[colbert]

Hello, I have this dog she's really old I don't know how old but I can remember she's older then me and I'm 16.I can see the oldness getting to her(constantly falling down,not going hunting anymore,lost all teeth,very skinny,and just doesn't hop around as much.Do really old dogs manly just die right on spot or do they get sick and start to die.(and I've always been taught that if a dog,horse gets really bad ill or cannot get up you got to shoot them)I don't want to do this to the dog but I really think very soon she will get sick or die of old age.
Anyway my question is do dogs manly die of old age or die getting sick and put out of their misery?

[poseidon]

Hello Colbert,

Your dog has reached a good age. A dogs age is measured as 1 year equals 7 in human terms and if she has reached over 16 it is the equivalent to about 112 years. Although I believe 6 years per single human year is more realistic. Even that would make her well over 90.

She certainly appears to be suffering and if this is the case I believe it is cruel to allow this to continue.

My advice is to take her to the vet and get her examined. It may be that the vet will recommend that it is time to let her go. If this is the case, your vet can give her a simple injection which will let your pet die painlessly, gently and with dignity.

Of course when she is examined the vet may find that she has a problem than can be treated.

I am sure you will agree after over 16 years of giving the family loyalty and love, she deserves to be allowed to leave you in a dignified and humane manner, rather than being taken out and shot.

Euthanasia by injection is very quick, clean and painless. Your dog will simply fall asleep very quickly and that will be that.

I know it hurts to have to make a decision to say goodbye to your dog. I am sure she is classed as a member of the family. Having had to make the decision to say goodbye to our Jack Russel recently after 15 years, I know how you are likely to feel but you must put your dog first.

Good luck,

Cy

[audi]

Hello
Your dog has lived for a lot of time now it is the end but don't shooot him because he tois likeus but dogs don't die by getting sick or old sometlme sthey go away from us and dies but it is rare so it die s in night or on your lap please don't shoot him just take care it is my request thank you bye bye take care

[labman]

I think most dogs are eventually put to sleep when their owners can no longer watch them suffer. The test I am applying to my 13 year old Lab, is she enjoying life. I am old enough that I hurt more often now, but am not wishing doctor Kevorkian was still around. A few years ago I was asked to pick an old, retired dog guide and decide what was best for him and do it. One factor in deciding to have him put to sleep was that not only had he outlived his partner, but everybody else he knew and loved. The older a dog gets, the more important the people it knows and loves are.

So your dog still has you. Does she still have things she enjoys doing? Is she excited when you pull down the leash? Will she roll over for a belly rub? Is she happy just to lay at your side? Does she hurt every time she moves and maybe even when laying still?

I can remember one old dog I had crunching his dry dog food after all his teeth were gone. We eventually put him to sleep after he lost control of his bladder and bowels. He seemed ashamed of his self when he woke up in a puddle. I don't think he was enjoying life. He spent his last summer mostly lying in the sun.

When I remember some of my friends' dogs, I know some of them suddenly got very sick at the end. I guess I focused more on losing a friend than on whether their illness killed them or just resulted in them being put to sleep. If your dog is still enjoying life and being with you, you could wait for a sudden turn for the worse.

Has she seen the vet? There is medicine that will help older dogs. Even buffered aspirin, 5 mg per pound of dog every 8 hours might ease her pain. If you are not feeding a concentrated, meat based chow, one might help put more weight on her. The senior formulas usually are reduced calorie to prevent the dog from gaining weight. Regular dog chow, or even the rich puppy chows might help her.