Not sure how much longer we will have DDog

[WeeMadArthur]

DDog is a lab, 11 yo and is starting to show signs of old age. He came through his annual checkup fine, his heart is in good shape for a dog his age, he isn't overweight BUT if he turns too quickly his back legs go from under him, he is doddery coming down stairs (to the extent that we don't let him upstairs anymore) and he has started over the past few months having more poo accidents. It isn't a case of being left too long (although they are more frequent overnight) because he has actually pooed infront of us in the living room, with no normal 'can I go out' standing at the back door. It's almost as if he can't control it, it just comes out. I'm worried that this is the beginning of the end and he will be gone by the end of the year. Has anyone else's dog done this and gone on to live to a grand old age?

[MrsBlimey]

Gosh WeeMad - I was about to post exactly the same thing! Our DDog is a wonderful 13 yr old golden lab but eyesight, back legs and continence have all taken a turn for the worse in the last few months.

It's heartbreaking to come downstairs each morning and have to clear up lots of messes in the kitchen and he struggles to keep up on little walks now when in the past he'd have bounded along. Trouble is that at the mo, I'm going through a pretty icky morning sickness phase which is not helped by having a poohy kitchen each morning to deal with.

DDog is not critical at the moment but we're just trying to savour his last months and make him as comfortable as possible before The Inevitable. DH had a good old heart to heart about it last week and just stocked up on lots of anti bac spray and carpet cleaner. Emphasis is keeping the dog comfortable and the house (and esp kitchen) hygienic. When DH isn't working away he takes over Dog Duties to give me a break.

My thoughts are with you, your family and your lovely doggie. Let's keep this thread going for some moral support!

X

[WeeMadArthur]

Thanks MrsBlimey, it's heartbreaking knowing that they are heading towards their last days, isn't it? DDog has two accidents yesterday, and managed to stand in one of them and track it round the room! I can't imagine him not being here, and he was 6 when DS was born so DS will be devastated because he has never known life without him.

Fingers crossed they pass peacefully surrounded by love x

[honeyroar]

It's horrible, isn't it. Old age is not nice for anyone. Have you spoken to the vet about the toilet issues? It could be that he'd be better on a senior or gentler food? We had a German Shep that lost control of his backend and had to go to the loo there and then. He was quite upset about it too as he knew it was against his training. Hope you find a solution, it can't be nice.

Our eldest lab is nearly ten. She's starting to show her age more too. Last autumn she damaged her crucuate ligament, and when xrayed showed a lot of arthritis, so the vet didn't advise operating, just giving her metacam and a slower life. It was a bit of a shock, but once we got used to it it's been a turning point. She's doing really well, she potters about our fields and is 90% sound in walk and trot now. She sleeps a lot more than she used to, but I'm trying to enjoy just her as she is. She's so much better now she goes for little wanders rather than out on proper walks trying to keep up with the other dogs, it's like it's a relief to her. We have lots of snuggles nowadays.

[WeeMadArthur]

Thanks honeyroar I will speak to the vet and see if there is a different food he can go on. He tries to hide the accidents and looks so sad when we find them!

DDog also gets an awful lot of fuss these days!

[MrsBlimey]

Thanks too honeyroar - maybe a change in diet might ease things a little after all. You're right - it's us getting used to his slower pace of life which is tricky. He seems to be quite happy to spend the day snoozing and then pottering in the garden.

[flanjabelle]

I would get the vet to check for spinal problems. my golden retriever went like this, and it showed that the nerves in her spine were being compressed and so she gradually lost use of her back legs and had accidents. we had to make the decision to put her down as she was such a proud dog she would get very distressed at the accidents and she was struggling more and more with her back legs. I still miss her now and she died 5 years ago.

[WeeMadArthur]

Gosh flanjabelle never even thought of that! I just thought it was wobbly old legs and slips floors and general lack of muscle strength. How old was your dog when that happened?

[WeeMadArthur]

Just got back to give DDog his lunchtime walk and as he ran excitedly into the living room I noticed his bum going into pooing position. No warning, no standing by the back door, just straight into doing a poo! Managed to get him out the back door but not before he'd poo'd in his bed and in the utility room on the way out!

[flanjabelle]

We started to notice problems when she was 12, she lived until just before 15. It all happened slowly and accidents weren't the first symptom. She struggled to jump into the car, things like that, because the signals weren't getting to her legs to tell them what to do. She also had arthritis so it was difficult to tell what issue was causing what symptom. The vet explained that the accidents were because sometimes she just couldn't feel the sensation of needing to go anymore, the message just wasn't travelling along the nerves, but this was quite far along the road of her becoming poorly.

The one thing I would say is that she hid her pain. the vet told us she would have been in considerable pain, but she never showed it. She was never snappy or anything, but the vet wanted her on painkillers as it would have been very painful. I would really urge you to get your ddog to the vets so they can look into it all, as I'm sure you don't want ddog suffering.

Another idea, it could even be dementia. Dogs can suffer with it too.

[flanjabelle]

m.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/c_dg_cognitive_dysfunction_syndrome

[flanjabelle]

I mean it could be dementia causing the accidents, and perhaps arthritis causing. the back leg troubles.

[WeeMadArthur]

Thanks flanjabelle a lot of that fits in with what is happening to DDog. I had noticed that he seemed to forget that he had been fed, at first I put it down to him being a greedy lab but now I think that he is in the early stages of dementia and he honestly forgets. I love the furry monster so much though, I think it's going to be really tough seeing him go downhill

[flanjabelle]

It is tough, but just think what a lucky dog he is to have an owner who loves him so much. This is the dog dream isn't it? To live to a ripe old age, adored by their family and looked after in their old age. You have clearly given him a wonderful loving home, and a happy life. Just cherish the last years with him.