How to help my old boy?

[GoldenOldBoy]

I have a 14 year old lab. I posted last year about him as he belonged to my ex who was not taking proper care and was leaving him over 10 hours per day in a freezing caravan. I said the dog should come and live with me until ex got sorted. Ex's living situation changed and he took him back in spring of this year.

Around a month ago I noticed the dog was limping. I mentioned to ex that he should take him to the vet but he never arranged it. I took him myself 2 weeks ago and the vet (PDSA) said it's probably arthritis and prescribed anti inflammatorys and paracetomol. The first week went well and he started putting a bit of weight on the leg. The second week he had a few falls, not huge ones but lost his footing on the wood floor and slipped. He's now really struggling to walk. Won't put any weight on the front leg and his back legs are not strong so he's really suffering. I'll be taking him back to the vet tomorrow.

What can I do to help him? I've got youmove supplements and cod liver oil. He's got a soft duvet to lie on. He's a lab so absolutely food obsessed and will drag himself up to follow me in the kitchen. That's when most of the falls happen or when we come through the front door. The leg is hard and swollen and I feel so sad seeing him suffer

Really sorry to read this.

I don't have any treatment options although I know some people swear by turmeric.

When my old boy got that way I knew he was in too much pain (also a working type dog so just wanted to keep going). I knew what I had to do.

Sorry you're going through this. It's heartbreaking

It's probably the wood floor, they can slip and dislocate joints when they get older. Try putting mats and runners down for him so he can walk easier and take him back to vet to check he hasn't dislocated his leg when he slipped.

If you can, get Baytril or similar, it's like a painkiller with anti inflammatory like animal ibuprofen. Will probably be given by the vet anyway but will bring swelling down. Poor old boy. My lab hated getting old, she hated that she couldn't run and jump like she used to. She used to love balls being thrown high and fast and would leap up to catch them midair. She still tried to jump for things (other dogs toys were a particular favourite.) But kept putting her hip out trying to jump walls and fences.

It frustrated her as she clearly still felt like a much younger dog but her body wouldn't cooperate.

She died at 14 of a stroke and tbh I'm glad she didn't live to old old age. She'd have hated it.

Labradors have a life expectancy of 15 years, so it sounds as though your boy may be reaching the end. See what the vet says tomorrow, but if the boy is is in pain or discomfort, it wouldn't be fair to keep him going for much longer.

Thank you for the replies. I realise he's getting towards the end. I expected more of a mental decline before the time came, but he's as sharp as ever. I cooked a roast earlier and he was in his spot watching and drooling as always. Had to drag him away from my other dog's bowl after I turned my back for a second and he made a break for it and gobbled up what he could in a few seconds. He's a greedy beast.

He’s a good age and a large dog so I can’t see that there’s going to be very much anyone can suggest that you haven’t already done . If he were mine I’d be feeding him chicken and sausages and booking the vet to have him PTS .

There are lots of painkiller options if he’s hurt himself falling, and it may improve again to how he was before he fell.

But you’d need to cover the floor tbh, when my last dog was failing I asked about for friends throwing out old rugs and bought some cheap ones on Facebook just to make sure he could navigate for his last few months.

So the vet suspects it's osteosarcoma He's booked in for an xray tomorrow and if it is that he'll be given the injection straight after. I feel gutted.

Oh

When you say injection do you mean he'll be put to sleep?

I told myself when my girl was put down that it was better this way. She was still as bright and sharp as ever. Her eyes never dulled and neither did her mind. It was her body that was failing her and she didn't understand why she couldn't leap for the ball anymore. I'd rather she go while she was still herself, not a weakened shadow of her.

Oh, bless you OP

As the saying goes, a week too soon is better than a day too late. It doesn't make it any easier but you'll be doing the right thing for your lovely boy. I think it's best for them to go before they get confused and disorientated, personally.

Our large framed lab was 2 days past her 13th birthday when we had to let her go. It broke my heart to say goodbye, but I could see the pain in her eyes.

Her decline happened really suddenly, it was around 10 days.

I'm really struggling with it to be honest. My Dad was very ill for almost a decade. The priority was to keep him alive as long as possible and preserve life at all costs. Lots of chemo, radiotherapy and surgery. It just seems like we give up so quickly with animals.

He just ate sausages, chicken nuggets and pasta and wagged his tail while eating. It feels surreal that he'll be put to sleep tomorrow.

I called

Some pics of the handsome boy.

GoldenOldBoy I am so sorry We lost our elderly yellow lab in March it is heartbreaking

They are such wonderful dogs and the character of your boy shines in his photos. Such beautiful soft intelligent eyes.

On I'm so sad for you reading this. My childhood pet was a beautiful lab, bought when I was a toddler and I loved him so much. I still miss him and feel sad he's gone.

Give him so many hugs and treats, and know you've been a lovely mum to him.

@GoldenOldBoy

I'm really struggling with it to be honest. My Dad was very ill for almost a decade. The priority was to keep him alive as long as possible and preserve life at all costs. Lots of chemo, radiotherapy and surgery. It just seems like we give up so quickly with animals.

He just ate sausages, chicken nuggets and pasta and wagged his tail while eating. It feels surreal that he'll be put to sleep tomorrow.

I called

They do treat some cancers btw, but osteosarcoma is horrible, really painful and spreads fast. Sometimes you can buy some extra time with amputation and stuff, but it’s not appropriate for older dogs with arthritis already.

So it’s not giving up, it’s that your options really are a quick painless death or a longer drawn out painful one - with him having no clue why it’s happening. I honestly think it should be an option for people too, but at least people know what’s going on, dogs don’t.

Having him PTS really is kinder for him, it’s just harder for us because it’s more sudden and we have to rationalise it, but I think of it as us being more upset so that they don’t have to suffer...

Don't look at it as giving up.

You're saving him from a very painful illness that he won't recover from.

Honestly - you're doing everything right. They don't have a voice so need us to advocate for them.

So hard - what a lovely boy

You're not giving up you're giving him freedom for what would be a horrible pain. It is the single kindest thing to do if it turns out that is what it is.

Sometimes I think our insistence on preserving life is cruel. I've seen people living in states that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. If I were in that situation I would rather be put to sleep peacefully rather than suffer the pain and indignity for months or years until it inevitably kills me anyway.

Your boy is beautiful. Its the only downside of pets. They tear your heart out when they die and they will never live as long as us.

At his age, it is exceedingly unlikely he will recover and if he does, it will be a long and grueling recovery that will buy him months at best. Its a very painful cancer and a horrible way to die if the treatment fails. As his owner and his family, you are able to save him from that fate. In a way its the kindest thing you can do.

I felt horrible paying someone to kill my best friend, the guilt was awful. But I'd have felt worse if I put her through a long drawn out painful death.

How heartbreaking, he's a beautiful boy. Like PP have said though it's better to go a week early than a day too late.

Thank you everyone for your comments. It's really helped.

He had an xray and it showed tumour in the leg and nodules in the chest. He had the injection straight after.

He was such a good dog

You’ve done the best thing for him @GoldenOldBoy , sorry for your loss .

Oh I was thinking of you this morning

It's heartbreaking but please know you've done the right thing. You've chosen for him to be out of pain and to no longer suffer.

That's the privilege and responsibility of ownership

So sorry for your loss but much kinder for him. He'll be running over rainbow bridge to all his pals who've gone before him. Take heart that he's now pain free.