Grandmashazzie Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 All of you who post here have probably had to make this decision at some time or other.My beautiful black lab Dexter who is 9 seems to be really struggling with his arthritic hips.He has had hip dysplasia since about 3,also had a cruciate repair around 4 and has been on tramadol and parvodel for last year.He has never tolerated metacam or previcox as he is easily sick.He had flare up before Christmas when he could'nt get up and I had to get OH home from work to lift him into car to vets ,it was bad flare up which settled with increased meds and has been ok until now.He lies on his bed all day and needs encouraged to go out to pee,he is such a big fella it is hard for him to get up nd he just looks at me with those big lab eyes I am trying to read is he trying to tell me it's time to go.I just love him so much I want to do right by him but am afraid if PTS I'll wish I 'd given him more time to rally round.Oh dear it's not easy we go on holiday next week for 16 days and I wouldn't want him PTS if he was in strange place and his family weren't with him. But feel if I make decision now it's for wrong reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 PM sent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted March 12, 2013 Author Share Posted March 12, 2013 Oh thank you Karen for PM I did reply but not in sent box,he has had acupuncture in past also water treadmill and herbal remedies,the big prob is getting him in and out of car,he lies in space between front and rear seats as I could not get him in back or he can't get up on seat and by the time he is home I think the good of the session is counteracted.I m trained for baby massage and do the stretching exercises on his leg but I don't want to hurt him,there is a lot of licking the paws which is a sign of pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LottyJ1 Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Thinking of you - its always so hard to make these decisions. All you can do is give yourself time to think and do what you think is best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 So sorry One adage when I was in practice and had to help clients make a decision about their pets was "rather a day too soon than a day too late" Never easy but I think you know already. Best of luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 Oh thank you for replies,it's really heart warming that people take the time to post and it does help your muddled thoughts.I have increased his meds as a short option in case it's a flare up and he is a little brighter.i think the pressure of the looming holiday was putting me under pressure and I was panicking .Have discussed it with OH and we will just go on girl he boards with knows him well and if he gets worse or goes off his feet my son will take to the vets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 I'm really sorry to read about Dexter. We have a chocolate labrador and she has painful hips too, mainly we think due to old age as she is nearly 14, but like you we often sit and wonder how she really feels. Our old girl can't even get through the night now and wakes us up around twice most nights to be let out into the garden then she spends most of the day asleep on the sofa, just getting up to eat and go out for her walks. I was once told that as long as they still enjoy their food and like to go out walking then they have a quality of life. Having read about how Dexter is though I would say he is struggling and I can totally understand about that look they have. My eyes are always tearing up when I see our dog struggle to get out of her bed or keep up with our other dog but she still wags her tail and on the odd day she will still do a bit of a gallop when she sees a fox. I do agree with Old Speckled Hen's adage "rather a day too soon than a day too late". My sister just had her 13yr old cavalier king charles spaniel PTS as she'd had heart problems for years. I used to think it was cruel keeping her going as she was on the max amount of medication and was still struggling to get around which I don't think is fair on a dog. I do hope you manage to make the right decision for you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 I know how hard it is to make this decision, we have done it several times over the years. Our yellow lab Buzz was pts whe he was 13, he was on maximum dosage of medication but in the end he had had enough and went very quickly. I always ask myself who am I keeping the animal alive for me or them. Sending you a hug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 Oh thank you for sharing,the two days on increased meds have helped and he is now getting up to greet me in morning,eating well,although I just can't imagine one of my labs not eating, they are always looking for food.So hopefully decisions shelved for another time.But I agree it's important not to keep them here suffering because we find it too hard to PTS . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
