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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

Would you pts?

36 replies

curiousgeorgie · 23/01/2015 10:02

My mums dog, a lovely 11 year old cocker spaniel has been going slowly blind for a year. It seems now he's completely blind as he's struggling to get around, can't find his bowl, walks into walls and doors and has stopped attempting to get upstairs to bed. It's so heartbreaking to watch. My mum can't take him on walks anymore because he hates it.

He's been poorly for a couple of years on and off with high blood pressure and various
problems stemming from lung worm.

My mum thinks he should be pts but the rest of us think that he will adapt and get better at getting around?

She said he has a terrible life but he wags his tail, enjoys cuddles, chews on his toys...

It's a horrible decision but he's generally healthy at the moment, it's just his sight.

What would you do?

OP posts:

NickiFury · 23/01/2015 10:07

No I wouldn't. He's not in pain and he still gets enjoyment out of life. Other people are always very keen to suggest PTS for other peoples dogs I have noticed .

I've a 13 year old, his breed are know for their longevity. He's going deaf and has arthritis, can't jump up on the sofa anymore but he still use the stairs, still enjoys a good hours walk (slowly), loves his food and his morning chewy and still watches me wherever I go. My Mum warned me "don't let it go on too long" really pissed me off, he's elderly that's all and the vet is happy with him and thinks he has a few more years.

NickiFury · 23/01/2015 10:10

Oh sorry just seen it's your Mum's dog .

I suppose it's up to her but I would find it hard to PTS a dog who is still enjoying life.

Buttholelane · 23/01/2015 10:12

Unless the dog was suffering terribly - non eating, not drinking, never shows enjoyment in anything, crying in pain etc I would not pts.

If your mum was blind, deaf, incontinent and assisted death/killing/whatever it's called here was legal, would you want to kill her?
If she had dementia? Cancer?
Most people would say no but put the dog down as soon as they get the above afflictions.
Makes me feel uncomfortable, more so when people I have spoken to say things like 'he was much better this morning' 'didn't want to go into the vets', like they KNOW and telling you they don't want to go.
I think when they are ready to pass they will pass personally.

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 23/01/2015 10:14

Hopefully he will adjust and learn to get around... I just can't cope with the idea of my mum having him put to sleep

OP posts:

NickiFury · 23/01/2015 10:16

Could you take him?

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 23/01/2015 10:21

I couldn't take him... I have a crazy cocker spaniel myself and he is a bundle of energy and my mums dog just shakes because he can't see him and then suddenly he's in his face.

I also have a (spiteful to dogs - but trying to fix it!) 18 month old. My dog just keeps out of her way but my mums dog just likes to sleep!

OP posts:

NickiFury · 23/01/2015 10:25

I hope she doesn't do it. Just sitting cuddling my old boy now and feeling a bit choked at the thought of him not being around. He's just given so much to me over the years. When I split with my horrible ex and everyone said "oh it must be so tough being on your own with kids". I would always think "but I am not alone, ever, my boy is always there".

AmantesSuntAmentes · 23/01/2015 10:26

I wouldn't pts for blindness. Lots of blind dogs cope - I'd hope to be able to adjust my home (eg stair gates at steps/stairs) to help him stay safe. It might be worth looking online for some info wrt caring for blind dogs?

If his other health issues led to a serious deteriation in his quality of life, then I'd consider it but still, his blindness wouldn't be a factor, for me.

EasyToEatTiger · 23/01/2015 11:55

If he's generally happy, it's really worth remembering that you are looking after an elderly dog. Old dogs need attention at the end of their lives the same as at the beginning. It is very easy to ignore old dogs. One of ours is probably nearer 17 than 16 and may be older. She is not ready to go quite yet and still enjoys being out with the youngsters.

There are a great many of us with experience of a relative with dementia. It is a long, slow, cruel and undignified death. We would not put another living creature through it.

Lonecatwithkitten · 23/01/2015 12:32

What would concern me is you say he can't find his is this also his water bowl.

I think though your Mum is with him all the time and will actually have a very really grasp of what his quality of life is like.
Anthropomorphising and comparing to humans is not necessarily helpful after all we allow humans to suffer some horrible undignified deaths that we would never put a dog through.

Hakluyt · 23/01/2015 12:39

"It's heartbreaking to watch"

How much more heartbreaking to experience. Your mum is right. It's incredibly sad, but she is doing the loving, responsible thing. It's absurd to compare a dog's experience of suffering with a human's- a human can understand that they will get better, can say how much pain they are in, can ask specifically for the help they need- all a dog can do is suffer.

Better a month too soon than a day too late.

