18 year old dog will not eat. How long might she last? Do not want to euthenize!?

Question

She has been very healthy all her life. The vet told us several years ago she had lived longer than he would have expected. We want her to be at home and as comfortable as possible when the time comes. She's acting normal except that she won't eat and is very thin and weak. We have tried to entice her with many things to encourage her to eat but nothing interest her. She has hearing and vision loss (not total) and athritis in her hip. (large dog) At her age we understand she is dying but we want it to be natural and at home. Just don't know exactly what to expect.

Answer 1

Maybe a quick G.I. x-ray at the vet to make sure she does not have something stuck in here fdigestive track
Just let her go without pain, sounds like she has been a good friend. best of luck, sorry to hear.

Answer 2

A large dog who has lived 18 year says a lot for the care and love you've provided. If she seems in pain, then by all means euthanize her. Many vets will let you be there through the end. We had to put down our beautiful hat we got we we were first married. He was old an had gotten to where he would not eat,

The rule of thumb is : 3 minutes without air
3 days without water
3 weeks without food.

Answer 3

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RE:
18 year old dog will not eat. How long might she last? Do not want to euthenize!?
She has been very healthy all her life. The vet told us several years ago she had lived longer than he would have expected. We want her to be at home and as comfortable as possible when the time comes. She's acting normal except that she won't eat and is very thin and weak. We have...

Answer 4

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Answer 5

I had to face the same thing last year with my 16 year old dog. Dogs are brave, and might not act like it,but can be in pain, You might have to let her go, While she stills feels good, why let her be in pain or suffer first? The process is fast and they don't feel it-I held my dog in my arms while they did it, and I did cry, But Shes not in pain now, and can run all she wants where she is, waiting for me. This is a hard decision, but the dog is not going to get better-sorry.

Answer 6

Hey,
I know how you feel.
My mother had an 18 year old dog that she had since she was a teenager.
But about 5 years ago, we discovered that he had a tumor in his gut that was large, but benign.
Unfortunately, the swelling of the tumor caused some serious problems for him to the point that our vet said that the best thing would be to put him down, so as to relieve him of his suffering.
My advice to you would be this:
Talk to someone you know and trust about this (grandparents, mentors, the vet)
If you are Christian (I am), pray about it, ask for God's will to be done.
Other than that, be there for her.
I hope this helps.

Answer 7

I am sorry to hear about your dog, I know how tough it is, I have lost 2 in my life that tore my heart out.
You hopefully are able to decide from your heart what is best for the dog. I think you already know what to do, but it is a hard call to make. Be strong for your friend, don't let it go on. Its hurting you and the dog right now, your dog is in pain, and you are agonizing over this tough choice.
Take Care, peace to you and yours!

Answer 8

I can understand the fact that you don't want to let you dog go. However, think of this...I've been told before that by the time you realize an animal is suffering it's been going on much longer (with illness...obviously not injury). While some people may say 'you wouldn't euthanize a grandparent because they were old and frail would you?' I think that it truly is the right thing for your dog. You can hold your dog while it's being done, stay with them the whole time. End their suffering once and for all, let them let go. Especially that she has arthritis...we tried that for a while...even cortisone injections to ease the pain and carrying her in and out of the house to relieve herself. In the end, we realized we were holding on to her for our own selfish reasons...we didn't want to let go and she was the one suffering the whole time.

Think about it.

Answer 9

I think you should reconsider euthenazia.

Your dog is obviously suffering greatly. Her life has been extended beyond the normal life span and obviously she has been loved and cared for or she would not have lived as long as she has.

Let's put you in the place of your animal, let's say you have grown to an age of 120 and instead of being healthy and feeling good you are laid up in some nursing home where you life it being constantly extended even though you are in constant pain. So there you are day after day after day... hopeing that the pain and suffering will stop ... only to have your family search to find ways extend your life and thus extend your pain and suffering.

Would you tell them to stop? Would you tell them that you love them but feel that your time here is done? Would you ask them to stop intervening in the natural course of life and thus end your daily suffering pain?

I bet you would. Now.. imagine that you couldn't tell them. Instead.. they continue to 'keep you around' and each day you suffer more. The only way you can convey your desire to stop the suffering is to stop eating. While this will certainly at to the pains as your body aches for food and your stomach acid slowly digest your stomach lining, it is the only course of action you foresee to expedite your passing and thus end your suffering.

Euthenizing your animal is the most loving and caring thing you can do. Instead of her 'dying naturally' through suffering and pain... the pain goes away and she simply goes to sleep and passes on. Your vet can arrange for a nice setting and possible give you the drugs which will allow you to keep the dog at home during this process.

Please... reconsider your options.

Answer 10

I certainly understand that your dog is a senior dog. But have you taken her to the vet to see if there is a reason for her lack of appetite? Your vet may be able to suggest some things that may stimulate her appetite, they sell a perscription can food made especially for dogs that is high in nutrition, for pets with little desire to eat. I would certainly recommend a vet visit to just have your pet checked over, at her age she really should be seen by a vet bi annually rather than annually. Good Luck.

Answer 11

Have you taken her to the vet *recently* to see if there is a cause that could possibly be fixed?

And if it is something that's related to age, and thus not "fixable," why are you waiting for her to die? Can you imagine starving to death? It's painful for a human to go a day without food -- you feel intense pain in your stomach as your body starts to basically start to cannibalize itself, and you get dizzy and weak...Is that really the kind of death you want to give her? Euthanasia isn't natural but sometimes it's the most humane thing to do. Let her die with dignity.

And if that doesn't catch your attention, think about this. If she hasn't gone for medical attention and someone calls some sort of humane society/"animal police" on you because she looks so thin, you could lose her. Then she wouldn't be at home when she died, anyway.