My dog has just suffered a stroke, and following this was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, which in turn has led to congestive heart failure. The main problem I have is that he won't eat or drink anything. I need to crush his medication in the food, and so he is losing out on this also. I'm at my wits end - this came on very suddenly only 5 days ago, and overnight he went from being an active, healthy 12 year old dog, with a brilliant appetite, to now being so lethargic going to the toilet is an effort, he is very unresponsive, and has started coughing up lots of yellow bile - obviously he has nothing else to bring up. My hope was that the medication was going to allow him to recover some quality of life, and at least have a few decent months before he passes on. If I can't get him to eat in the next few days, then I rather fear his next visit to the vet may be his last, and that's a decision I'd really rather not make - If anyone can help I would be very, very grateful!

Thanks, Brenden

You could try giving him his meds a small piece of weiner, the meds pressed into the inside. That may be one way of getting them in, but then the meds will land in an almost empty stomach and that isn't goof for dog or man.

I know you are faced with the inevetible, but do you don't really know how much your pet is suffering. Most people, older individuals, giving up, stop eating or drinking when they know they just can't manage life any longer. This could be what is happening.

The onset of end stage gereatric illness is sometimes swift, without warning.

I have been faced with this decision just in the last six months, and I didn't hesitate because I knew my pet well, knew what I saw was actually out of my control and that of her vet.

Tick

Very well said by tick.
My previous dog, a golden, was riddled with cancer at 11 that manifested itself suddenly (lethargic, not eating) and the vet said to come back when I was ready. I waited 3 days. Prednisone made his life tolerable, but I got no sleep, because the drug made him have to pee every 30 minutes or so. It was winter so we couldn't really live outside. I have a tent and would have had it been for his recovery, but it was time to go.

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Originally Posted by joypulv

Very well said by tick.
My previous dog, a golden, was riddled with cancer at 11 that manifested itself suddenly (lethargic, not eating) and the vet said to come back when I was ready. I waited 3 days. Prednisone made his life tolerable, but I got no sleep, because the drug made him have to pee every 30 minutes or so. It was winter so we couldn't really live outside. I have a tent and would have had it been for his recovery, but it was time to go.

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Yes, went through the prednisone issue too. She was devastated when she could no longer sleep with me because of it. She has been gone since November, but like you, I knew it was time to let her go.

Hugs and more hugs

Thanks folks - I had to get the emergency vet for him this afternoon, they have kept him in their animal hospital, so that they can give him something to suppress his pain, while monitoring him, and then x ray him in the morning, and find out exactly what's going on inside him. His rectal temperature was good, his heartbeat still strong, but he was very sore on the abdomen during the vet's examination, so they think it could possibly be some cancer. I'm happy to have him treated for pain, then x rayed, and in the morning when we have all the results of that then we can decide whether he has a fighting chance, or whether it's time to let him go. Selfishly I hope he will be OK, but I won't have him suffer - if it's the end for him, then I won't prolong it with drugs that offer a slight improvement to quality of life, I will sadly let him go.

Thanks again for all the replies.

Brenden

This makes me very sad. My mom has an older dog who's going through her final stages. The dog is not sick, but tends to forget a lot. We think she's suffering from Alzheimers. The dog forgets that she's eaten, and is constantly looking for my mom, even though she's in the same room.

I know how it feels because I am a dog lover, too and when you become aware of how dependable they can become, it would really be possible for you to treat them as one of your closest friends that seeing them in their unusual state can really hurt.

My dog has stopped eating but he is still drinking water

My french mastiff was diagnosed with CDM in December, 2010. We had him stable for 5 months on meds, but in the last week he has stopped eating. Has anyone experienced this? Do you think there is a chance he will start eating again?