Worn out and don't want to let go
 

Some of you might remember our little schnauzer, Tina, getting caught in our recliner. Tina has demenia (almost 14) and it gets harder everyday because she can't see real well either. She will stand and look at the walls or just walk, walk, walk. She got in the water bowl the other night and turned it over and was just drenched. Carpet too. Last night she got under the bed and took forever to get her out. I am so afraid she will get hurt again, I have been putting her in her kennel at night. Its hard because she needs to go tee tee or get a drink so often. I am literally wore out, because she has to be watched constantly. She eats good and will just hop and run like she did when she was young. The only thing she bumps into the things when she does this. To groom her is a nightmare. I can hardly keep her still long enough to do anything. I don't know what to do, but my husband is not ready to let go either. Gosh, it is so hard. We love them like our children and it hurts to see her like this. Pray for her and us to have the wisdom to know when its time.

That is so sad. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

I can relate with you. My Milly (mini poodle mix), started to decline even her body was in a great shape. It was her mind that was not right. She was starting to develop the Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD). She hated to be apart from me but for few months before her death, she just wandered away, ignoring everything but she came to me when called and stayed with me for a very short time before she walked away again. It was really difficult decision I had to make to let her go. It'd be easier if she stopped eating but she ate so darn well. I struggled to make the decision for about a month or so. The last two days before she died, she started going potty in the room. I had to put her in the little room with the gate up at night. No matter how many times I took her outside to potty, she got up and went potty then went back to sleep on it. Milly was always very fussy staying clean. I am not exaggerating. I knew it was time to let her go. I had a hard time making the call to the clinic to make an appointment. On January 21th, I finally released her from her worn out body and have no regret. I knew she is very happy to be free from her imprisoned body. I miss her so very much. She was an extraordinary dog that I ever had.
Believe me, it was very hard and I was not even ready to let her go but I knew she was miserable. She had given me so much happiness and it was at least I could for her to give her the happiness all way to the end.
Here is the last picture I took with Milly. I was bawling and bawling that night but I wanted to have one last picture of my sweet moxie and I.

Oh, forgot to mention that Milly'd be 16 years old this year in August. She had a wonderful 15 years. My prayers are with you and your family.

I think deciding when a loved pet is ready to be put down is one of the hardest things to do. I lost two of my cats this past year. They were both fifteen; Razzmatazz died on her own at home and Salem was put down in the vets office. I don't think either was easier then the other. I have only one cat left. Sidney is 15 and is the daughter of Razz. She is still quite healthy; she's getting a bit klutzy and tends to knock things off the furniture as she races around. I'm hoping she'll stay with us for a few more years.

I just wanted to wish you and Tina all of the best and hope she enjoys as much as possible in her final days.

Milly looks like she was totally loved. The picture says it all. I'm sure you did the right decision for her.

There are meds for this condition. Have you spoken with your vet about it ? There is also a prescription food , I believe it's by Pedigree. I hope this helps.

Have you talked with your vet about selegiline (Anipryl)? I'd give that a go and see what happens.

I was just about to suggest this. My Alexander (RIP) had CCD and the Anipryl helped him quite a bit. We were able to enjoy several good months together because of the Anipryl, and that's time I'll treasure forever. Please ask your vet if your little one would be a good candidate for this medicine.

Here's the thread I started on Alexander, where you can see the progress he made after we started him on Anipryl. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...er-yorkie.html

Hugs,
Bonny

Oh I'm soo terribly sorry for what you are going through :( We went through this with our Lassie (minature sheltie that we had for 17 years)...it was painful to watch her as she first lost her hearing, then slowly her eyesight went as well as her mind. My thoughts and prayers go out to you as I know Tina is a member of your family and watching them go through this is one of the hardest things :(

I had an elderly Maltese with Cognitive Dysfunction or Dementia. He was deaf, blind, incontinent, and would pace and pace for hours in circles. It was really sad. He didn't like to go outside anymore because I guess he coudn't see us and didn't know what to do. He really didn't even know if we were home unless we touched him.

We tried the Anipryl but did not seem to help him; perhaps he was too far advanced.

I suggest having a long talk with your vet. (Which I failed to do). I knew it was time when I came home from vacation and the Vet's boarding Kennel, where he had gone all his life; told me he could not come back. Apparently he soiled his crate very day and then would pace and pace in it until his feet had to be medicated and he had to be bathed every day. This was my trusted Vet's office telling me he could not come back!

I waited another long year; a year of frustration for me; and another year of basic lifelessness for Casper; then did what I knew I had to do. The Vet's office told me later, that I had probably kept him around a little too long.

So I have no answers for you; it's really hard when they don't have a life-threatening disease - then you KNOW what to do. But when it's just old age and dementia; it's harder.

Here's my thought: when I get to the point where anyone is considering putting diapers on me ~ give me the shot.

Peace to you; courage and wisdom as well.

I understand your feelings. I've been there before. Sending you my thoughts and prayers.

