Question for genuine dog lovers..

[at140]

My dog is 15 years and 4 months old Lhasa Apso weighing 10 lbs. She has been a wonderful dog. She could run very fast all her life. Her bark was much louder than one would expect from a 10 lb dog. Her hearing was always acute. She was well house trained.

Last year at age 14 she suddenly lost vision in both eyes and surprisingly has lost hearing and ability to bark as well. So now I have a blind, deaf and mute dog. Her appetite is good. She can hold her pee-pee for up to 3 hours. The worst part is she walks all over the house and bumps into every wall and other objects. It is heart breaking to watch. I tried the halo collar but it was too heavy for her and she just sat down and refused to walk.

So long as she has no physical pain and can eat her food, I just hate to put her down. The question I have for all you dog lovers is.....is it fair and acceptable to keep her going like this. Am I depriving her of quality of life?

[elleng]

1. You say 'it's heart breaking to watch,' but is that YOU or her.

Can you tell how she feels about her life? That would decide it for me.

Best wishes.

[at140]

3. Since she eats her food with gusto

I conclude she wants to live.

[elleng]

6. There's your answer, I'd say.

[at140]

36. Thank you so much for taking time to post...nt

[DBoon]

16. I absolutely agree

Also, do you walk the dog? if the dog is eager to be with you and can go on walks, then the dog enjoys living.

A walk isn't just exercise for a dog, it is their primary social pack activity. A blind dog will have limitations, but dogs are amazing at using their remaining senses.

[at140]

24. Since becoming blind, she resists the walk

I am guessing it is a natural reaction to not go where she can't see.
Good part is she walks quite a bit in the house which has a large living room+Kitchen area,
so there is ample space to walk.

[tblue37]

26. Take her outside with you--either carry her for a walk or put her in a stroller.

She can enjoy all the interesting smells.

[at140]

38. Stroller is a great idea!

Thank you!

[rsdsharp]

23. I agree.

We had a 16 year-old dachshund, who for the last few years of his life was both blind and deaf, but he still seemed to enjoy life, and ate heartily. It was only when he began to lose weight and control of his bowels, that we finally, and reluctantly, put him to sleep.

[at140]

25. That is pretty much the future I envision for my dog

Thank you for posting.

[Newest Reality]

2. Oh my...

I had a dog who became diabetic and then blind. She eventually stopped walking into things and, (I lived on 5-acres of land) I had to take her out on a leash. It was only when she showed signs of physical distress and pain in her old age that I put her down.

I really think this is up to you, your heart and your intuition. That is your friend and companion there and I know it is hard to let go, but apply what you strongly feel to be your best compassion about the quality of a life vs. quantity.

[at140]

7. Exactly, and I am totally confused what would be

the right thing to do. On one hand she runs into every object and has lost any sense of direction. She makes a circle and runs into the same wall again. On the other hand she has no pain anywhere because I massage her entire body and she does not show any signs of pain, and she can still walk a lot.

[Newest Reality]

18. That's good,

The massage is some stimulation and that's communication in a way and she is still getting around.

For humans, you would say, (other than tactile sensations) she is "locked in". That's the only factor then. We are more complex and it might be torture to be like that if we were not at all used to it since the brain tends to require stimulation in various ways. It is hard to imagine how it would be for a dog "in there" though. I would imagine lots of physical contact via the massages and petting would be a good idea.

Dogs smell in 3D, so maybe that's a good way to stimulate, as well. Let her smell your hands, etc., often. Put something with your scent by her sleeping area and whatever else you can think of that gives her that kind of data. I bet you could be creative. It is possible that you can find a way to use a certain smell on objects she bumps into and she could use that as guidance. Be creative. It is possible for her to get a 3D picture of the surroundings and directions for smell and get used to that.

I guess, if you feel she is having some fun living and is adapting to the lack of senses, that might be useful criteria, as well.

[montanacowboy]

4. As long as she is not in pain

and eating good, going potty, I would not put her down. She still has you to hold her and pet her and tell her everything is ok. You will know when the time comes, that is why you are asking questions now. Love her while you can, we never have them long enough.

