Thread: It is hard, very hard

Always hard with animals as they cant really tell you whats going on. With the older ones here I can only tell if they are really suffering when they go off their food or have no quality of life anymore.

Its a hard decision to make, quality of life. Do what you think is best for the animal is aways the correct decision. Hopefully the vets can help if the condition can be treated. Athritis etc.

The grief is hard to deal either way. I have always replaced the lost ones strait away although you can never replace the same pet. They are always different. This is a good thing. It seems to help the family cope with the grief. I'm usually the worst for it

Do what you think is right for the Pets sake.

Tony

Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

We had an old dog with arthritis many years ago and she used to lay in the one spot and cry in pain...it fair tore at us to hear her.

Took her to the vet expecting the worst but he gave her a course of 3 injections and we couldn't believe the difference in her...she was almost like a puppy within weeks.

Wish I could remember the name of the drug, but it was over 15yrs ago, a drug used for arthritis in humans and at the time only being used rarely in dogs IIRC

She's a beautiful girl Arthur. It must be very hard for you to see her suffering like that.

My old dog has these injections as well. I have it right infront of my now but cant find a name of the product.

What a beautiful looking dog. I feel for you Arthur and trust you make the right decisions.

We had to put down our 18 year old Jack Russell about a year ago. We knew it was time when he was that ill that he wouldn't even wag his tail when you scratched his back. It was hard - harder for the kids than for me, tho.

We still have an 18 year old cat, who is as deaf as a post but is otherwise quite well. She nearly died a few months ago, but the vet sorted the infection on her face - and my wallet - out and she is fine. But 18 years is a long innings for a cat. She has been with us the whole time. She was born in our previous house. We now have a young cat who tends to beat her up when he gets a chance, the bully. Both Trudi and the kids will miss her a lot when she goes. I will too, but perhaps not quite as much as them.

Willem

Hi,

The drug is called Cartrophen (sp?) and I can vouch for its effectiveness for old pups with arthritis.

It is not cheap and takes a while to work. My last dog Phyllis was not doing well at age 14, went on Cartrophen and was chasing the tennis ball around a few weeks later.

She went on quite happily till 17. Can't bring myself to get another pup yet, 2 years on.

cheers, DL

Originally Posted by BBC

A bit off track I know but, it makes me think we should be as 'humane' about euthenasia as we are about the putting down of our pets.

I'd really rather not enter this debate, but I didn't raise it and it really does need a comment.

Humans are not the same as animals and we need to be careful about what we call 'humane'. The Dutch experiment with euthanasia has led to a lot of terror among older folk, some of whom flatly refuse to be admitted to hospital because they know they will never come out alive.

Euthanasia for humans is not a simple thing like it is for animals, because humans are so much more than animals.

Willem

Thank you for all your inputs, I think that the problem with Clara is more than arthritis because she has great strenght on her legs and pull hard then few minutes after during a 300 mts walk one of her front or back legs give in and she landing on the ground hard
Some times she walks moving her spine like a worm limping on one front and one back leg.
Early in the morning she asks for a walk and after 200 mts she is panting like if she was running for a long distance.
I have the impression that there is something wrong with her heart.
See what happens next friday @ the vet.

Cheers

Originally Posted by Chucaro

Thank you for all your inputs, I think that the problem with Clara is more than arthritis because she has great strenght on her legs and pull hard then few minutes after during a 300 mts walk one of her front or back legs give in and she landing on the ground hard
Some times she walks moving her spine like a worm limping on one front and one back leg.
Early in the morning she asks for a walk and after 200 mts she is panting like if she was running for a long distance.
I have the impression that there is something wrong with her heart.
See what happens next friday @ the vet.

Cheers

its very hard to make the decisions on our mates chucaro....no I hope I dont get flamed for this from people.

Personally if she is not on pain relief then def get her on some...Personally though from what you describe sounds like the old girl really is having a hard time

And If it was my dog I would be making the call for sure....I know that is easy for me to say because it is not my dog but we make these decisions all the time when it comes to our oldies at work.

we look at the picture as a hole.....we make our decisions based on the dogs well being not necessary how many meds they have tried.. The way we see it is doesn't matter how many meds they have tried they are not going to get better when it comes to things like arthritis....you can prolong it for a bit with meds (which we have done) but what people need to think of the most is the dogs dignity.

and are they happy...........It might sound mean but we like to say goodbye before they get to bad, knowing that there on a downward spiral.
I have not written this to try and ruffle feathers...but more to say that people should not really feel guilty by making that decision as your making it for the dog....and sometimes vets don't like to and wont make that decision until they really really need to.

I had to make the call on one of my own boxers a couple of years back took him to the vet to be put down, he was falling all over he place poor old bugger. the vet sent me home said we will try this and try that.....he suffered that next 12hours and howled the whole night in pain and I will never forgive myself for allowing him to suffer like that as I should of been more persistant with the vet he went in the next morning and I carried him in my arms as he could no longer walk...the vet didn't even say anything and we said goodbye

* **** made myself cry*

Good luck with the old girl chucaro.....you will know when its time trust me. and when you know be strong about it YOU are the person that knows that old girl the best