I need some clarity that I'm doing the right thing.
We have a 16 year old toy poodle. He has been blind and deaf for a few years but still enjoys his food.
He got heatstroke a few months ago when he found his way to our front gate and couldn't find his way back. He couldn't stand up, but with a cool bath and careful watching, he was fine. I wasn't game to take him to the centre because I do believe we may have not brought him home, due to his frailness and age.
He has been weeing and pooing where he stands for probably a year, and I use a belly band nappy for night time, but through the day I follow him around and clean up as quickly as I see a mess. I've used more paper towels, Urine Off and disinfectant than I care to think about.
Though blind, he has always found his way around the house until the past six months (maybe 12 months). He is completely "lost", bumping into walls, doors, coffee tables, has trouble even finding his food bowl or his bed. He mostly sleeps all day, but when not sleeping he just wanders around bumping into furniture and walls.
He hates haircuts, so I've left his wool long and he is very matted, but I don't even want to give him the stress of a haircut or a wash. He shakes uncontrollably through the whole haircut and as soon as we put him in the car, he knows he is off to the vet, and shakes uncontrollably. Under his very matted fur he is boney and his legs often slip from beneath him when he is eating, or just walking on our timber floor.
The vet told me last visit (before Christmas - due to terrible rash from wearing a night nappy) that I would have to make a hard decision sooner or later, and to prepare myself for that.
With him deteriorating more each month, I emailed the vet a few weeks ago and she offered to come when we are ready. I've just made that decision and the vet is coming here tomorrow morning to put him to sleep. I cannot stop crying. It will cost us to have two vets come here but I couldn't stomach taking him to the vet due to the stress it puts him under.
If he was in pain right now it would be an easy decision, but he is not in pain... just wanders around completely lost. I believe he has doggy dementia and though he was once a very friendly lap dog, he won't allow me to cuddle him or pat him on my lap. He just wants to be on the floor wandering endlessly and bumping into things... or sleeping.
I've put this off for months. We really didn't think he would make it through Christmas, but here we are in May, but I really feel like I'm killing my dog.
If I cancel tomorrow and he hurts himself or ends up in pain, I'll regret not making the decision sooner, but by making this decision when he is NOT actually in pain seems so wrong. But our grown sons do think it is time, though the middle boy (22 years old) doesn't really think it is necessary. But we need to put the dog first, and to put this off due to it being a hard decision is probably not the right thing to do for the dog.
Has anybody else had to make this decision, and am I doing the right thing in trying to avoid him deteriorating further and then having his last few hours being stressful and painful?
I'm really, really struggling with this.
We have a 16 year old toy poodle. He has been blind and deaf for a few years but still enjoys his food.
He got heatstroke a few months ago when he found his way to our front gate and couldn't find his way back. He couldn't stand up, but with a cool bath and careful watching, he was fine. I wasn't game to take him to the centre because I do believe we may have not brought him home, due to his frailness and age.
He has been weeing and pooing where he stands for probably a year, and I use a belly band nappy for night time, but through the day I follow him around and clean up as quickly as I see a mess. I've used more paper towels, Urine Off and disinfectant than I care to think about.
Though blind, he has always found his way around the house until the past six months (maybe 12 months). He is completely "lost", bumping into walls, doors, coffee tables, has trouble even finding his food bowl or his bed. He mostly sleeps all day, but when not sleeping he just wanders around bumping into furniture and walls.
He hates haircuts, so I've left his wool long and he is very matted, but I don't even want to give him the stress of a haircut or a wash. He shakes uncontrollably through the whole haircut and as soon as we put him in the car, he knows he is off to the vet, and shakes uncontrollably. Under his very matted fur he is boney and his legs often slip from beneath him when he is eating, or just walking on our timber floor.
The vet told me last visit (before Christmas - due to terrible rash from wearing a night nappy) that I would have to make a hard decision sooner or later, and to prepare myself for that.
With him deteriorating more each month, I emailed the vet a few weeks ago and she offered to come when we are ready. I've just made that decision and the vet is coming here tomorrow morning to put him to sleep. I cannot stop crying. It will cost us to have two vets come here but I couldn't stomach taking him to the vet due to the stress it puts him under.
If he was in pain right now it would be an easy decision, but he is not in pain... just wanders around completely lost. I believe he has doggy dementia and though he was once a very friendly lap dog, he won't allow me to cuddle him or pat him on my lap. He just wants to be on the floor wandering endlessly and bumping into things... or sleeping.
I've put this off for months. We really didn't think he would make it through Christmas, but here we are in May, but I really feel like I'm killing my dog.
If I cancel tomorrow and he hurts himself or ends up in pain, I'll regret not making the decision sooner, but by making this decision when he is NOT actually in pain seems so wrong. But our grown sons do think it is time, though the middle boy (22 years old) doesn't really think it is necessary. But we need to put the dog first, and to put this off due to it being a hard decision is probably not the right thing to do for the dog.
Has anybody else had to make this decision, and am I doing the right thing in trying to avoid him deteriorating further and then having his last few hours being stressful and painful?
I'm really, really struggling with this.
