Is it time to put my dog to sleep?

Question

My family has a 14 year old Yorkshire Terrior. He is extremely overweight (16 pounds) and blind. There are also odd growths on the top of his skin, like tumors (they apparently are not painful to him though) and he had kidney stones earlier in his life. He was also neutered when he got the kidney stones taken out. Over the past 3 or 4 months, it's been downhill, he will not take walks and refuses to bark at the door when he needs to go outside to do his business, which means he's constantly going to the bathroom in the house, on the carpet, everywhere, missing the puppy pads we bought for him. He has diarrhea and it smells horrible. He doesn't have any stamina and sleeps all day long. My family certainly doesn't want to put him down because we love him, but should we wait until he dies naturally? or put him down?

We'll contact the vet very soon, because we're not sure if he's in pain.
We would not put him to sleep if he wasn't in pain. That is not humane.

Answer 1

First of all...I'm so sorry your doggie is going through this and also, because I know how hard this must be for both.

We too are going through a similar experience-our 17yr old Shi-Tzu is having senior dog health issues also and I'm in your shoes.

Best advise given so far is to see your Vet and get a medical opinion on whether or not the doggie has any quality of life.

Our little girl isn't in pain but she too is peeing everywhere, is blind and mostly deaf. However she still has a good appetite and drinks plenty of water. In our case we have decided to hold on for a bit longer. We try to make her life as comfortable as possible: lifting her to sit in her favorite spot high upon the sofa, carrying her up the stairs after being outside and giving her extra attention and love.
Condolences to your family.

Answer 2

First of all make sure you consult your veterinarian about his condition immediately, especially the tumors or growths. Lack of exercise and poor diet and nutrition that leads to obesity can/will lead to a shortened life. With the proper care cats and dogs can live into their 20's or even early 30's.

A lot has to do with heredity, environment, etc... so it's not a guarantee that any cat or dog will live that long but 14 really ins't that old... regardless of what some people may say. Unfortunately there are too many times where our pets just get too far along in an illness and there is little we can do.

If your pet is truly suffering and you feel this is your only option to end pain then this is a personal decision that no one in this group can make for you. It's a tough decision as well. You may also consider natural alternatives to possibly help turn his immune system around to fight any illness and start a natural diet (and NOT most of the poor quality food found in stores) to help with weight loss. Make sure to work with your vet immediately!

I hope it's not too late and I wish you the best for your companion.

Answer 3

Hi, I would definately put him down. He has lived a long life and when the quality of life is not there, that is a signal to the owner of the pet that it's time. If you let him die naturally you may be letting him suffer more than he has to. I watched my husband's dog die naturally and it wasn't a pretty sight. I felt awful for the poor animal. I personally had my cat put down because it had kidney failure and after taking care of it for 6 months doing treatments, he started to pee involuntarily whenever I picked him up. The next day I had him put down so he wouldn't feel anymore pain than he had to. It is a sad yet loving event to put down an animal. It shows the love that you had for your pet. I wish you the best. A new animal will help heal your pain. I have a new kitten now and he's a sweetheart.

Answer 4

I am so sorry. I am going thru the exact same thing right now. My Yorkie is 12 1/2. He has had Cushings Disease for years but has been "ok". He is also about 16 lbs, or was I should say for a long time. For the last month he hasn't been himself and had a bad bout of pancreatitis. He is lethargic and won't eat much of anything either. it breaks my heart and I feel like I don't want to let him go but for his sake I feel I must. I can't tell you what to do but I think both of us should let these poor dogs go before they are in pain if they aren't already. What kind of life do they have as is? I am sick but he is sicker. God help us both. My thoughts are with you. karen

Answer 5

What has your vet said? There are medications the vet can prescribe that will help with incontinence. The diarrhea can also be controlled. If this dog is in pain, or if he has no joy left in his life, I would have him put down. If he's ill enough that you think he should be put down, you can't put him through the misery of dragging it out and letting him die naturally over a period of perhaps many months. If you make the decision that it's time, it would be easiest on your dog to have your vet come to the house - no stress involved at all for your dog.

Answer 6

As a dog-lover -"Yes".

"Quality of life" is as important to animals as humans. We can instruct family, or make a "Living Will" that we don't want any surgery or treatment, etc.
Animals cannot. But there comes a time when their 'enjoyment of life'/"Pursuit of Happiness" is so limited it isn't really there.

I've got a 13yr old dog. It's Summer here and I leave the back door open. From 2 - 4am this morning, after a normal diet, he had severe internal problems I could hear from two rooms and a hall away. Then he'd get up and go outside.
Come Winter - I think it might be his time, if it continues.

Do you want to remember your loving, lively pet, or the frail one you're talking about now?

I always cry, but there does come a time.

Answer 7

Sounds like he is miserable. If i were you i would put him down, out of his misery. I know you love him but Your dog if you look at it sounds like he is already in bad shape IT is his time to go. Here is what you do to make it less painful spend a day with your dog treat it the best you can then when it is time to put him down there you go...you realize it is not a total loss at least you would have great memories...but i don't know it is up to you, just look at it from all angle's. Make sure you really want to do that or keep him till he dies.

Answer 8

Well i think its the end of your poor dogs life and that if his strength is going downhill and he is sleeping all day, its best to put him down.

consider this: he is not going to get back to normal weight if he dosen't take walks, if he is blind then he is blind then he will not use the puppy pads because he can't see them, and most likley he will die a painfuol death because of those tumors on his skin.

I'm sorry but you will have to out him to sleep, its the most humane option and safest for the little guy.

Answer 9

That's a horrible thing for you to deal with. And I'm sorry you have to do it. But, if you love the dog, then you probably should. He sounds unhappy, and you wouldn't want to be miserable if you were him. Just go buy him a burger and some fries and give him a happy day. Then leave him with the vet to be put down. It's the right thing to do.

Answer 10

It sounds as if the greatest act of love you can do for him is to euthanize him.
Think about it; how do you think he feels spending the rest of his life in this state? You know he's only going to get worse and not better.
Think about this too; instead of the last moment of his life feeling like this, you are giving him the opportunity to give the last second of his life pain-free as he slips away.
It's been nearly a year now, since I had to make that heart-wrenching decision with my cat, but I certainly do not regret the end to his suffering.
My best wishes of heart-healing to you!