I was walking the Lhasa earlier when she walked right in to a lamppost! She also had a small stumble down the few steps to the lower level of the bungalow when something was in the way. She also won't leave us alone and when Mrs Z went out the other day, the started to howl, even though I was there and comforting her. This is a bit of a worry as Mrs Z is going away for a few days with girlfriends soon and I'll be looking after pooch. I hope she doesn't get too distressed.
She's been recently groomed so it's not hair over her eyes.
Took her to the vet and she's been diagnosed as being blind and deaf. So no running off the lead on un-enclosed ground as she can't hear her recall.
She's also losing a lot of weight - I had noticed that her dog coat is very loose on her. She's never been very big and she refuses all dog foods - wet and dry so I've been cooking her rump steaks with peas and carrots which she does appear to be enjoying.
Bloods show no medical issues, the vet thinks it's just old age and said that she may become more distressed when alone as she is now totally relying on smells.
She's 14, which is old for the breed. Amazingly she still finds her way around the house and garden, so long as there is nothing in the way, so we will have to be careful when leaving things out of place.
Save for a bit of arthritis, she's not in any pain, so we've got her for a while yet, I hope.
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Really sad when dogs start to show signs of age but they do seem to be quite comfortable adaptable to their lack of certain senses. Its when they loose control of their bodily functions which is really difficult.
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She's currently on the sofa asleep. This morning and most of the afternoon she has been busy supervising the workman who is preparing the last pin for our wall.
By coincidence, her insurance quote came today from a well known pet superstore. £1600!!!!!
Self insurance time I think.
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The deterioration continues.
She's now falling off the sofa and down the stairs. We have put up stairgates.
She is still eating healthily and has learnt to use pet stairs to get on the sofa (but not down).
(I know pets shouldn't be allowed on sofas but she's always been a lapdog.)
She fell of the raised arm of the sofa this evening and on to a hard wooden floor. She didn't even let out a yelp. She then went to the kitchen to get a drink and seems to be walking ok.
I felt her body for any reaction to pain and there wasn't any. She liked the attention.
At the weekend we took her to a family BBQ where she interacted with everyone she knew by smell and then turfed my 30 year old nephew out of his chair by sitting next to him and playing "the little one said roll over". She also managed to swindle many guests out of cooked chicken and sausages - so she still has most of the little brains she originally had.
She has stopped barking.
The vet says she is not in any pain, just old. I am not having her put down until she is suffering and despite the clumsiness she doesn't appear to have injured herself. I hope I'm doing the right thing?
It's more "wrenching" then I thought it would be.
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Its all about quality of life, for dog and owner. If the dog seems happy (and its fairly easy to tell) then its fine to carry on. If life for the owner is ok, ie the dog is not messing the house, you can make changes to accomodate the dogs issues without resentment, then clearly its not time to face the choice. What its not time for is an arduous drug routine, procedures and surgeries, its not fair to put your dog through that.
My oldie is 13, She has fairly advanced cataracts had some form of neurological attack that resulted in almost total deafness, tho the hearing register has come back on lower frequencies, is going senile (tho its difficult to know if its just old age selective stroppiness). She is clean around the house, still loves walks, swimming, and toys. We have had to make some small adjustments, but nothing of note. Not prepared to put her though any form of invasive surgery if anything serious happens, if we have to make major adjustments she will have to go.
Wrenching? you havent even come close yet, that occurs at the vet while you whisper in the dogs ear and hold its paw as the vet does the deed. Wrenching is when you come home to her young neice without auntie (auntie she has known all her life) and the youngster goes out to the car to look for her auntie.
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Years ago we had a cat with some stomach problems and spent quite a lot of dosh on various ops and potions. He seemed OK in himself and the vet never advised he should be put down.
In the end he became incontinent around the house and we took the decision, which was hard esp for the young ones (not so young then really).
What I didn't like was the mini lecture from the vet about were we sure, cats are for life etc as he took hm in. I'd think it was fairly obvious I was already quite choked but that just made me angry. made me think the vet was enjoying the £200 a month or whatever it was he'd been taking from us rather too much.
Zero is right, the procures and drugs only really prolong the (mental) agony for not much return. It was really quite sad seeing our poor old cat finding stuff difficult towards the end.
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We would always spend money if the dog was struggling.
The last dog died in 2009 but not before he had had about a month with visits very 2/3 days. Nothing could be done and she was put to sleep.
A final kiss on the forehead as I held her steady, then the vet inserted the needle.
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Well, I am shocked. Old girls insurance renewal has come through. She will be 13 a couple of months into the term. Its come in 6 quid a month more. I was fully expecting a debilitating "we dont want you any more" quote. Looks like she will get another years vet cover after all.
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That’s interesting.
Definitely had you down as a “self insure” type of guy.
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I've never insured any of my dogs, and I've had more than you can shake a stick at.
My 10 year old Pointer has never been to a vet, apart from his first jabs, he nearly died last night though as he woke me up 7 times ffs - barking at the resident hedgehog creeping about outside!!
My sister has spent £1000s on vet bills for her dog - wrong breed of dog see = mini Schnauzer.
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I don't need to open the link. I know it off by heart. It's hilarious.
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It's been money down the drain with the old girl, but quids in with the youngster who racked up a 6.5k vets bill at the age of 2 that the insurance paid most of, so thats been money in the bank.
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The Lad's Spaniel has recurrent issues with over frequent poo with blood in them.
On the mend now; she's a proper princess.
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My youngster is fit and healthy, but is fearless and careless, been bitten by an adder, and had an e-coli laden grass seed behind the eye, if anyone needs insurance she does
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My friend’s dog had an issue with a grass seed resulting in a huge lump in its neck which needed the vet to lance and drain.
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Been there done that several times. It's ruddy awful. All the best Zippy.
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