It sounds cruel but my mils dog is in a real state. She's at least 15 possibly older, we took her on as an adult dog in 2000. Mil adopted her from us as she was lonely and as we were out at work most of the day it seemed fairer for the dog (stupid for us to take her on in the first place I know but that's all in the past now) so having owned the dog for 2 years I'm very fond of her. Her sight has deteriorated over the last couple of years to the point where now she is completely blind, she walks into things constantly. She's also gone deaf in the last 3 years, she now doesn't respond to voice, door banging, anything at all really, except if you put your hand in front of her face and she can smell you, and obviously she responds to touch. She staggers around the house bumping into everything (her back legs are very weak and she has bad arthritis) but by far the biggest problem is her teeth. She has horrific dental disease to the point that she can only eat soft food, her teeth are all greyish black, her gums are red and inflamed. I think she must be in the most awful pain, she flinches if anyone touches her muzzle or cheeks.
For me it is time and past time this lovely dog was out of her pain, but mil insists that because she wags her tail a couple of times a day and eats her food, that she's
fine. I think she is hoping
that the dog will die in her
sleep so she won't have to
make the decision to have the vet come and put her to
sleep. In fact I know this is
the case because she's said
a few times that she hopes
this is what will happen. I
think because she sees the
dog every day all day and
that her deterioration has
been gradual , that she
doesn't see just how bad
things are and just how
miserable this poor animals
existence is right now.
How the hell do I persuade her that enough is enough?
I love this dog and it's heartbreaking to see her in such a bad way.