13 year old Labrador --- Need advice!

[ChemEng]

My 13-yr-old dog is holding on, but he has pretty much lost all of his hearing (multiple ear infections), can not see very far (cataracts), and has arthritis and a heart murmur. Other than that, he seems pretty happy, and he can get around quite well for his age (definitely no running!).

My question to pet owners (or better yet, any vets!) is how much longer does a dog like a Lab typically have? At what point does his infirmities get so bad that it becomes more humane to put him to sleep? I enjoy his company, but I don't want to see him suffer unduly.

Thoughts? Any experience from other DUers?

[Faygo Kid]

1. He's lived a long life, for a Lab

13 is a bit on the high side. If he can make 14, he's doing exceptionally well. Just so long as life is happy, keep him going. Watch out for the vet bills at the end. I spent $8,000 on mine, and it really wasn't worth it; squeezed out another month only. Good luck and Godspeed.

[trof]

12. I had the same thought yesterday.

Nasha is a rescued dog. We got her when she was 2. She's had a happy life and 10 more years than she would have had if we hadn't found her. See my other reply here and my "just returned from the vet" post that's on page 2 or 3 now.

As I was standing in the vet's OR, and it looked like he'd have to do surgery again, I thought "What's she got left? Three to six months at best? Over the years we've spent a lot of money on medical treatment for her, and gladly, but does it make sense now? I could well afford it then. Now I'm retired and counting my pennies. Maybe this is nature's way of telling us it's time to say goodbye?"

No matter how you look at it, it's a shitty decision to have to make, and one I'd rather not make on a money basis. But there it is.
Luckily the vet was able to get the tube down her and relieve the situation.

[Military Brat]

2. Don't worry about "how much longer" does a typical Lab have

Your dog is pretty happy, obviously he's well-loved and cared for. Labs live to please, and so as long as he knows he's making you happy, then don't place the burden of your worries on your dog. Believe me, when the time comes, you will know. You think you won't, or maybe you're afraid you'll miss the cues, but after years of bonding with the fellow, you won't be able to ignore the "little voice" that tells you it's time for good-bye.

In the meantime, make the most of it. And again, don't worry about how long Labs typically live. That's dependent upon a lot of factors.

Best of luck to you and your companion. I wish all dogs had such thoughtful guardians.

[jpgray]

3. As long as the dog can enjoy life, let it live

You're the best judge of that. But don't bankrupt yourself either, of course.

[hlthe2b]

4. Labs usually live 10-12 years, sometimes to 14.

14 would be quite old, though.

Quality of life is a subjective thing, but if the dog is eating and seems happy, attentive, and can get around, he's probably doing pretty well. This is probably a good thing to discuss with your veterinarian, who may have followed him for the past several years and can advise you as time goes on. The dear old ones can really do pretty well for some time, even if their daily activities seem pretty limited. Good luck. Give the fella a hug for me, ok?

[gator_in_Ontario]

5. If he is happy and comfy...

let him live.

From a long proud line of yellow dog Democrats

[MysticMind]

6. I have a 14 year old lab...

With arthritis, cataracts, bad knees, and trouble hearing. Is yours in any pain? If not don't put him to sleep. Labs can live for quite awhile.

[bahrbearian]

7. I had to put down 3 dog's

basicly from old age 10+ yrs (2 from cancer), and I own one that is paralyzed from the middle down and requires lot of help but she is happy, they will let you know when the time has come, you can see it in their eyes.

[Flaxbee]

17. It's a very hard call to make...

we had one shepherd/husky mix and waited too long, she was on meds for diabetes, her hips had given out, and she was uncomfortable but still had bright moments, probably was "herself" about 50% of the time. Then, one day I looked her in the eyes and saw that she'd been gone for a while, the old girl I knew had retreated and I saw only an animal in pain. I felt ashamed, to be honest, because it had been too hard to decide to put her to sleep. She was 13, btw, and we euthanized her the next day. Our other dog, a lab, was OK and seemed relatively healthy but at 13 almost overnight became massively incontinent, she was already deaf and within about 2 weeks she'd gone blind. Poor baby. She then started losing her balance a bit, whether because of lack of sight or other rapid neurological deterioriation, so my sister, who is a vet, brought the meds home and we said goodbye to her while she relaxed on her favorite bed. It's SO HARD to do, just watch your dog carefully and don't wait too long. With our first girl, I wish I had done it probably a month earlier than I did, I know I hung on to her because she'd been my childhood companion and I was too weak to say goodbye.