[at140]

8. That is pretty much where it is at this time ...nt

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

30. You'll know...

Our dogs communicate with us sometimes without us even knowing and we back at them, again without our knowledge. Dogs are phenomenal animals in just that regard. That said, here’s what my vet said...”Don’t worry, you’ll know.”...when I asked the same question.
My dog was 13, had cancer all his life, tumors all over...but happy as any dog I’ve ever owned...great appetite, loved to play, all the regular doggie stuff.

One morning when we were awake Taz my dog just would not move...the look in his eyes was telling me “Greg, today would be a good day”. We called the vet. He made an afternoon appointment about closing time so we could be alone with Taz as he took his walk to the other side. As I held him cradling his head in my arm, he looked up at me our eyes...I could see the relief he had. Over ten years ago and I still had a hard time tapping this out.

[mr_lebowski]

5. That's heartbreaking to read ... I feel your anguish ...

I don't have an answer but to say ... does she seem miserable? Does she still know you and snuggle you, and seem to want love? And is she being injured by these mishaps?

These would be the questions I would ask myself. And I'm sure you know the preferred answers.

Good luck with this conundrum

[at140]

9. Hard to say if she recognizes me without sight or hearing but

she will sit on my lap without any sign of stress.

[mr_lebowski]

10. Does she sit on just anyone's lap now, whereas before she wouldn't?

I'd imagine you have various clues as to whether she knows she's 'with you', or not, right?

That shouldn't be the end-all anyways, but ... dogs mostly know people by smell more than anything is my understanding. Losing your hearing and sight is one thing, but if she also can't smell, that's seems like it'd be really debilitating and disconcerting to them, worse than losing sight and hearing.

Animal's olfactory sense (ability to sense particular molecules in their vicinity) is the most ancient sense of all creatures. Amoeba's have a 'sense of smell', at the most basic level.

If your girl doesn't show ANY signs of recognizing you and/or her family particularly ... not to make proclamations here, but ... that would be a sign she's in a pretty bad way I'd think.

Good luck with this again

[at140]

28. Thank you for taking time to post your thoughts

Her smell sense seems to have also faded quite a bit as well, but she eventually locates her food bowl after many bumps and stumbles, and always eats every bit.

[tblue37]

27. Dogs are very focused on smell. She knows you. nt

[mysteryowl]

11. I think you, and she, will know when it is time.

I think you will reach a point that you no longer need to ask anyone, you just know.

The gauge of such a decision is highly independent to each situation and relationship.

Tough time this last phase of life.

[FM123]

12. You must love her very much to ask this question....

I think that while she is not what she used to be, and her quality of life is not what it used to be - the fact that she still seeks out food and eats means she is trying to stay alive. My best advice would be to "baby proof" your house the best you can so there is less to bump into - it's a lot of work to do so, but it won't be forever.

[at140]

29. In her glory days...a vibrant, alert, affectionate dog photo at age 12

[FM123]

37. Such a beautiful sweet face!

Thank you for sharing your story with us, keep reaching out - we are here for you.

[Laffy Kat]

13. I am so sorry. I know it's hard to watch.

But it sounds like it's harder on you than on her. I say love her as much as possible now and watch her. If she starts acting like she's in pain and/or stops eating, your decision will be easier, although still heart-breaking.

[at140]

35. Great advice and thank you! nt

[imaginary girl]

14. I think her appetite is a good indication

I think her appetite is a good indication that she still has a will to live.

I've heard of rescue workers who are tapping into blind dogs' sense of smell to help them find their way around. Or, you could use a tactile cue, like a runner of indoor/outdoor carpet to help her get around in places that she often has trouble (or places she often needs to go).

There is medicine to help with bladder issues, or consider pee pads or training to newspaper if you can't let her out often enough.

So, my advice is to think about ways to help her with her struggles, which will help her and help you to feel better about the situation!

[Raastan]

15. + 1

[at140]

31. Just moved from a 3rd floor condo to a ranch house

it is now 100 times easier to carry her out and place in the grass and she does her thing.
Thanks for posting!

