Quality of life?

[dewclaw]

Just looking out for a handhold really...
I took my 17 year old dog to the vet again this week with an ongoing health problem which can only be managed as he can't have an operation due to a worsening heart murmur.
His back legs are starting to give way due to ongoing spinal issues, his sight isn't good and vet suspects he has dementia. He's on pain meds. He loves running around chasing a ball but vet now says he is only to have slow walks. He will hate this, we have other dogs he plays with. I'm starting to wonder what sort of life this is for him.
In the past when I've had to decide to euthanise, the decision was clear cut, but this is so drawn out. He still loves his food, in fact, he's greedier than ever. I did broach the subject with vet yesterday but she was not helpful, just said decision was mine and moved on to possible treatment for heart and further pain relief. He's insured so that's not really an issue but she made me feel bad for mentioning it. Do I wait till things reach a crisis point or just crack on for a bit?
Thanks for reading

From my own perspective, we made the difficult decision to euthanise our aged dog when we felt that he was no longer enjoying life, just existing. He used to be such an incredibly happy dog when he was younger and it was sad to see him trudging round the block, no longer able to even enjoy short walks.

It's so, so sad to put a beloved pet to sleep. But we remember him in the good times now and I'm happy that he didn't have to suffer anything worse.

My personal opinion is that vets will sometimes keep animals going beyond the point at which they are getting anything out of being alive. It may be for financial reasons (being cynical) as they are still getting paid for expensive treatments and medicines. Or it may be for kinder reasons. But as the person who has lived with that pet all their lives, I think we are best placed to judge when the time is right.

Remember though that your dog has no concept of life and death.

By making the right decision he won't suffer or have a lower quality of life. Prolonging his life is to make you and only you happy essentially. He lives minute to minute.

Very hard decision but sometimes helpful to take the human emotion out of it.

Would it be the right thing to euthanaise at this stage? Yes. But... I also don't think you'd necessarily be wrong to carry on a bit longer.

How much is he still enjoying - and is he in distress at all?

Remember though that your dog has no concept of life and death. He lives minute to minute.

Do we actually know this?

There's many accounts of dogs that seem to understand what's happened when they see their friend's body, and grieve rather than search for a missing friend (whether or not they think about their own mortality is a separate matter).

Likewise I don't know if you've seen the What About Bunny videos, but he certainly shows signs of ruminating about what's happened in the past, for instance talking about a storm from several days ago.

I don't think this changes what is right for this dog, but it often feels to me like a convenient lie we tell ourselves. Remember when they said goldfish have a 3 second memory? Then they actually did some research and it came out at being months long.

Personally I let the oldies do what they want so if he likes running after a ball and still does it then let him. If he is in mega discomfort afterwards give pain meds.

Decisions will change daily when you have an oldie and my priority is giving them the fun life they want.

He may be eating a lot due to illness so worth mentioning to the vet

For me I look at what they are not doing rather than what they are.

For example - they do not get up to greet me when I come in.
They are happy to sleep through games when the other dogs are playing
They dont want to come for walks
They dont come and "check" out "their property" when I walk around the garden

I do think though that when people start asking what is their quality of life - it is a decision that will need to be made sooner than later.

I am sorry it is heartbreaking - and such a hard decision to make. If your vet is local you dont have to plan a week ahead you can just deal with each situation every day but do have the talk with your vet and anyone else that will be affected. Enjoy each day in the meantime

Thanks everyone. It helps to hear others thoughts.
I'm just going day by day at the moment but the vet we saw yesterday was particularly unhelpful and if I'm honest, I was a bit cynical about her motives although our practice, like others, is struggling to find vets so you don't build a relationship with them and maybe I'm being unfair.
The latest health problem isn't joint or heart related but can only be managed not cured and given his age and it causing him pain, I feel I was asking a valid question.
Vet staff were asking has his behaviour/ mood changed but it's been a gradual decline and he's nothing like the feisty, strong dog he was.
I'm absolutely letting him do what he wants- he's been chasing a ball this morning ingGenius! The day he doesn't want to chase a ball will be the day I make the call.

I was once told by a wise horse owner: “our animals are relying on us to do the right thing for them” and I believe that when it comes to treatment just because we can doesn’t mean we should.
Many years ago I made the heart breaking decision to put down an adored horse who was definitely not at crisis point. I took the view that I didn’t know how much pain she was in despite being given pain killers she couldn’t say “shit my feet are killing me today”. It was done in my time and place one minute she was eating carrots the next second she was dead she knew nothing about it. She did not get up and think “I’m going to die today” she did her normal routine and was PTS walking to her field like she did everyday and by the person who I wanted to hold her and the person who I wanted to do it.
Personally if that was my dog I’d have a lovely time with him let him chase a ball feed him his favourite food and have him quietly and calmly PTS in his home surrounded by the people he loves.

I had to have my darling dog PTS after spinal issues became acute and he couldn't stand up. He was nearly 16 and had been blind for a decade. Let him chase his ball but if he can't stand up because of pain it's time to let him go, in my opinion. It's the most painful thing.