Aa
Is it unfair to keep him alive?
Hi, I have an American x English staffy and he is nearly 16. He can hardly walk and his behavior is starting to change alot towards our other dogs. I have a feeling that he wont last to much longer. He is going blind and deaf.. What i really want to know is should i put him to sleep or let nature take its own course ??
thank u
thank u
my dog has no problem eating but he wont put on any weight. He fine with dogs on walks but one of my other dogs gives him a hard time and they fight quite abit. I'll take him to the vet and see what they say about him. I will try and get some medication for him
It's so sad to see them get old. If only they could tell us when and where it hurts.
It would be a good idea to have him examined by your veterinarian. Just because he is elderly and having difficulty getting around, though, doesn't mean it's the end of the road for him. There are products that you can give him that may enable him to live more comfortably and buy him some more time with you. Yes, 16 is quite old, especially for a larger dog, but there are no hard and fast rules as to how old the various breeds can live. Products like Rimadyl can maybe make it easier and less painful for him to move around. The active ingredient in Rimadyl is carprofen, which is a doggie version of ibuprofen. DO NOT, repeat DO NOT ever give him ibuprofen, though. Ibuprofen and tylenol are quite toxic to dogs and cats and can kill them quickly. Regular aspirin, however, CAN be given to a dog, so you could even ask the vet if you could give him some of that. There is a human product called Ascriptin that is aspirin with a coating of Maalox, which is very easy on the stomach that might help him. Your vet can advise you of the correct dosage for his weight and condition.
Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, while they don't work within a couple of hours the way an aspirin or Rimadyl will, DO help quite a bit, but they take up to two weeks to see effects. Full effects may not be seen for up to 30 days, and if you stop giving it to him, he may go downhill again. But at 16, it would be worth it, if it works, to give it to him as a daily supplement for the rest of his life.
Ginger has given you some excellent advice as far as treating him specially, and keeping him away from younger, more boisterous dogs. Take him out on a lead so that you can control his actions, and make sure that no one, be they human or animal, give him a hard time over anything. You can buy jars of baby food to mix with his dog food to make it more appetizing for him to try to give his appetite a nudge. Just be sure to read the labels to make sure that nothing has been prepared with onions, since they are toxic to dogs. There is also a product called NutriCal that is a very calorie-intense supplement that provides excellent nutrition for dogs and cats that are either not eating their full ration or not eating at all. It helps to maintain not only their energy level, but also their body weight.
See what your vet says before you give up hope. Please keep us posted.
Ghilly
It would be a good idea to have him examined by your veterinarian. Just because he is elderly and having difficulty getting around, though, doesn't mean it's the end of the road for him. There are products that you can give him that may enable him to live more comfortably and buy him some more time with you. Yes, 16 is quite old, especially for a larger dog, but there are no hard and fast rules as to how old the various breeds can live. Products like Rimadyl can maybe make it easier and less painful for him to move around. The active ingredient in Rimadyl is carprofen, which is a doggie version of ibuprofen. DO NOT, repeat DO NOT ever give him ibuprofen, though. Ibuprofen and tylenol are quite toxic to dogs and cats and can kill them quickly. Regular aspirin, however, CAN be given to a dog, so you could even ask the vet if you could give him some of that. There is a human product called Ascriptin that is aspirin with a coating of Maalox, which is very easy on the stomach that might help him. Your vet can advise you of the correct dosage for his weight and condition.
Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, while they don't work within a couple of hours the way an aspirin or Rimadyl will, DO help quite a bit, but they take up to two weeks to see effects. Full effects may not be seen for up to 30 days, and if you stop giving it to him, he may go downhill again. But at 16, it would be worth it, if it works, to give it to him as a daily supplement for the rest of his life.
Ginger has given you some excellent advice as far as treating him specially, and keeping him away from younger, more boisterous dogs. Take him out on a lead so that you can control his actions, and make sure that no one, be they human or animal, give him a hard time over anything. You can buy jars of baby food to mix with his dog food to make it more appetizing for him to try to give his appetite a nudge. Just be sure to read the labels to make sure that nothing has been prepared with onions, since they are toxic to dogs. There is also a product called NutriCal that is a very calorie-intense supplement that provides excellent nutrition for dogs and cats that are either not eating their full ration or not eating at all. It helps to maintain not only their energy level, but also their body weight.
See what your vet says before you give up hope. Please keep us posted.
Ghilly
COMMUNITY LEADER
In itself, there is nothing wrong with old age. Old age brings changes, and things that don't quite 'fit'.
But the most urgent and important thing is....is he feeling any suffering or pain?
If not, and he's just trundling along at the end of his years, with a slightly more grumpy attitude towards the young 'uns (dogs) and the World in general....then I wouldn't say he needs to die just yet. Not unless he is ill, with no hope of successful treatment, and suffering.
Maybe he just needs to be adapted to. If he is badly behaved with other dogs, then put him on a leash, don't stand for any nonsense, and don't let him free where there are other dogs, but cut him some slack.
But please do be watchful for any pain he might have. A sign of pain can be : 'hunching' the body, with the tail tucked in low.....whining or yelping for no reason....not eating suddenly.
There is a way you can check how his organs are functioning, and the level of his general health, that is to have a full Senior Blood Panel done by the vet.
But the most urgent and important thing is....is he feeling any suffering or pain?
If not, and he's just trundling along at the end of his years, with a slightly more grumpy attitude towards the young 'uns (dogs) and the World in general....then I wouldn't say he needs to die just yet. Not unless he is ill, with no hope of successful treatment, and suffering.
Maybe he just needs to be adapted to. If he is badly behaved with other dogs, then put him on a leash, don't stand for any nonsense, and don't let him free where there are other dogs, but cut him some slack.
But please do be watchful for any pain he might have. A sign of pain can be : 'hunching' the body, with the tail tucked in low.....whining or yelping for no reason....not eating suddenly.
There is a way you can check how his organs are functioning, and the level of his general health, that is to have a full Senior Blood Panel done by the vet.
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