Elderly ill dog - how to decide to put to sleep?

[furusato]

I have a 12-year-old golden retriever.

In February this year he was treated for an illness which involved two surgeries drilling through his skull to treat infection in his sinuses.

It was really traumatic for him. It took a long time for him to recover but he did so and has been well the rest of the year.

This infection has now returned. We were warned it might return and we face the prospect of putting him through two surgeries again, I really don't know what to do for the best. I'm worried that this is beginning of the end for him, these surgeries will happen over the next couple of months and then there will be further illnesses and decline, because he is old. I'm struggling to work out the best thing to do for my poor old boy. Any advice or experience would be welcome.

Personally I think it’s time to let him go peacefully. I know that having a beloved pet PTS is awful through direct experience. But I know that keeping a pet alive who's potentially suffering and whose quality of life has deteriorated is unacceptable. Big hugs x

It’s a heartbreaking decision which we recently had to make. Our lovely, gentle old boy (also 12) suffered some type of seizure last September. He did recover somewhat but never fully, has had ongoing renal/kidney issues for a large part of this year although scans etc not showing any major problems. He then hurt his leg which wasn’t improving with medication and the only option was surgery. Which his recent decline we had to consider what more it was fair to put him through and what quality of life he might have and made the extremely difficult decision it would be more in our interest than his to put him through any more. Just over a month now and miss him so much. My thoughts are with you

My vet asked me “what is your dog doing now that a dog should love doing?” For us the answer was nothing. No walks. No tail wagging. Not much eating. Little recognition of us. So really just existing. He wasn’t, unfortunately, the dog we loved. So most people do know if they weigh up what quality of life their dog has. It does need courage to do what’s best for the dog, not for themselves.

Better to do it a little bit too early than a little bit too late. I’m so sorry. I really think going through two traumatic head surgeries again at his age is too much to put him through.

I had to let my girl go in September. She could have received treatment to keep her going but it would have been for us and not her. She wouldn't have had the same quality of life and enjoyment

If it helps in any way, I went with my friend to have her cat put to sleep, it was so caring from the vet, C held her, it was so easy , we both cried, had space afterwards with her, I wished we humans had such a good way out. The vets are lovely at this time and really take time with you. My vet has a candle in reception, and a sign saying that if it's lit, someone is saying goodbye to a family member so please be quiet. I love that.

Thank you everyone. We PTS our last dog due to cancer - it was so clear cut to us then and there was no treatment and he was in pain. Despite the reoccurring infection, he's is quite sparky still, and of course true to Goldie type he will still eat and eat and eat 😂💗. But I know in my heart that it's coming to his time. 😔

It’s really tough OP. I have an older lady, a lab aged 13.5. For now she is happy, if a bit doddery. She still has great enjoyment in normal stuff- visitors, (gentle) playing with us, snuggles, small gentle walks around the block. She’s interested and fully engaged in family life.

However, we thought she had a major issue earlier year, thankfully it was something else, and it got better with a course of oral steroids. Otherwise the option would have been major surgery. I had a chat with the vet who was incredibly supportive and agreed with me that at her age major surgery on her neck was not in her best interests, and therefore there was no point putting her through an MRI to discover if it was necessary because I wouldn’t go ahead if it was. I didn’t think major surgery/crate rest/a long rehab was fair at her age (but I have done with a previous dog who was only 4).

I completely concur with other posters.

Be kind to yourself, it’s heartbreaking.

It’s very tough I know - we had our old Lab PTS at the age of 13. He definitely could have gone on a bit longer as was still eating well & going for walks just very, very slowly. We used the criteria of weighing up how much he was still enjoying his life. We wanted to remember him as a happy dog which he was until the last few weeks when his mobility got worse & we felt he was probably in pain.

In your situation, I would definitely opt to PTS. I wouldn’t be able to cope with the idea of more trauma for the lovely boy. You gave him an extra year but I would say that’s enough now. Appreciate it’s a very difficult decision though.

Sorry to hear this OP. I too lost my Goldie this year, aged 13.

You said yourself in your opening post that the surgeries were very traumatic for your boy, and it took him a while to recover. Do you really want to put your boy through that again? Is there a chance the infection will recur again after the next surgeries?

General anaesthetic is hard on an old dog, without the surgeries. As difficult as it seems right now, it may be best to make your beloved boy's remaining life as best as it can be and let him go peacefully before he gets in pain. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

As an aside, I saw something lovely recently. It was a vet who had a jar of chocolate to give to dogs just before they were laid to sleep as "no dog should go to the rainbow bridge without tasting chocolate". My dog had a very sensitive stomach, but I wish I'd given her some chocolate to savour before our final goodbye 🐾💔

That’s beautiful @BilboBlaggin I love that.

@furusato we did spoil our old boy at the end knowing we didn’t have to worry about him putting on weight or eating unhealthily. As he was a Lab we were always having to restrict his diet as he was so greedy. But gave him some lovely last treats .

I wouldn’t put him through it again because he’s an old boy now and he deserves a peaceful send off. 12 is a great age for a Golden - although I know it won’t feel like enough - and it sounds like you’ve given him a great life.

I am sorry though, it’s awful when they still have more to give but you don’t want to make them suffer for any of that time they do have left.

Being really honest - I wouldn’t put him though those surgeries again if you know it was a rough long recovery.

Not at that age when he’s already been through it once.

I would draw the line at putting a 12 year old dog through surgery. Especially two very traumatic surgeries. Goldens don't usually live much past 12- 13. The recovery would take up much of his remaining time. If he woke up at all. Anaesthesia is very very hard on elderly animals and in people terms, this dog is almost in his 90s.

I'd ask about an aggressive course of antibiotic treatments but if that won't work and he is suffering, I'd put him to sleep.

If the majority of the rest of his life is spent in pain then its not worth it. Not to him.