My happy dog can't walk. How to find a vet for comfort care?

Thank you for using PetCoach. I am so sorry for you and your pup and the decisions you are having to make. One of the best people to help you with this decision is his veterinarian as they have seen and evaluated him. Some dogs with back/disc problems are extremely painful. In this case, euthanasia is absolutely the best decision if surgery isn't an option. In some cases, dogs can live several years while paralyzed, but it does require extreme dedication on the part of their owners. These dogs need to have their bladders expressed regularly and may also have some bladder or fecal incontinence, meaning stool or urine may be released anywhere, and the dog is incapable of controlling it. Some dogs may need enemas periodically. Often these dogs will develop sores on their legs, and need socks or leggings to help protect their legs. They do make "wheelchairs" but these cannot be left on them more than an hour or two at a time. They can develop urinary track infections that will need medications fairly often due to urine not being completely emptied from the bladder. I'm not trying to scare you, but I want you to understand the care he may need. If you are unable to provide that level of care, euthanasia is a very kind choice in that situation. But if he isn't painful and you are up to the challenge, then speak with his veterinarian about his best care and what you need to do to help him. He may still be able to live a happy life for months to years. Here is more info on care http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1522 And a website that make wheel chairs http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1522 that has more links to support groups etc. I think as long as you can ensure he can have a good quality of life, then it is fair to keep going. If work, family, finances or other concerns will not allow him to receive the care he may require, then euthanasia is a very fair and kind option. I hope this may help and I am very sorry for this decision you are making.

There is more you can do for Dexter. He may improve with acupuncture for the neurological deficits and it can relieve his pain and help him relax and enjoy life. As far as the walking goes getting him specific exercises to retrain his legs will improve his walking. If there is a veterinary rehabilitation center near you they should be able to help you with these exercises and get you in touch with an acupuncture veterinarian. If they offer hydrotherapy, walking in the underwater treadmill will improve his strength and gait. Many dogs do get better so please continue with the medication and seek out some alternative treatments if you can. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Dexter.

I am sorry you feel like Sox does not feel well. I would recommend starting off with a really good physical exam with your vet. The vet will be able to determine why he is not walking well. The main concern is arthritis/ joint disease vs neurologic disease. There are lots of options for pain control in our loved patients. There are a range of medications, supplements and even therapeutic procedures like a cold light laser an acupuncture. You can start an over the counter glucosamine and chondroitin supplement however any other medications need to be prescribed by a vet. If you decide with the vet that her pain is not controlled and you feel she has a poor quality of life it might be time to put her to sleep. Hopefully you and your vet can make a plan to avoid that from happening.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Jackie. Anything is worth trying including what you mentioned and acupuncture or chiropractic medicine. Alternative medical modalities are always worth trying. Not sure if cold laser therapy would help but that is another avenue to explore. I would advise reaching out to vets in your area for these alternative treatments. Good luck with Jackie.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry that you are in this position. I would recommend that you consider going to your veterinarian before making this decision. They would be able to gather more information, examine him and determine what would be best to proceed with always considering his quality of life. They may decide to recommend something that may improve his quality of life and buy you both some quality time to spend together. Best of luck!

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to hear Sammy has been declining. From your description, I sounds like Sammy may have several medical issues going on. It is hard to get a good idea of what all the issues may be without examining Sammy first and I would encourage that an exam be done on Sammy with his veterinarian soon to fully discuss and evaluate Sammy's conditions. Perhaps he has osteoarthritis, other degenerative joint or neurological dysfunction of his hind limbs making walking difficult and painful for him. It also sounds like he may have some vision loss or visual deficits making navigating around challenging. Lastly, the walking around in circles and defecating in the house may be related to canine cognitive dysfunction (canine dementia). He may also be experiencing some incontinence as well. Aside from the incontinence he may have from older age, there are medications and other holistic treatments that can help with the possible dementia as well as joint pain that may help make him feel a bit better and improve his quality of life. I think a good evaluation and discuss with Sammy's veterinarian would be a very good idea at this point. I hope this helps and I wish you and Sammy the best.

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The decision you are trying to make is an extremely difficult one. I will tell you that pets typically don't die peacefully at home- it is usually a rare occurrence. When it comes to making the decision about euthanasia, I try to have the owner think about good days and bad days. Being a golden owner myself, I know what makes them happy- food, attention, going on walks, treats, attention... When you think of all the things Jacky loves, is he still doing those things? Does he still come to the door when you come home, is he able to get up to go to the bathroom or is he pottying on himself, is he still interested in food? When the bad days outweigh the good days, his quality of life is poor. A friend once told me, it is better to make this decision a day too soon than a day too late. As I said it is a very difficult decision but you need to think about what would be in Jacky's best interest. I hope this helps. Kisses to Jacky!