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The doghouse

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

Original poster

Nearly 17 year old lab; problems escalating, when is the time?

34 replies

Mentalblip · 09/10/2022 09:24

I adopted a now nearly 17 year old lab 4 and a half years ago from a family member. He has always been the family dog!
At this time he had mild CCD (dementia), mild cataracts and dodgy back legs but he perked up with the younger dog I have being around and loved life for a good clear 4 years. Numerous ups and downs but mostly ups!

He still has light in his eyes, but he is now developing incontinence. The cataracts are worse, he can't hear, the CCD is worse (moderate not severe) and his back legs less mobile, with one of the front legs also giving up. He gets lost on walks (mostly on leads now where confusion likely to arise).

He looks happy (on odd occasions he does show signs of pain but these are rare and acute; I don't doubt he is in some chronic pain too).
He's on galiprant, supplements, hemp oil.

I'm finding it hard to call time. I know I shouldn't wait til he is in agony! But right now he still has quality of life.

How do you know? Lost four dogs previously; some pts but always younger dogs (4-13) and generally in acute situations not after a long old steady decline.

He's becoming trickier for us to look after but this doesn't seem a good enough reason to me.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mentalblip · 09/10/2022 09:27

Ps he still goes for 20-30 min walks. He struggles with longer ones now due to pain but does enjoy the 20 min ones

OP posts:
CrotchetyQuaver · 09/10/2022 09:32

Well I'd say you just somehow know when it's time. Are accidents in the house something that would have appalled him when he was younger?

It's always good to let them go with their dignity intact before it reaches crisis point if you can. We've not always achieved that ourselves but it's far better when it works out that way.

AllPlayedOut · 09/10/2022 09:36

I'd let him go now. It doesn't sound as though he has much quality of life and they should go while they still have some enjoyment left. You don't want your last memories of them to involve their suffering or for that to be the last thing they experience. Not to mention that animals can mask pain. I'm sorry that you're having to face this.

forumsempronii · 09/10/2022 09:40

It is such a heartbreaking decision and so hard. With my 16 year old lab it was the same discussion. I found it easier to think about what he was not doing rather than what he was doing.

eg he never sat down as it was too painful for him so was either standing or lying down.

He no longer got up to meet us as it was too painful but he was cheefully wagging his tail from his bed.

He was always eating and ate until the end but unless it was a big bit of food dropped on the floor he couldnt be bothered to go and get it.

Our guy was not going on walks so that would be a pointer for me if he stops enjoying his walks.

Labs are generally always happy it is their default setting but this does make it harder to know when the time is right.

In the end our dog got pancreatitus (was still eating) but obviously in a lot of pain and that was when we decided enough was enough.

Incontinence is not as distressing for older dogs (as it is for us) it may be due to nerve damage especially if he is wobbly on back legs so often the dogs are unaware they are incontinent as they have limited sensation.

A chat with your vet may help (although these days I find most vets will try medication after medication)

It cant really be the wrong decision whichever one you make. Either way a 17 year old lab does not have years left so maybe talk to your vet have a plan in place so you can act quickly if you need to and then just take one day at a time.

He was pts eating chocolate ice cream and wagging his tail surronded by all of the people who loved him- I think I would like to go that way.

Sorry you are going through this a hard time for everyone Flowers

forumsempronii · 09/10/2022 09:41

Just realised I have written and lot and not really said anything helpful or answered your question sorry!

dontblameme · 09/10/2022 09:43

Nearly 17 is a fantastic age for a lab! You are clearly a wonderful and loving owner. It's the hardest decision to make, you have my sympathies. Spoil your old boy and enjoy making special memories until you or he decides that the time is right. ❤

gogohmm · 09/10/2022 10:19

I think you know when it's time. With my last boy it was when he couldn't get himself over the patio door bar thing to go into the garden, was a Friday, we carried him for a long weekend (happened to be bank holiday), no improvement so went to the vets on Tuesday. A combination of arthritis and dementia/confusion

crazyBadger · 09/10/2022 10:39

Give him a wonderful last day of cuddles pupcups and a stroll about the park (I am sure a dog buggy would be lent for the purpose if needed) then take him to the vets and let him go while you hold his paw, look in his eyes and tell him he's been such a very good boy xxx

Aquamarine1029 · 09/10/2022 10:40

The time has already come, op, he's suffering. Please don't allow him to suffer further.

Cuckoochime · 09/10/2022 10:55

We have a 16 year old lab cross- mostly deaf and nearly blind, but still loves his food and walks, but the walks are now very short as his leg sometimes plays up. The vet has said most people delay putting their pet for sleep for too long, and the end times are if he is suffering and gave (any one of) these examples when we asked for specifics:
1- if he stops enjoying his food
2- if his legs go / in pain/ no longer enjoys walks
3-if he starts messing in the house
..we know the end times are nearly here.
Thinking of you, op. Don't leave your dog too long.

Insideallday · 09/10/2022 11:08

Honestly I would make the decision to let him go soon. Set a date with your vet and spoil him until then.

Labradors will hide their pain and discomfort from their owners. You mentioned he has gotten lost on walks, it would be horrible if he got lost and never found or lost and knocked down.

it is such a difficult decision but I do believe you would be treating him with the most respect if you do decide the time is soon.

I had a similar situation with our Labrador last year, we eventually put him to sleep after 15 years. It was the most difficult decision we ever made. I kept hoping we’d wake up some morning and he would be after dying in his sleep.

His last week was amazing, swim at the beach, field walk, steak :-). When the time came I held his face, staring into his eyes telling him he was the best boy ever and it was okay to go to sleep.

