My old dog has weak legs & incontinence. How to decide on euthanasia?

Oh no, I'm so sorry that Santeri is so sick! I work for a home euthanasia service, so I face this question all the time with my clients. I suggest making a list of five things Santeri loved to do. If he's not doing at least two of them, then his quality of life has decreased to a point where humane euthanasia should be considered. It's always a hard decision to make, but if he has a poor quality of life, letting him go peacefully would be a great kindness. If you'd like to discuss this further, I'd be happy to consult with you. Just click the "consult online" button under my answer. Otherwise, I hope my answer helps and I'm sorry you are facing this issue :-(

What a hard decision for you to make! I work for a home euthanasia service, so I do face this question all the time with my clients. You need to look at Holly's quality of life. I typically suggest making a list of five things a dog loved to do; when they no longer do at least two of them, then their quality of life has declined to point where euthanasia should be considered. Given that she is incontinent, blind, can't hear well, stands in a corner and stares, and is losing weight, I would say her quality of life has declined quite a bit and it may be time to let her go peacefully. I would have a discussion with your vet about this, and I'm sorry you are in this position. I hope this helps!

I would be glad to help you with this decision! It's a very hard one to make, and since I work for a home euthanasia service, I face this question all the time with my clients. I suggest making a list of five things Princess loved to do, whether it be eating, playing, etc. When she is no longer doing at least two of those things, then her quality of life has declined to the point when euthanasia should be considered. Quality of life is the most important consideration when deciding if you put down a dog or not, as you want her to be as happy as possible in her old age. Make that list and honestly examine how many of those things she is still doing. If it's not at least two, then it is likely to time to let her go. If you would like to discuss this further, I'd be happy to consult with you, just click the consult online button under my answer. Otherwise, I hope this helps you!

I work for a home euthanasia service, so I often get asked this question from my clients. I recommend making a list of five things your dog loves to do, and if he no longer does at least two of them, then his quality of life has declined to a point where humane euthanasia should be considered. This could include eating as well, as dogs do love to eat. Oftentimes, dogs are ready to go before we are ready to let them go, and they tend to hang on for the owner. I would make this list for your Corgi, and use that to help gauge his quality of life. If you'd like, I'd be glad to consult with you on this issue to give you more in depth help. Just click the "consult online" button under my answer. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!. I am so sorry to hear about Kika. What a long life she has led! When I have the talk about quality of life with my patients, I tell them to measure the good and bad days. When the bad day far outweigh the good then the time has likely come. You as the owner know your dog best. When the pet no longer interacts with family, stops eating well, urinates or defecates around the house, uncontrolled vomiting or diarrhea or is unable to move with out pain are all indicators of a poor quality of life. Dementia is a terrible disease in humans and people. We can only imagine how the dog feels. I think taking her to your Vet for at least an exam to see if there are any medical conditions that they could treat to help her feel better. Maybe she has urinary incontinence and some medications would help. Also there are some treatments that help dementia, though it is progressive. I hope this helps in some way.

I'm sorry to hear about Jake's condition. Neurologic conditions are generally assessed during a physical exam by turning a dog's foot over to see if he can place it appropriately, assessing tail and anal tone, reflexes, etc. Unless an infectious condition is suspected as an underlying cause, there isn't much other testing that can be done in a general practice clinic. For some conditions, a referral to a neurologist for an MRI or CT can be helpful to obtain a more definitive diagnosis. Since your vet is concerned about pain and Jake's quality of life, he prescribed gabapentin, which helps with neuropathic pain as well as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication which will help with overall pain and inflammation. Decisions about a pet's quality of life and considering euthanasia are very personal. If you need a second opinion to feel at peace with making this decision, you should get another opinion. However, if you also feel that Jake's quality of life has declined and has not changed with his medications, perhaps it is best to take your vet's advice. I don't know how helpful this is, but ultimately, you know Jake better than we vets ever will. Trust your gut.

Making the decision to euthanize your pet is never easy. I usually recommend owners make a list of all the things their pet loved/loves to do. For instance, did she used to love to eat, go on walks, play with a special toy, get tummy rubs, go on car rides, etc. Now you make a check mark on the day she does that. As well as noting her appetite and if she can go out to go potty and not have accidents. When she starts to have more bad days than good days it is a sign that her quality of life is poor. You know her best. While her blood work isn't showing any problems there could be medical problems that won't. Just know that this is an extremely difficult decision but know that you have Cheyennes best interest at heart. I hope this helps. Kisses to Cheyenne!