[trof]

8. Yeah, too much experience.

I've had 5 German Shepherds and everyone but our current one had to be put down due to disease or injury.
Nasha is 12 1/2, deaf, arthritic, and incontinent. She's on meds for the last two.
13 is getting pretty old for a large dog.
As long as he doesn't seem to be in pain or is otherwise suffering, and as long as you can continue to properly care for him, keep him around.
I really think you'll know if and when the time comes.
The question is: Are you keeping him around for YOU or him?
I have known people who could not bear to part with their pet and kept him alive long after he had zero quality of life. Just do what's best for him.

My deepest hope is that I'll get up one morning and she's just not breathing any more.
I hope she goes to sleep one night and doesn't wake up in the morning.

I it comes to euthanasia, try and be with him at the end if you can take it. Do it for him and do it for you.
Ah jeez, let's change the subject?

[randr]

9. This is a normal life span for a lab

I just had to put down my Black Lab of 13 years due to increased kidney failure. At the end we were practically hand feeding him with a diet loaded with all kinds of vitamins and herbal remedies. We did extend his life but to what avail I know not. He seemed to sense the inevitable when we finally decided not to allow him to suffer any longer. A very difficult decision that comes with the territory.
Give him all the massages you would want in the same situation and tell him how much you love him.

[Raven]

10. I have a 14 year old black lab/collie mix.

She has the worst set of hips that the vet has ever seen. She's on medicine for that which seems to make her comfortable. She's outside polking around the woods every day and has a great appetite. If I were you I'd watch for pain, incontinence and lack of appetite. Enjoy your friend for as long as you can. :-)

[ElsewheresDaughter]

11. 12 is a long life for a lab...mine is 14 ...."put to sleep"? never

give asprin daily for arthritis pain...it helps

at what age would like to be put to sleep?

[OneBlueSky]

13. he'll let you know . . .

two years ago, my companion of 16 years (a lab/shepherd mix) was on his last legs . . . I knew the time was coming, but I was agonizing, not wanting to do it too soon or wait too long . . . when Dusty stopped eating and stopped responding to me, I knew it was time . . . your friend will give you all the information you need when he's had enough . . . meanwhile, just enjoy your time with him and give him lots of lovin' every day . . . and maybe some special treats (Dusty loved scrambled eggs mixed with some chopped up ham; in his last days, that's all he would eat) . . . good luck to you and your friend . . .

[WWW]

14. I feel like the only constant in my life right now is my lab

He just turned 13 in December. He too has become incontinent and can't hear and can barely see. He has to pee about three times during the night and if no one gets up, he pees on the cellar floor. He still is so spunky and just a riot when you get him going. YOu will know when you look into his eyes and see sorrow. I have yet to see this out of Buffett.

As an aside, I have started to give him donuts. He had one Christmas day. I also bought a standing rib roast for Christmas and let him have the bone. Your dog has two senses left, smelling and taste, and you might as well indulge him..:) Give him something good to eat or smell everyday...In short, give him a reason to get up every day.

Also I feel for you...we had a stupid Golden before Buffett who I thought was the best dog in the world until I met Buffett...

[AnnabelLee]

15. Our black Lab was fourteen

when we tearfully said goodbye to him. The pain from the hip dysplasia that Labs often have became stronger than anything the vet could prescribe. We cried for days afterward & still miss him dreadfully.

Only you can judge whether or not your dog still has good quality of life. From your description, it sounds like he does. Watch him closely for signs of pain from the arthritis. And give him a big kiss from me.:loveya:

[ChemEng]

16. Thanks to all for the advice! I really appreciate ...

everyone taking time to relate their experiences. After hearing how long some dogs have lived, I feel we have at least one more year to go!!!

[havocmom]

18. saw a woman jogging with a very old German shepherd by my home

and I talked to her. My own dog was getting on and her joints were slowing her down big time. The woman told me that 6 months before, her companion could barely walk 20 feet. I was amazed and asked what her vet had given the dog. She smiled and said "alfalfa sprouts." I got a book about wholistic pet car from a friend and started making my dog's food, carefully following the suggestions in the book for porportions and supplements. I did add minced sprouts into the mix. The dog rallied and the joints were much more comfortable. She lived a long, and full life with much less pain and much more of her old enthusiam.

My sister and I added sprouts to our menue more often. Our knees are much better now!

Enjoy the time with your dog, but do what you can to make it quality time for your dear friend.

Joy to you both.

[mopinko]

19. lost my old boxer recently

she was 12 1/2, which is old for a boxer. in the end, it was easy to tell, cuz she had a palsy in her face that led to recurrent pneumonia. we did treat it once, but she had other things going on. so when she started having trouble breathing, we knew. we saw it coming for a long time, tho, and said that when she stopped following people (me, especially) around the house all day, we would know. i'm sure there is something that your dog does that can tell you when she has given up. it seemed to me that pain did not really bother her, maybe that is just cuz she couldn't tell me. but she was always game for a ride in the car, and never hesitated to hop up on the couch. and she was just that kind of a dog. anything to be with her people.