Bulldogs World

It sounds like your beloved companion could us 24/7 assistance.

However, I am Human "Right to Die" person - I can make this choice for myself now and let my wishes be known. I have seen family members go through the pain and agony of Alzhiemers, not knowing who you are, or where they are. That the human patient is basically strapped in a wheelchair for their own safety, and slowly agonizing slip further and further.

I can not make this decision for you - no one can, it is probably one of the most difficult ones to make. I do know what my choice would be for myself though.

My thoughts are with you in this decision -

Rick

It is heartbreaking to watch a beloved friend show the affects of age.

It is never easy to face that decision of when they no longer have that quaility of life, but you will know when the time has come.

{{hugs again}}

I can feel the anxiety in your words on what to do. Like Rick has said no one can make that decision for you. You know your bulldog the best and that bond you have with him will dictate the decision. He is in good hands and I wish you and him the best.

Please let us know his progress

When I look at quality of life issues with my dogs, I look at their ability to do things that they love.  Even accomodating their age and physical issues, can they still do stuff they love?  My Kano is a ball nut.  She is no longer capable of flat out running or jumping over stuff due to severe arthritis, but she can still catch a plush ball in her mouth from a few feet away.  I will occasionally toss the ball a few feet for her to retrieve.  She loves it!  She also still enjoys walks - although we go much slower and take easier routes.

I had an old lab that I rescued.  He was able to get around - with guidence on my part - due to his almost complete blindness.  He was arthritic and had a lot of difficulty getting up from a lying position.  He was also usually incontinent of bowel and bladder.  But, he loved to eat.  His poops were good, and he enjoyed going out for walks with me and my other dogs.  He also had a number of masses on his body (chest and abdomen). I had him for over a year.  Fattened him up, cleared up the sores all over his body. Gave him comfy beds to sleep in and a safe warm home. One day, I came home from work and found him in a sitting position on the floor in a corner facing the wall in a puddle of pee.  His legs had slipped out sideways - like a horizontal split.  He couldn't get up and was panting in obvious distress. I managed to get him up and had to practically carry him outside.  It took a while, but he finally calmed down.  For a few months, his breathing had become more labored with exertion, and it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to get moving.  I never wanted him to be in that kind of pain and distress again.  I had no idea how long he had been in that painful position, but I never wanted him to go thru something like that again.  I made the decision to let him go.

Do I ever second guess myself about that decision?  Yes.  But, deep down, I know I did the right thing by him. I was only able to give Ralph a little over a year of love and security.  You've given your boy years. 

You know your dog best. So sorry you and your wife have to deal with this difficult situation.   Will be keeping you guys in my thoughts and prayers.

I hated when I brought her to the vet and people in the waiting room would say "Oh, she is sooo cute and ask how old".  I would tell them I had her 7 years, she is a rescue and they all thought she was soo beautiful.  I would get into see the vet and I would get "She is sooo old...." with that "poor baby" sound in his voice.

Sorry, but my Friday enjoyed life until that last week.  She might have had accidents in the house or wander around but I would clean up her accidents and I would pick her up and bring her beside me where she would settle down into a nice ball of fur and sleep.  Dinner time, well, she loved eating so much she would bark with all her might and actually launch her front paws up to show her excitement.

For this, I could not, would not dream of putting her down.

That last week....I knew two days before she was put down that I was going to do that on her follow up.  She no longer ate.  She never wandered around looking for me.  She ate and walked back to her bed and never moved.  Clearly going thru the stage where she separated herself from us because she knew she was going to die soon.

It is all a matter of quality of life.  To me, Friday enjoyed life with us.  She hated trips to the vet so I did not put any meaning on how she behaved there compared to home.

It is hard when they get older....just like your parents and grandparents.  I did my best with her and when I had to end the suffering her body was giving her, I did.

Best of luck with your senior.

My girl is coming up on 12 and has good days and bad.  She doesn't do much other than sleep and eat and snuggle.

