When do you know?

[JesusRox]

When do you know when a dog should be put down? I have an ancient Chihuahua who I love so much. I don't want her to suffer. She's kind of nuts...like she will go outside and five minutes later she's at the door again and it's a repeat thing until she'll fall asleep. It's kind of like she doesn't remember. She'll use the bathroom in the house too if no one is near her. Her leg goes out every now and then where she won't be able to walk on it at all. She'll also walk into things or if I'm opening the door to let her in she won't even realize it's open when I open it. Everyone around me keeps saying she needs to be put down but I love her so much and really don't want to do it but if she's suffering I don't want to keep her alive either. I guess it is kind of hard to describe everything though.

 

[Faithful83]

One for you and one for the little chihuahua.

How is her quality of life other than that? Is she eating/drinking? Does she seem to respond positively to attention? Does she still show interest in living?

I probably wouldn't do it unless the quality of life is obviously poor. Like if she had no interest in food or was just lethargic all the time, I would see that as a red flag.

Have you had her examined by a veterinarian to see if any medications would help her to live a little more comfortably (I'm thinking the fact she has to take so many trips outside and goes in the house when you're not around to let her out may be indicative of a possible urinary tract problem/infection, for example)?

 

[Faithful83]

It also sounds like she possibly may be losing her vision. That, in and of itself does not necessarily mean that the dog needs to be put down.

Alos maybe that leg might be arthritic? In which case some pain killers may help with that...

 

[JesusRox]

She seems to be happy to me. It's just other people who are saying she needs to be put down. She loves her meals and follows me everywhere I go still. I'm pretty sure her eyesight is going because she always has to smell me to make sure it's me too. She has been taking pills for years for her pain and incontinence (I think that's the right word...haha). She does have arthritis problems and has lumps all over which one is right under her leg that goes out. It kind of just seems like she walks around like she's lost sometimes. She'll just walk around and look around like she doesn't know what she wants.

 

[Faithful83]

Hmm, well, it seems to me from what you're posting that she still has quality of life. I don't think that I would personally euthanize a dog just based on the fact that she's not a young vibrant puppy anymore.

Just curious, has the vet given advice on whether or not she should be put down? I mean I still don't think I'd agree if she was still happy, but I just wondered if you're getting vet pressure or not.

 

[JesusRox]

I don't know her age but I took her on at an old age. The vet said she was atleast 8 years but most likely older so she's always been kind of old acting. No, the vet didn't suggest that she put to sleep. I was going to call the vet tomorrow and ask about it but maybe I won't now. hehe.

 

[Dagna]

You'll know when it's time. Don't listen to anyone but yourself (and maybe your vet). If she can walk, eat and drink, and she still gives and receives affection, I can't see a reason. It doesn't seem like her quality of life is suffering at all, she's just getting old. I'm sure at some point it will start to go downhill, but I think our pets deserve as much time as we can give them until then. I had a cat that everyone told me to put to sleep because he had feline leukemia. I didn't even think about it because he wasn't suffering at all. He was similar to your dog, he would walk and eat and drink on his own and he occasionally forgot to use the litterbox, but that was ok. He would still jump in our laps for attention. I didn't euthanize until he couldn't (or wouldn't) eat and drink on his own.

About your dog going in and out constantly, could it be that she just needs to go out more often? Chihuahua's are small dogs and as they get older, they need to go out more often. At least your dog tries to make it outside. That's a good sign. But you'll know when it's time to go. Just listen to your heart and your dog. She'll tell you when she's ready.

 

[Didymus]

hate to be a downer but my old cat ate the night before she died. She had seveal symtoms that your dog has.but then our basset was full of cancer and we never knew it. sigh. have you tried a litter pan for her ? then she won t have to go out . if she is sick that could be dangerous for her unless you go with ther.

 

[JesusRox]

Someone else also told me you'll know when it's time. Today she went walking into air off the porch but luckily my mom grabbed her. When she goes out again she doesn't use the bathroom...or can't really since she just used it.

