Pets- when is time time to let go?

[quesyrah]

Back story: We recently chose to rehome our 13 year old corgi with my MIL. She was anxious and stressed around the kids and kept peeing on their toys. After multiple trips to the vet and tests showing nothing other than the arthritis we already knew about, we decided to find her a quieter and less chaotic home. MIL was happy to take her and since she lives about 2 miles away we still get to visit a lot.

She seemed to be doing well there but MIL called yesterday to say the dog was having an issue with her front paw and wouldn't bear weight on it and wouldn't go out to go potty. So we took her to the vet today. $800 later.....basically she's just old and her arthritis is really settling in. She has been on glucosamine daily for about a year. When we picked her up today the vet said she's really in a lot of pain and the only real way to manage it at the point is pain meds. She suggested a daily dose to the tune of $60/month.

I've been really struggling with whether or not she's truly suffering and if the pain meds will make her feel good or if we're just prolonging her suffering. I also feel incredibly guilty for abandoning her but I do still think it was the right choice. There was a noticeable change in her attitude after we made the move.

I asked the vet when you know it's time to let go and she said that for most pets there is a period of gray between healthy and obviously declining. For some pets they can go years with pain/comfort management and for some it really doesn't do much or they decline quickly once they've reached that point.

I've never put a pet down and don't know how to make the decision. And I'm sad.

Wow that got long and rambly. Sorry

[quesyrah]

Also, please don't flame me for re homing her. You don't know my lyfe and all, it was truly the best decision for her

[Deleted]

I know absolutely nothing about pets, but it's clear you care for her and I just wanted to say good luck in this decision.

[Deleted]

I wouldn't dream of flaming you for re homing. You guys obviously weighed your decision carefully and it sounds like it was for the best. I am so sorry you are having to face this difficult fork in the road. Good luck with your decision. I would be inclined to at least try a month or so of pain meds to see if it helps and go from there. Hugs.

[dizzycooks]

Jun 26, 2015 21:56:32 GMT -5 quesyrah said:

Also, please don't flame me for re homing her. You don't know my lyfe and all, it was truly the best decision for her

Honestly you gave her to someone you know and trust and you still visit her. You appear to still be taking care of her financially. I could hardly flame that. My dog would probably love a quieter household

Re what to do, I am not looking forward to that day. Perhaps try the meds and see how she responds?

[quesyrah]

We're definitely going to try the meds and see what it does for her. Thanks for the kind words. Having pets get older is so hard

[cna]

I am not in a position to flame you for rehoming your dog. You obviously care about her and you made a carefully thought out decision based on her well being. Nobody can fault you for that.

As far as your question, for me it would be about quality of life. Absolutely try the meds. If you don't see a real improvement and she is still in pain with the meds, it might be time to let her go. I know it is a really difficult decision to make and I am so sorry you are being faced with it.

[mamaalysson]

You obviously care for your dog immensely, and I'm sorry that you are dealing with all of this. We are not a pet family, so I don't have advice, but I'm thinking of you.

[Deleted]

What Cna said.

[abs]

I'm sorry you have to make this choice. Pets are family and it's never easy. I think rehoming her was probably the best thing you could have done for her so no flames there! When my childhood dog got sick pain meds kept her going for another few years. Once it was time to let go we knew.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

At that age I would try the meds for 3-4 weeks and let him go if not. A younger dog I would be more aggressive in treating. When my childhood dog went downhill my dad let him suffer far too long hoping he would pass naturally and it was terrible to watch.

Admittedly I am a judger of rehoming dogs but there is a world of difference when you're placing the dog with someone they know and you're visiting them vs throwing them on craigslist or the pound because babies and dogs are hard and you didn't take the time to properly train. No judgement here. I hope the meds help.

[quesyrah]

Well the vet just called to say her blood test came back abnormal. Her liver enzymes are elevated so we'll re check in 2 weeks and go from there. My poor girl

[InBetweenDays]

I am so sorry you are having to deal with this. We had to go through this last March, and will likely have to with another dog in a few months.

The dog we had to say goodbye to last March was 13 years old, was our "first baby", and we thought he was very healthy. But he was diagnosed with bladder cancer in December, which we were treating (not with chemo, but with a less expensive alternative), but then he did something which caused him to lose all feeling/control in his back half. Within 3 days he couldn't walk and kept soiling himself, and this is a dog that would normally play fetch for hours. It still wasn't an easy decision.

Our other dog is 12.5 and has arthritis as well as a mangled front leg. He's 83lbs and is on Novox 2x per day - has been for at least 5 years. But it has gotten to where H has to carry him up and down the stairs most days. He is still happy though so it is less of a clear cut decision. Both dogs also have/had elevated kidney and liver enzymes - likely from the Novox. The one who passed in March didn't tolerate it as well. The one who is still with us has been doing okay with elevated levels for years.

Our vet said to pick three of their favorite things. When they are unable to do those things anymore, you can feel comfortable saying goodbye (and this isn't to say you shouldn't feel comfortable before then if it is right for you).

I'm so sorry. It really is tough to know when we are keeping them alive for them or when we are doing it for ourselves.

[quesyrah]

InBetweenDays sorry to hear that you've been through this

That's a good thing to consider though- her 3 favorite things.