My geriatric Malinois, who has been the best dog I have ever had, is experiencing increased discomfort in her hips. The left hip gives her noticeably more trouble than the right hip. She gingerly guides herself to the ground being sure to favor the left hip by avoiding putting weight on it. When she comes out of the crate to her food bowl she tries to support her weight on just her two front legs, actually having both back feet off of the ground for a moment while her mouth is in the food bowl and her weight is on her two front feet. For years now I have not had her jump, jog or even walk with me. I have long ago stopped giving her a "sit" or "down" command. I will tell her to "stay" but I leave it up to her how she chooses to position herself. She carries herself like a three legged dog.

I consider that it is time to put her down, but what gives me pause is how active she is when the mood strikes her. If someone is at the gate or she sees a horse running, she will give chase. She is not as fast as she used to be and she runs with a funny gait, but at that moment her will overcomes her discomfort. She also enjoys engaging my younger dog, exerting her dominance and running with him until they both lose interest. Afterwards she pays the price. She presents as more immobile and it is evident she does not want to move.

The vet has diagnosed the condition as being degenerative with no solution other than to try and manage her discomfort. I have used prescription and non-prescription anti-inflammatories as well as numerous joint supplements over the course of a year, yet her condition continues to deteriorate based upon how she presents.

My wife tells me I am doing the dog a disservice by allowing her to continue living in pain. I have a problem with putting her (the dog, not my wife) down when she still shows a spark of enjoying life and wanting to play & please.

I guess I'm looking for a concrete benchmark of when the time has come to discontinue the dog's suffering. I'm sure my judgement is currently clouded due to having just dealt with my father who suffered from advanced dementia experiencing a stroke from which he never regained consciousness that concluded his life after a week-long stay in the hospital followed by a brief stay of only 3 days in Hospice.

I don't want to lose this dog, but I don't want her to suffer either. I feel I owe her the best I can do for her, as she gave me her best until she no longer could.

Have you tried Adaquan? It is a monthly injectable(after the 6 weekly load up doses) It has worked well on my dogs & my horse. Pricey but well worth it.

 Quote: Eric Eschmann

I'm looking for a concrete benchmark of when the time has come to discontinue the dog's suffering -- I don't want her to suffer...

We have all been where you are right now, Eric, and it is a terrible place -- My own personal rule of thumb is this: if I cannot alleviate my dog's chronic Pain, Distress & Suffering from a Degenerative and/or Terminal condition, then it IS TIME to give my Beloved & Devoted canine companion that Last Gift of Lovingkindness ... IMHO, helping the Vet escort my pet over the Rainbow Bridge with DIGNITY in PEACE is incalculably More Humane than allowing the poor animal to drag on & on & on in Unspeakable Agony My heart goes out to you both, Eric.

I'm so sorry for this place you're in. I know it's easier said than done but for me it all comes down to quality of life.

I'm sure she loves you as much as you love her and would love to be with you as long as she can. I believe you'll know when it's time. I have 3 dogs all with something going on. Sometimes when I cannot make a decision I think about all of the dog owners out there who don't care and let their dogs die alone and probably have allowed them to suffer a lot longer than you or I would ever dream of. It's probably bad but it makes me feel a little bit better about my ailing dogs.

I think you'll know when it's time for sure. It sounds to me like she is almost there and you'll absolutely know when it's time.

I had a 12 year old lab with back issues which caused him to carry one of his back legs. I did some research and put him on supplements and a raw diet. I got 2 more years out of him and I really think it was due to the diet and supplements. (I am not suggesting this to you) One day out of the blue he couldn't get up and I did not hesitate - took him straight in and said goodbye. He was alert and didn't appear to be distressed but being unable to get up was a no-going-back sign - quality of life gone. My point is that there was a specific trigger that was personalized to me. I'm hoping that trigger comes for you when it's time.

Best of luck to you.

 Quote: Cathi Kemp

I had a 12 year old lab with back issues which caused him to carry one of his back legs. One day out of the blue he couldn't get up and I did not hesitate - took him straight in and said goodbye. He was alert and didn't appear to be distressed but being unable to get up was a no-going-back sign - quality of life gone. My point is that there was a specific trigger that was personalized to me. I'm hoping that trigger comes for you when it's time.

