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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Elderly dog issue

12 replies

Deadringer · 02/05/2021 14:43

Not sure why i am posting really but would welcome any advice or input from anyone who has had a dog with similar issues. My westie is nearly 16 and aside from being fairly deaf and artritis in his back legs has until recently been well with a good quality of life, as in he still enjoyed his food and a daily short walk. A few weeks ago he started soiling his bed and we put it down to old age, but about two weeks ago he started to have chronic, almost constant diarrhea. We took him to the vet and he had all sorts of xrays scans blood tests etc and they are baffled, everything came back clear. He is on strong antibiotics and pain killers and has been on a special diet for about a week now and he isn't really any better, the diarrhea has slowed down a bit but he still goes about 8 to 10 times a day, walks in it, eats it, falls into etc it if we don't notice straight away (if we are out or in bed). He gets stressed when we wash him but it's unavoidable as you can imagine, he doesn't like the special food he has to eat, and his poor bum is sore from going so much. The vet said if he doesn't get better over the weekend we might need to make a decision to pts. On the one hand he doesn't have a great quality of life any more, but on the other hand it seems wrong to end his life because of something so seemingly trivial as diarrhea. He can still walk around the garden, still enjoys a tummy rub etc. We just don't know what to do.

OP posts:
LEMtheoriginal · 02/05/2021 14:55

16 years is an amazing age for a westie. It must be very distressing for you, and for him to be constantly soiling himself.

Im a vet nurse and im sorry to say i agree with your vet. Dogs are very stoic and will hide discomfort. Rather let him go with dignity, while he remains relatively comfortable than let him deteriorate further.

It may be possible (but expensive) for your vet to come out to you. Most vets will attemd to patients in their gardens due to covid regulations. It is worth asking about.

Sod the special food if he doesn't like it, give him what he likes to eat. Lots of cuddles.

Its such a difficult time for you but it sounds very much like its his time Flowers

Deadringer · 02/05/2021 15:16

Thanks so much for that. If it is the end we will let him eat what he wants for sure, we just keep hoping it will get better. I am usually very practical and the 'least' fond of him in the family, i mean i love him but as a pet, i have never made a baby of him, its just not my way, but i think i am struggling most with letting him go. Aside from teen dd, he has been here her whole life, although we have 5 dc she considers him her dog and will be devastated.

OP posts:
Catsrus · 02/05/2021 18:52

I've had many dogs (and cats, rabbits.... etc)

The only regrets I've ever had about having a pet PTS has been when I think I left it too long.

IMO it does sound like it's time.

Deadringer · 02/05/2021 21:53

I think you are both right really. I think the problem is that the vet can't find anything wrong with him, so the possibility remains that he might get better. If she said he has cancer, or one of his organs was failing or something i wouldn't hesitate, but it's the not knowing really. I suppose i always assumed that i would know when the time came, and i just don't.

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Mum5net · 02/05/2021 22:01

We had to PTS our cocker 13.5 yrs yesterday. Lots of issues all seemed to escalate at once - no one thing was bad enough on its own but in combination it just got too much.

Gthemilf · 02/05/2021 22:10

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Deadringer · 03/05/2021 22:06

Sorry to hear about your cocker Mum5net

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Deadringer · 09/05/2021 17:08

We have made the decision to get him pts. He has been a little better the last couple of days but he is very thin and his spark has gone. So grateful to the pp who told me the vet could come to the house, i wasn't aware of this, it's a comfort to know that he will be in his own bed when it happens. We are spending lots of time with him, right now he is chewing a bone in the sunshine and tomorrow he is having sausages for breakfast. Thanks all.

OP posts:
Mum5net · 10/05/2021 10:07

Sorry Deadringer. Sending sunshine your way to help you get through the day.

Deadringer · 11/05/2021 20:26

Thanks, it was really hard. I will never have another dog, i couldn't go through that again.

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GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 11/05/2021 20:32

My goodness sending love to you and your family. Flowers

Lifeispassingby · 11/05/2021 20:36

So as, sending you a big hug, its the hardest thing you can go through with a pet, glad you could be there together until the end x

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