[KatyaR]

17. I remembered seeing a video

Showing a aid for blind dogs. Maybe this would help?

https://www.geardate.com/products/blind-dog-bumper-collar-harness?variant=29406732812353&currency=USD&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-b7qBRDPARIsADVbUbX76BstQ1nEdqBKu4uqI72wQN4lmJ935eIXSfa48Mb50BqUAMI5pqAaAsmZEALw_wcB

[at140]

32. Thanks very much, already tried that but she is a little dog, 9-10 lbs

and it was too heavy for her. She would just sit and not walk with it.

[Texasgal]

19. Interesting to read this

because I too am having an end of life issue.

My black female lab just turned 17 years old. She still eats, she still goes outside and does her business, she is still very loving. But she has a dry cough that has just started a few months ago.

She has had an eye removed a few years ago due to glaucoma, but she still see's well out of her other eye.

I know she's near her time... she should have never lived this long, but I too am conflicted.

[at140]

33. You know what...

the last few months are the best with you pet in spite of all their health problems.
Just think of it as quality time spent with them. And best luck!

[sinkingfeeling]

20. She should have the opportunity to continue her natural life, although

I'm surprised about her running into things. Most blind dogs learn to navigate the house if all the furniture remains in the same place. Mine learned to even go up and down stairs while blind.

[Princetonian]

21. When she stops eating even the tastiest foods you handfeed her and gets depressed, it is time.

Been there, done that. It's great that she has a good appetite. Let her eat as much as she wants because she will need every ounce of body weight when she stops eating.

Make this time the best in her life with your love. You are a great mom!

[hunter]

22. We put it off too long for our blind deaf dear dog.

She stopped barking when she became deaf.

She started to get lost when she became blind, in the house and in our backyard. Sometimes she'd just stand in place until someone rescued her, my wife and I, or one of our other dogs.

Sometimes she'd seem really confused, and she'd pee and poop inside the house, by the doors, sometimes as I was opening the door to let her out.

Mostly she slept.

We scheduled her last day at the vet, but when she got there she was like, "Hey! I know all you people!" and she was happy and tail wagging and sniffing all around. I couldn't let her go even though she hadn't seemed happy for several days.

A couple of months later she was pretty miserable. I know she felt bad whenever she peed and pooped in the house. One day she couldn't stand up to go outside, and that was her last day. She seemed so sad and ready to go when we took her to our veterinarian. They carried her in from our car on a stretcher and she could barely wag the tip of her tail.

But I don't think the last weeks of her life were happy at all.

[at140]

34. WOW..

That sounds so much like my dog, except she has not quite reached the stage where they lose control of pee & poop. Only time she will have an accident in house is when I lose track of time and it goes beyond 5 hours.

You know what we all are mortals and we all die of something. With a pet, we have a bit more control over when to end their life. I am thinking it is best time is before they suffer a lot. It is never easy for either the pet or the pet owners. We went through that experience with our last dog, who became very sick quickly, stopped eating and moaned when picked up. Vet said she probably has advanced cancer and ready to put to sleep. He gave her a shot to kill pain, and the dog fell asleep and began snoring in our arms. My then wife and I held her and were just bawling. Just did not want to let the pet go. But it was time. 90 minutes after the first shot, the vet came into the room and gave her 2nd shot which stopped her heart.

[Skittles]

39. James Herriot (Scottish vet) said people take their pets' maladies much worse then their pets do

I would say if your dog still eats with gusto and does not seem to be in pain, she is doing fine

[at140]

40. Yap, and will keep her going so long as she has no pain

and eating normal and has not lost bladder control completely. It is just very sad to see her bumping into everything, because she likes to walk a lot inside the house.

[In_The_Wind]

41. Continue as you are now, giving and receiving love.

After putting down my 10 year old golden (it was time) I allowed his mate to end her time at home. She lived until she was 15. She couldn't walk unassisted so we used a harness to lift and assist her outside.

A rescue lab lived her last night at home. She was not feeling up to snuff for 6 months. On her last night as my husband took her out for a walk it started to snow ... she acted like a puppy for 15 minutes then wanted to come inside. She died a happy old dog.