Thank you so much for that post. It is very helpful. You mention the "trigger" and right away I think back to my Rottie with MMM as chronicled at http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=18289&page=2

Despite the treatment regimen we had him on he continued to waste away. I still refused to put him out of his suffering. When he yelped from the pain of just opening his mouth trying to eat his food, that was the "trigger." I took him straight away to have his suffering ended.

As you contend, there will be a trigger that will tell me it is time with my Mal. I hope I see it clearly and without question. Thank you for your encouragement.

the fact that you even have the courage to bring this up and face reality speaks volumes about you and the relationship you have with your dog .

after you have explored ( and eventually exhausted ) the options to relieve the pain and suffering your dog is experiencing , and your dog is unable to use her will to overcome her discomfort , then you will be closer to that point .

ultimately you are going to be responsible for that moment , so whether that moment is sooner or later , you will be acting out of love with the dogs' best interest in mind .

with my first border collie , i left that moment too late , by like two weeks . it's a (non) decision i'll regret all my life . by the time i brought him in , he was completely incapacitated , yet still alive . the worst part , in my opinion now 20 years later , was that i had left him without his dignity and just through my own refusal to accept the inevitable caused him unnecessary suffering when he needed me to make the most difficult decision . it was not a great ending to a great life , and i'm sorry about that .

 Quote: Eric Eschmann

I think back to my Rottie with MMM as chronicled at http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=18289&page=2

Despite the treatment regimen we had him on he continued to waste away. I still refused to put him out of his suffering.
When he yelped from the pain of just opening his mouth trying to eat his food, that was the "trigger." I took him straight away to have his suffering ended.

Eric, please do be aware that All Dogs HIDE THEIR Anguish & Agony for as long as possible, by Instinct -- Then when they Finally get to that Point where they are ACTUALLY Crying Out in PAIN, the Poor Animal has already been SUFFERING in SILENCE for a Very Long time This is just exactly why I always work very closely with my Vet advising then that I do NOT want my Helpless Pet to SUFFER NEEDLESSLY but insist on a Preemptive Euthanasia once we can No Longer keep my faithful friend PAIN-FREE...

It breaks my heart to know what you & your DEAR DOG are going through, Eric -- And FWIW, I have never heard Anyone ever say, "I put him/her to sleep too soon", but I constantly hear poor folks Lament with Remorse over having Waited much too Long Perhaps a soul-searchingly honest Heart to Heart discussion with your VET would help you with this unbearably sad DECISION.

 Quote: ian bunbury

After you have explored (and eventually exhausted) the options to relieve the pain and suffering your dog is experiencing, and your dog is unable to use her will to overcome her discomfort...

With my first border collie, i left that moment too late, by like two weeks. It's a (non) decision i'll regret all my life. By the time i brought him in, he was completely incapacitated, yet still alive. The worst part , in my opinion now 20 years later , was that i had left him without his dignity and just through my own refusal to accept the inevitable caused him unnecessary suffering when he needed me to make the most difficult decision. It was not a great ending to a great life, and i'm sorry about that.

Oh Ian, you have me in TEARS I dare say that Most of Us did the same thing the First Time we were responsible for a pet's end-of-life care -- But we all learn from that Initial Experience and hopefully do better subsequently (I only WISH it got "easier" each time, but it NEVER does) ... God BLESS You !!!

A great dog filled with "try" will override thoughts of pain during times when you engaging their mind. Makes it tough to judge quality of life.

Watching a sleeping dog can give you important clues. A dog in severe chronic pain does not really sleep, not the REM sleep with twitching eyes and deep relaxation. They only nap, rest, wait.



When folks who care for both you and the dog begin to tell you it is time, it is getting close.

"A great dog filled with "try" will override thoughts of pain during times when you engaging their mind. Makes it tough to judge quality of life."

I no longer play fetch with my old dog Thunder for this very reason.

He still brings me his kong and shoves it in my hand every time I go outside but I reward for an out only now and he gets the kong back immediately.

He wants me to throw it but his back legs hardly carry him at more then a walk anymore.

He'll refuse his meals before he'll refuse to chase his kong for me.