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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

Dog with Dementia - How to know when it's time?

15 replies

orchid1384 · 21/03/2024 10:42

Hi,

I know nobody can give me the answer but I'd appreciate some advice or stories from past experience

We have a 13.5 year old working cocker, he's been really healthy up until the past 6 months or so when his health started to decline. A few weeks ago he had a nasty episode of Vestibular Syndrome but he managed to pull through really well. However, it feels as though he hasn't quite recovered to what he was before and we're starting to question his quality of life. He also has arthritis, his sight and hearing is going, and his teeth are in quite poor condition.

He eats and drinks really well, but he's having accidents in the house everyday. He's not sleeping through the night anymore, paces around and also wants to go out for a wee in the early hours. He doesn't enjoy walks anymore, he's very reluctant to move far out of the house. He still wags his tail and gets excited at dinner times and for his snuffle mat but I'm not sure this is enough. He doesn't seem in pain but it's hard to tell with the mental side of things.

It's also a real struggle as he has to be left alone on some weekdays (he does have a dog sitter pop in to see him) but when he's alone his separation anxiety has got really bad to the point he just paces continuously and howls, and has accidents, I'm assuming the dementia has made this worse as he's never been like this before.

We are at a total loss of what to do, it's also become very challenging to manage with sleepless nights, guilt of when he's alone in the day and getting really stressed. We just want to do what's best for him but it's really hard to know when it's not just physical.

Also some days are better than others, like at weekends he's better as he has company so he sleeps in the day more, doesn't have as many accidents and doesn't seem stressed. However he still paces for a long time, doesn't sleep overnight etc so it's really difficult.

Would love some thoughts x

OP posts:
FlyingDuck5 · 21/03/2024 10:45

From what you have written, it sounds like his quality of life is being impacted.

I would speak to your vet, there may be some medical options (anti-depressants) you could consider but he doesn’t sound like he is enjoying life.

Cuppachuchu · 21/03/2024 10:47

It's probably already time, and I'm really sorry for you having gone through the same thing. I don't think you can rely on the fact that he is still eating as a sign he is ok. He isn't. Dogs are masters at masking pain, stress and discomfort. So sorry, it's incredibly hard. 💐

Mrsjayy · 21/03/2024 10:49

I would think its time sorry he seems to be distressed In the night and I don't think that's fair on him. It's a devastating decision .

Original poster
orchid1384 · 21/03/2024 10:59

FlyingDuck5 · 21/03/2024 10:45

From what you have written, it sounds like his quality of life is being impacted.

I would speak to your vet, there may be some medical options (anti-depressants) you could consider but he doesn’t sound like he is enjoying life.

I agree. We are reluctant to go down the medication route as I don't like the idea of him taking lots of medication just to keep him going for our sake. Also the side effects it can have on other parts of him. We want to put him under as little stress as possible x

OP posts:
aperolspritzbasicbitch · 21/03/2024 11:01

A week too soon is always better than a day too late.
Sending love 💕

Original poster
orchid1384 · 21/03/2024 11:01

Cuppachuchu · 21/03/2024 10:47

It's probably already time, and I'm really sorry for you having gone through the same thing. I don't think you can rely on the fact that he is still eating as a sign he is ok. He isn't. Dogs are masters at masking pain, stress and discomfort. So sorry, it's incredibly hard. 💐

I know it's so difficult, I wish they could talk! I think we're really considering it given how he's been recently. One of our family members is away for the next week, so we were hoping to hold off until after then if we do need to make that decision. He's going to have lots of company until then so I'm hoping this makes him more comfortable x

OP posts:
ZipZapZoom · 21/03/2024 11:03

I would ring the vets today and make that decision for him sooner rather than later it already sounds like his quality of life has declined and prolonging the inevitable would be unkind.

Mrsjayy · 21/03/2024 11:05

We had our last dog pts because of the same issues he was 10 we went through medication for pain .etc and it was just too hard on him and us if I'm honest, the care was constant.

thisoldcity · 21/03/2024 11:17

I agree with pp, it's time by the sound of it. Just one additional thing from experience - get the vet to come out to your car to do it, rather than take the dog in. Our dog was so anxious and distressed waiting in the waiting room to be pts it was really upsetting for him. There might be other ways of doing it but I remember that so vividly.

