To think it may be time to have my dog put down?

[lecce]

He is a lurcher and nearly 11. The problem is his back legs are becoming increasingly weak and he often struggles to get to his feet. It has got a lot worse just over the last few months, to the extent that it is becoming difficult to walk him. We live in a built-up area so have to take him in car daily for his main walk (not a long drive - we have loads of great parks within 10 mins). He finds it hard to get up once he has sat in the boot (we have a step thing for him to get in there) but recently and more worryingly, his legs have started to give-out a bit mid-walk. They wobble a bit as he stands and yesterday they were sort of giving way. Today he fell down going down a hill, and had to be helped up.

He is well in himself, not incontinent or off his food and seems happy enough at home. However, I am very much aware that his joy was running and long walks - without those he only has sleeping and eating that he enjoys! I also worry that he could end up unable to get up one day mid-walk and, if it was me on my own with him I wouldn't be able to carry him back to the car. However, he's not really ill so AIBU to even consider this?

Is he on any medication? Our old dog has quite bad arthritis in his hips. Without regular metacam he would struggle just like your dog.

I've always been of the opinion that a previously active dog who now can't walk far without collapsing isn't really having a good time. In your shoes I think I'd be calling it a day before he loses any more of his mobility, continence and dignity. It's a hard decision, but I've had dogs in the past that I've let go on for far longer than I should have because I couldn't bear to do it.

This happened with my old dog at around about the same age.

We found we just had to change his walking routine and instead of taking him for a 'main walk', he was just content with a little walk around the block a few times per day.

We didn't have to have him put down until he was 17...and even then that was because he got a brain tumour.

So my advice is just change his exercise routine.

First question would also be is he medicated? If he is struggling like that on meds, then maybe, though in all honesty , while he is still enjoying his food and being with you, I don't think I would.

If he is not on meds then a trip to the vet is in order.

My old dog started doing that, he had heart-failure, which was able to be treated for quite some time before euthanasia was necessary. See what your vet says.

Thanks for the replies. Will look into medication - do you think this sort of stuff is covered by insurance because don't really think we can stretch to it if not .

Worra He is worse when we just walk him round the block, tbh. It's a bit like that kind of walk bores him a bit anyway and he doesn't have much enjoyment from it. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

I certainly wouldn't have him put down, 10 isn't old, you just have to adjust the lifestlye for pensioner dogs, my german shepherd is 16 and has been on 2 daily painkillers/anti inflammatorys for about 4 years, she can't run now but still enjoys her walks, I just go slower or for a shorter walk or take her to the park and sit on the bench while she potters around doing what she feels like.

When she gets to the stage that she doesn't want her food or doesn't come to the door when she knows we're going out then I'll make the decision.

Yours sounds like he still has a good quality of life, he's eating and wanting to go for walks, albeit it shorter ones

Check your policy, if you're with a good company they should cover you but if you're with one of the shysters they put all sorts of exclusions in.

I had an old jack Russell who lived to 19, when she was about 16 she started going a bit wobbly but was still enjoying life, it wasn't until she became incontinent that we made the decision. Pop to your vets and see what he says

I think that its a bit too soon if you haven't put him on medication. ours started on them at 11 and it really turned his life round. i think you would always regret not trying them first.

I'd second a trip to the vets to see what they say.
You don't really know why he's doing that. It is most likely to be something easily fixable with meds.
However, it might not be - I was involved with a very weird case of a pointer (a 3 year old) who developed an odd sort of paralysis in his back legs - he put a foot down a rabbit hole while out running and they thought they'd sorted that problem. I was working in a vet college - referrals only - and he came to us because he'd apparently recovered and then went wobbly with both back legs and then lost the ability to move his back end.
They had no idea what caused it but I was involved in an intensive physio programme (several times a day, minimum half an hour a time) with him. He was also incontinent and had to be washed three times a day to stop him developing sores. After 10 days - no improvement. They were starting to discuss euthanasia. Then, he started to pick up. A week later, back to normal. One of the weirdest things ever.

It's highly unlikely that it's anything odd and unusual. But you don't know yet and you can't make any decisions until you know what you are dealing with.
Once you have facts, then you can give meds a go, see if they make a difference, weigh up quality of life issues etc and make the right call.

Definately recommend a trip to the vets to get some med recommendations. Our dog had heart failure for 2.5yrs before we had to have him pts last yr as he had kidney failure. His tablets were amazing and kept him going. They were expensive (we didnt have insurance) but we used to buy the prescription from the vets and then buy the tablets online and it was less than half the costs. Our vets were fine with this and it kept our lovely dog happy for 2 yrs+.