To ask a possibly upsetting question?

[Cherrysoup]

If you had a dog and it has now died, how old was it and what did it die of? I lost one of mine during the summer and it looks like his brother is going the same way at 11, I’m absolutely devastated. The first one had cancer, his brother also has a tumour, diagnosed today. Isn’t 11 quite young for a medium sized dog? I lost one at 16, same breed (spaniel) so was hoping I’d have the others for longer. 😢

Ours was 14 1/2, a cocker spaniel crossed with some ruffian, probably part lab, on a farm. So she had a good innings, but it was heart failure in the end, and TBH we should have had her PTS sooner, but it’s such a horrible decision to have to make.

Always so very hard to lose them, especially when you’ve had a dog for so long - she was my little black shadow, always there.

Friends’ two lovely flatcoat retrievers were only 8 or 9 when cancer got them. Sadly I believe flatcoats are particularly prone to it.

I am so sorry about your dogs @Cherrysoup.

I think 12 is average for medium sized dogs generally.

I have had dogs for over 30 years, all different shapes, sizes, breeds and crossbreeds. Several have made it to 14-14.5, but I have also lost three aged 7, all of which were absolutely devastating and taken far too young.

My current boy is a Lurcher and classed as a large breed by his insurance company and vet. He is 16 and it’s unlikely he will still be here by Christmas. I am dreading it, even though I know he has had a long, happy life and despite several health issues that have developed over the last 18 months, he has been comfortable and happy. I am finding it hard to deal with, as there is no one definitive thing, just that he is gradually finding life harder and starting to have more bad days. We are working closely with our vet to try and make sure we aren’t falling into the trap of keeping him going for our benefit and they have given us excellent advice and support about how to monitor him and make the decision for him when the time comes. I can only hope we get it right.

Obviously it’s always a terrible thing to go through, but in some ways I have found the sudden loss of a very sick dog easier to get my head around, as there’s no question that you are doing the kindest thing for them and you have to make a definitive decision based on a clear prognosis and facts. With a geriatric dog who is slowly declining, you are constantly second guessing yourself. Ultimately though, it is the final act of kindness and love that we can give them and it’s important to keep hold of that.

I have a 16.5 year old lab, which is ancient for a lab. I'm not sure we'll get to Christmas though

@iloveeverykindofcat

My family has always had dogs, mostly corgis. One died at 5 from a genetic heart defect. The others have died between 12 and 16. One got to 16.5. Typically cancer when they get very old but we have always pts before they got very sick. Always a good end. We also had a gsd who was pts at 9 for crippling hip dysplasia but she was badly bred. I think there's always a fear of when it's the right time but I live by our old vet's words: better a week too soon than a day too late. Euthanasia is kind. Natural death is wrongly romanticised.

I totally agree. I’m all for assisted death for humans (as long as they’re able to consent/aren’t being persuaded unwillingly, obviously). It appals me what some people go through and what some people put their animals through. It will be so hard, but I won’t let him suffer.

JRT got v close to 20. He just passed away quietly in his sleep one day.
Current JRT is almost 17 and has dementia and his hips are going. Still scoffing as much as he can get his chops round. The incontinence is mounting though. I am not sure when to consult the vet as he seems perky and isn't in any pain.

She was 13 and we put her down following a stroke. She was a black lab.

Our previous dog was lab/whippet cross and died age 11 of bowel cancer.

She was about 14 and died of old age. Due to reasons I'm not going into here, she spent the last few years with my mum and step-dad and used to sleep curled up on my step-dad's clothes. When he died, the dog pined for a few weeks and died the following summer.

PIL’s beagle died a few years ago aged 15
They got a lab puppy last year, came downstairs one morning to find him dead in his bed at 6 months old. He’d died of an undiagnosed heart condition that nobody knew anything about he wasn’t even my dog and it devastated me

Think it varies so much, my first dog lived till 17! She was amazing, died peacefully in her sleep.

My second little one had a seizure unexpectedly at 3 and never recovered.

Our current girl is nearly 9, many health conditions associated with her breed but still very lively would never think she was her age and unwell.

hope you are ok.

