Help,I have a 15 yr old dog,he is losing the ability to control his bladder and bowels.?

Question

Cyrus is a shep/doberman mix and has been the love of our family since we rescued him at the age of 15 months. I know it is time to make the decision to set him free from his old bones and failing systems. I also realize that I am being selfish in not being able to let him go. Please help me. He is my first and only dog and I feel like I will die without him, I have been disabled for the last few years and he has given me a reason to live. After all even if we are down in the dumps the pets still have to eat and go out. Any encouragement is welcomed, Thank you.

Answer 1

My heart goes out to you.

I went through some of the same agony when my old guy started losing control of his bladder and bowels. I know deciding when is the "right" time to put a beloved animal down is an agonzing thing.

This might help you: In talking to others who struggled with the same issue there seemed to be two trains of thought.

When I brought my dog to the vet he was still aware of me and when I held him for the last time he knew I was there. Some people find comfort in that and being able to say goodbye.

Some folks don't want their dog to be so aware for that last trip to the vet. I've had a relative say that the fact her elderly dog was so confused and unaware made it easier.

Please reflect on this and perhaps it can help guide your decision on timing.

If you want to have more time I found that taking my guy out every 2 hours and basically treating him like a puppy helped with "accidents."

It still broke my heart.

There will be some who will suggest that you wait a while before getting another dog and if you had described your circumstances differently I might have agreed.

But given what you have written, I urge you to consider adopting an adult rescue dog. I think that adopting will not only help save a dog's life, it will also help you heal and be healthy and I think that sounds like a fitting tribute to Cyrus.

www.petfinder.org is a place to find groups/dogs near you.

The coming days will be difficult. Take courage and confidence from the knowledge that you have loved your dog as best you could and cared for him as well as you were able.

Do NOT feel guilty or selfish for keeping him so long. Instead, feel good about yourself for rescuing him and giving him 14 years of life that he might not have had.

My sincerest best wishes and condolences to you in this time of great difficulty.

Peace

Answer 2

If Cyrus isn't having any pain or just mild discomfort because of arthritis(can give an aspirin for that), and is still eating and able to get around OK he can be with you for awhile yet. There are products available on the market for a dogs incontinence. They look like little diapers and come for boys or girls. This would benefit the both of you. Older people have the same problems. You will know when the time is right and if he is having alot of pain. I had a calico cat that lived for 19 yrs. In the last year of life she developed diabetes. As long as she had food available at all times and plenty of water she maintained very well. I chose not to do injections as this would have really traumatized her. By the end of that time her kidneys, heart, etc. started to slowly shut down. She was not in any pain and seemed very happy to be around me. She died in my arms while being loved the way she was her whole life. I wounld't have had it any other way. Everyone has to make their own choice based on the needs of their little pals. My heart is still full of her love. Understanding you perfectly.

Answer 3

Sorry about that, well i think is the best and he would be miss.
I had few dogs here and there. It have been a while, till now that I and the rest of my family have lost Salem he a mix of something. LOL
Well had him since he was a puppy and was never well train. LOL
He love the beach and desert and traveling in the car.
I was very old and you can see the differ weather it's the walking or just not himself anymore most due to health reason.

I don't see my dog been put to sleep, i was oversea. My older bro and sis told me that is was the best idea to do so. And the the doctor give us the same opine as well.
I told to go ahead with it. And bury him with one of his toy and blanket.

Really it all depend on you and your family, which you decide to do, that is no shame the dog sure had a wonderful life till the end. I see no selfish what so ever, only just to see him in a happy place you know.

take care, from dogs lover

NJ

Answer 4

I really sympathize with you. And I am so sorry you are going through this. I was in a similar situation and believe me, it is one of the hardest things you will ever have to do in your life. I won't lie and say it's easy. The pain of losing a beloved dog is hard to relieve. However, the pain does fade away and you begin to cherish the memories and photos, still missing the dog terribly but with less pain and more happiness.

There is a ray of sunshine that helps so much during these hard times. I am an extreme dog lover and when my Brutus had to be put down, I was a mess for weeks but I found solice. Some people said it was too soon but 2 weeks after my Brutus died, I went to the shelter and adopted another dog. Zeke helped me tremendously and comforted me and made me happy on days I missed Brutus. He was in no way a replacement but a means to help ease the pain and remember my lost dog in a more happy manner.

Since Zeke I have adopted 2 other dogs and now I have 3 dogs who make me happy and keep me busy. And the best part is, I see a little Brutus in all of them! It makes me smile.

