It's just a dog.

[montanaskier]

wicked hard decision....no idea what I should do. Dakota is a 16 year old malamute. She has some nerve issues we think in her back that causes her not to be able to stand or walk very well. When she does walk she walks on her back left knuckle quite a bit. She doesn't do much of anything anymore. Lays around the house or lays outside on the patio. We can't really go on walks, though I will take her across the driveway to the park, she typically pees and goes right back to the house. She has a really hard time standing up by herself. She slides on the hardwood floors alot and ends up kind of sliding/falling down and requires us to pick her up. She is still very lucent. She knows who we are and is still mentally pretty ok. Her voice is gone, she can't make noise anymore. She poops in the house as once she's down she has a hard time standing up and will just go. I don't think she can feel when she has to go anymore until the very last second. We gave her a steroid shot last week and that helped some but some of hte issues above are still there maybe just about 15% better than they were. She is on a medicine twice a week that keeps her from leaking urine. She also has developed a little tumor like growth above one eye that seems to be getting bigger and causes lots of irritation in that eye. She has never been a big eater but really seems to not eat very much lately and is only around 60lbs now...she's never been a super big Mal. I want to do what's best for her and it's probably saying goodbye but her being still mentally sharp makes it tough....really tough. No idea what the right thing to do is at this point.

[Art Shirk]

wicked hard decision....no idea what I should do. Dakota is a 16 year old malamute. She has some nerve issues we think in her back that causes her not to be able to stand or walk very well. When she does walk she walks on her back left knuckle quite a bit. She doesn't do much of anything anymore. Lays around the house or lays outside on the patio. We can't really go on walks, though I will take her across the driveway to the park, she typically pees and goes right back to the house. She has a really hard time standing up by herself. She slides on the hardwood floors alot and ends up kind of sliding/falling down and requires us to pick her up. She is still very lucent. She knows who we are and is still mentally pretty ok. Her voice is gone, she can't make noise anymore. She poops in the house as once she's down she has a hard time standing up and will just go. I don't think she can feel when she has to go anymore until the very last second. We gave her a steroid shot last week and that helped some but some of hte issues above are still there maybe just about 15% better than they were. She is on a medicine twice a week that keeps her from leaking urine. She also has developed a little tumor like growth above one eye that seems to be getting bigger and causes lots of irritation in that eye. She has never been a big eater but really seems to not eat very much lately and is only around 60lbs now...she's never been a super big Mal. I want to do what's best for her and it's probably saying goodbye but her being still mentally sharp makes it tough....really tough. No idea what the right thing to do is at this point.

Damn dude, sorry to hear. I don't have any advice worth taking but I feel for ya and for Dakota. That's a great run no matter what happens.

[old goat]

Montanaskier--I have an 11 year old Cocker Spaniel that's had nerve problems in her back for a few years. (I know they say that people and their dogs get to resemble each other--I now have the same nerve problems, which is ridiculous. Other than that the only way I resemble her is hairy ears.) She couldn't stand, could barely walk. We tried a few things--what worked for her was oral prednisone (steroids)--worked in a few days--she got much more lively, able to get up, prance occasionally. She still has weakness in her hind legs but it's stable. (Steroids didn't work for me though). I don't know if that's something your vet tried, or if it would be appropriate in your case; our dogs may very well have completely different problems. Other than that it sounds like it's time. You know of course that going will be easy for her; it's you it will be hard on. Best of luck.

[liv2ski]

Montanaskier, 16 years is a long life for a Malamute. I hope my girls makes it for as long as Dakota has. Like OG said, going to sleep is easy for her, but will be very hard on you. I can appreciate you don't want to, but it sounds like it may be getting close to that time if you can't find something that works for her. As much as I love my dogs, shitting in the house is not going to be allowed for long. Take care and remember to give her a great send off. All her favorite foods, ice cream, you name it. O and lots of love.

[montanaskier]

Decision has been made and the bet comes to the house next Thursday. I'm heartbroken but it's time.

[frorider]

Based on what you wrote, it is time. 16 yrs is a lot to be thankful for.

[Bobby Stainless]

Vibes to all that have lost their buds recently.

Its an emotional roller coaster having a dog. Best thing ever.

[sb]

Mals are gr8 companions

[sb]

Toby, my neighbors cat who came to live with me passed on Monday. He was 20 yrs old so it was his time. Very good boy he was.