My DH is desperate for another dog. I stayed with our darling westie when he was pts DH couldn't do it, he ran from the surgery crying. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. That's why I keep saying no to getting another dog, I can't face the heart ache of losing another.

My lovely girl died at 7...I was absolutely devastated 💔 She had osteosarcoma, it was awful 😞

As part of my job (celebrant) I do memorial services for pets, so I thought I'd be 'ready' and able to get through my sadness when she died. I wasn't!

♥️ for you OP

Lost our Jack Russell at 16 to cancer.
Border Collie/ German Shepherd Cross at 11 to Cancer
Border Collie/Labrador Cross at 11 to cancer

So sorry for your loss.

4y Bernese. Lost him in February. Genetic kidney issue that was missed by the vets until it got too far along to be treated. Was gone within 2 weeks from diagnosis. I still miss him and dream about him.

We have a 10yo retriever too - she's still going strong and I hope to have her for a few more years.

I lost my beloved husky at 8. He went downhill really suddenly and they found a tumour in his stomach.

My lab is 8 and I'm terrified of losing him. Some of these stories are so upsetting, I'm so sorry for you all.

11 of cancer. I thought that was a normal age for a dog to die.

We are in the process of losing one any day now. He’s 13, a malamute with cancer and he’s gone blind and deaf.

The Husband and i take in dogs from a nearby shelter that are deemed “unadoptable”. We took in this one in September of last year and were told he had at best 3 months to live. He’s been with us 14 months and he’s been loved and spoiled by us.

We are taking another one for palliative care who is 14 and also has cancer. A Yorkshire terrier. It seems 13/14 is about average.

My dog died at 11 of Kidney failure

She was 17 and she had a stroke.

It makes me cry thinking about it. She was such a good girl. Always behaved herself.

One day she got the zoomies, which was out of character. She started zooming up and down the stairs.

She came back down and jumped all over the sofa which she was never allowed on. So I shouted get down.

I feel ever so guilty about shouting get down now, because she did get down.

She came and sat right in front of me with her tail wagging and a big smile on her face.

And then she slowly started leaning to one side until she was completely flat on the floor. Tail still wagging.

And then it stopped.

I’ve lost 3 dogs this year
One just passed away in his sleep
His son was ill with kidney problems loosing weight and his quality of life was crap so I had him put to sleep
Last week I had to put one of my litter sisters to sleep she was 11 and again her quality of life was shit
So now I have 2 dogs one who will probably last another year or so and one who will probably go on forever like the bloody terminator 😂
I don’t feel sad because my dogs have always had a very good life .
They have only ever had one owner since being puppies never sold on even when being difficult 😂
They were walked every day and enjoyed their life and when their quality of life as a dog wasn’t any good for them any more I let them pass away with dignity .

@anon12345anon

for you...it is heart breaking isn't it?

Lost our 3 year old totally out of the blue last year....on the Monday he seemed totally normal....Tuesday an (unknown) lesion erupted on his throat with complications, Wednesday my darling boy was pts....

A few months later our 12 year old was pts, she had just had enough, and was an old lady, with a great life behind her.

A year on, my heart yearns for my darling dogs...
The 12 year old is slightly easier to bear....but the 3 year old just breaks my heart
I still talk to them both out loud, and I think they are probably looking down on me from the rainbow bridge with a look on their faces!

Both dogs were a breed with a life expectancy of 8-10 years....

So sorry. I don’t have dogs but my darling cat died last Friday, aged 14. I felt my heart was breaking. She had a seizure at the vet’s. I never imagined I wouldn’t take her home with me 😥

Ours was 14 and a half pts last month. 2 liver tumors that were inoperable. Grew over the space of a year. He started collapsing everytime he stood up.

We will miss him forever.

16 - a Cairn terrier - had her from when I was 6 to 22.
18 - a gorgeous mongrel rescue dog.
I don’t get why anyone gets a breed; mongrels are so much healthier.
Sorry for your loss, it’s so awful when they die.

My darling girl was 8 and died in an accident running into a tree. It was totally horrific. There are no guarantees in life unfortunately.