We’re still heartbroken but what a dog he was.

Pegsmum · 09/10/2022 11:18

Firstly, nearly 17 is amazing for a lab so you are doing a great job.
as others have said, you tend to know when it’s time but, in my opinion, it doesn’t sound like you are quite there yet. If he’s still got light in his eyes and enjoying 20 minute walks I’d let him enjoy them for a bit longer. Honestly, you will know when he’s had enough.
In my experience, when you know it’s time it is far less traumatic if you can have the vet come out to your home to euthanise him. You’ll still be heartbroken of course.

Floralnomad · 09/10/2022 11:51

Don’t rely on the ‘he still enjoys some things’ , my sister kept saying that about her 21 yo border x and everyone except her could see that the dog was struggling , it was a relief for everyone including the dog when I finally persuaded her it was time .

mountainsunsets · 09/10/2022 14:03

I personally don't think it's fair to keep them going solely because they appear to enjoy walks and still want their food.

In my honest opinion, a dog that is deaf, blind, confused and incontinent should be put to sleep peacefully. It's not fair to keep them going until they're really struggling.

Spanielsarepainless · 09/10/2022 18:19

My Lab was nearly sixteen when he was PTS. He had been blind from a genetic condition since he was six and faecally incontinent occasionally for several years, but his quality of life was excellent. But one morning I went in and he had lost the use of his back legs, so the decision was made for me.

forumsempronii · 09/10/2022 19:33

mountainsunsets · 09/10/2022 14:03

I personally don't think it's fair to keep them going solely because they appear to enjoy walks and still want their food.

In my honest opinion, a dog that is deaf, blind, confused and incontinent should be put to sleep peacefully. It's not fair to keep them going until they're really struggling.

I dont think anyone can say this.

There are many reasons that this is not correct

Each dog is an individual and only the owner who is there on the ground can categorically say what is the right thing to do for an indivual dog.

Our dog was fecally incontinent it was no issue for him or us. Took him outside regularly after food and all poos were outside although due to nerve damage he had no idea he had done it!

Pretty deaf but that for him was no issue what so ever. I think he enjoyed the peace tbh.

mountainsunsets · 09/10/2022 19:49

forumsempronii · 09/10/2022 19:33

I dont think anyone can say this.

There are many reasons that this is not correct

Each dog is an individual and only the owner who is there on the ground can categorically say what is the right thing to do for an indivual dog.

Our dog was fecally incontinent it was no issue for him or us. Took him outside regularly after food and all poos were outside although due to nerve damage he had no idea he had done it!

Pretty deaf but that for him was no issue what so ever. I think he enjoyed the peace tbh.

Show quote history

Err, if you read my post, I said "in my opinion". I didn't say OP had to go and get her dog PTS tomorrow or that she was cruel to keep an incontinent dog alive.

You can disagree, but you don't get to tell me what opinion I'm allowed to have!

Sundaybluesahead · 15/10/2022 23:29

We had the best lab and it broke my heart when he was put to sleep at almost 15. He was very arthritic (painkillers) and hearing/sight was going and he was becoming more and more confused, but otherwise in good form, happy and content (we weren't walking him and it was a very gentle, calm household) . One morning he just didn't know us and he literally couldn't get up, so the decision was made, the night before he was as alert and active as was usual for him. The vet was as kind and gentle as he could be and it was best for him, but I'm not over it yet. While he was declining, the end came quickly. One of the reasons I will never have another black lab is that no other dog could possibly measure up!

Enjoy your time with him OP, but watch him closely and you'll know when the time has come.

Original poster
Mentalblip · 16/10/2022 09:30

Thanks all. He's not quite there yet... but I think the time is coming and fairly quickly. He's down to one easy walk a day now...

OP posts:
Original poster
Mentalblip · 28/10/2022 12:44

He went on Wednesday. He had two walks in the 24 hours before, a maccies, all his peeps around him. I'm still kicking myself that it was too early.
But his eyes changed over the weekend; they went 'distant' when he wasn't engaging in some sort of stimulation (and sometimes when he was). He developed some minor twitching in his body, and when he was laying in bed (where he spent most of his time) he looked like he was in pain.
He was still eating (like a horse who hadn't eaten for weeks) and going for walks but on the walks his back legs were terribly stiff.
It was the hardest thing I've ever done.

OP posts:
KitchenSupper · 28/10/2022 12:49

Flowers I’m sorry for your loss. I think you found the right time, though, because it was before any acute suffering.

Adventadventures · 28/10/2022 12:53

So sorry for your loss @Mentalblip it so hard isn’t it. I lost my Ddog last month and it still breaks my heart thinking about her. 17 years is a great age for a Labrador and it sounds like he was ready to go . You gave him a fabulous 4 years and you must take comfort from that

Whitegrenache · 28/10/2022 12:56

We pts my 11 year old lab last weekend as she deteriorated following diagnosis of oral cancer. It was horrendous but very peacefully done at home by the vet.

We then had my 7 year old horse pts today due to new Diagnosis of degenerative spinal issues.

I'm a crying snotty bloody mess BUT

I know I have done the right thing for both of my animals and would do it again in a heartbeat

Take comfort in being there for your lovely dog and wow what a great age for a lab xx

buttons123456 · 28/10/2022 12:59

17 is super old for a lab .. I'd let him go while he has his dignity ...

Beamur · 28/10/2022 13:03

I had this recently. My vet suggested we use a quality of life index. Look up HHHHHMM.
It was really helpful.

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