[My Pet Powder Goat]

TOBY THE CAT! RIP!

[liv2ski]

Toby, my neighbors cat who came to live with me passed on Monday. He was 20 yrs old so it was his time. Very good boy he was.

Sorry to hear that Scotty. Our girl is 20 also. Some days she just sounds awful (the way she yowls at us) and my wife asks if it is time. As long as she can sleep (all day long) eat and make it outside to do her business, I want here around. It is always so cute to see her groom my Malamute Maya. The girls stick together.

[Viva]

Decision has been made and the bet comes to the house next Thursday. I'm heartbroken but it's time.

From your earlier posts, I'm guessing degenerative neuropathy (myelopathy). My dog, Rafael, suffered from this his last couple of years. Began stumbling and falling from the hindquarters, then walking became more and more difficult for him, finally he he could no longer walk or stand. Would drag himself around the house with the front legs while pushing off from the rears. At the end, the rear legs were useless, he was becoming increasingly incontinent, and I think his diaphram was affected, as he was having labored breathing. I'll spare the details, but I made the decision after returning home from coffee on the morning of Dec. 24, 2013. I knew it was time. Called a local vet, and he was gone within two hours. With fucking Christmas the next day, I wasn't waiting a day and a half to have that done. Would have been misery for both of us.

I waited about as long as I could because Rafi had such a zest for life. No legs, no problemo, seemed to be his attitude. He appeared happy, still enjoyed playing and was otherwise healthy.

BTW, there's a genetic available for degenerative myelopathy, and defect caused by a so called SOD-I mutation. Didn't cost much. The positive result didn't necessarily prove that Rafi had this disease, but given that steroid and non-steroid-based anti-inflamatories had no effect, and that he was part German Shepherd, it's highly likely that he did.

Miss him a lot. Was a long time before I could begin to consider another dog.

[montanaskier]

We said goodbye to Dakota this morning. Best dog a guy could ever ask for and she will be missed greatly.

[NoPostholio]

Condolences to you and your family -

[liv2ski]

Yep, sorry for your loss MS. Worst days of my life have been letting go of a friend. Take care.

[Mazderati]

RIP.

[sb]

Vibes brutha

[Buzzworthy]

Hadn't been in here for a long time. Hoping I am not back in this thread for a while. Hayleydog is sure slowing down these days.

RIP furry friends, play like you have always dreamed, drool on whomever you want and welcome those coming from the other side of The Bridge with a ball and a treat.

[TNKen]

Well frack. Molly pup can't catch a break. What we were hoping was 1-2 years of remission has turned into 30 days. Damned lymphoma has returned. Looks like there is a new chemo out that may give her 6-12 weeks. Back on the prednisone and some liver protection.

Shit.

[Sicks]

We said goodbye to Dakota this morning. Best dog a guy could ever ask for and she will be missed greatly.

Sorry bud.

[GiBo]

Jesse Dog can't stand up. She's about 13 or 14. She couldn't get up a couple of weeks ago, but after a few hours she got up. Last night I found her on the lawn. Looks like she went to do her biz and couldn't get up from the squat. She still can't get up now and her breathing is labored. At what point do you call it? If she can eat and is relatively comfortable do I just keep comfy and fed/watered.

Fuck man. This sucks way more than it expected it to.

[Sicks]

Jesse Dog can't stand up. She's about 13 or 14. She couldn't get up a couple of weeks ago, but after a few hours she got up. Last night I found her on the lawn. Looks like she went to do her biz and couldn't get up from the squat. She still can't get up now and her breathing is labored. At what point do you call it? If she can eat and is relatively comfortable do I just keep comfy and fed/watered.

Fuck man. This sucks way more than it expected it to.

Sorry bud. She's a beauty. Labored breathing.... Sorry.

[Bobby Stainless]

Hang in there guys.

Good looking pups.

[sb]

Jesse Dog can't stand up. She's about 13 or 14. She couldn't get up a couple of weeks ago, but after a few hours she got up. Last night I found her on the lawn. Looks like she went to do her biz and couldn't get up from the squat. She still can't get up now and her breathing is labored. At what point do you call it? If she can eat and is relatively comfortable do I just keep comfy and fed/watered.

Fuck man. This sucks way more than it expected it to.

Its time, no shame.

[montanaskier]

Yeah, it's terrible. Do the right thing for the pup. Hang tough.