to ask you what we should do about our dog?

[RagamuffinAndFidget]

I'll try not to ramble too much but I'm quite upset at the moment and I really need some advice. Thank you.

Our elderly (almost 13yo) dog has just bitten me. He is half blind and a bit deaf and possibly suffering from dog-dementia, and he had a really rough start in life so has always been a bit temperamental but manageably so (he has food issues so is always shut out of the dining room at mealtimes/not allowed near the children at all when they are eating, or left unattended with them at all). He has never been vicious, has had the odd grumble but never directed at the kids.

Anyway, earlier this evening he took offence to me asking him to leave the room at dinner time and he snapped at me, biting my foot and leaving three puncture marks.

What do I do? Despite all his flaws he is a much loved member of our family and we have worked hard to manage his behaviour over the years. But now I'm worried that perhaps his issues (sight, hearing, etc) are causing him to be even more bad tempered and that this could actually make him dangerous. I can't even imagine having him put to sleep, but I also highly doubt he would find a home anywhere else and I can't let my children be at risk can I?

Sorry, this isn't really a proper AIBU but I could really do with some wisdom right now.

Take him to the vet to be checked for anything that’s fixable. Discuss the situation with the vet with a view to assessing his quality of life and whether the vet can improve it or whether it’s time to PTS

You won’t rehome a half blind, half deaf, elderly dog that’s bitten you. He would die in pain and lonely in a miserable kennel. It would be far, far kinder to PTS and stay with him so he knows he’s loved in his last moments.

What a bullshit comparison. A child is a completely different thing.
A child is also not able to seriously injure or even kill another child with a bite.

Dogs aren’t humans makeahouseahome They can’t tell you when they are miserable they can only show you.

And it may well be something entirely treatable (arthritis pain) or a situation that could be avoided in future (failing eyesight and startled.)
I would ask vet advice. Change in behaviour should be investigated. But a couldn’t let an animal suffer on simply because I didn’t want to lose them.
Although I did have a cat that was only comfortable with her arthritis on Tramadol. But if she had her meds she was absolutely fine and had a good quality of life.

We had an elderly deaf and blind tibetan terrier who started to nip if anyone caught him by surprise. We took him to the vet, he had a full MOT and we had some pain killers to give him.

Sitting our DDs down, we had a very honest conversation about how to behave around him and not making him jump. It was stressful at times as the kids tended to forget, but we found a solution that worked for all of us. He hated a crate, but our other dog loved it when she got older and it was her safe space away from chaos. Stairgates helped us too, especially into the dining room.

It's so hard. You need to talk to your vet here .

Erm of course an older child could do serious harm to a younger child if it chose to. The comparison is not ridiculous, peoples views on trying to force a differentiator is!

It’s ridiculous in every way. Can’t believe I’m even responding to you.

I agree with pp to see the vet first and take it from there. Best of wishes.

How’s he doing today op?