Mrsjayy · 21/03/2024 11:29

Somebody I follow on Facebook had a vet come to the house they said it was very peaceful. Ours had to go to the vet it was during covid but the vet was wonderful and our dog was sedated before he was taken away to be euthanised.

lifebeginsaftercoffee · 21/03/2024 11:40

I wouldn't wait a week.

I'm so sorry, it's shit Flowers

Levisticum · 21/03/2024 18:57

It’s so hard to know, isn’t it? I just went through this (Ddog was 14, dementia, daily soiling in the house, didn’t recognise anyone except me, pacing, deaf, almost blind) and was kind of waiting for a tipping point, because without an obvious terminal illness you’re just faced with a slow decline that you adapt to. Making the decision to PTS seems almost random.
I had a chat with the vet and set myself a boundary (if he does/doesn’t do this, it’s time), and inevitably it happened about a month later. I called the vet and she agreed to come out to my house the next day. Inevitably, the next day he was having a “good” day but I still went through with it, thinking that I’d prefer his last day to be a good one rather than a wretched one. It was really peaceful: he was snoozing in his bed in front of the fire, there was soft music playing and a candle burning. He slipped away without registering what was happening.
Now, almost 2 weeks later, I know it was the right time for him, or if anything, probably slightly late, but I don’t give myself a hard time over it. It was so hard to decide. You have my sympathy 💐

Oneinseveralbillion · 21/03/2024 19:26

Gosh I'm where you are right now OP, with just a few subtle differences and the replies on here are scaring me. It's making me think of my own situation a lot.

Ddog is a lab and is 15. He has some arthritis which we're managing with normal paracetamol (as advised by the vet) because the usual prescribed medication made him poorly. He sleeps most of the time but still enjoys his food, his treats and some very slow.ealks in the day and evening where he sniffs around for half an hour or so.

But his hearing has gone, his eyesight is going and there are definite signs of dementia. We have to put him on his bed in the kitchen now when we go upstairs otherwise he wanders around looming for us. But he does get up and wags his tail when we come in from work. He's struggling to sleep through the night so my sleep schedule has changed too but that seems a small price for all the love and protection he's given us.

But now I'm starting to second guess things and wonder whether it's time for him too?? He sleeps peacefully and still runs in his dreams. Just seems a tad confused...

Original poster
orchid1384 · 21/03/2024 19:34

Oneinseveralbillion · 21/03/2024 19:26

Gosh I'm where you are right now OP, with just a few subtle differences and the replies on here are scaring me. It's making me think of my own situation a lot.

Ddog is a lab and is 15. He has some arthritis which we're managing with normal paracetamol (as advised by the vet) because the usual prescribed medication made him poorly. He sleeps most of the time but still enjoys his food, his treats and some very slow.ealks in the day and evening where he sniffs around for half an hour or so.

But his hearing has gone, his eyesight is going and there are definite signs of dementia. We have to put him on his bed in the kitchen now when we go upstairs otherwise he wanders around looming for us. But he does get up and wags his tail when we come in from work. He's struggling to sleep through the night so my sleep schedule has changed too but that seems a small price for all the love and protection he's given us.

But now I'm starting to second guess things and wonder whether it's time for him too?? He sleeps peacefully and still runs in his dreams. Just seems a tad confused...

So sorry to hear you're going through the same, it sounds very similar. Our dog is the same, he still knows who we all are, greets us with a wagging tail, gets excited for treats and dinnertime and wants a sniff outside. However it's the pacing around confused, night time waking and just general lack of enjoyment for other things he used to enjoy that's making us question it.

It's such a hard decision, but it's great yours still enjoys a slow walk. Unfortunately, ours really doesn't anymore which is another big factor as walks were always his favourite thing. Sending my best wishes to you x

OP posts:
Oneinseveralbillion · 21/03/2024 19:58

It's so hard. I have some lovely friends who all have dogs and they've all said that they don't think it's his time yet.

Just came back from a walk and he sniffed around for ages, actually trotting at one point! Maybe I'll use his walks as a benchmark...

I really feel for you. I'm on my own with my teenage daughter and I honestly believe having a dog is the reason I get up at the weekends when DD isn't with me. I honestly don't know what I'll do without him. 😥

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