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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 sitting in own faeces

64 replies

BlastedPimples · 10/04/2024 09:26

So six mornings out of ten, I am coming down to my dog (aged 14) sitting in his own mess, unable to get up himself.

I pull him up and hold his legs steady until he stops scrabbling about and get him outside for his wee wee and to wash him clean.

He still enjoys his food but if he's lying down when it's meal time, I have to get him up again in order to eat. As in pick him up, steady his legs and set him in front of his bowl.

He doesn't go on walks anymore. His legs just can't cope. But then I see him managing the long, low steps in the garden.

My vet says they have good days and bad days. It's old age etc.

But when is it right to put him down? He just stares at me when I find him sitting in his poop and I start to prepare the cleaning products etc before I take him out. He literally can't get up.

OP posts:
muddyford · 10/04/2024 13:03

My previous dog was nearly 16 when he had to be PTS. He had been pooing in his bed for a while, the odd bit not a pile, but otherwise his quality of life was excellent, only three weeks earlier. Then one morning he couldn't stand up and that was it. I really feel for you but it sounds as though it's time. Love him.

MrsVeryTired · 10/04/2024 13:10

So sorry but yes, you are doing the right thing, time to let him go peacefully Flowers

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 10/04/2024 13:38

It's so hard. The vet came for Ddog and it was so upsetting because he suddenly seemed fine. But actually he hadn't been fine for a while and the right time was about two weeks earlier.

It could be that your poor boy is in pain. They hide it very well.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 10/04/2024 14:23

It’s better to do it while they still have some quality of life than wait for there to be none. It’s the right thing to do for him.

KnottyKnitting · 10/04/2024 14:49

I had a similar issue with my 15 year old dog a few years back. She needed support to go to the loo in the garden, lots of accidents in the house, wetting while she was asleep and her back legs kept giving way. She also had vestibular disease so was falling over. But she still got very excited for her dinner and treats and we felt this was enough for some quality of life

Someone on here in the kindest way possible, told me that I had set a very low bar for her quality of life and suggested that, as hard as it was, now was the time to let her go.

I always appreciated that advice and it was the push I needed to make that decision.

Our vet said it was unlikely that she would pass away in her sleep as we had hoped for her. That there might be a drastic event where she would need to be PTS quickly in distress and pain. I just didn’t want that for her.

I am so sorry you have to make this decision but it is the last loving thing you can do for a pet you care for. Take care x

RickyGervaislovesdogs · 10/04/2024 15:22

My vet said to me, if he can’t get up unaided then it’s time. I know I’m pretty much waiting until that day. (He still eats, drinks, plays- another vet said he’s ok for now). But sitting in his own toilet will be the end for me, there’s no dignity left. It’ll probably happen to me too OP, but that day I’ll have to ask the vet to come out and see him. I think that day has gone a little bit overdue for you. It’s ok, you’ve cleaned him and cared for him, but it definitely seems like time xxx

DramaAlpaca · 10/04/2024 15:23

I'm so sorry, OP. Well done on being brave enough to make the appointment. I know how hard it is. You're doing the right thing for your lovely old boy. It's time.

powershowerforanhour · 10/04/2024 15:28

"11.30 on Friday morning. I feel sick. What if he's ok given he loves his food? And drinks water? And once I get him going, he walks ok, v wobbly but ok?"

Then you will have euthanased a dog that hasn't quite reached the point of total and utter collapse and emergency euthanasia- as in, please please please can you fit him in right now? And- I can't think of a less brutal way of putting it- so you euthanase a dog that is only suffering a bit and has some remnants of function left, rather than one that suddenly is suffering quite a lot and has zero function left... so what? The dog doesn't know what day it is. He's not hanging on for his birthday, or your birthday, or the first swallow back or the tulips to be out or whatever. He lives in the here and now. If he gets a bit of a mini energy surge at the vets due to a little short buzz of adrenaline or because he happened to be feeling "good" (relative to his present existence rather than his past) that morning then he goes out on a high, kind of. Wishing you strength,courage and peace for Friday.