I will say a prayer for you and your family and the dog. You will get through the tough times ahead and always keep in mind what a wonderful life Cyrus has and the times you have with him. Those memories will make you smile later in life.

God Bless Cyrus

:)

Answer 5

It is a constant clean up and misery,especially when it becomes unmanageable.You will know when it becomes a danger to self and others.I had a 17yr Cocker that was like a family member that developed cancer and after days and days it became clear that not only was we dismayed but he was so irrataed from the constant cleaning we had to make a tough decision .It is not easy but you are the one that he is depending on to make the right decisions now regarding his suffering.When you see that he is suffering ,Pray about it,God will lead you in the right direction!May god be with you and your family.Always remember the Good Times.Large Dogs don't live much longer than 15 yrs so you must prepare yourself for saying goodbye.Sooo Sorry!!!Sorry I could not give you a cure only to let you know that many of us have been through this same painful ordeal.God Bless!!

Answer 6

Well, I'm very sorry to hear about your dog. We had a Cocker Spaniel that had the same problem when he was 13. He first started with going blind and then he wasn't able to control his bladder or bowels. This is just something normal that happens to older dogs. It's up to you when you're ready to let go of him, but just remember how your dogs feeling. Have you tried taking him to your vet? I'm sure you have since you care so much for your dog! I know what it's like being attached to your pet and not wanting to let them go, but you don't want the animal to suffer. I know it's not the same, but you can always get another dog or pet. They will never replace your other pet, but it will help with the emotional aspect of it all. Again, I'm very sorry and I hope everything gets better for you. Good Luck.

Answer 7

Letting a pet go is really hard. I had a dog growing up the same kind of mix, and she had to ne out down at about 15yrs. As much as you love this dog some bad things may start happening, my poor dog had a siezure in front of my little brothers and sisters, you don't want them to see that. It's really hard to do, but it is best for the dog. My husbands mother had a dog and it started doing that and then started going down hill from there, and she would not put the dog down because she loved it so much, but I saw that dog go through a lot of pain that it should not have gone through.
Just think of all the good times you had and how happy the dog made your family and how happy you made the dog. And remember All Dogs go to Heaven!!!! There are things you could do to remember your dog by, like have a memorial for him, you could have the dog cremated, have a statue of him made, bury him in the backyard and plant a tree for him. Lots of things you could do to honor him. Good Luck to you and your family!

Answer 8

it would be a good idea to get another dog but I don't know the extent of your disability or you financial situation. it would be best to get a potty trained dog not a puppy that can make the situation even worse. training a puppy takes time and effort and money something that may not be readily available to every one. you can search in the paper or online in your area. some people have to move or something else and are not able to take their pets with them. they are allready trained and would make the transition to you less painful for the owner, the dog and you.
Your old boy is following the nature of life we all come to this point sooner or later. try and make him as comfortable as possible give him healthy treats once in a while thank him for being your companion and all the good years he has taken care of you. now its your turn to take care of him. his days are short make the best of them and love him as much as possible. don't get mad when he does mess up he is not doing it out of spite or anything of that nature he still wants to please you and be a good companion its just not possible. I am sorry for what you will have to go through eventually but it is life. don't forget to take plenty of pictures and take the old pictures you have start a scrapbook and write down the good times you had it will help with the transition. and remember when you get the new dog if you do it will need just as much love and caring as Cyrus did. good luck and I am sorry.

Answer 9

I think this is the hardest thing for a pet owner to decide. I always look at it this way, How bad are they suffering and do I really want them to continue to suffer? I really feel for you given your situation and you need to decide what is the best for the both of you. I know he is not replaceable but the companionship is. The last thing people want to hear is to get another animal but there are alot of animals that need adopting and maybe you could find the right one for you. Honestly that is the only way that I truely have found comfort over the loss of an animal. I hope this helps and whatever decision you make my thoughts will be with you.

Answer 10

There are several reasons why Cyrus may be having trouble. The most likely is a problem with his spine, causing pinched nerves to his internal organs. You may notice his back is tender and he may have weakness in his back legs. I would suggest that you find a chiropractor who treats dogs for an evaluation, to see if effective treatment is possible for Cyrus. http://www.animalchiropractic.org/ is a place to check. Also, ask around at groomer's, large pet stores, and chiropractic offices in your area. Horse people often know of the local chiropractic veterinarian.

You may try a glucosamine /chondroitin supplement in his food to help his joints and reduce joint inflammation near the nerves. Improvement may take several months, so be patient.
I would not expect this to be effective alone with the severity of his condition, but as an adjunct to good spinal care.

Good luck with Cyrus. Dr. Sarah