Anyone else have pets getting old, or dealt with it in the past?

We have three senior dogs. The youngest (she'll be 14 in a month) is still great. Other than being a little fat and always being in the way when we're cooking hoping for dropped food, she really has no issues. The oldest, we think because we adopted him in 2013 when he was supposedly already 6 years old, is completely blind. Recently he's started pooping and peeing in the bed overnight and laying in it. We thought it was going to be a regular thing after two mornings in a row but he hasn't done it since last week. Our other dog will be 15 in February and he's a complete asshole. He whines constantly, won't eat his food when you put it down for him, continues to whine. He's hated me for years and the feeling is pretty mutual. He also can't control his bowels so he just kinda drops shit on the floor if he sneezes, coughs, gets excited, etc.

It's really tough watching the blind dog kinda lose his grasp on everything. He literally just eats, sleeps, and poops. We can tell his legs are slowly going out on him. Not sure how to ... make the call ... when the time comes. His quality of life can't be great, but he can still get around on his own a bit. He just runs into everything in the house.

I suggest "making the call" sooner than later.

My parents Jack Russell died last year at the age of SEVENTEEN!

He was partially blind and almost completely deaf. He would also just randomly pass out due to lack of blood flow to his heart. kept telling them they needed to get it done, no one listened. He had a heart attack in front of my mom at 6am one morning. I wasn't there, but it was rather tragic.. 

posted by Automatik

I suggest "making the call" sooner than later.

My parents Jack Russell died last year at the age of SEVENTEEN!

He was partially blind and almost completely deaf. He would also just randomly pass out due to lack of blood flow to his heart. kept telling them they needed to get it done, no one listened. He had a heart attack in front of my mom at 6am one morning. I wasn't there, but it was rather tragic.. 

Right, but like what's the trigger? He can still get around the house a bit. We put him outside and he does his business. I feel like making the call now is just because he's a burden to us.

It's terrible having to deal with this.

We have a dog and several cats.

Cats seem to just fall off a cliff when they pass. They will be perfectly normal one day then the next they're gone. They seem to have a lot of kidney/liver issues.

Dogs seem to be a little bit different. They will start showing decline over time and you'll see symptoms like you're seeing. Our dog is 10 and he has issues getting up into the bed at night (have a small set of steps for him to come up) but that's about it so far. When they lose control of their bowels, etc that's when you have to start thinking about quality of life.

posted by BR1986FB

Cats seem to just fall off a cliff when they pass. 

Have to agree.  My father has had two seemingly healthy middle-aged cats just keel over a few years apart.

We have a miniature pinscher about to turn 17.  His face is gray, and he seems a bit senile.  Not quite as hyper as he used to be, but he's still full of life.  Runs and dances like a youngster when he goes out, still eats good.  I'm hoping he goes in his sleep.

Before the min-pin we had a 10 yr-old pug we loved.  Couldn't resist that pushed-in face.  Over one week, he started eating less and drinking more, turned out to be diabetes.  I had him put down two days later.

When they stop eating regularly and have accidents. If they are still doing both of those things, I feel they are still enjoying life and even though they may be a burden on us, thats no reason to end their life. Once they stop eating or having accidents, you know their life is not worth living anymore. 

My wife said not eating is her cue. The blind dog still eats like a maniac. We also think he has cushings disease because he drinks like a maniac. The accidents worried us but they seem to have stopped.

The other one has always been a weird eater so the way he acts now is pretty much on par. It's just the involuntary shitting that kills me. 

My wife now snores when her allergies are acting up. I was wondering if it was time to pull the trigger too. 

Our dog just turned 8 and doesn't snore fwiw. 

posted by kizer permanente

My wife now snores when her allergies are acting up. I was wondering if it was time to pull the trigger too. 

When it's time, it's time. I'm sorry.

We had to put our Maltese down on April 26. She had just made it to 16. Then, she began having trouble walking, then heavy labored breathing spells. Took her to the vet and here her kidneys were failing. It was time.  We miss her greatly. 

One of these things is not like the other ones.

posted by BR1986FB

It's terrible having to deal with this.

We have a dog and several cats.

Cats seem to just fall off a cliff when they pass. They will be perfectly normal one day then the next they're gone. They seem to have a lot of kidney/liver issues.

