Quality of Live
In short Bailey has never liked going out for walks as he is so nervous of traffic and noises so that activity has stopped a number of years ago.I do have a very large garden which he has been happy with until the last 4-5 months.Now he will only go out to do his business or if I'm out he will stay out with me.If the back door is left open he runs upstairs and waits till he hears the door shut before he will venture back down stairs.He has never messed in the house but for the last 4-5 months ,probably 5 out of 7 days he will mess at night.He never messes in the day when I leave him for work.Which as you can imagine is not nice to have to get up to and he looks so sad because he knows what he has done.His body weight has changed but that's not down to less eating,he has never scavenged after food but is like a "dog to heel" whenever food is around even going to the dinner table.Wherever I am or going in the house he will race to get there as if I am going to lock him away,which I have never done.I have also noticed that his eyes have become slightly cloudy and this would suggest that he is going blind! I realise that this could be causing him stress and the problems I am having but I know Bailey and he looks so sad and worried,he is my baby and am I being kind to myself by putting up with his behaviour or is it time to realise that he has not got a dogs life and no quality of life to try and get any scraps he can. Please help me make the right decision for Bailey and not me. Thankyou. |
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| In May I had to make 'that' decision for my 16 year old, OES therapy dog, Pearl. And then 2 months later I had to make 'that' decision for my 10 year old, Beardy, Coz. My decisions were for two very different reasons, but, it didn't matter WHY...... A 16 year old is (kind of) expected not to last too much longer....but every day for the last month of her life, I would look at her...I mean REALLY look at her,,,hoping it was NOT the day...But, on the last day, when I looked into her eyes, she told me....I listened with my heart....and I had to do it. She was the sweetest, kindest, warmest pup I had ever had, and I knew I had to be there for her. To make that most UNselfish act of kindness ...the last thing I would ever do for her. She was hurting. Her spine was withering away. She messed in the house and it made her very sad...I told her it didn't matter and I would give her a treat and a hug...She was ready...but her spirit??? I don't think any OES loses that 'spirit' .. My Beardie, Coz, was never what you would call a happy dog....He had many issues and I loved him in spite of all of them...In June of this year, I directed him to lay and began to place him down and he bit me...not stictches bite...but a bite just the same. I have 5 grandchildren...I talked to many many friends here on the forum...but the reality was...I had to make "the" decision for the safety of my grandbabies... I was sad..but, in a way, I knew that he was finally at peace....no more issues..and he had Pearl at Rainbow Bridge..and they were together...forever... I understand your heart...and how hard it is..BUT.. YOU are the only one who knows your dog...and you are the only one who can make 'that' decision. AND...whatever you decide..it will be the right decision. Feelfree to lean on us....draw from us here on this wonderful forum....We have walked your path and we understand how much it hurts...and we will be there for you.... ... |
Hello and welcome to the best forum on the web!! I am biased, I admit  So sorry to read about this dilemma with your beloved Bailey. It is so difficult to face their old age when quality becomes an issue. No one knows your Bailey better than you, and trust Val when she says that you will know when. Many of us have been through this with our babies, and it is always gut wrenching horrible. Even when you know it is the right time, you will always look back and wonder. Its just the way it is. For that reason, I urge you to get a thorough exam and blood work from his veterinarian if you haven't done that already. The vet may offer some solutions to help preserve his quality and dignity. The vet opinion is invaluable in my opinion. I wish you all the best during these difficult days.  |
| I'm wondering at his not wanting to go outside. You said his eyes are getting cloudy. Maybe cataracts? If he is not seeing very well, it could be spooky outside. You could try going outside in your garden with him on a leash so he knows that you are right there. As for looking sad...I think almost every dog has times when they look sad. Mouth closed(not panting) and looking up at you with those big brown eyes. Yeah it does appear sad. My Gar has that look, yet he is the least sad dog I know. |
