Is this just the beginning of the end for my old boy?

[IhearyouClemFandango]

Our West Highland Terrier is 15, so a ripe age for his breed. In the last 6 months he has become very deaf, and very slow...sleeps most of the day and not interested in walks.

He's been getting quite gummy eyes, plus a kind of wart thing on his head which oozes a little.

The last few days we have come downstairs to wee and poo accidents by the back door, he's always out last thing and we are early risers...he doesn't bark in the night to go out or anything.

I have also noticed him fall over a couple of times for no apparent reason, and then struggle to get back on his feet again. I had wondered if that was just because he finds the wooden floor a bit scrabbly? He's so thin and bony now, I know that the end has to come sometime but he is our first dog and I don't know what to expect, what signs to keep an eye out for?

Could you put mats down for him to have a better grip on the wooden floors, has he been for a check up at the vets recently? if he hasn't then I think maybe a check up with vets would be a good idea.

Yes, a check up would be good. He could have arthritis which will make him struggle to get up. There are medications that can really help. Don’t expect him to get up easily on a slippery wooden floor, put a rug down, a washable one if he’s becoming a bit incontnent. I lost one of my old ladies before Christmas aged seventeen. She was on arthritis meds for two years, she’d gone quite deaf & had the start of cataracts that affected her vision. Once the pain in her joints was eased she was still her happy little self, slower, slept more but loved her food & cuddles. I didn’t expect her to go through the night clean once old so used to get up around three to let her out for a wee after which she settled till morning.
Yes, he’s slowing down, he’s old, but doesn’t mean he’s on the way out yet. One of mine lived till a fortnight before her twentieth birthday & several others reached eighteen. There’s something really special & lovable about the oldies. You’ve become so close, such a special bond.

Having just got to this stage with my old dog, sadly, I think it is. Sounds like his back legs have gone. He may have lost proprioception, similarly wont feel the urge to urinate and defecate. I loved my old boy so much, I didn’t mind the accidents and we put down lots of rugs. Life became unbearable ( for him and me) when he got d&v. We had to say goodbye then. If he’s still taking an interest in life and not in pain, it’s ok, but it definitely will only get worse.

Yes, he is getting old now and showing all the signs. Just help him in any way you can. As long as he is not in life limiting pain or misery, just be there for him and take into account his changing needs. When he has had enough you will know x