WWPD *pet related

[vthokie]

Sigh...I just don't know what to do about our poor dog. I've talked about this before. He's old. A 13.5 year old husky. That's really old for his breed. He's DH's dog from before we started dating, so it's his baby. He's going blind, pretty deaf, and has hip problems that I think hurt him a lot (DH disagrees) We got past the "he's not eating" thing and he eats well again, though he's still super skinny. But....he poops EVERYWHERE. All the time. He can be outside for 2 hours and he'll walk in and poop within a few minutes. He just doesn't have control of his sphincter anymore. We clean up poo every day. The carpets weren't great, but they will definitely need replacing after all of the poo incidents. DH even said the other day that he'll have to be outside now and then immediately got choked up and said that being outside would be the death of the dog.

I have compromised to keeping him gated in the kitchen while we're gone so he only poops on the linoleum and it's easier to clean. I can't put an old husky outside in this heat all day.

SO, where does quality of life become an issue? In my eyes, I just don't think the poor dog leads a good life anymore. But, I also would have a tough time putting him down. I know that DH won't want to put him down unless he feels like he's in pain or something.
I don't even know what the point of this post is, because it's not like we'll really do anything with the dog yet. I guess I just need other pet owner perspectives on what you may do in this situation. I know the conversation will be broached soon, but I don't know when. Old animals make me sad. But poo on my floor makes me irritated. Sigh....

WWYD?

[lolaburns]

I'm sorry you guys are gong through this. How frustrating and so emotional at the same time. I consider quality of life being something pain-related that isn't manageable with medication or other therapy for my animals.

Would a dog diaper maybe help? I had a friend with an elderly dog that developed inappropriate elimination issues and she used one with success.

[lauranicole91]

Sept 1, 2013 22:52:09 GMT -5 lolaburns said:

I'm sorry you guys are gong through this. How frustrating and so emotional at the same time. I consider quality of life being something pain-related that isn't manageable with medication or other therapy for my animals.

Would a dog diaper maybe help? I had a friend with an elderly dog that developed inappropriate elimination issues and she used one with success.

Most dog diapers on the market are for use of pee not poop. In order to accommodate tails, it inevitably makes an easy escape route for poop. I say this as a mama of a daily diapered dog.

I think I'd gate him into a kitchen, as you said, to keep the clean up a little easier. It will still suck and take an emotional toll on you guys, but it's better than constantly scrubbing the carpet.

Is it constantly runny poop indoors? If so, Imodium is safe for dogs. My friend had a German Shepard who is a nervous runny pooper and takes it prior to stressful situations.

I don't think I could ever put a dog down unless I knew it was in a lot of pain and not eating and just wasting away.

I'm so sorry you're going through this!

[Deleted]

I second the dog diaper. Such a tough decision!

[lolaburns]

I can ask my friend the specific brand of diaper she used, if you'd like. It was for fecal incontinence not urinary. It looked similar to a cloth diaper and there were inserts she out in, I believe.

Have you discussed it with the vet? Wondering if maybe a low residue food or a medication might help. Is it from loss of muscle control? I wonder if there are other options or medications you might be able to discuss with your vet?

[robinsparkles430]

Ugh I am so sorry you have to go through this. I would take him to the vet and see what they think. Maybe they will give your some answers or ideas on what to do about the pooping everywhere.

I am such an animal lover and hate seeing them put down but when the quality of life is getting worse, sometimes it is the best thing for them.

[Beener]

In this case, I would put the dog down. He sounds miserable, you guys are miserable, and it is before your baby has a chance to get super attached. It is a very difficult decision to make and I'm sorry you are going through it.

[rjamz]

Sept 2, 2013 6:30:09 GMT -5 Beener said:

In this case, I would put the dog down. He sounds miserable, you guys are miserable, and it is before your baby has a chance to get super attached. It is a very difficult decision to make and I'm sorry you are going through it.

I agree. For animals, their great joys are eating, eliminating, and playing. Once those start to go, their quality of life decreases (I was told this by a vet once when my parents were deciding whether they needed to put their dog down). He's lived such a great long life, and you and your H should take comfort in knowing that it's only been a very small fraction of his life that he's been unhappy. I so sorry you're going through this.

[Dolci]

When our dog got to the point when it hurt to walk we kept her gated in the kitchen. She had a bed to sleep on and we spent time with her. At this age I think they really just want a companion. Our dog passed on her own, and I don't know how one comes to the decision to put them down. I'm sorry you are going through this.

