My elderly dog can't walk properly

[kid]

He hasn't been able to get up the stairs for a while, I assumed it was because we have no carpet on them so its too slippery for him.

This morning, he couldn't get down the stairs so I had to go up and carry him down. Well tonight, he is wobbling all over the place when he is walking along. Its like he has just woken up but his legs haven't yet if that makes any sense.

I really don't know what to do with him
I don't want to take him to the vets incase they tell me he has to be put down. I don't think I can do that. He is a yorkie and is 14 years old.

I'm sorry but this sounds like the last week or so of our dogs life-he went steadily downhill and slept on a cushion in front of the fire. He died peacefully the morning we were going to take him back to the vets to be put down.
You need to take him to the vet - if he has to be put down it is your responsibility to let him go.

Well, you know that the time has come when the back legs go.

He's a yorkie, so you can carry him around no problem.

As long as he isn't in pain, let him stay with you. Let him die with you.

Brace yourself, love. Loads of nice cuddles on the settee, eh?

We thought we were going to lose him a couple of years ago but he came through that. He got really skinny that time but plumped up again.

We have had him for 13 years. Just lately, I dread looking for him in the morning just incase he has died. I know its not going to be long now, it really doesn't make me feel any better though.

My kids will be in pieces. They have NEVER experienced anyone or anything dying. Tell a lie, DS's goldfish died and he cried for days. He is going to take it really badly.

Yes, he/they will take it badly, but they will learn from it. It's a huge part of life, is death. No child can stay immune, can they

Do go out and get yourself another, though, because that's another important lesson ... that life goes on.

My poor little dog had to be put to sleep yesterday. We were away on holiday and he had an appointment at the vets to check his vile breath.
They were concerned about his stomach's shape so did an x-ray. They found he had kidney and liver failure. As he wasn't ill we decided not to put him to sleep but instead wait for him to get ill.
Within a week, he had gone downhill fast so he had to go back.

We last saw him when I dropped him off the day before I went on holiday when he was perfectly healthy (well as healthy as a 14 1/2 year old dog can be)

DC shed some tears on holiday but haven't mentioned anything since.

my old boy who dies this year, had been struggling with wobbly legs for a while but had not been up the stairs for ages because he just couldn't make it.

Wobbling along and not going upstairs are not reasons alone for PTS.

Take him to your vet in case he is in any pain that can be allieviated.

Agree with Desiderata.(I sense you've been through this yourself Desi?)..also this doesn't mean the end right yet, see what your vet says.

He has now gone, the vet put him to sleep on Friday as he had organ failure. We could have kept him and let him die naturally but we decided against it as he was not eating and was generally going downhill fast.

i dont think they generally do die naturally though.

Aw kid, am sorry
Sorry I didn't see your last message.
kids accept these things better than we do.. how are you?

Its weird not having him here but I know it was the right decision. He was old and was suffering. If we didn't act when we did, he would have suffered a whole lot more.

We had him since he was 1 year old so it will take getting used to. It was a big shock though as he wasn't ill when we left him to go on holiday. At least we can remember him the way he was and not when he got ill so suddenly.

So sorry to hear your news kid

You obviously loved him very much and
I bet he had a long and very happy life with you xxx

Well DD is sobbing her little heart out tonight. She wants the dog, she doesn't want him to live in Heaven with God . She has been like it for 2 hours so far.