i’m really struggling with if we should put our 12 year old springer spaniel who we adore to sleep! she’s had arthritis for a few years in her back legs which we’ve managed through supliments (you move) & metacam, low weight & regular walks however, this last month we’ve noted a stark deterioration in her mobility e.g struggling to get up from laying down, shaking, trembling limbs in sitting & standing, falling over her & groaning … she can now barely tolerate a 10 minute walk on grass & pays for it terribly by groaning for the rest of the day.
we took her to the vet who prescribed paracetamol & gabapentin a week ago but it’s not working she’s still groaning (less often but still apparent when she moves) the vet stated she wasn’t the worse she’d seen but accepted that put to sleep would be considered if her quality of life was decreased … we live in a bungalow so stairs haven’t been an issue but don’t think she’d manage. vet stated her arthritis is now in her front legs as well as her back & possibly in her spine so she can’t compensate for her back legs anywhere anymore.
she’s still eating & drinking, still continent but struggling to get down to do her business so sometimes weeing on her back legs … when she’s good, she’s good (such as when husband gets lead out or when greeting people.. she spins & gets so excited) but that’s only 10 minutes or so of her day the rest are spent laid out struggling ….
it’s such a hard decision we love this dog to pieces but i can’t see her suffer … it’s so awful when it’s their mobility when the rest of her is healthy & well.
any advice would be appreciated xx