Oh this is so sad

[Anordinarymum]

It's very late, one of those nights when I can't sleep, and I'm upset.

I have a 12 year old Chihuahua. He is very gentle, and is loyal to me. He had been kicked about by a man before I got him and is not very good with people although he loves other dogs.

Some years ago he fell while going down the stairs and took to his bed. Later he was fine and showed no sign of injury or pain so I thought nothing of it at the time.

Years later he began to walk in a funny way and stopped being able to jump on his hind legs. I took him to the vet. The vet said he had put a disc out at some time and it had calcified which meant it was inoperable
and recommended half an Ibrupofen a day if he was in pain.

We go for a long walk every day and he enjoys it although his gait is like that of a drunken man at the back. He can run, and he is really happy. He can't get upstairs any more and of late he can't get back in the house if Iet him out - previously he could get up the two steps into the house. Now he waits and I bring him in. He can get down the steps but not back up.

He has lost control of his bowels which I do not care about because I love him and sometimes he wees himself which is a bit awkward if he is on my bed so I have to be extra careful to let him out regularly.

He has had three fits. Each time I have thought he was dead and eventually he has come round and slept for hours.

The legs are letting him down even more now and he sometimes falls over. If he manages to poo outside he lays down and I have to sort of prop him up. Sometimes his legs lock and he can't move. i have to lift him up and move his legs so he can stand and then he is OK.

It's awful. He is such a nice little dog and I love him. I take it day by day. As long as he is happy, and eats and can walk I am grateful for every day.
He barks at the postman and runs to the door so he is perhaps not as bad as you think, but I know it is only a matter of time before something has to be done.
Part of me hopes he will have another fit and go that way. It's never easy having to make that decision is it.
Thanks for listening

You really should take him to the vets , even though he seems happy to you his quality of life is clearly going and to keep him going on for your sake is not fair .
Its awful weve all been there but you need to put him first

💐 I'm sorry, OP. Your little dog sounds like a sweet thing. You're right, it's never easy to make the decision, especially if they seem mostly happy. We have an elderly greyhound with congestive heart failure and I feel the end may be near for her, but like your little one she still enjoys her food and having a bit of a walk, so doesn't seem unhappy.
I think maybe you have to really consider quality of life and the fact that dogs are much more stoic than humans - they can be in quite a lot of pain and discomfort and not really show it.
Give your little furball lots of cuddles and treats and I think you'll know when it's time.

I'm a vet.
Your dog doesn't sound like he's very comfortable, sadly.
I often use the question "Is he surviving or is he thriving?" when talking to owners to establish quality of life. You will know better than I do how your own animal is doing.
Ibuprofen is quite toxic to dogs and you could easily cause serious problems by giving it, especially to a tiny elderly dog. Go back to your vet and get a more appropriate painkiller/ anti-inflammatory.

@villainousbroodmare

I'm a vet. Your dog doesn't sound like he's very comfortable, sadly. I often use the question "Is he surviving or is he thriving?" when talking to owners to establish quality of life. You will know better than I do how your own animal is doing. Ibuprofen is quite toxic to dogs and you could easily cause serious problems by giving it, especially to a tiny elderly dog. Go back to your vet and get a more appropriate painkiller/ anti-inflammatory.

Thanks to all for your comments. Much appreciated. I only gave him half a tab initially and then decided they were not making any difference so I don't even bother now - sorry for the misleading info. Trying to get a condition across sometimes comes across as worse than it really is, although this is not an ideal situation by any means. We went for a walk today. He enjoyed it and played with other little dogs. He struggles a lot but he seems happy. Prior to this he ate sausages and then he ate his dinner, and now we are back upstairs where he lays on the bed for a while and then goes on the floor as I think he is in some discomfort.

I will return to my vet. I am calling him tomorrow. I appreciate you took the time to comment. I now it's a time thing and it hurts immensely.