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I have a geriatric lab, 14, she is beloved to us and I am ...

Sent to Pet Experts May 24, 2006 1:08 p.m.

I have a geriatric lab, 14, she is beloved to us and I am having trouble determining whether it is time to put her down. Her back end is weak, she is on 2 daily medications for this condition. She has trouble with stairs, although can manage...she will occassionally quit the process and go back down, or bark for us to carry her up. She will wipe out on our wood floors a few times a day. Within the past few months she has gone deaf, and it seems more than that...sometimes I can slam a door or jump up and down next to her and she doesn't feel the vibrations and is startled when I touch her. She has had a few accidents, which, now that we are more focused on getting her out more frequently has not happened again, but nonetheless shows deterioration on her ability to hold it. Our vet says she does not believe she needs to be put down now, and also because we love her are eager to accept that answer...yet, I have witnessed putting a pet down and think it is very humane. I want our dog to avoid suffering, she deserves that, she has been a wonderful and loyal family member. When the vet says she is okay, it is hard for us to go against that, but I do not want her to take a painful spill down the stairs, or be in pain just to take a walk. I cry as I write this, because I think I know it is time, but don't want to sacrifice time if she can really enjoy even another month. She loves to swim, still, even though she can barely carry the weight of her wet fur out of the water. She like to nap in the sun and has just walked into the room seeminly normal. I know it is a difficult and personal decision, but please offer any advice you can share.

Optional Information:
Age: >12; Female; Breed: lab like

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $8

Answer
May 24, 2006 1:29 p.m. (21 minutes and 36 seconds later)

ACCEPTED

If you wish to try some more nursing care with her then I would suggest checking out the mobility tools at www.handicappedpets.com which range from wheels to a harness to help your dog stay steady on stairs etc.
You might find a diaper with a tail hole in it helps with the incontinence clean up issue though you will have to keep the dog clean.
My personal criteria on a dog is that when it can no longer do the things it enjoys, when it is in pain that I can't control for the dog, when its not having any quality of life that is when I put aside my own feelings and let the dog be euthanized.
Its individual dog to dog and owner to owner when this point is reached. If you think some care tools will help you both have some good time together then maybe that is the way to go.
Hope this helps you!

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