I will be praying for you little girl. My Dixie will be 15 in July. So far Dixie has been doing quite well. Her vision is getting worse and her hearing. She won't get off the bed at night by herself but if she needs down to get a drink or pee she will make a cute little woofing sound and I will put her on the floor then pick her up when she is done.

Is your girl on a special diet? From my understanding when ammonia build up in the liver it makes them disoriented and they walk and walk. Perhaps she needs a low protein diet if she is not on one already.

So sorry to hear you are going through this. My thoughts and prayers I am sending your way.

I am sorry so is having a bad day. Wen my pom had dementia and CHF she did really well on the enipryl and anipryl and lasix Then one day my daughter called me and said Maya was breathing funny and she would keep her head up in the air. I rushed he to the vet and she said the reason she was holding her head up was that it made it a little easier to breath. You will let you know when she has had enough. I hope she has better days ahead.

I use a water bottle for my schnauzer I know that's the least of your worries right now but you may really want to consider one as ingesting water in their nose can be a real issue, as well reflux and the bacteria infections they get from moisture on their beard...this might aid beard grooming at least also.
A pup cut or all over shave might help schnauzer grooming (do you ear pluck and hand strip the coat too-?) can be very intense especially if you have a mega coat or a true cottony American coat on your "schnauzie" My princess is a mega coat and her little feet are like sponges in the winter rains here just absorbing water-we shave her feet even though she wears shoes-it's not pretty but saves her a lot of fuss over grooming.
Elvis my epileptic Yorkie seems to have lost depth perception and bumps into things a lot...I rearranged the house and now have a gate from the kitchen dining living room (it's a big open area) blocking access to hall leading to the rest of our house as he always hits the walls and doorways if not walked...its a lot of work.

Ok I know this sounds terrible; but,sometimes I would pray for God to take Casper so that I didn't have to make that terrible decision.

He didn't though and it was up to me.

I've always heard to think of your pet's three favorite things; if they no longer enjoy even one; then quality of life must be considered.

I, too, hope you have better days ahead.

Same with me. Milly's mom died horrible way at the clinic.The dr really tried to save her but she had a massive stroke and died with blood coming out of her nose and mouth. I never forgive myself for allowing her to die like she did. I wish I had ended her life instead of saving her life. She was 13. It would be helpful if I could see the future. :( When we take a pet in, it is a long commitment with decisions for them. It is really a personal decision of each owner when it is time to let go or buy more time. It is never easy.
OP, you all are still in my prayers. Hope she'll have better days soon so you could enjoy her more. She is lucky to have such caring owners like your husband and you.

I know it's hard. Please know that you are both in my prayers.

I really don't want to sound rude in anyway or to seem like I'm chalking up your dog's health issues to breed traits in anyway, but I think you should really talk to some Schnauzer experts also, because the standing and just staring sound like the schnauzer stare or schnauzer glare a breed trait especially prevalent when schnauzers are "thinking" or trying to comprehend something, going through a change.
Although it seems strange to other breed people schnauzers commonly stare of about a minute especially when there is a routine or physical change for them (like being sick). Lethargy and depression are also common when there is a physical change, like not being able to do as they normally, as I'm sure you know they are such a hardy and endurance minded breed not being able to do can cause serious depression for them. My Princess is allergic to fleas, we got fleas from a stray we brought in for a couple days, she got a hot spot and we treated it but she literally spent three days in her "box" absolutely miserable I was freaking out until some breed experts explained schnauzer specific behaviors.

You should really talk to some schnauzer experts, if you need a few recommendation I can hook you up with some schnauzer experts that have advised me before. I really hope it's just a combination of a change in health a breed behavioral traits rather than a really seriously turn of events for both of you.

Sandy,

I empathize with you regarding when they have a really bad day.

Sydney has them,and then, she will have a day when she acts like she is just fine.

I agree with your husband, maybe confining her to the crate isn't a good thing.

Let her walk......

I am sending you a big (((HUG))).

I wish I had the right words to say to ease your pain. But nothing really eases our pain, when our kids are suffering.

Sheila

Praying for you and your baby. I have been through this several times and did not want to let go either. I finally had to make the decision for my 2 Cairn Terriers so they wouldn't suffer any longer. They each lived to be 14. My vet was a blessing to me and was there to comfort me.

I am choking up here that really hit home. My last dog Robbie got colitis and deteriorated quite rapidly and it wasn't pretty.

:(....I'm afraid to ask how things are.