| I remember that sad look towards the end. They look like they want to apologize for the shape that they are in. You are the only one that will know when that time is right, your heart will know. It is the hardest thing you will do. I am still crying while I am writing this and it's been over a year since we lost our Pooh Bear at the age of 12. He had a hard time walking, his legs shook and was getting weaker. The last days he never got up and just laid there. I really don't think he was in pain, just his body shutting down and refusing to eat. We made him comfortable and I spent the last night sleeping near him in the basement. The 40 mile ride to the vet, I laid next to him in the back of the van. I laid next to him on the floor of the vet office, trying to memorize his smell. I miss him terribly and you will, too. They are such a big part of our lives. Your vet will give you the best advice on his health at this time. Please keep in touch with us here. We are here for you. |
| It could be cataracts, but more likely it's simply nuclear sclerosis. The latter occurs in older dogs as a natural part of aging and does not typically impair eyesight: my 14 year old had it, but her vision was fine; was just peeking at her almost 12 year old daughter's eyes, and she has some evidence of it as well now. As they age, their hearing may start to diminish and I actually think that's more disorienting to them. As they age they can also develop some (geriatric) cognitive issues (Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, I think it's called). For some reason these issues (confusion) appear to be worse at night, I forget why. You may want to mention that to your vet, as in some cases there are meds that may be able to help. As for being hungry all the time, if I understood you correctly, I'd say be grateful. It's when they stop eating you worry. My old girl's appetite, always healthy <g>, increased as she aged, yet she wasn't gaining any weight. The last year, especially, I started adding protein to her diet (a boiled egg, some fish, a little extra meat, whatever was handy) Popular wisdom has it you need to be careful with high protein diets in geriatrics, but apparently that is only true if they're experiencing kidney dysfunction (this is where a simple blood panel may come in handy) All of her values were fine right up will the end, so I supplemented and it made both of us feel good if you know what I mean. As others have mentioned, only you and he can really know if his quality of life has diminshed to the point where you need to make a difficult decision, but though 11 is young to have some of the issues you're describing, apart from the noise issues/agorophobia - which from you describe it sounds like he's had to some extent all his life anyway, but are more pronounced now - his issues seem sort of normal old dog to me and a visit to the vet may be in order to see if any of them can be alleviated before you drive yourself crazy trying to figure out what's the right thing to do. Kristine |
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| Ditto to what kristine said there is still life in the oldie still. No having trouble getting up, falling down on the floor with bad back end. Still eating with gutso, might be a little bit going in the sight, hearing selective, but sounds completely normal to me and still a few good years ahead still. 11 is getting older but not completely into what I call the golden oldie age. Eyesight at that age they can have trouble of a night time seeing as a clouding/hardening of the lenses is not uncommon, also what I call a "Doggie Dementia" too can happen, a bit of confusion!!!. Your sweetie still has a way to go before making any sort of decision. Oldies are hard work, people say how hard it is with puppies, not so, our seniors are our nemisis in life. A lot more care and attention then raising a pupper. Your boy is still mobile, eating well, not collasping on the floor with a dicky backend. A little bit of confusion at the moment, sight might be not as sparky as it once was, but I can tell you also, familiar and routine with oldies is what they live for everyday. Make anything different and it does not help the situation. As far as outside is concerned, take him out on a lead so he feels near you if the eyesight is going. Night time before bed, same thing, like a puppy on a lead, potty and again as soon as they wake in the morning out to potty, as they do when older go into a heavier sleep and can leak or pop a nugget without knowing in there state of bliss and weaker mussels over night in a heavier sleep mode.. I know this is hard at the moment, but I still think you are not quite there with your darling bailey just ageing is hard and he still sounds like there is life in the older boy still  Yes senility/doggie dementia can make there personalities change a bit to scavengers to all sorts of weird and unusual personas in them. I can tell you with one girl, a ghost lived behind our freezer when she was 13. She would jam her head beside the freezer and the wall and bark and bark and bark. We accepted we had a ghost   Other times I would be cleaning up after her, wees and poohs after struggling to get up or heavily sound asleep, other times, she would stand with her head against the wall or door in her fairy land. Yep old age sucks but unless they are completely disabled and suferring a lot, parts of getting older are hard to see and expereince, when it becomes unbearable and we think they are suffering for it then is the time we have to make that awfull and tortuous decision on there behalf. |
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