Old dog blues

[twojues]

we have a 14 year old golden retriever. He is a fantastic, great tempered dog.

I am a Childminder and have been all the dogs life. I have 3 children of my own that have grown up with him plus the odd 30 kids that I have cared for. A lot of them used Harvey to stand up on, holding on to his fur. He let's them crawl over him, cuddle him. He is great

But ........ He is now deaf, on Previcox for his arthritis and skullcap and valerian tablets to try and calm him. We have wooden floors and he really struggles to get up on them. We have put temporary carpet down in the hall to make it easier for him to get up. He poos in the house, which can be 2 or 3 times a day. I can cope with this though.

What I am struggling with is that he barks for no apparent reason during the night and day. This can be up to 3 times in one night. He continues to bark until someone goes downstairs. He is let out in to the front garden as he finds the steps in the back too hard. He will wander around for 5 minutes, sometimes do a wee and then come back in. Then starts barking from 6.30 in the morning until he is fed!!!
Problem is when do we say enough is enough. I don't think he is in any pain at the moment, but I don't want him to suffer.

Years ago we had an Old English Sheepdog who had much the same symptoms. When we physically had to lift him from the floor because he couldn't get up in time to go to the toilet we decided enough was enough. He was 15 years old and the most fabulous dog. When we took him to the vet he told us that not only was he deaf & almost blind, he was senile as well which accounted for the odd barking and out of character behaviour. Heartbreaking...

That's not something any of us could advise on, I don't think. Only your vet can guide you on this.

Yes, it does sound like senility or similar, but I'm not a vet. Harvey deserves much more than the opinions of a bunch of well-meaning strangers on the internet.

I hope so very, very much that his problems can be overcome and that your vet can give you positive help.

There is medication and a different diet can help with senility - do go to you vet and ask his opinion and see if Harveys and your life can be made more comfortable.

You will know when the time has come I am sure.

He sounds fabulous by the way, and I am sure he has had a great life.

My retriever at almost 13 has the barking issue, it is very difficult as I was widowed in 2008 and have to go to work more than I used to. He does bark when I am out and sometimes at night and early in the morning, luckily the neighbours are understanding about the problems. He is also arthritic and on medication and sometimes struggles on our wooden kitchen floor, on two occasions he has fallen and been unable to get up.

I saw the vet recently and he told me that if he was falling over every day, he was soiling in the house or not enjoying his food or greeting us with pleasure when we came in, then we would have to accept that the time had come to say goodbye. I would take your boy to the vet's, be honest about all the issues and see what he advises, this is such a hard time in their lives but I have had dogs for many years and I always feel anything you do at the end of their lives must be in their best interests, I know it is so hard to accept.

At the moment my boy is still enjoying his dinner, and when my son got home from university yesterday he was like a puppy for a few minutes, he can't go for walks any more but still enjoys lying in the garden in the sun. All the best to you and your lovely Harvey x

I've been to the vet and they said they could give him meds for his senility, but that they would effectively dope him a bit. The skullcap and valerian tablets are a natural remedy for it.

Strangely enough, he didn't wake me up during the night, but had had an accident when we went down. It was a bit of diarrhoea, so will see how he goes today and take him to the vets tomorrow.

He's off to the groomers in a bit. Our other dog is going to mope while he is gone and will be beside himself when I go and get Harvey, all over him, licking him, bouncing about as though Harvey has been gone for a couple of weeks instead of a couple of hours!!

He is such a wonderful dog. We have cats as well and he will let one cat knead him and suck his hair in his ear. It is so funny to watch.

Oh I do feel for you. It is 2 years this week that we had our darling Beau put to sleep. He was 15 a good age for a Golden, but the last 6 moths were difficult. He had problems on our wooden floors.. We also live in a split level house so the stairs were a nightmare. However until the weekend that he died, he was still eating well, enjoying going out, and seemed happy. You can buy shoes to stop them slipping on hard floors
.I think you need to take your cues from your dog if he seems happy hang on in there,but you need to be brave for them ,and do the right thing when the time comes. Keeping you and your beautiful boy in my thoughts xx

I second what Madondogs says.
He sounds like a real character

Thanks for your messages.

Typical, he hasn't woken me up over the last couple of nights.

I bought my other dog Bailey, a 7 year old choc lab x cocker spaniel, a new toy today, a woven rope. He was very pleased with it. I took it off Bailey and gave it to Harvey. It was so funny to watch. Harvey was lying on the floor and I told Bailey to fetch. He grabbed the other end and was pulling Harvey across the wooden floor. No way was Harvey going to let go, lol!

It's the first time for ages I have seen Harvey wanting to play, it was lovely.
I have also just ordered a magnetic collar so will see if that helps his arthritis.