Elderly dog - feeling such sadness

[Idontknowhatnametochoose]

I've had my dog for 12 and a half years. She is 16 yrs next February. She has always been very active and walked 75 to 90 mins a day, sometimes more. This is over 2-3 walks.

Since March this year her arthritis- which had only been a small background issue- flared up and left her at a lower level, albeit still walking up to 75 mins a day in total once stable. Then in July she had an eye injury which has now healed, but her arthritis flared up even more. Again she has stabilised as she has a good diet plus supplements and pain relief, but she is looking more frail and wears out quickly. She still loves walking and actually managed 35 minutes this morning, but she looks so tired. I never push her and I use a mobility scooter so when shes had enough she climbs on for a ride home.

I know it's natural for her to slow down at her age but my heart is broken. I feel like I'm grieving for her even though she's still here. I live alone with her plus an elderly cat. I'm chronically ill and she has given me so much companionship over the years. I keep thinking back over all the places we've gone and crying. My parents have both died since I've had my dog and they loved her and vice versa. I dont know how I'm going to cope.

Has anyone here grieved a dog that kept you company? Can anyone understand? My dog may still live for a year or more i just dont know. My heart is acting with a loss that hasn't yet happened.

I understand. It's heartbreaking.

🥲 just sending you love, out DDog is slowing down but we have cats too so lots of companionship and love to soften the blow.

We very much miss our first cats that have been gone 4 years but it’s less excruciatingly painful now.

I have no advice, we all grieve differently.

I know what you mean, OP.

I know exactly what you mean. Our older girl left us this spring after a short battle against cancer.
They don’t live long enough. They come into your life and steal your heart, then leave.

On another note- our oldie, before the cancer, also had arthritic legs. We found a small dose of cbd oil helped her enormously, and without the possible side effects of librella or some of the other drugs from the vet.
It made the last year of her life much more comfortable and she was much more cheerful.

I’m so sorry. I haven’t ever had to rely on mine as my only companion but have been very close to them all the same. I’ve had many rescues over the years and it never gets any easier; that said, I feel it’s part of the deal I make taking them on, having their love and trust for as long as they have, that I give them a good end. Ideally, when it’s been ‘time’ (and it isn’t for you, yet!) I give them a fabulous last week, lavishing treats and all the ‘naughties’, extra cuddles, etc. Then they go to sleep. it gives me the best memories, and helps a little. Gearing up for this in this way has helped me get through it, I feel. Hugs to you both x

No living thing will ever love you as much as a dog. It's unconditional. They don't want anything from you, except to just be with you.

And it's fucking heartbreaking to watch them get older, because you know that time passes so quickly.

Feel for you so much, it is utterly heartbreaking. Just keep thinking we are so lucky to have them and spoil them rotten whilst we can

I understand too OP. It really is the hardest thing.

When people complain about their young dogs being a handful or pulling on the lead I always think savour these moments because one day, before you know it you'll be encouraging your dear old pup to get a little exercise.

What an absolutely perfect life your girl has had with you and it sounds as though she's still enjoying your adventures together. Our dogs are so precious to us aren't they, they get right inside our hearts.

I think a lot of us sadly have dealt with that. I just lost my 15 years old girl. I got her after losing a pregnancy rather traumatically and she was my therapy dog.

Enjoy every day you have with your dog. Every day is precious.

she might be too far down and needing something stronger but I grated fresh turmeric in my girl’s food and yumove did help. Perhaps you can that? But 16 is a very good run.

I can feel this post in my bones. It is so painful. Anticipatory grief.

Take lots of photos and videos. Make memories.

My dog is over 15 and well over the average age of life for her breed. We have some bad days but we have more good days. When the scales tip the other way then I know I will have to make that call to the vet.

There are some quality of life scale things you can look up online.

It is so hard, especially when you have had them a long time

Ours is 13 and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t dread the inevitable. I’ve been trying to have a word with myself about the whole thing because it got to the point where everything we were doing with him felt tinged with sadness, and that’s not what I want, for him or us. I’ve been better at keeping it positive recently. All this to say that I don’t think there’s anything much you can do, OP. It’s the price we pay for them. But I really do empathise.

Thanks everyone for your kind words. I really appreciate them. Weirdly, my dog seems to be improving again- she walked in total of 100 minutes yesterday, and we've been out for 25 minutes already today at a decent pace. For a while she could only manage 15 or 20 minutes on her first walk and that was a struggle leaving her limping.

Obviously she's in her twilight years and im trying to make the most of her spurts of energy. I like to think she has a while as she's a warrier, but I just dont know!

That’s lovely! Enjoy. And as someone else said, I’ve had very good results from using ‘golden paste’ for arthritis etc. you can make it yourself or buy capsules, although they’re not as effective. A search will find lots of info and there’s a great Facebook group. I’ll see if I can get a link xx

Trying this…

www.facebook.com/share/g/16Mk97F8B8/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Thanks for this! I give her JointSure supplements and hemp oil but its good to know what works for other dogs. I'm not supposed to give her too many anti inflammatories due to her liver so will look into this.

Sorry I’m late joining this thread but I related to this so much, my dog and I have been through so much together (that’s another story) that we have a special bond now, she’s 12 and a half and it seems that her age is suddenly catching up with her, a diagnosis for a brain tumour two years ago (it’s now a suspected stroke) and a few months back she developed severe arthritis which has affected her foot and now she too is struggling with the pain despite medication, not to mention a skin allergy since she was one…it’s soul destroying watching her suddenly aging so I can relate to this only too well, sadly their lifespan is so much shorter than ours.

It is sad and I feel for you. I don’t know if this helps, but my 8yo dog is looking like she has bone cancer. No formal diagnosis, but we will know over next week or so (hopefully) as the not knowing is killing me. Right now I would love to watch my dog get old, she’s currently just full of life.

We said goodbye to our nearly 16 year old a few months back. That last year of her life was very sad. We're still adjusting to the loss of her, such a key component of our lives. You have all my compassion.

So sorry for all your losses or anticipatory losses, it's incredibly painful to lose a dog young or old. I'm grateful to still have mine and will remember that going forwards.