Bulldogs World

Hi Reuben's Dad,

Maude and Gus are 5 and 3, respectively, so I haven't dealt with aging with them but I have with a previous dog.  I'm no vet or anything but what you describe seems like the normal aging process that all of us will experience if we are fortunate enough to live that long.  I bet the aspirin makes Reuben's arthritis feel better but he still doesn't have the energy a younger dog does and that is to be expected.  Since he still likes to eat, is not in any pain and he is happy in your company, I don't think you should do anything now.

I can tell you about my experience with our beagle, Finny.  As Finny got older, she slowed down and by the time she was 16-1/2, she started exhibiting signs that her health was in decline.  She suddenly began having awful, strange bowel movements, totally unlike anything I'd ever seen and her appetite disappeared.  My dad would fix her special things that were always treats for her:  mashed potatoes, oatmeal, chicken, etc., and she was not interested.  Her eyes were dull and lifeless.  She had a hard time getting comfortable when she would lie down.  As much as I tried to deny the changes in Finny, as these symptoms/signals continued, I knew it was time.  I took my girl to the vet and let her go.  I grieved for Finny but I knew it was the right thing to do.

I think you will probably hear from others on this board that will tell you that Reuben will let you know and I believe that.  Continue to keep your eyes and ears open to him.  Meanwhile, love him and pamper him as much as you can. 

It sounds like your boy is about average for his age. How his latest health issue effects him may tip the balance.

An idea for his accidents in the house - if you have tile or wood floors, lay towels down on the floor. You can pick them up when soiled and toss is the washer. It will bug you less and ease his mind about going inside, he likely doesn't have the control he once did.

It is typical for old dogs (and old humans) to have ups and downs, just be aware of the overall trend. My criteria for 'when' has been when they show no interest in eating and/or the number and depth of 'bad days' overtake the 'good days'. Use your dog's quality of life as your guide, not how frustrated you are with him.

and we always said that as long as they were eating, not in pain, and enjoying a few little parts of their day like naps and petting, we would keep on going with them.  Our boy with lymphoma let us know when it was time, he stopped eating and would just lie in one spot, and we just knew it was time.  It's a very sad decision to make, I wish you and your boy the best.

I know most apartments have atleast a few stairs - could this be an issue for him going outside? If your hip bothers you, would you want to do stairs?

If no stairs, then I'm at a loss for not going outside.  I know Gizmo HATES her harness, and its a struggle if its on, for her to do either #1 or #2, she would rather have it off, and a leash on her collar.

Asprin - I dont know what the suggestions are - I do know that 'Buffered' are coated, and that cutting one, defeats the purpose of the buffered or coating.   Asprin seems to be the miracle drug for humans - But I'm not up on the ramifications with dogs.

I wish I had more answers, or advice for you :( I dread the days of old age for anyone in the family :(

My boy Rocky was 12 when I had to let him go,because of bone cancer,  but up until that day he was slowing down a little bit, but he loved to eat and sleep, loved to be on the couch next to me and get lots of loving, nobody knows your boy like you do, he will let you know when its time, untill then just enjoy the time you have together,

with other posts here that suggest Reuben will tell you when he has had enough and it will be then that you will decide to help him cross the Rainbow Bridge. Perhaps he will spare you having to make that decision as our Chloe did at 11. Animals know when it is time and I feel sure that he will let you know when he is ready. This is a very sad time for all of you and my thoughts are with you as you love, pamper and share the remaining time with Reuben.

I agree with the others.  A few suggestions for you. 

If he just started peeing in the house, see if you can get a urine sample to the vet and make sure he doesn't have anything going on (like crystals or a UTI). Since your last post, I tried something Micki had suggested. But, instead of the stuff the show dogs use to keep their feet from slipping, I picked up some stuff called Sortquik. It's for people to use on their fingertips if they have to handle a lot of paper. It looks like a waxy paste, and I rub it onto all 4 feet pads. It lasts about 3-4 hours and REALLY helps on the tile floors. You can pick it up at Staples or OfficeMax. I got mine from Amazon. 

Good luck with your boy. I know exactly what you're going thru...

if he is eating well, has moments of joy and isn't in pain, then in my opinion it isn't time. I've bought several cheap rubber backed throw rugs to help my old dogs navigate easier on tile/wood floors. Not real fashionable but I feel that I owe it to them to make their lives as stress free as possible.

It is sad when the reality of saying good-bye gets closer, I've been through it so many times and it never gets easier.

and i hope not rude but i'm going to venture an anwer for you...yes, you will know when it is time, but my gut feeling is you are not ready now.  you sound really conflicted.  that doesnt mean the time is not soon, but my impression from your post is that it is not the day to decide. 

enjoy your time together, even with the challenges of an older dog. it will never seem like the "right time" to let go because it is an awful experience.  but you will know when it is your only choice left.

good luck to  you.  hardest thing in the world.  the only thing i hate about pets is that we generally outlive them,

i always felt the time came when they no longer would eat....that to me is the time....i dont care if they sleep all day....i dont care if i  have to clean a mess or two up.....let them enjoy their old age....they deserve it...

just finished going thru this with my 15 yr old.  went thru it before with my 16 yr old. the problem is that dogs don't complain, its rare that they ever tell you that they are in pain, and most of the time, as much as we all wish it would happen.. most of time , they don't just die peacefully in their sleep :(

its like an emotional roller coaster for the next few weeks, or hopefully you will have a bunch more time.. one day they seem to be doing better, the next day not so good, and then you have to think about it again.. and then they get better again, so then there is hope again! repeat.. back and forth.. repeat.