Just wanted to let you know I am thinking about you and praying god watches over you and your family during this difficult time

Aw,I am so sorry to hear about Robbie. I wish our babies could live more than 20 years!

8/18/2009- my 'Mamaw' (who practically raised me) died at age 99. I was by her side when she passed away. Three weeks later, my dad passed away on 9/11/09. The day of his funeral, I had to take my Mamaw's Chihuahua to the vet.....3 days later, I had to have him put down. On Nov 3, 2009, I had to take my 15 yr old Rat Terrier/Beagle to be put down- cancer....she had a tumor the size of a marble grow to the size of 2 large grapefruits in her abdominal area. My 'Baby' got to the point where she would stare at walls, wouldn't eat, and I had to make a pallet/pen in the middle of the livingroom for her to sleep. I had to give her pepto....WHEN I could get her to lick my finger. I had to keep 'puppy papers' close & had to keep her confined to her pin when we worked. I would come straight home to make sure she was ok. I did everything I could as long as she didn't seem to be in pain because I was her mommy & she was my baby....and I could not deal with more death in my life and my husband.....well, he just would not face reality because he knew what needed to be done...but he couldn't bring himself to do it either. Baby's not eating came later but that was MY final straw. I knew that I had to love her enough to let her go. So by myself, I got her favorite blanket, pillow & toy and I took her to the vet. It was very peaceful and I cried like a baby as we wrapped her in her blankie. I took her to my family home (where all of our passed beloved pets were buried). I dug her grave, placed her in a box, with her favorite things, said my good-bye and buried her.....alone. I felt that it was almost a poetic 'ending' doing this alone because I was the one that chose her as a puppy & brought her home.....but oh, it was by far the hardest day of my life (except for 8/18/09 & 9/11/09). Through all of that, I did have a feeling of.....relief, I guess. Even though I loved her dearly, she was at peace & I wasn't consumed with dread, sadness, or consumed with feeling guilty for all those 'if I had only....' or 'what if I did this...'

Now....all that said....I went through the worst, hardest time of my life in 2009.... but I came through it....and you will too! It is so hard to let our 'babies' go.....but we have to love THEM enough to do it. When you & your husband are ready, you'll find the strength & courage.

I will add that 8 months later, I had to put down our 15 yr old 'Gabby'....my husband went with me because of regrets from not going with Baby. It made a world of difference having him with me & he felt better about himself.

I will say a prayer for you, your hubby, & your baby, Tina. Keep loving her every moment you can.
(Sorry this was so long.) God Bless!

Maybe you can put her in an XPEN with a comfy bed, pee pad and her toy's. You can also hang a water bottle on the side. All of my dogs use a water bottles. Just like our elderly humans, we must care for them in a different way. Good Luck to you, I know you are hurting....:(

bless you all for loving your babies so much. i had to stop reading after tina & millies stories, my eyes are filled with tears. i am happy that we do have the option to stop the suffering in a very humane way. the hardest thing to do is to let go but you will know when its time. thought & prayers to you & everyone having to make these decisions. :cry:

REDStacey123, what a difficult time for you to go thru. You are a strong lady consider what you had to go thru. I am glad your husband went with you when Gabby was ready to leave.
oliver44, thank you for reading Milly's story.
I hope our stories will help people to know they are not the only ones going thru the difficult time.

Thank you, Blue Sake! We find out how strong we are once we get through it all!

=)

Thank you, Blue Sake! We find out how strong we are once we get through it all!

=)

Thank you, Blue Sake! We find out how strong we are once we get through it all!
But we need love, support, & prayers to GET THROUGH it all! For you- re: Milly's mom...I cannot imagine how difficult that was for you. She may not have known what was happening to her but she knew you were there for her, loving her up to the last moments. Please try to think of that & forgive yourself. We just love our babies so much & it's just our nature to hold on as long as we can. You can take solice in knowing that you were the best mom & nuturer (sp?) to her for many years! I am so sorry for your loss.
:ghug:

You said it perfectly! :) I am Milly's mom. You are right, she did not know what was going on. She always got nervous when going to clinic. She hated the clinic but on that day, she was very calm and just being in her world. She did not care about anything. When she was sedated, she stayed in my arms until it was time for me to leave her (I had her to be cremated so I could put her ashes in my backyard). I wanted to share my story so the OP knows that I do understand what she is going thru. No matter what she decides for Tina, it is not easy.
You said it pretty well and I hope OP reads your posts. Bless to you all. :)