For STella, food is the best thing in the world.  I've always said to myself that as long as she eats with some appetite and has good "output", I can deal with the rest.  She now wears a diaper at night because she can't hold it more than about 4 hours.  So I take her out more during the day.  She trips on her feet alot so I make sure to support her when we go outside to do her business.  I make sure to give her lots of physical attention - she's been blind for three years now (unrelated to age) so the touching is especially important.

I get a lot of "oh, poor thing!" comments from people but I know that she still enjoys eating and until that goes, she stays.  That is my "quality of life" guage for my girl.  Maybe you have one of your own that can help you decide when the "right" time comes.

Hugs to you both and best of luck

he is not really eating, I have to keep putting the bowl in front of him, he is always trying to get himself stuck in corners or wander off into the kitchen and try crawling between the table and chair legs getting stuck and just laying there.... yesterday I found him beside the bathtub and toilet wedged in there staring at the wall and ground, earlier he was in the bedroom closet which he has Never done before, like he is purposely trying to hide.....

had a treat for him, he didn't care for it, and never lay around with us, always wandering off to different rooms

damn, I think it's time....

I hope this is him telling me the same thing, I am not prolonging it (like my wife thinks) because I'm not wanting to do it, but want to make sure best thing for him and not to live like this, hiding and showing no interest at all.... only time he looks normal is when he's sleeping, when he isnt he looks lost and staring into nothing but a wall or floor.....

:(

So sorry - I've been reading your threads and know you are agonizing over him.  I wish you the best and hope you can find peace with letting him go.

<3 Teresa & Vern

This was the hardest decision I have made in my life, trying to decide when it was time when Norbert was sick.  I too have been reading your posts and you are the only one that can made that decision for him.  If he is still happy laying with you, eats, can get outside on his own, isn't totally incontenient, but is disoriented, to me that is just getting old and part of the aging process.  It is very hard to watch.  At this stage he just needs extra loving and reassurance.  Does he have a crate?  If he doesn't maybe you might try one (covered with a blanket) or a cube bed to see if he is simply looking for a den like place to feel secure.  You have his best interest in your heart and you will make the right decision for him (whatever that may be). 

does he have a crate? Yes, he loves his crate, his entire life he has slept in it on his own, the door is always open and he goes in whenever he feels like it, not so much anymore as now he just lays wherever and sleeps.... he doesnt really go out on his own, I have to 'guide' him to the door and somewhat give him a tap on the butt to get him going, lol, same as when get's outside, he will just stand still not do anything unless I give him a tap.

couple years ago and most his life he weighed 48-50lbs.... today I weighed him he is around 38-39lbs  :(

not eating as much now... will just stop halfway through and again just stand there.... I shake the bowl and he then resumes. I pretty much take him to his food/water bowl.

Anyways, taking it day by day now, will see how he does over the weekend and next week, if he continues to lose weight and lose interest in most daily routines well hate to say it but think that will be time...... will keep you posted.

He's now at the point where he just stumbles trying to get up after sleeping, and when he does begin to walk he goes to one side til he hits a wall or something then just stops. If he falls over, he just lays there and doesnt even bother trying to get up. Today he didn't eat, I had to hold him up for a bit over his food bowl, he didnt want it.... yesterday I had a treat for him, he didn't eat it, had in his mouth but just spit it out and didnt bother with it. Hardly peeing or pooing because just isnt drinking much or eating. Outside when he does manage to walk he just goes in a circle.....

I said the time when he stops eating and where he can't even walk much is when I'll make that decision. He's barely eaten past few days, even added yogurt on top his food or other stuff to entice him to eat, worked for a day or so thats it....

The dementia is really bad now, just holds his head down constantly or against something, only part that he's normal is when sleeping.... probably because he's happy to be off his feet..... and also has lost over 10 lbs matter of a month or so.

Will be calling the vet and arranging the appointment.

:-(