Worried about our old dog :(

[HotCrossPun]

Over the past month or so our 15 year old Staffie has been getting progressively worse.

During the day he is fine - he sleeps most of it. But at night time he gets anxious, is constantly thirsty, whines for us to go to bed (he sleeps in the room) and has been having a few accidents. We have taken him to the vets on a number of occasions but aside from being old, he seems to be in perfect health.

This last week he has had an accident nearly every day. We are taking him out for a wee constantly but he just seems to forget he is indoors and do the the toilet where he is standing.

The last time we took him to the vet - about 2 weeks ago - he prescribed him vallium to calm him down at night. We gave him it for one night but it was horrible. He kept on falling over, and was frantically trying to climb/jump off things for no reason. He was like a different dog. We haven't given him it since.

Last night he would not settle at nighttime. He wandered around our bedroom looking at the walls, acting confused as if he didn't know where he was.

Woke up this morning and normally we take him out straight away, but he wouldn't get up off of bed. My partner lifted him down and he was falling over, he was walking funny and he had a really strange, dazed expression on his face.

I don't know what to do. I feel like at the moment he doesn't have a great quality of life, he is anxious all the time and seems stressed. The thought of having to make the decision to put him to sleep is heartbreaking, especially when the vet has said that his blood and everything is fine.

Sorry for the huge post - any advice?

So sorry, its really heartbreaking going through this.

You say that his blood is fine, was it tested recently? It sounds like kidney problems. he's got typical symptoms of kidney failure, drinking a lot, frequent weeing, confusion (due to dehydration and build up of toxins in the blood).
Sadly there probably isn't much that can be done whether it's kidney failure or just old age but if I was in your position would ask vet to do another blood test, maybe he needs rehydrating and will feel a bit more comfortable while you decide if its time to let him go

Actually sounds like cognitive dysfunction a drug called sell gain can be very helpful in these dogs calm their anxiety and helping them to settle at night.

Sorry damn spell check the drug is Selgian.

Yes agree with Lonecat (but I think Lonecat is a vet yes?) Selgian seems to work in a lot of cases and may buy a bit longer with your lovely dog.
Fifteen is an excellent age for a Staffie, HotCross, you have done well to get him to 15. I had an English Bull and I got her to 14 but she looked like a gnarled bandy, grey old twig at that age. I love old dogs though. There's something wonderfully dignified about them.

Thank you, first time I've posted in The Doghouse, you are all so helpful.

Things have got worse this morning though. He can't walk in a straight line and he keeps on falling over. He'll go to take a few steps and then just collapses on the ground. I brought his waterbowl to him (because he hadn't drunk anything all morning) and he couldn't work out how far to put his head down to drink so in the end I had to scoop water up in my hands for him to lap from.

I lifted him outside for him to do the toilet and he wet and soiled himself in my arms before I could get him outside. He's just cuddled right in to me just now but he's not himself at all, I've never seen him look so old (

Oh poor wee man! So sorry you are going through this.

I think he maybe needs to see a vet sooner than later. Is it possible he's had a stroke? Or it could be dementia, some of the symptoms unfortunately fit.

No sounding more like vestibular syndrome though could be a combination of things. I would suggest he is seen today.

Thanks. My partner is on his way back from work just now so we can take him to the vet.

I've just googled vestibular syndrome and the symptoms do fit in with the way he is just now. Poor thing.

Poor lad, hope you get some answer at the vets'.

Big MN hugs for you. It is so difficult to know what to do and I hope you have whatever hand-holding you need.

Thinking of you and your lovely old boy x

Our dog was behaving like that when she had a stroke. Confused, no balance, didnt seem to know where she was, my mum and dad had her pts.

Its hard but I would probably (obvs detpending what the vet said) have the dog put down. I couldnt bear to see him deteriorate

Thanks everybody.

We took him to the vets today. He couldn't say for sure what was wrong with him but by that time he couldn't stand upright and his breathing was laboured. The vet said that he was in pain and the kindest thing to do would be to put him to sleep.

It's been a horrible day, but when I said bye to him he was totally peaceful and calm, so I felt comforted knowing he wasn't scared or confused.

Having to deal with such a horrible and upsetting decision is a small price to pay for all the years of absolute joy that dogs bring, so it that respect, I feel very lucky.

((((((((((hugs)))))))))))

I do feel for you its just so awful loosing them :( Its sounds like he had a very happy life and you can feel proud of that . if only they lived forever .

our 16 year old staff keeps frightening us with health problems but somehow keeps going .
She has completely lost the plot though .

Be kind to yourself and try and focus on the happy times you had with him .

What a difficult day . It's sounds like a very peaceful passing. I hope you are okay .

Sorry to hear that.

I am so very sorry.

So sorry to hear this
Hold on to all your lovely memories of your gorgeous boy and take comfort in the fact that he is no longer in pain. Big hugs.

I'm sorry. It is the final kindness for a much loved companion.