Should I put my 2 german shepherds to sleep?

Question

I have a brother and sister g. shep. they're 10 yrs old. both have hip probs. sometimes they need help getting up outside steps.the other has siezures (last siezure was a year ago) and pees all over the house without knowing. She also keeps clawing at eyes till bleeds. this prob is 6 months old.the br lies in a corner, snaps, barks and lunges at cat passing by or shadows. i also have a 3 year old living with me.in january i was put into a wheelchair so walks have stopped and i can no longer drag them up backsteps. I am told to get rid of them; especially with a 3 year old living in the same house. I am having a great deal of trouble over this. I mean they still have good days and bad. But i can see bro struggling to get up from a lay down and getting back up. and sis is just starting to show hip probs. your advice would be helpful.

Answer 1

this is a difficult question that all of us ask ourselves when we see our friends getting old.

assessing quality of life is difficult but you can ask yourself some questions that might help you to come to a decision.

think back on their lives - pick out three or four things that your dogs really enjoyed, back in the day... swimming, chewing, chasing a ball, welcoming people to your home, eating (for example, i know that the day my labrador refuses to eat, go for a swim and fawn over new people will be a tough day for me)...any three things that really got your guys going.

watch them now - are they still able to enjoy those activities?

if so, great...
perhaps they are only able to enjoy one or two...that's ok...

but when they are no longer able to enjoy any of the activities they once loved, it may be time.

you know, in your heart, because you know them.

ask them to tell you when they are ready, they'll let you know.

Answer 2

The fact that you are in a wheel chair adds an entirely new facet to the problem. I had a Rottie that lived to be 16 yrs old!!! For 4 of those years she had trouble walking, but never cried in pain and went on long walks every day up till the last week of her life. If a dog is hurting, it will let you know. I would see about getting someone to help with walks to keep them active. An inactive dog makes the hip problems worse. And actually joint massaging helps stimulate the blood, etc...Hip problems can last for many years....That doesn't make it necessary to put the dog down. It just means they need a little extra love. It is quite normal for a dog to snap and a cat! (c'mon). Your 3 yr old should be taught how to act around the dogs...Start now! Get a ramp for the steps---They work great!

Answer 3

Putting our best friends to sleep is like watching our family or someone pass away it can be hard but you know that they are in a better place where they would not be hurting. It sounds as though you have done everthing in youre possible hands you can to make their life better but sometimes only mother nature can help these things. When youre animal is lunging at shadows and its own best friend his cat (lol) you know that he is scard and does not know what to do. And since most german shepherds live to be 15 or 13 they might have to be in this world that they do not know what to do in. The hip problems can also be pretty painful and can be checked by a vet and can be given pills to help them not hurt as much and the seizures can be taken care of by going to youre vet and having them give them a pill or a shot to reduce these. I have had numerous dogs die natural deaths or have to be put down because of them being in so much pain. it is very hard to do but when you really think about it they are in a better place.

Answer 4

Putting the dogs to sleep should be the last option. If they have hip problems & have trouble getting up & down steps, they probably have arthritus. My dog has arthritus & I give him synflex every day & you would never know he has arthritus. It helps a lot. My dog also lunges & barks at shadows, wierdo. I don't think it's anything mental. If you can't keep the dogs, try to find them a good home where they will be able to stay together. Only consider putting them to sleep if they are in extreme pain.

Answer 5

That's a hard question. Talk with your vet. Pray over it.
RIght now the dogs aren't getting the exercise they need, and their bathroom habits will only get worse. I'd be very worried about the safety of the young child living in the midst of all of this. Does someone else live with you? How do you shop, take yourself and the child to the doctor, etc. Maybe it's time to ask for help, especially with the dogs.

Answer 6

You don't necessarily have to get them euthanized, you could try to give them up for adoption, the only problem is, since they have been together their whole lives, they shouldn't be separated, which means someone will have to adopt 2 dogs, and that isn't that likely seeing is how they both are 10 years old (alot of people won't adopt old dogs, let alone 2 of them...). So maybe euthanizing is your only option. (but I would try adoption before resorting to that) I would definitely get them out of the house if they are getting "snappy" because you have a 3 year old and German shepherds tend to "turn" when they get old.

Answer 7

Thats such a hard decision to make. I recently had to put my black lab down. She was 12 years old and had hip problems for such a long time. She became senile and started attacking our other dog. She really wanted her dead. At the age of your dogs that is another thing you need to watch for especially since you have a little one. Just remember, your dogs are going to a better place where they won't feel the pain anymore and they will always be with you. It sounds like your dogs are also going senile.

Answer 8

hey your lucky, i went through similar things just less then six montes ago.

my 14 year old dog also had hips problems and had cancer 5 years ago.
three and half montes ago we decided to put her down, she lost alot of weight had a tumor of some kind on her throat and was hardly walking and holding onto her number 1 and number 2. mine was GS mixed with collie.

i advice you to talk to a vet, have them checked out by a specialist before you make a decision.
their condition sounds serious, you should talk to a dog beaver specialist maybe you being put into a wheel chair caused their beaver to change.

also consider this: this is your decision think what you would have want if you were in their place.
my dog was on all kinds of pills for a year and half before we understood there was really nothing left to do.

if you need someone to talk to you can send me a message, i don't mind.

Answer 9

DO NOT try to adopt them out with the physical problems against them and also their ages. People feeling sorry for them might adopt and when they discover how bad the dogs are, they are going to get rid of them. You can't let them go from home to home until they die. The way you explain their condition, it would very selfish on your part to keep them alive. We can give our beloved animals a way out of the constant pain and darkness. I wish we could do that with our beloved humans.

You are in a wheelchair and have a 3 year old. I think that is enough for anyone to cope with besides 2 large, old sick dogs.
I think it is ridiculous of you to even try this. Who cleans up the messes they make? Do you have domestic help that comes in to help you out?

Please have mercy on yourself and them. Put them on that train to doggy heaven and let them run again without pain.

Answer 10

My Dad is a veterinarian and I worked for him many years and had to put to sleep many animals. I tell you the truth when I say that they suffer nothing and simply fall to sleep after the shot. It is heart breaking to see the owners loose someone they love so much but I believe that it is so much better for the animal not to suffer.