When is it time to have an old dog put to sleep?

Question

My dog is 16 years old and has senile dementia, she keeps messing in the house and falling down the stairs but she is still loving and can still run around well in the garden.

Answer 1

My dog was nearly 16 and had only just started to slow down a bit when she had a stroke. I took her back and for to the vets having injections for 3 days, but she didn't seem to improve and wasn't eating anything. I'd always thought that I would rather she just died in her sleep, but in retrospect she might have died in her sleep alone at night or while I was in work. On the third day after her stroke, I took her to the vet's to be put to sleep (hardest thing I've ever done). I wasn't sure if she could still hear me, so I stood in front of her with my face really close to hers and my hand stroking her head while the vet gave the injection. She was gone within a minute and I'm sure the last thing she saw was my face up close. Really, this was the only way of making sure she didn't die alone and knew she was loved right until the final second. At least this way you can make sure you're there with her right until the end. I think it's probably time for you to do this - she probably gets distressed when she messes in the house and falls down the stairs, so I would say choose the time and make sure you can be there for her at the end.

Answer 2

How I feel for you. We had our Lassie put down in January-she was 16yrs old. We had had her since she was 4 weeks young. I too, posted messages on here. I received so much help from people out there because I too, was in the same postition. Only you will know when the time is right, as we did, and to this day, I do not regret what decision we made. I am sure your dog has had a long and happy life and will take that where-ever they may go. You know when the time is here (I needed a lot of persuading) but I know it was the 'Right Time'. I hope you can come to terms with it as we have done.

Answer 3

you can stop the dog from going upstairs with a gate. I am afraid that her messing in the house is just because of her age and lots of dogs do this as they get old as for putting her to sleep I only do this when my dog has lost quality of her life and from what you have written your dog still has this You will know when the time has come and if you have a good vet they will tell you when shes suffering. I hope she still has many more years left

Answer 4

Based on my experience and knowledge about dogs and end of life situations, I strongly feel that the best time to make the decision to put her down is when she is suffering, and all attempts to control her pain are exhausted. Since she is an older dog, she is going to have problems with arthritis, just like humans. You'll need to put a baby gate in front of the stairs so she can't try to climb it. She'll also need to get doggie diapers. You can buy them at the pet store.
Further, based on my knowledge about the physiology of dogs (cognitive, physical) I don't think that messing in the house and arthritis are enough to put her down, but I don't have her entire medical background- only you do. Ultimately, you'll have to be the one to make the decision about when it is time. Honestly, if she is still enjoying time in the garden and trying to go upstairs, she is still appreciating life and doesn't want to die....just something to think about.

Answer 5

Please keep in mind that this answer comes from a dog lover who has lost a few loved ones. The answer to your question is not clean cut. Only you can answer this question. I had to do this just last July with a dog that had violent grand mal cluster seizures. She was only 2. The question you should be asking is.... is she alive because she wants to be, or because I want her to be? I know it sounds wrong, but sometimes they have their way of letting you know. You have to ask yourself is she truly happy? Does she hurt? There are so many different things to look at, not just what is the age of the dog. I had to decide if my baby was happy living like she was, and she let me know that she wasn't. The seizures caused severe pain to her, she was blind and paralyzed for 15 minutes after each seizure. With up to 8 seizures in a 24 hour period. Be prepared tho, it is truly a hard thing to do if you really are a dog lover. It you have a hard time with this I will suggest www.lightning-strike.com Good luck with this decision. My thoughts are with you.

Answer 6

This is a difficult question and a matter of opinion. I believe it's best to look at the best interest of the pet, not the wants of the pets owners.

Iv'e been in your shoes before. It's hard, but you know whether you're pet is happy or practically lifeless. Does she lay around all day? Do you have to help her go outside to go potty? Is she hard of hearing or have any blindness? Most importantly, is she suffering or in pain?

It's hard, I know. The longer you wait the more you will regret that you waited so long. I really feel for you and wish you peace with your decision in the future...

Answer 7

Its a hard one, Iv been a dog owner all my day's & you must be feeling its unfair on your dog to be living this way, but if you feel there's life in her yet, don't put her to sleep, Only you can tell if she's suffering.!!! My heart goes out to you & your dog.!!!!
I felt my vet was keeping my dog here for the money as he couldnt even walk up the street, he passed away on my lap, age 5, Heart Problems.!!!

Answer 8

Oh my heart goes out to you. I had a shep/lab mix that I raised from a pup. She was 17 when I knew it was just time. She had become blind, having seizures, losing weight and hair and just struggled to breath. The vet said it was time and as I struggled to make this difficult decision I just knew she would be so much better off and at peace. She just couldn't function anymore that was a good life for her. But you must make that decision. Good Luck

Answer 9

You need to have a chat with your vet, if she is falling down the stairs she could hurt herself , would that be fair to her. It's a very difficult decision but you need to do the best for your dog.

Answer 10

It's only right when you've pulled out all the stops trying to keep them alive. I don't beleive in putting a dog to sleep due to old age anymore than putting an old person to sleep simply because they're old.