MimsyBorogroves · 23/01/2015 12:43

I make the decision based around the dog's favourite 3 things, and if they're no longer enjoying 2 of those, then it's time. You say he's not enjoying his walks anymore, so it sounds like he's on his way.

It's so hard, but like an earlier poster, better too soon than too late.

RainDancer · 23/01/2015 12:46

My 10 year old springer has been completely blind for some time now. She still absolutely loves life and has completely adapted to having no sight - she just follows her nose. She does bump into things, but she never seems to mind! That said, she still really loves her walks and happily goes off her lead. Sounds like your Mum's dog is more nervous about things so I think it does depend on the individual dog, but you would be surprised what they will adapt to over time. My springer is inspirational really - can't say I'd be that cheery and positive if I suddenly went blind - but then I don't have such a powerful sense of smell!!

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 23/01/2015 12:50

It's only been a week or so of not wanting to go for a walk, which coincided with a really obvious decline in his sight. That's really heartening to hear that your springer adapted... I'm hoping the same happens.

I know he's my mums dog but as I'm a SAHM and we're a very close family I see him almost everyday... I wouldn't want him to suffer. I love him completely

OP posts:

ChocLover2015 · 23/01/2015 12:57

I would PTS Animals live in the here and now.I imagine it must be very frightening for him.You can't communicate to him that things may get better.

Buttholelane · 23/01/2015 13:31

Is it really absurd?
Yes they can't talk.
That doesn't mean they aren't capable of complex emotion, you don't think it a little odd that dogs either refuse to enter or get incredibly anxious or aggressive when taken into the euthanising rooms of American shelters?

At the end of the day, we can only guess as to what animals are capable of, what they are feeling because they don't talk.
we used to believe that dogs couldn't feel empathy.
But it's proven now that they do.

We used to think that babies (who can't talk either) couldn't feel pain.
Turns out they do!

There's a lot of talk of anthromorphising, thinking of pets as little people etc but really, a person is just another species.

Hakluyt · 23/01/2015 13:35

"That doesn't mean they aren't capable of complex emotion, you don't think it a little odd that dogs either refuse to enter or get incredibly anxious or aggressive when taken into the euthanising rooms of American shelters?"

I would want evidence of that. I have sadly been involved in the PTS of many animals over many years, and I have never seen the slightest evidence that they knew what was coming.

Buttholelane · 23/01/2015 13:40

I guess we will just have to agree to a difference of opinion.

I suppose maybe the dogs are picking up on how the owner is feeling maybe rather than what it is coming.

I do genuinely believe however that friends dogs who have been put down did know and weren't ready to go.
I think I would need an exceptional reason to euthanise a dog for ill health or old age really.
Alas, we are all different.

EasyToEatTiger · 23/01/2015 13:44

It's very positive that you are considering options and keeping a close eye, curiousgeorge. I think we tend to keep things alive for the living so we don't have to grieve. It sounds a bit as though you are contemplating the grieving process. Carry on keeping an eye. The dog may improve quite quickly or may go downhill. There's lots of information out there about quality of life, and no easy answers. Are you in touch with the vet? They may be able to help.

Branleuse · 23/01/2015 13:49

I think it sounds like hes on his last legs and not a happy pup.
I know you love him, and so does your mum, but as the dogs ownder and caregiver you need to support your mum and not make her feel guilty if she does feel that pts is the right thing to do

Hakluyt · 23/01/2015 13:49

I think I would need an exceptional reason to euthanise a dog for ill health or old age really"

The exceptional reasons are ill health and old age, surely............

Buttholelane · 23/01/2015 13:56

I certainly don't think old age is.
We all get old!

Ill health is going to vary from person to person.
Some people think blindness or going deaf alone is reason enough, some think being unable to run around is reason enough.

I think if my dog stopped eating, stopped drinking, wouldn't move really, crying in pain all the time then yes I would consider it, but like I say, it would have to be exceptional.
I would have to be sure that the dog genuinely, really, didn't seem to have any enjoyment, whatsoever, in absolutely anything in its life.

EasyToEatTiger · 23/01/2015 13:57

My parents' dogs died of old age. It wasn't nice. No no noooooo.

Hakluyt · 23/01/2015 14:02

"I would have to be sure that the dog genuinely, really, didn't seem to have any enjoyment, whatsoever, in absolutely anything in its life."

Wow. So you are prepared to let them suffer a lot, then?

Gileswithachainsaw · 23/01/2015 14:03

So what if he can adapt to getting around. doesn't change the fact he can't find his bowl or go out for a walk. what if your mum.goes out and he poos and covers himself in it because he can't see where it is. or he really hurts himself walking Into something.

He's old, brain may not be so sharp and it could be months of misery while he learns.

dogs live for walks food and cuddles. Two down.

I'd PTS bless him

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