[vthokie]

Thanks ladies. We've taken him to the vet, but DH takes him and I think he avoids asking questions that may lead to "you should put him down" He is definitely in pain, but he doesn't yelp or anything. He just sleeps all day. I hope that he just eventually doesn't wake up so the hard decision doesn't need to be made. I wish animals could just live forever.

[katfco]

It might be a good idea to both go talk to the vet, so you can support your H when he asks the tough questions. Asking about changing his diet might help also. My MIL's cat is really old and sick, and they had to change his diet to help his incontinence.

[vthokie]

Sept 2, 2013 8:43:28 GMT -5 katfco said:

It might be a good idea to both go talk to the vet, so you can support your H when he asks the tough questions. Asking about changing his diet might help also. My MIL's cat is really old and sick, and they had to change his diet to help his incontinence.

We may have to figure out how to get to the vet together. We've been through a lot of food changes because he wasn't eating at all. We're finally on some high quality tube food which has at least gotten him eating. The pooping thing started long before the lack of eating and food changes.

[laurack]

Ugh this is so horrible for you guys, I'm in tears.

I do think it is so hard. I would probably lean towards putting him down, the thing is dogs have a high pain tolerance I think. So even if he's not yelping in pain constantly it doesn't mean he isn't in constant pain/miserable.

My h however I don't know, even though we got ozzy together as a family I feel ozzy is more his "baby" than mine. I get emotional about animals but my H much more so. I don't know if he'd be able to say goodbye.

I hope you guys figure something out soon. The best thing would be that he passes peacefully in his sleep but the thing is, who knows how long he could hang on in this condition? It is a very difficult position to be in and a very difficult decision to make.hugs to you.

[jenbelle]

I am so very sorry you are having to go through this. Working in a vet hospital, I see it all. I agree with the pp who said that their 'joys' in life are eating and playing. They also know that going to the bathroom in the house is not good, and it makes them 'unhappy' that they are not doing their job correctly.
That being said, I know no one can make the decision for you and it sucks. It does sound like it is pretty much time. Once again, I'm sorry you have to make the decision. ((hugs))

[bean47]

I'm sorry you guys are faced with such a tough decision

[vthokie]

Dr Google has informed me that arthritis in hips and spine (both of which our dog has) can make it too painful to use the muscles required to clench the sphincter and keep in the poo. We will be making a vet appt for this week hopefully and at least looking into some pain meds for the dog. I am going to try and broach the "quality of life" discussion with DH....but that's a tough one. I'll have to see if I can pawn the child off on a neighbor so I can go to the vet with him.

[mrsjaymay]

I know you've gotten a lot of great responses, but just wanted to chime in with ((hugs)) and sorry you're going through this. I know lots of big, older dogs are on pain meds for their hips, so that might definitely be worth trying if your vet feels it might help. It sounds like he's lived a good, long life. I know that it's so hard to let go though. ((hugs))

[Deleted]

I'm sorry you are dealing with this, this decision is always so hard to make. Our dog has some of the same issues, luckily she doesn't poop on the floor nearly and often and gives us a warning (her back legs start to shake really bad when she has to to). We have her on Baby Aspirin and chondroitin tablets which both seem to help. I don't know know what we will do when it gets so bad those don't help though.

[TrudyCampbell]

Just wanted to say that I'm sorry . I know I'm not going to be able to put my dog down if the time comes. It is just so hard.

[vthokie]

Sept 2, 2013 21:40:30 GMT -5 @lindy said:

I'm sorry you are dealing with this, this decision is always so hard to make. Our dog has some of the same issues, luckily she doesn't poop on the floor nearly and often and gives us a warning (her back legs start to shake really bad when she has to to). We have her on Baby Aspirin and chondroitin tablets which both seem to help. I don't know know what we will do when it gets so bad those don't help though.

We have him on Benadryl (for a mass cell tumor), chondrotin, vitamin c, and fish oil. No aspirin yet, but we'll see what the vet says about pain meds. He's definitely had a great life. It's just a crappy thing regardless.

[charmediamsure]

Not the same thing, really, but I had a rabbit for 12 years. We had to put her down about 5 years ago. She was dragging one of her back legs and when we brought her to the vet they said she was exhibiting signs of being in extreme pain and her condition was neurological and deteriorating quickly. When the vet said she was in pain and there was nothing we could do for her I knew our options were clear. It came down to quality of life for me, I just couldn't bear the thought of her suffering.

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. I know whatever decision you both end up making will be what you feel is best. It is such a tough thing to go through. Hugs.