When to decide to pts

[Cherrycupcake24]

Ddog is 11 and has lost control of her bowels. She's pooing in the house almost everyday which I'm finding really stressful. We have a 5 year old ds.
Ddog is happy most of the time and enjoys walks and food etc so I'm struggling to get my head round pts. It doesn't seem fair to do it but I'm finding the mess in the house really hard to deal with. Even though I clean and disinfect I just feel dirty in my own home.
Vets said there's nothing they can do to reverse the muscle loss in her backend.
She's on painkillers and medicine for her joints.

What do I do? Feels like an impossible situation.

I am so sorry that you are going through this.

Dogs are pretty stoic so it can be really hard to know what is the right decision.

Understandably you are finding the soiling hard and this also clouds our decisions and you think you are pts because you are finding things difficult and your lie would be easier without having to clear up poo.

No decision is the wrong decision.

If you are finding life hard with your dog then they are finding life hard.

Think also how your dogs life has changed dont concentrate on what they can still do (as dogs will keep on going) but look at the subtle things they may longer do. eg not get up to greet you, or choose to be in their bed rather than interacting with you.

It is a hard decision but your dog does sound like their quality of life is not great and things will not get better.

I'm so sorry op that sounds like a nightmare to deal with. I'm not sure if they're more for urine but would a dog nappy work to help to contain it?

@sausageupanalley I did think about a nappy but then she would have poo stuck on her so then I'd have to bathe her everyday, I'm not sure which would be harder as she's a golden retriever so pretty hard to get in and out the bath 😓

Honestly, I think it's time.

Dogs deserve to live a life of dignity and they are naturally clean animals- when they can't do that then I think it's cruel to keep them alive. Even if they can still go for a walk and enjoy their food (which they will do until long past the time they should have been put to sleep) if you think about how they were 6 months or 12 months ago, you'll likely notice a significant deterioration. You mention medication for her joints - so she clearly is in pain.

Ultimately it's your decision, but I have seen so many people keep their dog alive when it's beyond cruel and my (very personal) view is it's better a month early than a day late. But in your case, I think it's time - in pain and unable to control her bowels must be awful for her, and for you.

I'm sorry, it's never easy to say goodbye.

I'm really sorry OP but I think it's time.

Dogs are clean animals and I don't think it's kind to keep them alive when they're at the point where they can't control where they go to the toilet on a permanent basis.

Having read dozens of posts like this (including one I posted myself), I have come to the conclusion that if you’re posting about it, it’s time.

If she’s lost sphincter control, soon she’ll be pooing in her bed and lying in it (this happened to my dog) and you’ll be looking at daily baths (or more!).

I’m so sorry 💐.

We had a list of things that would let us know it was time for our old boy to go over the bridge. Losing control of bowels / bladder or back legs in general was one of them. From a dignity perspective as much as anything.
Our boy was embarrassed about pooing on walks, he would have been mortified if he'd not been able to get outside to do his business.
I'd be thinking carefully about your dog's quality of life and if it's time to let him go. It's a dreadful call to make. Thinking of you.

We've decided to give her a lovely last few weeks and say goodbye at the end of November 😓. God knows how I will do it but know we can't carry on like this.

Like pp says I know she's distressed pooing in the house and it's everyday now 🥲

I’m so sorry you are in this position. I read the post and then clicked but have come back.

You say your ddog is distressed and you have postponed the decision to end of November.

I had to come back and ask, who do you want to benefit from the decision?

@Manyindigowings All of us I suppose. I want to have a bit more time with her and spoil her with fuss and lots of little walks. But ultimately put her out of her distress at the end of it

I’m sorry OP, have you asked your vet for their honest opinion, I did with our DDog, with regular checks and advice from the vet we kept her going for 6 months, but she wasn’t messing in the house or on any type of pain killer (she had an inoperable growth). When the time came, vet advised to say goodbye at the end of the week, we took her the next day, couldn’t bear for her to suffer, it was the last kindest but toughest decision we could make for her.

I'm really sorry OP, I know how utterly shit and horrible it is, but I honestly think you need to think about whether it's fair to keep her going for another six weeks when she's pooing in the house everyday and can't control her bowels anymore.

You know she's distressed and struggling - please have a think about whether you need to let her go sooner

I agree with this - and I think this poster worded it better than I could.

I know what you mean but she seems so happy on walks etc and loves a cuddle. If things get worse then I'll look at doing it sooner 😓

I think if you're asking the question it's time.

@Cherrycupcake24 I'm so sorry you're going through this. You may find that the right time will come to you in a flash, I understand you wanting to keep her going. But is her quality of life still good?
Has every single possibility been looked at..are the meds causing upset stomach? Have you sought a second opinion?

We had our beloved dog pts this month and I knew on the day that it was absolutely without doubt the right time.