Question about older dogs

[SoMDGirl42]

I have an old boy. His litter brother passed last June. He will be 15 in May. I don't think he has much longer, but just curious if anyone has experienced this as well. He hasn't been going up or down the stairs in the last 2 years or so. The last two weeks, he's been making a be line up the stairs and going under my bed. When he and his brother were young, that was one of their favorite places to hang out. What are the chances he's doing this because he's ready to cross the rainbow bridge? I've heard of dogs hiding and passing away peacefully in their favorite place. I just feel like that's what he's doing. Is it possible he can sense it's coming and doesn't want my daughter to be tramatized by finding him in his bed? I just have a feeling that's why he's going under my bed, so I will find him and not her. It won't be much longer, but I do not feel he is suffering at this time. If he gets to that point like his brother, I will have to assist with his crossing. Not looking forward to that again. I did have the talk with my daughter again this morning that he is old and doesn't have much longer with us. I hate this part of being a pet owner!

[slotpuppy]

So sorry to hear about your doggie. He may be going as a way of being close to you because his time is short. I hope his passing is easy and painless.

[frequentflier (Premo)]

Originally Posted by SoMDGirl42

I have an old boy. His litter brother passed last June. He will be 15 in May. I don't think he has much longer, but just curious if anyone has experienced this as well. He hasn't been going up or down the stairs in the last 2 years or so. The last two weeks, he's been making a be line up the stairs and going under my bed. When he and his brother were young, that was one of their favorite places to hang out. What are the chances he's doing this because he's ready to cross the rainbow bridge? I've heard of dogs hiding and passing away peacefully in their favorite place. I just feel like that's what he's doing. Is it possible he can sense it's coming and doesn't want my daughter to be tramatized by finding him in his bed? I just have a feeling that's why he's going under my bed, so I will find him and not her. It won't be much longer, but I do not feel he is suffering at this time. If he gets to that point like his brother, I will have to assist with his crossing. Not looking forward to that again. I did have the talk with my daughter again this morning that he is old and doesn't have much longer with us. I hate this part of being a pet owner!

Have you considered taking him to the vet to see if anything is going on?

[SoMDGirl42]

Originally Posted by frequentflier

Have you considered taking him to the vet to see if anything is going on?

yes, I've considered it.

[ICit]

Originally Posted by SoMDGirl42

yes, I've considered it.

that should have been the first step months ago when you started to notice him acting different....

[Roman]

Originally Posted by ICit

that should have been the first step months ago when you started to notice him acting different....

She did say that he is not suffering right now, and she knows her pet better than you do.

[ICit]

Originally Posted by Roman

She did say that he is not suffering right now, and she knows her pet better than you do.

dear roman.... I know SOMDgirl fairly well...

so i know the ins and outs of things with the dogs..


and how does she know he is not suffering.... many dogs with kidney failure never show signs till it too late.... many dogs with joint issues dont show pain..... point is she doesnt!

point is ... as a dog gets older ..VET VISITS should increase.... and as she knows heart failure is common in these dogs... one should keep up on vet visits to know how thing are progressing.

[kwillia]

Originally Posted by ICit

dear roman.... I know SOMDgirl fairly well...

so i know the ins and outs of things with the dogs..


and how does she know he is not suffering.... many dogs with kidney failure never show signs till it too late.... many dogs with joint issues dont show pain..... point is she doesnt!

point is ... as a dog gets older ..VET VISITS should increase.... and as she knows heart failure is common in these dogs... one should keep up on vet visits to know how thing are progressing.

So if the dog is going into kidney or heart failure she should just put it to sleep then and there and not let it prolong? It would be a hard call to make when the dog seems to be relatively content at the time.

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by ICit

point is ... as a dog gets older ..VET VISITS should increase.... and as she knows heart failure is common in these dogs... one should keep up on vet visits to know how thing are progressing.

This is a real question:

Why would you funnel a ton of money on vet visits into a 15 year old dog that's on its last legs? Is SomdGirl independently wealthy or something?

[ICit]

Originally Posted by kwillia

So if the dog is going into kidney or heart failure she should just put it to sleep then and there and not let it prolong? It would be a hard call to make when the dog seems to be relatively content at the time.

dont take my words and string them out of context!!! damn!

of all the daymn people you want to say that to.... me?? you know how i feel about my dogs!!! and we talked about this as well in leonardtown.


Im the one who kept pushing her to take her other dog in that had heart failure... they can give meds... it makes dog comfortable... and as things progress then the meds can be tweeked...
till the meds dont work anymore then one needs to think about things.

and she did!


i never said to put the dog to sleep... and she knows i have said to take him to the vet a WHILE ago to have a check up done!!!!