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  1. #1
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    Will I know when it’s time?

    Hi all, sorry this is such a heavy topic. I have a soon to be 15 year old female. She is doing well for the most part, eating, and even having mini zoomies when I come home from work, but she really doesn’t have any interest in anything else. I give her rimadyl if I feel she’s having a stiff day. Lately, she’s been very needy and doing this dry wretching thing.

    I guess im just having a lot of anxiety about this because every time I’ve had to euthanize an animal it has been in an emergency situation and I feel like those animals made the decisions for me. I plan on having this talk with my vet, but I was hoping y’all could give me some things to look for and support.

  2. #2
    Real Retriever Beth C's Avatar
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    I've sent several dogs to the Rainbow Bridge over the years, and yes, they've all told me when it's time. However, you have to be receptive to their wishes. We had a boxer, Duke, several years ago who got a very fast developing cancer, and one day, he came and stood in front of me, hung his head almost down to the floor, then looked up with very sad eyes. He was asking me to help him. We sent him to the Bridge that day. It was so sad, but we felt we followed Duke's wishes.

    When your dog looks sad, doesn't want to do her usual activities, mopes around, goes off her feed, and looks miserable more than she looks happy/content, you'll know it's time.

    Prayers for you as you decide when the time is right. It sounds like your girl is still having some good days.

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  4. #3
    Best Friend Retriever Java's Avatar
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    If your vet says it’s time, it is. Other times, it’s not as clear. You think it’s time but suddenly, your dog bounds across the yard or plays with a toy. Your dog can give you the look but it can be hard to accept. Sometimes, your vet will give you a specific thing to look for. With my current dog, my vet has said firmly that when Boomer stops eating, it’ll be time.

    I keep a list of my dog’s top three favourite things. When those diminish to almost nothing, I take it as a sign it’s time. Having heard stories of other people waiting too long, I try to go by the saying, a day early is better than a day too late.

    It’s hard to worry and to anticipate loss, yet stay in the moment to love your dog. I know you’ll do what you think best for her. She’s lucky to have you as her person.

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  6. #4
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    I would talk to the vet...get a good grasp on exactly what is wrong with her at this point (or at least potentially if you don't want to do whatever testing might be involved). The retching could be from heart problems. The neediness could be a reaction to the rimadyl...or pain....or fear/anxiety.

    You'll have a better idea of what you're trying to evaluate after talking to the vet (presumably).

    I look for signs of pain/serious fear (from discomfort that might be otherwise not obvious). My promise to any animal I take in is to help them avoid this to the extent possible. Sometimes that has meant allowing them to die with some dignity. I don't let mine linger. I do what I have to do to ease them and then deal with myself afterwards.

    Your girl's lack of interest could easily be from anxiety....but that has a cause. Let the vet take a look at her.

    Sending all good thoughts for your girl's comfort and your eventual peace of mind.

  7. #5
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    It's a really, really hard time. I learned with a dog I was sitting that they hide, or don't even feel, how badly they might be when the person they love most is with them. People do this too. So I try to gauge, how much are you with me and acting fine and how much are you home alone while I'm at work? While at the Vets or maybe home with someone else they might not act as hale and hearty. Well, at the Vet's they're stressed, maybe, so that's why I have ignored the Vet too, sometimes. But I do seriously consider what the Vet tells me. Not really an answer, I know.
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  9. #6
    Senior Dog
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    With mine I've known, but they've been pretty sick - two went downhill very quickly so it's not like they were in bad shape for more than a couple days. The other one (Jolie) was a bit harder to tell, but we knew she had a large abdominal mass, so we knew the end was coming, it was just a question of when, and for her it was when she stopped eating.

    The one thing I would say though, is that I don't expect my dogs to be as active and up and about at 15 as they were even at say 12 or 13, so as long as they are eating and seem content, I don't worry too much if they don't want to do much else. I mean, if I was over 100 I wouldn't expect to be all that active either. Signs of actual pain, anxiety or depression are different than an elderly dog who spends most of their time sleeping though.

    In your case, the dry wretching sounds like it might be a cough (that's what dog coughing usually sounds like) which might be indicative of heart disease. I'd get an assessment from your vet so you know what you are dealing with.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

    Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009

    And remembering:

    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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  11. #7
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    Thanks all, I thought heart too, but she was at the vet for her check up a couple months ago and I mentioned it and he told me her heart and Lungs both sound like a 6 year old dogs. So who knows what that’s about. She can get up on her own and still jumps on the sofa. I definitely don’t feel like now is the time, I’m more just worried that I am going to be one of those blind people who can’t see the reality of the situation. Like I said, with previous dogs and many horses, it’s always been a clear choice. I’ve never had to make that choice for “old age” and I want to make sure I do the best for her.

  12. #8
    Senior Dog
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    Quote Originally Posted by stella3 View Post
    I’ve never had to make that choice for “old age” and I want to make sure I do the best for her.
    Well, as my vet says "old age is not a disease", so as long as she is feeling okay, enjoy the time you have with her! And if she stops feeling okay, get her checked out to see if it is something easily treatable, then if not, you'll have some decisions to make.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

    Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009

    And remembering:

    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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  14. #9
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    This thought helps some when you reach such a sad and difficult time ... got it from a friend a couple of years' ago, but it sticks with me: "One of the promises we make to our pets is we will never let them suffer. Unfortunately, you had to make good on that promise today."

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