How do you deal with a declining pet?

My older sheltie has also really started to show his age this past year (he is 14). He was so hyper when he was younger it's a huge change. He does sleep a lot more and also seems to worry a lot less than he used to. He doesn't hold vigil anymore, but lets his younger 'brother' let him know if there is something that needs to be barked at LOL. He is having more trouble getting around due to nerve damage in his spine. He no longer wants to go on our long powerwalks, but he does enjoy a mosey up and down the street. Some days are better than others, and we just take things one day at a time. But I let him tell me what he is up to.

It's tough seeing this dog slow down, but I also go back to all the issues that we worked through over the years - he was a mistreated rescue. He still has his issues but I know how to deal with them to make him feel as comfortable as possible, and I have a wonderful vet who understands his special needs and works with us.

I don't look at this as 'aging' as much as I look at it as his 'retirement' years. He's done his job and now is his time to relax, slow down a little and enjoy life.

OP your sweet boy sounds like he is mellowing with age and maybe has a few things that might bother him from time to time. Just keep on top of things and go fom there.
 
Well, rumors of Fasb's "demise" seem to have been greatly exaggerated. He seems to be doing well on Cosequin DS and coconut oil. Mobility issues have all but gone away. He does have trouble jumping on our bed - he keeps wanting to scoot backwards for a running start and the room isn't laid out to accommodate that. But he had pretty much quit trying to jump on the bed prior to this, so we're encouraged.

He does have some bad days, but they aren't really all that bad and he's mostly having good days. He seems mostly fine - follows us around the house, barks, plays, eats, zooms around the house. He's not on all the time, but the vet thinks he's doing remarkably well for a ten year old with arthritis.

We're very pleased with Cosequin so far.
 
In the movie, The Shadowlands, they know she is dying and he starts to get upset. She stops him and tells him, "The pain then is a part of the joy now." This is also true of our beloved pets. In the best case scenario, we are going to outlive them. And it will make you cry. But as one vet told me, being older isn't a death sentence. We are currently not sure our four year old Siamese is going to make it. He has developed bladder stones, and it is getting very bad.

We also have 17 year old Bonnie. She has had one stroke, is mostly deaf, completely blind except in bright light. She tilts her head slightly. Still demands her walks. Can't get out of the house without being picked up and put on the back step. Then Clara nips at her, Bonnie goes chasing Clara and the two play like puppies. Tara has decided to be the one to help Bonnie back into the house, and will circle Bonnie until she realizes the door is open and it is safe to come in. Bonnie can't hold it as well, so we make sure that at certain times, she is put outside. I know the end is coming for both of these loved animals. But I refuse to say goodbye before they are gone. And I refuse to live the rest of my life wondering if there was anything else I could do. I am intent on giving them both every chance I possibly can.
 
I like to think that we have given our pets the best homes we can for as long as we can. But sometimes, sadly, we just have to say enough. And enough for them.

I don't feel guilt if I refuse treatment that the vets tell me. It tears me apart but sometimes its kinder to say goodbye then to prolong treatment.

Only YOU can know when the time is right. As long as you feel your dog is living happy each day, then go for it.
 
Somewhere along the line we have been given the impression (for people, at least) that we must keep loved ones alive at any cost, regardless of pain, quality of life or financial impact on the family.

The humane and merciful thing to do is to provide care and comfort until it's time to say goodbye. Not keep the organs functioning so they can suffer because we're not "ready" to deal with it.

In a perfect world, when my time comes, I would trust my pets to take me to the doctor so I can meet them at the bridge.
 
I think deciding how far to carry treatment on an ailing pet is a very personal decision. The owner knows the pet better than anyone else, even the vet, as they are the ones that see the pet every day. But some owners are blind to the fact that animals do age and there comes a point when we are not improving their quality of life, just prolonging their suffering.

This is something I have always kept in mind with an aging pet.

OP I am glad that your boy is feeling better now with the medications. He sounds like he is indeed slowing down but is not ready to say goodbye for a while yet.
 
MissyGalant, I wanted to tell you this............

We are currently not sure our four year old Siamese is going to make it. He has developed bladder stones, and it is getting very bad.

We had our 4 year old tuxedo operated on this past summer. He had over 20 bladder stones. He's doing absolutely perfectly now. It was costly. But he is young.

Our 13 year old Sheltie, Casey, is failing a bit every day. He's the one in renal failure. BUT he's SO much happier than he was. He's acting a ZILLION percent better than he did. But his body is giving out.

He's not in any pain, we don't think, or I'd be doing something about that INSTANTLY. I don't believe in pain.

But he's resting more. And he absolutely LOVES to be outside this time of year. He lays out on the porch and watches the traffic go by or he wanders around the yard in search of "tootsie rolls".

As long as your baby is doing well, I think you just work around him slowing down a little bit.

And we have doggie steps that we got for little Max so he doesn't try to jump up on things. He has bad arthritis in his elbows and Doc said no jumping. You might try those for him to get on the bed.
 
Big fan of Cosequin right now. Fasb seems to be doing very well on it.

Lunatic59 said:
The humane and merciful thing to do is to provide care and comfort until it's time to say goodbye. Not keep the organs functioning so they can suffer because we're not "ready" to deal with it.
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This. Fasb seems to be doing very well at the moment, so we hopefully can put off the end of life worries for a while, but I've already given the matter some thought and discussed it with my family and our vet. Fasb's at an age where things are going to start going wrong with him. He's not made to last more than a couple more years (if that), I really don't want him to live to 15, 17, 19, whatever, because I suspect he'll be in bad shape if he goes on that long and probably would be a shell of his former self. It seems inevitable that I'm going to have to make end of life decisions for him at some point, It'll be better for him and me if I make those decisions as soon as is appropriate. I don't want to keep him with us when he stops enjoying things he loves to do (eat, play, walk, spend time with us). I want him to live out the rest of his life in as little pain and stress as possible.
 
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