My senior German Shepherd is declining with many issues. What's next?

I am so sorry to hear that your pet has so many major issues that are debilitating and causing her to have a poor quality of life. I do think that if her condition cannot be improved with medications then it is someting you should discuss with your veterinarian. Humane euthansia, although it is probably not something you want to consider, should be considered if Sophie is not able to helped with medical management. However, there are pain medications that can be tried to see if they make a difference. You can discuss with your vet about trying Tramadol and/or Gabapentin to help with pain management. Probiotics can also be tried to help with her diarrhea, as well as a high fiber diet such as Royal Canin Gasrointestinal High Fiber (Rx). It sounds like she may have cancer involving her nervous system, which is why she can't maintain her mobitliy well. Poor girl. I hope that you can come to terms with her condition and maybe there is more you can try with her. Best wishes with Sophie. We are also available for a private consultation if you need to discuss more about Sophie's condition and futher care recommendations. Take care.

Oh no, your poor dog! It sounds like she is in really bad shape physically. I would have her seen by a vet first thing in the morning to see if there are any treatments possible for her symptoms. If there aren't, it would be time to discuss letting her go peacefully. I know that's not something you want to hear, but it may be best for her given her symptoms. I recommend making a list of five things she loved to do, and if she's no longer doing at least two of them, then her quality of life has declined to a point where humane euthanasia should be considered. I work for a home euthanasia service, so if you'd like to discuss this further with me, I'd be happy to consult with you. Just click the "consult online" button under my answer. Otherwise, I hope this helps and you should take her into the vet in the morning.

Yes, uti, kidney disease or diabetes are all possibilities. I would definitely consider euthanasia at this stage given her progressive conditions which are not going to improve and are becoming increasingly restrictive on her independence and quality of life

I cannot comment on whether or not it is time to euthanize Sasha since I have never done an exam on her. With her not eating, drinking and urinating in herself, then you have to look at her quality of life. I would talk to your vet to see if there is anything that could help her or if her bloodwork looked too bad. You may talk to your vet about medicine for cognitive disorder (dementia) like anipryl and omega 3 fatty acids. Also, you can add a medicine that helps with incontinence (urinating while sleeping) called proin that may help. Finally, if she is weak and not able to get around and her bloodwork looks good, you may want to talk to your vet about medicines for arthritis. Thee are also appetite stimulants and anti-nausea medicines that usually work really well in animals too. I hope you are able to find a way to keep her comfortable for a little while longer. But also know if your vet says she will not improve, please take comfort in knowing you gave her a long wonderful life. I hope this helps. Hugs!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sassie. I am sorry to hear that her condition has deteriorated so much. I recommend taking her to see her veterinarian for a quality of life exam. Based on your description, she seems to be struggling in her daily life. You can ask her veterinarian for a mild sedative prior to her exam to decrease her anxiety. I am also available for a consultation if you wish to discuss her case in greater detail. I hope this information helps.

This is a great question! Determining quality of life in our beloved pets isn't an easy thing to do, since there are so many factors to consider. I recommend scheduling a "quality of life" consultation and exam with your vet. You can discuss the concerns and changes you're seeing in Shadow, and your vet will be able to offer their input on how he's doing. They may also recommend a trial of a pain medication if they feel it's appropriate, to see if he improves on it. In the meantime, here's a website for a group that does exclusively hospice and house call euthanasia. Their website has a lot of great resources on evaluating quality of life. Hope this helps. All the best to you and Shadow. https://www.lapoflove.com/Quality-of-Life

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!