Elderley Labrador

[defnotadomesticgoddess]

We have a 15 year old labrador who has arthritis, laryngeal paraylis and has occasionally lost his back legs (once a week). He regularly poos in the house as he doesnt always notice it coming out. which doesnt bother him. Still enjoys a shortish walk. At the moment hes hobbling a bit but i think that might be because his next librella injection is due soon. How do you decide when its time to let them go? I dont think its right now (next weeks librela might improve) but interested in other experiences. Im conscious that i dont want to leave it too late but also not too early. Need to get my head around it all.

We are debating the very same thing right now we have a 13 year old bichon cross. He's blind and is sometimes unsteady on his back legs. He has never been the cleanest of dogs and has had more "accidents" then is acceptable (DH had the dog before we met and didnt house train as a pup) but now unless he has constant access to outside he will just poo wherever he feels like it.

We are leaving him access to outside but now at the point where its getting cold and we dont want to have doors open all the time. I have a chronic illness and need to stay warm so we need to find either a solution or accept we have done our best and its time. Its such a hard decision to make, we know he has dementia and his kidneys are beginning to fail but otherwise hes mostly quote happy in himself.

A dog with laryngeal paraylis, that is pooing itself and that has arthritis is not a dog with a good quality of life.

I am really sorry, but I think you're keeping him going for your own benefit and the time to put to sleep was probably before now. It's horrible to say goodbye, but being a dog owner means making those tough decisions for your dogs good.

I look at what the dogs have stopped doing rather than what they can still do. Do they get up to greet you? Do they still engage in family life or are they just sleeping in their beds. If you go down the garden do they potter along with you or just watch you through the window for example.

We have had 2 labs that have lived to 17 years of age and it is hard. People say you will know when it is time but with the labs I have not found this to be the case. My last lab was put to sleep in the garden wagging his tail and eating ice cream loving life but his back legs had gone and he coud no longer walk.

Llaryngeal paraylis, can vary so much in its impact. If your dog is finding hot weather hard work a lot of panting and eating is difficult or they may have the odd cough and ajustments made in how they eat the impact can be low.

Re the pooping usually this is due to lack of feeling so it is not painful for the dog and many are not distressed by it at all. The lack of control of his back legs does indicate that this is a spinal or neuroligica issue that again will not cause pain but can stress out the dogs.

It is a hard time and a difficut decision to make. What ever decision you make it will be the right one.

Thanks all 💐 His laryngeal paraylsis is mild and one of the arthritis meds seems to have helped that. Its more the other issues and how thats affecting him. Am going to have a chat with the vet this week and go through the quality of life assessment.