 

[Faithful83]

I think animals usually are pretty good at telling us when they're ready to go. We had a dog who when old was really not in the best of health. We had him in and out of the vet's office getting meds because he kept becoming anemic (not enough red blood cells to properly oxygenate his body) and we kept giving him stuff that was I guess supposed to help his body produce red cells or something. One of the times he really wasn't responding and not eating (unless I held a handful of food to his muzzle and wouldn't let him leave until he ate it, of course I think he was eating more for me than for him). He had to be carried outside usually, and if he did go out on his own, had to certainly be carried back in because he just went out and laid right down, seemingly very weak.

My mom was out of town, so, although we had some phone contact (no cell phones for us yet, so we only talked to her if she called) it was pretty much my dad and I left to making the decision. We decided one morning that if he hadn't turned the corner by the time my dad got home from work, we would take him in to put him down. I was on summer vacation, so I was home with him. I went to try to feed him, and to my surprise, he not only ate the food in my hand but ate seemingly somewhat enthusiastically out of the bowl! I then went to see if he wanted to go outside. Not only did he go out without help, but he walked around, did his business, and came in without needing assistance. I think it may have been his way of telling us he wasn't quite ready to go just yet, even though from where we were standing his quality of life was quite poor except for that time.

My dad and I decided to wait and watch another 24 hours in light of this development. Unfortunately, though, 24 hours later saw him going downhill again and we just kind of got the feeling he was ready to go. But I'm glad we waited until then.

 

[SnowOwlMoon]

She seems to be happy to me. It's just other people who are saying she needs to be put down. She loves her meals and follows me everywhere I go still. I'm pretty sure her eyesight is going because she always has to smell me to make sure it's me too. She has been taking pills for years for her pain and incontinence (I think that's the right word...haha). She does have arthritis problems and has lumps all over which one is right under her leg that goes out. It kind of just seems like she walks around like she's lost sometimes. She'll just walk around and look around like she doesn't know what she wants.

For the incontinence, you can get doggy diapers for her (they do make them small enough for chihuahuas, or you can make your own out of a plastic bag and a feminine napkin). Dogs do adjust to life without sight, because their other senses compensate for it. Keep in mind that if her hearing fails, she may startle easily and snap.

What you are describing about the wandering aound as if she's lost, and doesn't seem to know what she wants is called "Canine Cognitive Dysfunction", a medical term for the dog's form of Alzheimer's. It's not painful to the dog. It's harder on the owner, as they watch their companion failing. Just be patient with her, and help guide her as much as you can.

One thing I would recommend you do is take her to the vet and have a full physical exam, including a full blood panel. As dogs age, their internal organs begin to fail (just as it does in humans). You want to be sure she does not have liver, kidney or pancreatic problems. Also have the lumps checked out. This is not cheap, BTW, and you will have to discuss it with your parents.

It sounds to me as if your pet still has some quality of life. Make a list of her favorite things--toys, food, etc. And watch to see when she loses interest in them. When she loses interest in the last thing, you'll know it is time.

 

[JesusRox]

It's been just a little over a month that we had her put down. The morning she was put down she came and laid right by me on the computer. She always laid on my bed when I was on the computer and I wondered why she'd be doing it. Later that day she started walking into walls amd when I looked at her eyes one was filled with blood. It was the only eye she could really see out of. The doctor said it could have been caused by a tumor or her her glaucoma. She said she could give medication but she's very uncomfortable and thought we'd end up back in there after the weekend was up. And then she said it would probably be best to put her down. I tried and tried to hold my tears back but I couldn't. I just held her and kept telling her I loved her. I wanted to be with her when they put her down but my mom didn't want me to but I did watch little precious die. I really wanted her to be comforted by someone she knew. I've cried the rest of that day. I've never ever missed anything as much as her. Everyday I cry thinking about her. I miss my little excited Baby when it's food time. I miss just seeing her sleep. I miss telling her I loved her and I don't know what I'd do without her a million times a day. I miss her scratching at my door to tell me she wanted outside. I miss the little Baby who stared at me begging for food. I miss the little snoring Baby. Ah, my little Baby.

 

[IvoryRain]

As for the leg, Chihuahuas are prone to luxating patella. Has she been checked for that recently?