My partner and I are faced with a dilema that thousands of pet owners have to face at some stage. When is the right time to put a loved pet to sleep. Jerry Lee our beautiful German Shepherd is finding it harder manage stairs. He has to be helped up them and did does not help him beaing a large and heavy dog. Our house has has been built into the side of a hill and the lounge and kitchen are on the first floor, the bed room being on the ground floor by the front door. Stupid layout. The bath room and second bed room being on the top floor. Jerry never goes up there. But to get the the lounge he has to either struggle up the first flight of stairs. Not much easier coming in the back way as from the road the back garden in built on three steep levels and Jerry Lee has to be helped down them as he falls otherwise. The back door is on the first level of the house by the kitchen.
Walks take much longer as his back legs are not what they were and he is now dragging his toes. You can hear his nails scraping the ground. He is on medication for pain and to help his joints.
Jerry Lee is healthy otherwise. It is so difficult as we do not want ot let him go. But he has to have quality of life. We are thinking at this stage that when he really can not cope with the stairs front or back, then it is time. Maybe three months are most?
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- http://menomamauk.blog.co.uk
- 2008-03-18 @ 11:02:50 am
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hemlok
- 2008-04-28 @ 04:06:06 pm
My partner and I had to have my old friend Sis put to sleep at 19 years old in 2004: she had been wobbly and stiff in her back legs for some time, but seemed happy and enjoyed short walks and plenty of cuddles: she used to wander around the house and garden with her adopted son (my cat), although she needed to be helped up and down any steps.
but after a few months, she lost interest in him, started to sleep all the time, and eventually stopped eating: that was the point when we called the vet, and we lost her the same day: but we had a chance to tell her that we loved her, and to thank her for brightening our lives: she had been with me since she was 6 weeks old, and losing her was almost too much to bear. as long as your friend is happy to be around, and your vet does not feel that they are suffering, let them do as much as they are able: but when the time comes and you have to let them go, let them go quickly, and with a monimum of fuss... the only regret I have is that the vet asked if I wanted sis's collar, and I said "yes" - but didn't get chance to tell her to leave it on until after she had gone, as Sis only ever had her collar taken off for a bath, and would get stressed and upset when we took it off.
I hope that Jerry Lee is able to enjoy being with you for a while yet: and that when the time comes, he has a peaceful end.
hem
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I was faced with a similar situation years ago when my darling Anna was aging.
I cared for her until her body gave out and she died. I carried her up the stairs, down the stairs, I made little doggy diapers so she could do her business in them during the night as her wee doggy mind didn't remember to wait till morning. We went for short walks as she could not manage otherwise.
My Anna found pleasure and life worth living even when she was old and stiff.
She loved to roll on the grass outside of our house and delighted in seeing me each and every day. For her, this was worth living for as she enjoyed these simplest pleasures.
I understand your dilemma and I say this to you. Let Jerry Lee tell you when to let him go. You will know what I mean when the time comes.
And remember that his standards for his quality of life is measured differently then yours. As we age, we do not move as smoothly as we used to.
I'll be thinking of you....good luck and enjoy every moment you can with him.
And I must tell you that I had 3 cats that died at home. They were siblings and about 17 years old when they peacefully passed away merely 3 months in between the first death and the last death.
I learned that death is not something to be frightened of but is something that can be a beautiful rite of passage as you help someone leave this world and move onto the next.
xxxx