KStockHERO · 10/04/2024 15:30

You've made the right decision, OP.

Please stay with him while he's being PTS. Look after yourself.

qotsa · 10/04/2024 15:35

Oh I'm so sorry. I dread this day. You've made the right decision though. It's an actual benefit us humans don't have.

Levisticum · 10/04/2024 19:41

My 14 year old was pretty much like yours. I had him PTS a month ago. It was so hard because he was having a “good day” on the day I’d arranged for the vet to come. I almost rang to cancel, but decided I’d rather he went out happy, on a good day, than wait for an absolutely wretched day when his last moments would have been utter misery.
But 💐💐💐.

CaptainMyCaptain · 10/04/2024 19:47

I think you've done the right thing. It's an awful decision to make but it's the kindest way to go. You have my deepest sympathy.

user1471556818 · 11/04/2024 19:04

My deepest sympathy to you stay with him and hold him and tell him he's the best boy .It's so hard but the kindest final act of love we can do for our pets .

Justanotherusername27 · 13/04/2024 00:25

Hope you’re doing okay op, he will be playing pain free in the sky now watching over you until you are reunited xx

Yllasin · 13/04/2024 08:59

Crying for you, it's so sad.

But a controlled gentle euthanasia will have been so much kinder than my memory of having to rush to the vet with my 15 year old, as a sudden decline over a weekend (where she just seemed quiet and stopped eating and drinking, no crying or vomiting/diarrhoea) turned into a horrible final last hour with her desperate to get up but unable to stand, heart racing, then losing a large amount of blood from the rear end.
I'd booked her in for another vet visit to be pts the following morning (if she didn't improve) but had to do an emergency dash.

I also read that they can be in significant pain but not really show it, whereas I'd been imagining a gentle slipping away in her sleep.

One day you will remember all the lovely times without necessarily crying.

RollOnSpringDays · 13/04/2024 09:02

Hope you’re ok OP - it’s difficult but you made the right decision.

Original poster
BlastedPimples · 13/04/2024 11:34

So we went to the vet. The vet said to put him on anti inflammatory (arthritis) meds for a week or two to see if it improves his ability to get up / walk.

He pooped in his bed again last night. But I guess it's only day 2 of meds.

OP posts:
aprilshowers2015 · 13/04/2024 12:22

Now wondering if this is genuine poster?

On the off chance it is, please do the right thing by your dog and take him back to the vet. I'm not going to repeat all of the advice and anecdotes shared in the thread.

Theorangejuice · 13/04/2024 14:14

Cruel.

Fiddlerdragon · 13/04/2024 14:19

Your bar for this dogs quality of life is ‘he’s able to drink water and can kind of walk if I get him going’. He’s old and in pain and miserable. Some anti inflammatorys aren’t going to help him

Runningonempty01 · 13/04/2024 14:21

I think some vets are too keen to treat very elderly dogs. When my 17 year old dogs back legs went I knew it was time. Booked the vets appointment, kids said goodbye. Then the vet said it might be worth trying another series of medication and wait a week. I looked at my poor old disorientated suffering dog and said no please PTS. The vet went ahead but I felt so guilty. I also changed to a independent vet for my next dog as I felt the big chain vets I was at seemed to be really chasing the money.

SugaryKrush · 13/04/2024 14:37

Theorangejuice · 13/04/2024 14:14

Cruel.

No not cruel . Just a heartbreaking decision to have to make .

aprilshowers2015 · 13/04/2024 14:40

@SugaryKrush have you read the full thread?

bradpittsbathwater · 13/04/2024 14:43

Please do the right thing and take him back. Animals are overly medicated these days and suffer needlessly. He's had a good long life. In the uk many people have to suffer this fate but your dog doesn't.

NoTouch · 13/04/2024 14:44

IME some vets treat animals like humans, keeping them going at all costs. Whether they do this for the animal, the owner or for the money probably varies.

But animals are very different to humans and we should never forget that, and never forget what we owe them when the time comes. That is, if it is possible, a pain free and dignified end.

Better a month too early than a day too late.