Dogs seem to be a little bit different. They will start showing decline over time and you'll see symptoms like you're seeing. Our dog is 10 and he has issues getting up into the bed at night (have a small set of steps for him to come up) but that's about it so far. When they lose control of their bowels, etc that's when you have to start thinking about quality of life.

posted by Laley23

When they stop eating regularly and have accidents. If they are still doing both of those things, I feel they are still enjoying life and even though they may be a burden on us, thats no reason to end their life. Once they stop eating or having accidents, you know their life is not worth living anymore. 

That's your answer. When my parent's dog start passing out, I immediately gave them the hard truth. I understand them though. My mom said they simply couldn't handle the drive to the vet. 

Just give him the best life you can for now, and when you know...you'll know.

We've got 3 Dachshunds

Oscar - the OG, 15 yrs old in December, 2/3 blind, 95% deaf, has had cancer 3 times (including currently) and the vet says he can't have it cut out this time because it's in the muscle. Overall he's not struggling, but compared to 5 years ago he's like a shell of himself. Probably gonna have to put him down soon, but until he's clearly in pain or losing motor function we'll keep him comfy.

Otto - inherited after mom died. 13 yrs old this month. Starting to lose hearing, is in congestive heart failure and is on 3 separate heart medicines, he also has a partially collapse trachea. I get the feeling his demise will be more sudden than Oscars because he gets into fits of coughing from time to time that are pretty unnerving.

Ladybird - 12 yrs old, so far, she's got no ailments other than far and away the worst breath of any dog in existence.

posted by j_crazy

Ladybird - 12 yrs old, so far, she's got no ailments other than far and away the worst breath of any dog in existence.

You should meet our blind dog. Absolutely vile breath. Like Satan's asshole or something.

We had a one-eyed Shih Tzu that became pretty much blind in the other and also mostly deaf. He lived okay like that for several months - happy to be carried about.  When he started shitting himself, I tried to put myself in his paws.  We decided shortly thereafter to do the deed.  I know it was the right time, but it broke me.

I’ve had many dogs and cats over the years.  I’ve never been lucky enough to wake up and have an ailing pet die. I even shot a pet goat in the head after it broke a leg (not recommended). Hands down the best plan is to find a vet that does home euthanasia. It is a bit more expensive ( last time 350.00) but easily worth it to curtail the dreaded drive)  you can also prearrange cremation services. I suggest you do it soon. It really helps

https://petlossathome.com/mobile-vet/ohio/cincinnati-home-pet-euthanasia/

posted by justincredible

You should meet our blind dog. Absolutely vile breath. Like Satan's asshole or something.

 this is a textbook sign of a pet needing teeth pulled. you should consider taking it to the vet to have it looked at. it can lead to lots of other problems if not dealt with

posted by MontyBrunswick

 this is a textbook sign of a pet needing teeth pulled. you should consider taking it to the vet to have it looked at. it can lead to lots of other problems if not dealt with

We have, he’s had a ton pulled in the past. He can’t go under anymore so he’s kinda stuck with what he’s got.

As an adult I have only had one dog and she’s 7, so still have time (and a 9 year old cat). But as a kid, I’ve seen some bad ones. When I was like 7, our dog got hit by the Schwanns man and crawled back to our house in the morning to die. Then my main dog as a kid, her hips started to go and she just couldn’t walk anymore. Fast forward we had a cat who was “mine” and her last night she somehow jumped on my bed and in the morning her hips were just wrecked. Then my parents other dog, I came home from work (didn’t live there) and he died right in front of me as I was consoling him but could tell he wasn’t good. Then had to put his stiff body in the trunk to take to the vet. I guess I would rather put them out before having to see the debilitating issues they have.  But I also haven’t had to make that call myself. Either way, it all sucks. 

Our oldest blind dog had a violent seizure this morning and now he can’t stand on his own. We’re taking him to the vet at 11:45 and I can’t imagine he’ll be coming home with us. I am wrecked. 

Sorry to hear; not easy at all.  

posted by justincredible

Our oldest blind dog had a violent seizure this morning and now he can’t stand on his own. We’re taking him to the vet at 11:45 and I can’t imagine he’ll be coming home with us. I am wrecked. 

Really sorry to hear this.  I can imagine how you feel.  You're doing what you have to do for him.  Hang in there.

We got to the vet and he finally started walking around like nothing was ever wrong with him. What a morning. 

posted by justincredible

We got to the vet and he finally started walking around like nothing was ever wrong with him. What a morning. 

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRHxYgPw/

posted by justincredible

We got to the vet and he finally started walking around like nothing was ever wrong with him. What a morning. 

You've got another day with him then.  Relief, I'm sure.