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Originally Posted by Tulsatops  Help with end of life decision: I initially posted this as a blog... but think this is a better place for it. Sorry for the repetition:
Fiona, my 12 1/2 year old female Yorkie is having problems. I hadn't thought they were so bad until my daughter came to visit a few weeks ago. The Yorkie had a sister (not a Yorkie) who was just put down a few months ago. The other dog (a Lab/Akita mix) had very severe dementia. My daughter tells me that Fiona is in just as bad a shape but I can't see it because she is so small and when Fiona begins panicking I just pick her up.
Fiona is blind. She doesn't seem to be able to smell either - or at least doesn't seem to smell her food. She can't hear most of the time, or just checks out and can't hear us when we talk to her. She forgets that she is eating when she is at her food bowl (unless she eats outside.. strange). She no longer plays, doesn't like to take walks. If I don't give her medication she is up all night. She cries/barks constantly if she is not exactly next to me or on my lap. She is becoming incontinent... pooping on the bed on the towel where she sleeps (not sure if this is medication related).
Lately she stands in a particular place and just doesn't move for minutes and minutes. Just stands there -- like she is looking out into space. Sometimes she sits and doesn't move.
She makes a hiccup noise on some days... her body shakes a bit like maybe its a small seizure but the vet says its the trachea.
The vet says she is young for these problems, but I think she came from a puppy mill. I also wondered if she might check out when her sister died.
Part me wants to put her to sleep like most of my friends are recommending, but then I feel guilty that I would do that to make my life easier (it certainly has been difficult). The vet has been super supportive (he is great) but I know the decision is ultimately up to me and I am having a really hard time deciding. |
I'm so sorry I didn't see this when you posted it. The last year of my little girl's life, she had dementia. We would have done anything to keep her alive, just as long as she had a good quality of life. My vet didn't think it was necessary to see her as often, but I had her checked out at least every two months, often more often. He assured me that Ashley still had a good quality of life because he saw her responsive she was with me. If she had not responded to Anipryl, which helped her confusion a little bit and her anxiety to a good extent, I don't know if it would have been the right thing to keep her alive. The anxiety took its toll on Ashley and also on my husband and me; we could not bear to think of her suffering. Fortunately the medication helped enough to help our fears. Ashley lived to just shy of seventeen not related to her dementia. If you need any help, I would be very happy to assist you in any way. My prayers are with you and Fiona.