Senior Lab Owners...

[czechgrubworm]

I know many of you have lab hunting partners. I will have had Duke 15 years tomorrow to the date. He found me, I didn't find him. He was dumped and came to my house to live all by himself. He has been taking the meds for his joints, is not over-weight, deaf and partially blind. He lives inside and has a nice orthopedic bed. With all that being said and the best food I can feed him he has hip dysplasia. I, like all of you, would just like to come home, and he has passed away quietly. He is finally beginning to get to the end stage where he cannot get up without my assistance and has bowel movements trying to get up. I am okay with all of that because I am here to care for him regardless of his condition and cleaning up after accidents are just part of senior dog life. He does not loose control of his bladder, to date. What I need from the GS is to ask this. Will he at some point, just NOT be able to stand up regardless of the fact that I help him up and get him going? Is that when I know the time is right for me to make the right choice for HIM? I have never had a dog with dysplasia and don't want Duke to suffer and I want to know when the time is right. Thanks for your help and your sharing experiences that I know are hard to share or think about again. I want to do the right thing for my boy...

[30-30]

Prayers up. My gf has an aging lab/Rhodesian mix.

[Tspurgin26]

I had to put my golden retriever of 13yrs down last week. It was very hard but knew it had to be done. She had been getting around fine however in the mornings she would had trouble getting up on the wood or tile. Within a week she detiorated quickly where she was no longer able to get up easily and was walking bow legged at that point we knew we had to do the right thing.

[Christianhuff]

Decision time

Just put my yellow man down about a year ago. Was only 9, but had spondylitis. Would have probably lived another year or two with it, but I did what I thought was best for him, not me. I'm really sorry your are having to go through this, but sometimes the anticipation is much worse than the act. Put yourself in his place, what would you want him to do if the roles were reversed?

[docmay]

I don't know the answers but duke looks like a great companion. I am sorry that you are having to ask these questions. I have a 12 year female lab and I dread these circumstances.

[hooligan]

Growing up we had to take my dog in at 14, got to where he couldn't get outside to make it to the bathroom and sometimes couldn't even stand up in time. Get let us know his quality of life wasn't good anymore so we made the tough call.

as hard as it is try to look at his quality of life and do what you can to keep him happy

My best friend is 12 and I'm not looking forward to him getting any older. This year is probably gonna be his last season in the field. Dove season is too hot for an old chocolate lab these days

[Charrison]

So sorry it has come to this. I put my lab down when he could no longer get out of his bed to go to the bathroom- also had dysplasia. It's never easy, but I didn't let it get to the point where he couldn't physically get out of bed. He was in pain and it was time. Awful decision and I feel for you having to make it in the near future.

[czechgrubworm]

We sat on the floor last night and ate cheerios together. Me a spoon and then him some dry cheerios... He was enjoying me sitting there with him so much that I got up and got me another bowl so we could share...

His little buddy, Rascal, has been by his side since Rascal came home. His little pardner is gonna miss his warm bed buddy tremendously one day.. They are cute together..

[medic151]

For me it is all about quality of life. I had to put my lab down a couple of years ago, but that was due to a splenic tumor. My Catahoula was 14 and he ended up being almost blind, totally deaf and finally thru a disc that paralyzed his hind legs. He wasn't in pain, but he just couldn't go anymore on his own and we put him down. 2 very tough days around the house.

[Tx.Fisher]

I'm sorry you're in this position. Yes there will come a time when they can't even stand with assistance. It sucks, but 15 years is a great life. I don't think I've ever been as torn up about losing anyone as I was when my last dog died

[Yelladog]

.

I truly feel for you. I have been through it 3 times and its miserable. I feel like you will know when its time. It's diff for every dog. In the end you have to remind yourself he lived long wonderful life. Its never long enough for us!
That was rough to even type. Praying for you and your buddy.

[Hawkpuppy 1]

"Life dogs" as I like to call them (labs over 8 years old), are always hard to deal with at their senior years. I have had to put down my two that were both 13 years old at the times. It really comes down to quality of life and comfort for the dog. If he is in so much pain that he moves his bowel trying to get up and is having that much of a hard time, unfortunately I think the time is at hand to face the truth that he has been a loving friend and buddy for all these years and to not let him suffer. I'm a big man and these situations bring me to tears like a little girl and I'm not ashamed of it. They have been good to you, now you need to be good to them.

[Longhornamus]

Prayers up for Duke. We had to put our lab to rest after Christmas. She had gotten to the point of needing assistance standing up. Once she was up she got around pretty good. On Christmas Eve her health started to go downhill rapidly. From Christmas on she could not get up and when we stood her up her paws would curl up under her and she could not walk. We took her to the vet thinking the end was near and the vet gave her a shot to see if she was just in pain, kind of a last ditch effort. Anyway, by New Years Eve we made the call. We could not stand to see her not enjoying life anymore. As said above, you will be able to tell when it is time.

[Storm]

I lost my dog Blast 5 years ago and I wasn't at home my wife had her die in her arms. We buried her in the back yard an both cried like babies .we miss that dog. Just get ready for when the time comes but if you love them it still hurts!

[Sofee]

I feel for you,very hard decision had our male lab put down in October,then a month ago our female died in Mena arkansas while we were up there hunting in February,sounds mushy but I think she had a broken heart missed her buddy,enjoy your time.