Bad arthritis

[peppapigkeepsthemquiet]

Any tips for bad arthritis.
We’ve tried so much stuff and nothing is helping. It just seems to be getting much worse, very quickly.
He’s lost 20% of his body weight as advised and is now a healthy weight.
He has youmove every morning.
A magnetic collar.
Metacam.
Pardale.
We’ve tried 2 other tablets which I can’t remember the name of (one began with an A) and they didn’t help.
He has hydrotherapy.
Short walks every day.
Tramadol when he’s really suffering.
I just feel awful that nothing seems to be doing much.
He’s got so much muscle wastage on his back legs that he’s staggering around and slipping and sliding.
Hydro sessions are trying to build muscle, but he can barely walk for a few days after and keeps slipping over.
He’s gone from absolutely fine, to staggering around all in the space of 5 months perhaps.
It’s awful to see.
Any miracle cures?

I’m literally devastated.
Heartbroken.

I'm so very sorry peppa

If you think talking to someone would help the Blue Cross run a Pet Bereavement Support Service who can be contacted either on their phone line or via email.

I just feel so so guilty.
Like I did it too soon.
Although his quality of life was crap he was happy to sit with you and cuddle. And he still got excited when people came to the house.
I feel incredibly guilty.

Peppa, you are probably not thinking clearly right now, but you couldn't wait until he had gone downhill to the point of being unresponsive to let him go. It would be an awful way to look after such a good friend. No regrets.

The vet said tonight 2 choices-
Try more pain killers. Despite the 3 he’s already on combined not helping.
Or put him to sleep.
Now I’m worried I should have given him one last chance.
He was tripping over his feet, falling over, didn’t want his walk today, pooed in the house as he couldn’t squat to go so it was just falling out.
I just pray to god I made the right choice.

He was tripping over his feet, falling over, didn’t want his walk today, pooed in the house as he couldn’t squat to go so it was just falling out.

For those reasons alone it was not too soon. Please be kind to yourself, you took the most difficult decision for your lovely old fella and he is now at peace.

You are hurting right now but he didn't have a good quality of life. You did the right thing by him and with time you will see that more clearly.

Prolonging his anguish would have been cruel. Stopping his pain was the kindest thing you could have done

Just beating myself up.
If we had done more painkillers and more hydro sessions would he have improved?

No, he wouldn't. It's an incurable progressive condition.

Be kind to yourself, you did your best for him.
In time you will realise this but it's too soon, too raw at the moment.

I once read on here that the best thing we can do for a pet is to give them an easy death, you wouldn't have wanted him to suffer.

Sorry for your loss.

Oh Peppa!

It's a bugger, I had this with a dog, it's a bastard. More painkillers might have bought him a couple of days or weeks, but at what price? It wouldn't have been worth it.

Don't think about it now, it was his time.

Hard as it is, you made the right choice at the right time, you have tried everything, and wouldn't want him to suffer any more

Sorry, when I say don't think about it now I mean don't doubt your decision.

Of course you will think of him, let yourself grieve.

To me it sounds like you made the right choice. I'm so sorry.

So sorry, and such a shock.

I think it was the shock factor.
Spoken to lots of people tonight who’ve said I made the right choice.
It’s just so hard.

I'm so sorry. It's horrible losing a beloved dog (lost one of mine at Xmas). You sound like you did absolutely everything that you possibly did to help this dog, you clearly adored him and he knew that. Don't feel guilty.

Oh god I’m so sorry. This is devastating.

You did the right thing. It would have been rapidly down hill. We let humans suffer and we don’t have to let our dogs suffer.

Please - you did the right thing and made the brave choice.

It’s utterly awful when they go

So sorry for your loss. Sounds like he was a lovely dog. He sounded really, really poorly though. You did the right thing for him, even though it’s heartbreaking for you. That shows you're a selfless, kind dog owner. Be kind to yourself and keep talking to us.