it started with Gabbys massive diarehea, which led us to the dr. letting us know she probably had liver cancer or something, then we started trying to find remedies in hopes to extend her "3 month at the most" time frame.  And she did, she got better , got over the diarehea, finally got back on a normal poo schedule! but at the same time, the disease weakened her muscles, made her lose weight, thus weakening her legs, which led to her falling, thus pinching her nerve, thus no longer able to walk.  then she adjusted again.. got better at walking on 3 legs, front legs appeared stronger, ok great- we were ready to get her a wheel chair! .. then her front legts started getting weeker, then she got more wobbly.. then her body just couldn't keep up anymore.

so throughout all of this, we were basically carrying her in and out of the house, literally every 4 hrs ( we are able to work from home alot).. even in the middle of night, pretty much every time she woke up from a nap, because I believe that she could not control her muscles down there normally anymore.. so sometimes while struggling to get up or change positions, she would have an accident... we didnt mind the clean up, but its hard to wake up and see your baby had to sleep in her own poo/pee, then you think - what happend, i followed the schedule?- how can i make it better next time..

the hardest part is when you know that they are extra tired too, but you know you have to try to make them pee/poo while they are out, other wise there will be more accidents... it was getting cold and rainy here, it was hard to see gabby getting cold, and us trying to force her to pee/poo in the middle of night. i can't imagine how hard it is for you living in an apartment. . 

most days she would eat like normal or appear even hungrier ( i think it was the drugs she was on)... but other days, she lost interest and I had to hand feed her.

its hard because throughout all of this, she adapted, like all dogs will. she learned to bark at us when she wanted something. she got used to the schedule. her mind was still alert and completely coherent, this was probably the hardest thing.

in her last couple of days, her body just gave out. she didnt even want to pick up her head to eat or drink.. she seemed extra tired and just wanted to sleep..i wasn't sure if she was in pain. but we realized, that even though we were doing the best we could for her, that this was no life for her. by this time, she was completely immobile and depended on us to carry her everywhere. my neighbors think i am crazy for trying to walk a bully while carrying a 40 lb dog down the street, just so she could smell her old smellls and get a change of scenery every day. I felt sorry for her that on days that we did have to work, she would just have to lie in the same spot until we got home.. we would try to make it interesting.. different types of beds all over the house, always rotating to make sure she didnt get sores.

sorry so long... but thats how we made our final decision.. believe me , we went back and forth and really thought we would do it a couple of times.. but then she got better again.. so it was joy for a while... and then sometimes you feel selfish, like you are keeping them alive for you and not them anymore. 

i love old dogs and probably could have tried again to see if she got better and then maybe squeezed out another couple of weeks again. old dogs definitely deserve to sleep all day , eat, sleep some more, and have accidents, but since she was losing weight weekly (no matter how much she ate- and I have been homecooking all of her meals - brown rice, yams, chicken, or turkey or beef or salmon)  I knew it would just be a matter of time.. my vet said.. that besides everything i was doing to try to keep her happy and comfortable, putting her down was the one and only thing that I could really do for her.

i miss her dearly but dont regret anything because i would rather see her go peacefully, then have a tragic death like my last dog...whose last days were similar to gabbys.. momo had no more use of legs, completely coherent, but had to lie down to eat... this led to him getting bloat, and dying a sad and painful death.. with momo, we learned the hard way, that maybe we shouldve put him down sooner then we did. I still beat myself up over that, even though I know there is no way we couldve known  or couldve prevented that my dog with stomach of steel (a 100 lb german sheperd who once at 11 fried chicken drumsticks and didnt even throw up or have to go to the vet!) would die that way.

sorry, i know what you are going thru.. the best you can do is plan for the inevitable so you will be prepared when it happens... make everyday the best day of his life, the most delicous meals possible, last few walks at the park, let him nap with you on the bed a couple of more times, car rides, hugs, kisses,  whatever he loves doing, do it now!!!

good luck :)

You will know when, but it does sound like normal old age stuff you are dealing with right now. I've had to deal with it with cats before (Rex is my first dog) and my cats lived 15, 17, 20 years. We would joke about it being a geriatric unit. I adjusted to their needs as they got older. I made it easier for them by moving the litter box up from the basement to the main floor so they didnt have to do stairs. Two of them were diabetic, so i had to give insulin shots. Cats are more silent than dogs about revealing their pain, but it was the same, when they stopped eating and seemed to find no more joy, I had to make the tough decision to let them go. Our bully will be 10 in February and we just enjoy every day with him and each day he gets more spoiled and more loved. You sound very close with your dog and I think you will know by looking in his eyes when life is no longer fun for him. I've never tried this, but I've seen those big dog grassy indoor litter boxes- perhaps that is an option for the peeing? I know the peeing can be bothersome to some people, but none of us have the same bladders we had when we were younger, so we should all be a little more kind about each others leakage issues :-) good luck...

thanks everyone, always nice to get some reassurance from others, hearing your exeperiences, and good thoughts and suggestions, thank you so much. And Judy I love what you said, " I dont care if they sleep all day....i dont care if i  have to clean a mess or two up.....let them enjoy their old age....they deserve it".... So well put!!! Exactly, I will remember those words everytime I see Reuben slip or fall, he will battle through and just have to keep positive thoughts and cherish every moment with our lovely pets, thanks again!