For Those With Older Pets

Ruthanne

Ruthanne

Caregiver
Location
Midwest
I have been feeling down because my doggie is older, 13 or 14, and has a serious condition. For those of you have dealt with this-how do you deal with this? I just want to snuggle with her whenever I can. She is such a sweet, loving little doggie. I KNOW I will lose her one day but since she has had this health condition it seems it may be sooner than I thought even though she is not at death's door right now.
 

My little dog will be 17 in February. He has multiple problems typical for older dogs. He is stone deaf and has cataracts that blur his vision. He stumbles a little when he walks. He sleeps most of the time. But, when he is awake he seems to still enjoy life and doesn't act like he is in pain. So, we go on. When it looks like he is suffering I will have to let him go.

It's always tough to lose a dog or any beloved pet. This is our fourth dog and it's never easy. But, it's something that comes with pet ownership. We do the best we can for them.
 
Grampa Don said:
My little dog will be 17 in February. He has multiple problems typical for older dogs. He is stone deaf and has cataracts that blur his vision. He stumbles a little when he walks. He sleeps most of the time. But, when he is awake he seems to still enjoy life and doesn't act like he is in pain. So, we go on. When it looks like he is suffering I will have to let him go.

It's always tough to lose a dog or any beloved pet. This is our fourth dog and it's never easy. But, it's something that comes with pet ownership. We do the best we can for them.
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I hear you. Wish we had forever with them ❣️😍
 

Today has been 7 years since we lost our little mini dachshund Penny. She was 14 years old when she died. Our little male dachshund died 6 months later. He also was 14 years old.
We thought they would live much longer but they did not. We still miss them both so much.
Hug and spoil your little one while you can and enjoy every moment that you spend together!
 
Well, I'm coming out the other side of a bad period. My dog (11 years old) has never, ever, been ill. But last week he was really poorly. Not eating, slow, unable to sleep, and just helpless. I don't know what I'd do without the guy. He was throwing up, and not drinking either.

A trip to the vet said he had Pancreatitis . I nursed him through, and now he's at 90% of his usual self. Thank goodness. I'm nowhere near ready to say farewell.
 
Our parrot Fred, is 47 years old, and still going strong. We believed Fred was a boy until she got romantic with my wife and laid an egg. Unlike most pet parents we are not concerned about her passing. Just the opposite. She may outlive us. Her vet is a bird specialist, so if that time should approach he should be able to find her a new home.
 
Grampa Don said:
My little dog will be 17 in February. He has multiple problems typical for older dogs. He is stone deaf and has cataracts that blur his vision. He stumbles a little when he walks. He sleeps most of the time. But, when he is awake he seems to still enjoy life and doesn't act like he is in pain. So, we go on. When it looks like he is suffering I will have to let him go.

It's always tough to lose a dog or any beloved pet. This is our fourth dog and it's never easy. But, it's something that comes with pet ownership. We do the best we can for them.
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17!! That's amazing! My little guy (there's his pic over there and actually he's 35 lbs) will be 13 in February. I'm so attached to him. Dogs have stupidly short lifespans!
 
ElCastor said:
Our parrot Fred, is 47 years old, and still going strong. We believed Fred was a boy until she got romantic with my wife and laid an egg. Unlike most pet parents we are not concerned about her passing. Just the opposite. She may outlive us. Her vet is a bird specialist, so if that time should approach he should be able to find her a new home.
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How very cool!!! Have you had her for all those years?? I would love to have a bird companion. I'm trying to befriend a crow- I hear they will bring you gifts and avenge your enemies and all sorts of nifty things. Birds are so intelligent and lovely.
 
debodun said:
I had many cats that lived well into their teens. It seems the longer they live, the more difficult to say "goodbye". I always felt so sorry for them because I don't think they can rationalize what is happening to them like a human can. But I DO feel your grief.
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For me it's that moment you have to decide. To decide to live or not is awfully gut wrenching. Even if you know there is no hope medically speaking, it tears your heart out.
 
The things in life we love most frequently end up hurting us the most. True with all my dogs over my life. Also, my parents and sister who all proceeded me in death. I feel that feeling this pain is the price paid for having love in your life.

In time the love always was very important the pain is just something you have to get through.
 
I started rescuing dogs 19 years ago and 9 dogs have come through my life. I have 7 urns in a closet. They all have taken a piece of my soul.

Amy is 10 in January and has a serious heart condition. She probably won’t live longer than a year and it’s heartbreaking. That’s not very old for a Maltese although one died at 3. It never gets easier.
 
OlderThanDirt said:
How very cool!!! Have you had her for all those years?? I would love to have a bird companion. I'm trying to befriend a crow- I hear they will bring you gifts and avenge your enemies and all sorts of nifty things. Birds are so intelligent and lovely.
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We believe she was less than a year old when we got her. As for crows, never heard of keeping one as a pet. We feed wild birds and crows frequently in our back yard. Crows are indeed among the most intelligent of birds and even of some other animals.

I have told this story before, but in case you missed it. I parked a car near a convenience store in a small local shopping
center. Got out and there was the most pathetic site, a crow with a broken wing, dragging it around as he hopped along. I went into the store, bought a pastry, went outside, tore off a chunk and threw it to the poor crow. He grabbed it and flew up on the roof. (-8
 
My dog is 14. She is my life and my heart (don’t tell the cats!) She is my first and only dog. She is hard of hearing and has arthritis and Degenerative Myelopathy, a degenerative nerve condition. I am fortunate to be able to get her acupuncture treatments and medications that keep her pain free and active. I don’t know what I will do when she is gone. I’ve lost five cats over the years and I loved them all, bot dogs are different.
 
When they quit eating and drinking and no bathroom breaks, just laying there in pain, I would take them in and get them put down. I didn't think it was fair to keep them hangin around if they were suffering. We adopted a 12 yo cat from the humane society that had liver disease. We knew she was older but I was mad that they didn't tell us about her condition.

She had a good loving home for 2 months. Then one day we had no choice but to get her put down. I don't have it in me to keep a pet and let them suffer because I'm unable to let go. I wish they could give people shots and let them go when they want to.
 
I had to put down my dog a few years ago right around this time of year. It was a tough decision but he had so many medical issues. When I thought he was in pain, I made the decision. Poor daughter had to take him in though, I was caring for my husband at that time and couldn't handle anything else. This was during covid, but they did allow her to come into the office with our dog and stay with him. She was his favorite person too, so he was in good hands with her. That was my last big dog. I'd love another dog but not right now.
 

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