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Coping With An Ageing Dog


BarbedWire
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We're starting to go through this now. Had spine and hip xrays last week, which aren't great. Tramadol to give if I think she's in pain. She's still eating normally and gets excited about food though and I always told myself when she starts to lose interest in food that it's probably her time. She can't do stairs anymore either. I really feel for you, it's heartbreaking and so tough knowing when is the right time.

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I have just rung the vets and I can't get in to see my vet until Thursday. I am shattered. I feel so alone with this. He has had a little bit of breakfast this morning so he is eating something, but walking is very painful for him.

Just use this time as cuddle time, Sarsa. Your darling boy will be happy just being with you and not having to do anything except be close.

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I'm sorry the time is coming.

My rule is if they cannot do things for themselves anymore then it is time. So getting up and going outside without help, eating etc.

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Yep get an urgent vet appointment - they can almost always squeeze you in somewhere.

Mac is on a handful a drugs which all seem to help - he's on:

Mornings

Lexicom (anti-inflammatory and pain relief, low dose)

Kepcet (anti-convulsant)

Cisapride/Zantac Combo (for gut motility and reflux as he has an open airway)

Doxycycline (low dose AB)

Evenings

Same except Gabapentin (for neuro pain) instead of the Lexicom.

This routine has kept him going for over 12 months and kept him comfortable and was prescribed by his Internal Medicine Specialist, not his regular vet.

And it works.

If you can't get into your vet see if you can get an urgent appointment with an Internal Medicine Specialist, maybe through an Emergency Vet and get his pain management sorted you might find it helps - a lot. For example Lexicom is a 24 hour drug and needs to be given daily - if Mac misses I notice a difference in his function - yet initially he was on it every second day because of side effects fears - but what I was essentially doing was giving him good day/bad day/good day/bad day - so we went to daily and in a 16 year old dog you need to weigh up the risks and make some compromises.

And if you get his pain management sorted with specialist assistance and it doesn't help then you might need to make another decision.

Sars I'm in the same boat - some people have been very critical of me that I haven't put Mac down - but he has normal blood panels, still potters around and gets through the doggy door (but can't manage stairs well), wees poos, and sniffs Sara's bottom and demolishes his meals and generally has more good days than bad days, so we go on - I know my dog. He's a basically healthy old boy with a slowly worsening neuro disorder. But when he gets to the point where his quality of life is poor most of the time I'll make a different decision. But until then...

Big hugs and let us know how you get on? hug.gif

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I have just rung the vets and I can't get in to see my vet until Thursday. I am shattered. I feel so alone with this. He has had a little bit of breakfast this morning so he is eating something, but walking is very painful for him.

Just use this time as cuddle time, Sarsa. Your darling boy will be happy just being with you and not having to do anything except be close.

I’ve been thinking about this and believe I am wrong. Monday to Thursday is too long for you and Anna to wait. Ring again and say it is urgent. There must be a 24/7 emergency vet in your area?

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Thank you for the replies. I spoke to my vet on the phone yesterday and she suggested it might be worth trying tramadol. I am seeing her first thing on Thursday morning. I could see another vet if I wanted but I don't want to. I am very mindful of what others have said and I think I have accepted that his time is coming. He is no longer eating and I am just making him comfortable and loving him.

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Thank you for the replies. I spoke to my vet on the phone yesterday and she suggested it might be worth trying tramadol. I am seeing her first thing on Thursday morning. I could see another vet if I wanted but I don't want to. I am very mindful of what others have said and I think I have accepted that his time is coming. He is no longer eating and I am just making him comfortable and loving him.

Please do not leave him another 48 hrs. He is in pain and no longer eating.

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Thank you for the replies. I spoke to my vet on the phone yesterday and she suggested it might be worth trying tramadol. I am seeing her first thing on Thursday morning. I could see another vet if I wanted but I don't want to. I am very mindful of what others have said and I think I have accepted that his time is coming. He is no longer eating and I am just making him comfortable and loving him.

Please do not leave him another 48 hrs. He is in pain and no longer eating.

Sars- I'm sorry to say - I agree . :(

he is very tired and in pain, and shutting down because of it - letting him stay this way until Thursday is very sad :(

Edited by persephone
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Sars, nobody is having a go at you. We have all been there sadly. :( Surely if you tell your vet that it is urgent, they will fit you in? I am not meaning you must have him PTS, but just get him seen and some pain meds maybe? If he isn't eating or drinking he will feel very poorly. I'm so sorry you are going through this. I have lost three dogs in about 12 months so I know how much you are hurting. Hugs xx

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Sars, nobody is having a go at you. We have all been there sadly. :( Surely if you tell your vet that it is urgent, they will fit you in? I am not meaning you must have him PTS, but just get him seen and some pain meds maybe? If he isn't eating or drinking he will feel very poorly. I'm so sorry you are going through this. I have lost three dogs in about 12 months so I know how much you are hurting. Hugs xx

yes - it would be great if he can see someone sooner to help get relief .. and sars - I have certainly been thru this - more times than I care to remember and it hurts .

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Please don't. This is so difficult. He is only in pain when he tries to walk. I carried him outside this morning. I will not be posting any more.

Breathe deep. People are trying to help but this is never easy when you are the person who has to make the call.

I've lost two dogs in the last 12 months. Before I had to confront this I decided that if a dog could not eat, drink and toilet for itself, that would be time.

My oldest girl cannot make it up the back steps but is still enjoying life. With Herbie, he stopped eating. My approach with food was enough to make him beat a retreat. It was time.

I recommend you discuss this with your vet but I will leave you with the one thing I've learned from talking about this with other pet owners:

I have NEVER heard a person lament that they made the decision to give a pet their wings too early. I have have heard quite a few who know that they left the decision too late.

Let it happen when your boy is still himself. You might be sorry at first but you won't be in the longer run.

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Thank you for the replies. I spoke to my vet on the phone yesterday and she suggested it might be worth trying tramadol. I am seeing her first thing on Thursday morning. I could see another vet if I wanted but I don't want to. I am very mindful of what others have said and I think I have accepted that his time is coming. He is no longer eating and I am just making him comfortable and loving him.

Please do not leave him another 48 hrs. He is in pain and no longer eating.

this , try and see any vet ASAP

It isnt easy , I waited longer than I should have for one of mine

I did it for me and not her :(

She couldnt walk and I carried her around and even held her up to eat , but her quality wasnt there

when she lost her quality and didnt eat then I realised it was time

It is not a easy decision to make

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Couldn't you just pick up a script? Reading this thread made me decide to try Tramadol on my old boy who I am in a similar situation with. I talked to my vet by phone and picked up 10days worth on the way home.

It is a very difficult decision. I look at Cowan and wonder every day if I am making the right decision for him. In his case he has a very sore foot that is making walking difficult and he is very elderly and tired so I am going to try just one more thing.

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