He has had bad hip problems for several years, he is deaf, now he will go downstairs in our house and get lost (he can also do this in our upstairs at times). He runs non stop as fast as he can in a state of panic, until he can't run anymore. Then he cannot climb the stairs back up so I have put up a baby gate at the top of the stairs. It seems he searches continually for my husband. He ran frantically out the front door a few weeks ago in a rain storm (he hates to get wet) I walked the streets looking for him. Three days later I found him. He suffers incontinence, so I am continually cleaning up his messes. It seems he has truly broken down physically and mentally. Putting him to sleep seems an option but breaks my heart. Our vet has given him tranquilizers and incontinence pills but nothing had any affect on him. Has anyone else had this happen to a pet?
2007-01-29 03:58:13 · 11 answers · asked by kmoore7164 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I've had this happen with a couple of very elderly dogs. It would be called Alzheimer's disease in a human, with the incontinence, wandering, and panic attacks. When it got to that stage, I felt that the main concern was quality of life. And it broke my heart to see them suffering both mentally and physically. The only thing I could do was to release them from it.
I felt that I had to love them so much, that their needs came before my own. So I held them in my arms while the medication was administered, hoping that the last thing they would know was love.
2007-01-29 06:35:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I have. Though is was not from the loss of a human companion - it was from the loss of another pet.
I had 2 dogs, a chow and a min pin, and I had to have the min pin euthanized because she had an enlarged heart and her lungs were filling up with fluid resulting in slowly drowning. (12 yrs old) Medications had stopped working. Anyway, After she was gone, my other dog fell into such a deep depression. There was nothing I could do for him. He practically stopped eating, he was lethargic and he was always searching for her. Spending time with him, loving him, tranquilizers...nothing helped and it still breaks my heart to think about it. I thought getting another small dog may help him cope. It didn't help. In the meantime, he had become incontinent and gone completely deaf. After 2 years of him being so sad and suffering, I decided to let him be with her. He was 15 years old.
2007-01-29 04:14:53 · answer #2 · answered by Lila 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's quite possible.
When I was in my teens, my mother was hospitalized for a month and our dog lost patches of hair all across her body.
I know of someone whose wife died in the house, and for a long time the dog whimpered at the spot where she fell over dead.
If your dog is old, deaf, and incontinent... you might want to put him to sleep. But if he's not old and most of these symptoms abruptly started with the loss of your husband, maybe you should give him time.
2007-01-29 04:03:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My lab did the same thing- but it was age related. How old is your dog? We were going to put him to sleep... couldnt stand to see him suffer- and that morning he passed away on his own (like he knew). It doesnt sound like your dog is doing to well- and im not sure if its from your husband passing away. By the way- Im so sorry about your loss. :( I would talk to the vet and get their opinion. I know it would be awful for you to lose another love... but think of him first- you dont want him suffering. Good luck to you- wish you all the best.
2007-01-29 04:06:04 · answer #4 · answered by skygirlchristine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have. The tranquilizers caused more incontenance, I switched to a melatonin tea to calm him. Of course I have to drink it first then pour in his bowl.
Put any old clothes etc, that may have a scent in a crate. You can leave the crate open. It becomes a place he will feel secure.
I had to pull out the crate when my dog was grieving. Now, I have to leave it, shes gotten better since then, stuck with the ugly crate, I call it her condo.
2007-01-29 04:09:20 · answer #5 · answered by Pat B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How old is your Cocker? I feel for you when my Cocker was weeks away from turning 16 he just gave up on life. He lost all his faculties I knew the day was near. He passed peacefully. My prayers to you and your dog.
2007-01-29 05:52:39 · answer #6 · answered by Beano 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your wanting to put off the idea of putting him to sleep a little longer then maybe try getting it a puppy, something to get it's mind off of your husband. And I'm sorry for your loss.
2007-01-29 04:19:22 · answer #7 · answered by blldglvr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have had a couple older dogs. I'm sorry for you and your dogs loss. The best thing you can do is keep your dog in a comfortable safe environment and give it plenty of love and attention.
2007-01-29 04:03:36 · answer #8 · answered by Tim O 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My rat greived for his family when they were killed trajicaly by foxes , he was so sad that he gave himself to those foxes on a chase to find them. Here is a poem in memory of my rat, satan, and to your dog that I made on The Goth-O-Matic peom genarator.
"Devoid of love"
The night falls in a heavy suffocating cloak, lost are we.
The emotion for which you lust, flares once, then dies, swept away by the all-encompassing dark, all hope must surely perish.
Your soul thrives no more. How could you cause such hurt?
lost souls suround us, crying, we have lost our light.
2007-01-29 04:29:15 · answer #9 · answered by goffy_smurf 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you were in his paws, what would you want done? There...so would you please put his lights out?!
Yes, pets do go thru mourning, BUT...yours has trouble getting up the stairs, peeing where he's supposed to, gets lost, etc.
It's time for him to go bye-bye and meet your husband in the sky.
2007-01-29 04:07:02 · answer #10 · answered by poutine 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