Vets are reluctant to suggest that the time has come because people get so upset if they are not ready yet. Only you know if the quality of life has disappeared for your dog. No one would think any the worse of you if that is the decision that you make for him.

Better a day too soon than a day too late.

Thinking of you at this difficult time.

 

[JoanneF]

I train Scotland's Dementia Strategy with employees of organisations who work with people with dementia. I have no experience of dementia in dogs. However, in people familiarity of surroundings and routine is important and a change can be very stressful.

 

[excuseme]

!7 years old who has had a happy life, who could wish for more!

Surely make a good decision before you go away and for the sake of a few more weeks let him go now while he remembers you and with no confusion and un happiness.

A horrible decision but probably the kindest thing for your little old chap.

Best wishes.

 

[YorkshireGuy]

I'm new and this is my first post, I've had many dogs and it's difficult when they're this age. I have a 15 and 16yo atm and worry about the elder and she falls occationally when walking due to Arthritis. You have to decide when as Gypsysmum2 says only you can tell if its time. it's the one bad thing about owning dogs but they're always there for us and we have to be there for them. I will say a prayer for you and your dog. just remember they cross the Rainbow bridge and wait for you.

David

 

[Raven oaktree]

I genuinely do not think a vet would allow a dog to suffer..if the vet feels your dog is suffering and has no life quality, eating or not I'm sure they would tell you . My old boy has stage 5heart failure and mast cell that cannot be treated due to his age and his heart failure

He is pretty senile most of the time , he will bark at a wall, pace,wander off , he wee's and poos in the house (thank goodness we have washable floors)etc etc ..but on the whole his life quality is good. He doesn't want to go for a walk most days but is happy sitting under the trees in the garden , he loves his food and he loves his belly rubs. He also has terrible days where I hope he will go in his sleep because his breathing I so bad ..then the next day he is bright as a (confused) button, while he still has a spark I wont give up on him.

Non of us on here can.tell you to have your dog pts , we don't know the dog, haven't seen the dog. I think that the question of putting him to sleep only came up when you no longer had care for him , because while you did have care you were happy to leave him there. I think if I were in your shoes I would be looking for a house sitter for my old friend so he could be in his own home in the peace and quiet . We have just had a 2 week holiday , our youngster went to kennels and we paid a dog sitter to live here with grommy so everythin was the same for him apart from his humans. I just feel we owe to to our friends to look after them in old age . Of course they aren't what they were ..and its hard to watch them ..but I promise you if your dog was suffering the vet would pts..eating or not

 

[lurcherman]

I mean no offence but I would have let go by now, my brindle isn't in the best of health and almost made a decision the august time may well be it but vet said no he's not there yet, and to be honest he's better but as I said I would have let go by now. Kind regards.. L.