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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

16 year old dog. Help, please.

47 replies

Mollymax · 05/07/2011 19:29

Our wonderful 16 year old Border Collie is coming to the end of her life, we really don't want to drag out the inevitable but also want to make the right decision at the right time.
She is blind, deaf and getting more incontinent.
Her hips are very arthritic and she finds it difficult to bget up if she has been laying down for a while.
She does not enjoy her walks anymore.
She finds it very difficult to settle at night time, and paces around.

But, she is my beautiful, wonderful faithful friend and we have been through so much together over the last 16 years.
Please help me make a decision.

OP posts:

BeerTricksPotter · 19/07/2011 11:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Empusa · 19/07/2011 11:32

She was very lucky to have you, and I'm sure she'd thak you if she could.

Take care of yourself today, take it easy.

coccyx · 19/07/2011 11:34

run free dear Molly. treasure those years you had with your wonderful friend.

RainySmallHands · 19/07/2011 13:35

RIP Molly x

throckenholt · 19/07/2011 18:21

mine was a Molly too. RIP both Mollys - thanks for all the good times :)

smartyparts · 19/07/2011 18:42

Mollymax, I have read entire thread with tears as I'm in the same sad boat.

I hope you're OK this evening.

Our Westie is almost 14 and sounds v similar to your lovely dog. She is deaf and fecally incontinent. She just poos where she lies a lot of the time . Her back legs are just about gone and she is really struggling on our hard floors. She can't walk more than a few paces - I have to carry her down the garden and prop her up on her back legs to wee. She has got really bad skin problems which used to respond to antibiotics but don't seem to anymore.

Having said that - she is still eating and still knows when it's dinner time.

I have looked at the scale Scuttlebutter posted. I keep hoping that she'll slip away in her sleep. I just can't make the decision for when the time is right and want someone to make it for me

usualsuspect · 19/07/2011 18:44

RIP Molly

Hope you are ok

Quodlibet · 19/07/2011 18:48

Thinking of you. Have been through the same and know how terrible it is. Border Collies can be very stoical too and not let you know they're in pain.
I'm absolutely sure you made the right decision and will come to know this eventually once the initial pain of losing Molly has subsided a little bit. You did a very kind thing for her.

thewizenedone · 19/07/2011 20:13

So sorry for your loss, but you did the right thing for her. I lost my darling dog, also Molly last friday totally unexpectedly and got much comfort from the kind messages of other posters here. Take care of yourself and remember the good times.

maddiemostmerry · 19/07/2011 20:15

Am very sad for you. It's never an easy decision, it's one you had to make because you love Molly.

Take care of yourself.

Original poster

Mollymax · 20/07/2011 17:40

Thank you all for your kind thoughts yesterday.
I just can't stop crying today, I hoovered her hairs from the sitting room today in floods of tears.
Her bowls are still on the floor in the utility room, I can't bear to lift them.
Our 4 year old dd woke up this morning and asked if Molly was still dead :(
We looked through some old photos yesterday evening and remembered the good times.

OP posts:

Empusa · 20/07/2011 17:49

Oh sweetheart :(

smartyparts · 20/07/2011 18:41

So sorry for you Mollymax.

I would really recommend this absolutely gorgeous book for your dd. It's perfect for her age and for making sense of it all.

MotherJack · 20/07/2011 18:49

Oh, Molly. It's a horrible, horrible time... but time will also take the tears away (although I'm sat here welling up for you).
Be kind to yourselves xx

bumpybecky · 20/07/2011 19:21

:( it does get easier I promise. I kept bursting into tears for ages after we lost Treacle. Still do occasionally now if something reminds me of her. Her bowls sat in the kitchen for a couple of weeks before I could move them.

Be kind to yourself xx

throckenholt · 21/07/2011 18:48

it is the little things that upset you. I particularly noticed when there was no-one to eat my apple cores :(. And one that still feels odd over 2 years on is going for walks, particularly in her favourite places.

It doesn't matter that we still have our other dog - it still feels odd without her after so many years.

It does get better though. Don't worry about your DD seeing you upset - it is all part of life and no bad thing for her to learn.

bumpybecky · 21/07/2011 20:31

it is the little things - tonight I threw away leftover cottage pie not having a dog disposal unit makes me realise how much the dc dropped on the kitchen floor before!

RainySmallHands · 22/07/2011 13:33

I found writing a little piece about our dog and her quirks helped immensely. Especially as I have a memory like a sieve, it was nice to get little things down on paper. And looking through the photographs is good too. It does get easier, I promise

fuckmepinkandcallmerosie · 22/07/2011 13:41

Oh I am so sorry.

Pleb1969 · 22/07/2011 13:51

Dear Mollymax,

I am sitting here blubbing after reading this thread, my heart completely goes out to you.

I had my darling boy Charlie (also a Border Collie) PTS 3 years ago at the age of 13 after his kidneys failed along with various other problems. His brother Alfie we lost back in October. Although being brought up with dogs, Charlie and Alfie were the first dogs I owned myself so it was always my parents that had to deal with the end decisions. It was not an easy thing to do but I know it was the right thing to do for him - didn't stop me feeling guilty at the time though.

You know Molly is in a better place now and there is no more pain. Treasure the happy memories you have of her, of which I am sure you have bucketloads. Have you ever read this poem? It is lovely and helped me (still does, infact) a lot.

Much love to you
xx

Cheria · 22/07/2011 17:39

Mollymax, I am so sorry for your loss. It will get easier with time and you can be assured you did the right thing for your dog, but that doesn't make Now any less awful.

lovemydog · 22/07/2011 19:46

What is it about Mollys? Our beautiful Molly died peacefully in her sleep a couple of months ago at 15 and a half, but she was suffering from lymphoma and was going downhill fast. Hoovering up the last hairs really got to me too . . . her bowls are still in the cupboard under the stairs and her collar and lead hang in the hall and I can't think they'll be going anywhere anytime soon . . .

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