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#1
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im going to hell for this but..
My dog is 16 years old arthritic and sometimes incontinent. She has no
immediate life threatening illness but I just can't take care of her anymore. I worked at home for several years and was able to watch over her but recently I got a well paying job but it requires me to be away from her for 12-14 hours a day. When I come home she's barely able to walk because she probably has been pacing all day and has been clawing at the door trying to get in. Its been over a week now and it's really taking a toll on her and it's not getting better. I have a feeling she has even started eating her own feces which she hasn't done in years. This is really breaking my heart but I can't lose this job. I can't give her away and the only other option is putting her down... I don't even think vets would put down a dog that isn't terminally sick would they? I know she's miserable being alone and I really haven't even given much thought about putting her down until now.. I wanted to take care of her until she died naturally but now.. i don't know. I've had her since a puppy and she's had a pretty good life i think... is it time? |
#2
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im going to hell for this but..
In article ,
Leo G. wrote: is it time? I don't think that keeping a dog alive who's profoundly unhappy is doing it any favors. There are be companionship options that may or may not work for your particular dog and your particular circumstances, including having somebody drop by to spend time with her, or doggie daycare (which brings its own set of stresses). But again, the question for me would be whether or not the dog is deeply and uniformly unhappy. -- Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis - Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community |
#3
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im going to hell for this but..
"Leo G." wrote in message ... My dog is 16 years old arthritic and sometimes incontinent. She has no immediate life threatening illness but I just can't take care of her anymore. I worked at home for several years and was able to watch over her but recently I got a well paying job .........If the job is well paying can't you pay for a companion for her for a good portion of the day? has been clawing at the door trying to get in. .........she's outside 24/7? I'd at least try doggy day care or find someone to come to your home. If she's totally miserable despite alternatives to staying alone for hours on end, then it may be time to consider euthanasia. buglady take out the dog before replying |
#4
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im going to hell for this but..
"Leo G." wrote in message: My dog is 16 years old arthritic and sometimes incontinent. There are medications to help with both conditions that would allow her to have a better quality of life. recently I got a well paying job but it requires me to be away from her for 12-14 hours a day. If this is stressing her out, look into other options. Maybe you can have a dog walker come by a couple of times a day, or there are some nice seniors or college/High School students in your area that can look in on her or otherwise spend time with her. I know that some of the doggie daycares in my area keep some of their senior dogs at the front desk with the staff, since they're just looking for some human companionship and don't particularly care to run around with the younger dogs. There are also products out there like Rescue Remedy that are supposed to help take the edge off for dogs that are stressed. is it time? Only you can answer that. If you've done everything you can to make her comfortable, and it isn't working, perhaps it would be time to considering euthanizing her. Suja |
#5
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im going to hell for this but..
In article ,
Leo G. wrote: This is really breaking my heart but I can't lose this job. I can't give her away and the only other option is putting her down... Not really. You can keep her safely indoors (seniors don't regulate their temperature real well) and hire a petsiter to come in a few times a day. No excuse with the new job, right? -- Janet Boss www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com |
#6
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im going to hell for this but..
in rec.pets.dogs.health, Leo G. wrote in
: I can't give her away and the only other option is putting her down.. Why can't you give her away?? I would look into rescue organisations in your area and talk to them. There might be one that would take a senior dog due to their more laid back personality, plus a good knowledge of their habits, likes and dislikes. -- Marcel Beaudoin and Moogli |
#7
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im going to hell for this but..
On 11 Jul 2007 20:16:23 GMT, Marcel Beaudoin
wrote: I can't give her away and the only other option is putting her down.. Why can't you give her away?... Far too many people bring their senior dogs to the animal shelter. The dogs are sometimes fixed, current on shots and even pretty, but you can't give them away--because of their age. ___________________ A dog's life is too short; their only fault really. |
#8
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im going to hell for this but..
On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:09:05 GMT, Leo G. wrote:
My dog is 16 years old arthritic and sometimes incontinent. She has no immediate life threatening illness but I just can't take care of her anymore.... is it time? I don't believe you'll go to hell for this. I consider your job very close to irrelevant here. Through technology, and money, pets--and people--are often kept alive longer than they wish to be alive. Note: it seems most vets will do practically anything, for a fee. Note the qualifiers, please. ________________________ Whatever it takes. |
#9
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im going to hell for this but..
"Marcel Beaudoin" wrote in message
. 1.4... in rec.pets.dogs.health, Leo G. wrote in : I can't give her away and the only other option is putting her down.. Why can't you give her away?? I would look into rescue organisations in your area and talk to them. There might be one that would take a senior dog due to their more laid back personality, plus a good knowledge of their habits, likes and dislikes. Well, my vet here has been so far unsuccessful in placing a really nice ten-year old miniature schnauzer, as I posted here recently. Apparently, even the rescue society is not interested in helping. A ten-year old healthy miniature schnauzer can be expected to live another five to seven years. He's a really nice dog too. -- A. Brain Remove NOSPAM for email. |
#10
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im going to hell for this but..
"A. Brain" wrote in message
... Well, my vet here has been so far unsuccessful in placing a really nice ten-year old miniature schnauzer, as I posted here recently. Apparently, even the rescue society is not interested in helping. Where are you? A ten year old but otherwise healthy miniature schnauzer shouldn't be something that a miniature schnauzer rescue group would avoid. A ten-year old healthy miniature schnauzer can be expected to live another five to seven years. Uh, not likely. A seventeen year old miniature schnauzer is pretty impressive. The average lifespan is around 14 or 15. That still gives an adopter five years - probably four before the old age stuff starts really weighing in. -- Judy Spenser - Carbor Talk of the Town, MX, AXJ, NF Sassy - Can CH Carbor Back Talk, OA, AXJ |
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