Asked on the Dog Forum by sadiesasha on 11/29/2004, 11:04 pm
Q: putting to sleep
I was wondering what people think of putting your animals to sleep. One of my dogs is getting pretty old, 13, and is slow moving most of the time. She has good days too though, where she'll run and play like she was 5yrs younger.
I'm wondering if it's ok to let your dog die naturally, or if it's wrong to keep hoping that today is going to be a good day for her.
Answered by Swoozie on 11/30/2004, 6:25 am
A: putting to sleep
First off, you need to take your dog to the vets to have any medical problems ruled out. Things such as low thyroid will cause a dog to become less active and a low thyroid affects their over all quality of life. She may have arthritis and it's causing her to become slower and less active. Your vet can perscribe medication for arthritis that wil help to aleviate pain associated with it.
All dogs once they reach 8 years of age should be seen by a vet twice a year for a geriatric exam. The vet will do a CBC, full blood panel, thyroid test, listen to their heart, lungs, may possibly take xrays to look for signs of arthritis and to look for any abmormalities such as shape and size of their internal organs, their teeth will be checked to rule out any dental issue such as abcessed teeth or gum disease. Older dogs can develop renal failure, liver problem, cancer of the organs and all these can be caught with routine exams. Older dogs can develop some conditions that need to be monitored so you and your vet will know when they've advanced to a point that they're affecting a dogs quality of life and the best decission, for the sake of the dog would be to have it euthanized rather than to risk it suffering from the affects if an illness and eventually just succumbing to it. For a person to allow a dog to just continue to get sicker and sicker and let them deteriorate and suffer is selfish on the owners part and cruel to an animal.
Your dogs is 13 year old and is acting as a 13 year old dog should be expected to act.. They do become slower, lay around more. She should not be expected to act like she's did when she was 5, but if she has days where she's active and playing as if she was 5, that's great!!
Here's an age chart telling you just how old your dog is in human years. :-)
http://www.cdhs.net/dog_age.htm
> I was wondering what people think of putting your animals to
> sleep. One of my dogs is getting pretty old, 13, and is slow
> moving most of the time. She has good days too though, where
> she'll run and play like she was 5yrs younger.
> I'm wondering if it's ok to let your dog die naturally, or
> if it's wrong to keep hoping that today is going to be a
> good day for her.
>
Answered by jessthov2001 on 11/30/2004, 6:31 am
A: putting to sleep
> I was wondering what people think of putting your animals to
> sleep. One of my dogs is getting pretty old, 13, and is slow
> moving most of the time. She has good days too though, where
> she'll run and play like she was 5yrs younger.
> I'm wondering if it's ok to let your dog die naturally, or
> if it's wrong to keep hoping that today is going to be a
> good day for her.
>
Sometimes older animals will go in their sleep quite suddenly. As hard as that is, its ok. But I believe that no animal should have to suffer or lead a poor quality life. If there is no way to stop suffering with treatment, or improve the quality of life for that animal, then the most humane thing you can do is have them put sleep.
What you need to look at is your dog's quality of life. Make a list of 4 or 5 things that your dog really enjoys doing, like with a favorite, going for walks, eating and drinking should also be on the list. When those things start to disappear, then it is time to say goodbye. It is the toughest decision that we pet owners have to make, and its never an easy one. There are people willing to talk with you about your pet, people here have all been through it, and are willing to talk to you about, and here is another website for you www.rainbowbridge.com
Another thing you could do, and I should have written this part first, sorry. Have your dog seen by a vet to find out if there are some medical conditions, such as arthritis that can be managed. If your dog is arthritic that could be the reason why she seems slower some days, there are some good arthritis treatments availbable for dogs and they may help improve her quality of life for awhile.
Best wishes to you and your dog