My thoughts are with you. I lost about 4 cats and 2 very special dogs in my lifetime. I know it's a very hard decision but as prevously posted you should try every avenue before making such a decision. I know I exhausted every alterniative. As long there is life there might always be a chance.

Sendig you strength during this difficult time.
There is no answer, no exact time, it will "just" come to you.

:thumbup: I agree. If Tina's health is otherwise good, Anipryl might help give her more time.

It's my understanding that Anipryl will not 'reverse' any current dementia; but is thought to stop it from progressing further. At least that is what the Drug Rep told me for both humans and dogs.

Is this everyone's understanding? I was thinking that perhaps this is why it didn't work for Casper; he was too far gone when we began. Of course, it doesn't help everyone anyway but that was just my thought.

Sending prayers for you. I am so sorry, I can't imagine how hard that must be. My Winston is a schnauzer, they are wonderful dogs. I wish you all the best in your decision. In the end, we have to consider the life that they are living. It is so hard to let go but sometimes it is best for the little one.

I am so sorry you are going through this. I have not lost a pet to old age ...... yet... but after reading some post on here I have been thinking about it at times. I think we are lucky because we have people with so much knowledge to help us. I look foward to read if some of the med helped, and like one poster said.... treasure all the time you have.

You have my thoughts and prayers.....

Sandy,

My Sydney is in chronic renal failure. She will be 15 in April, Lord willing.
Is it possible to put Tina in a bathroom at night, and cover the floor with wee wee pads?

And keep her water in there? We have a water bottle for Sydney. Do you think Tina would learn to use one, to prevent her from turning her bowl over?

You need to get some rest. I know what you are going through.

But you do need your rest, in order to take care of her.

You will know, when it is time to let her go.

I will keep you and your husband and Tina in my prayers.

We love our girls, like they are our children, too.

Sheila

Tina also has CHF. She takes lasixs for that and enapril for blood pressure. Her demensia is too far advanced, I believe, for anything to help. She has been sleeping in her crate at nite and doing really good. I get up early and let her go tee tee on papers in the garage, and surpising enough she is doing good like that. She has always been a tart and would bite if you picked her up. She is no bigger than the yorkies and fiesty as heck. But now that she is sick she wants her mama to hold her and she will be just as loving. I read where they would either be that way or completely turn from their families. I have had to put 2 down and it literally makes me sick to my stomach to think about it. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. To me, you just don't give up but take care of them until its that time. We lost one to diabetes and the other to cancer. But, I would do it all over again. Taking care of them is nothing to the love they give back to us. I guess until that time comes, I will have to take naps when she does and rest when I can. lol!!! Little wart has alot of energy. She started walking the other morning (about 4 in the morning) and this was before I started putting her back in her crate at night, and I timed her and she walked for 65 min. before she finally just fell out on the floor and went to sleep. I appreciate just being able to talk about it because we all need support at times. Thank you again for each one of you and your input.

I forgot to say too, that we bought her a water bowl that can't be turned over. It has high ridges on the side and will not spill even if it happens to be kicked. I had to order it and can't wait to try it.

Oh, Sandy. My heart truly goes out to you. CRF alone is rough enough.

We lost our 1st Yorkie to CRF in 1998, to CRF, at the age of 13 years and two months.

We did everything that we could possibly do for her. And when we lost her, it ripped our hearts out.

So, when we got the diagnosis on Sydney in October, I thought, "No, not again."

She is doing very well on a homemade diet. Her BUN & Creatine actually dropped in Nov. after a month on the diet. She is still in CRF though.

And we will continue to do everything we can possibly do for her. She is our heart.

You are so very right, they give us so much more than we could ever give to them.

I have to get up at 5:30 every morning for mass, or my husband and I do Communion Services when our Pastor is away,(as he is right now) and Sydney is already up. This is my girl that would sleep until 7:00 A.M. and don't we dare wake her before! LOL

It does help to talk about it with other people that are going through the same thing.

Please don't hesitate to P.M. me

Hugs,
Sheila

It's never easy to see a pet age. You just have to remember all the good times and enjoy her as long as you can.

My prayers are with you it's got to be the hardest thing to go through. I use to go to bed and pray that my Ember would just not wake up every night.

I am so sorry you are going through this heartbreaking time. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I understand your pain as we had to put our yorkie Baby down when she was 16 years. She developed cancer. For us we knew it was time when she began to moan in her sleep, was no longer active and couldn't control her bladder. We couldn't let her suffer. Your Tina knows she is well loved and trusts your decisions. Try to stay strong and know we are thinking of you.

It breaks my heart to read about Tina. I would do what you are doing and try to make the time she has as wonderful and loving as possible. Hopefully your vet can make some suggestions as to how to help Tina. I truly sympathize with what you are going through.

It really helps to know there are people that understand. When you have a special needs dog all the things you go through for them is worth it. I always said God had His hand on little Tina for a reason. She has been a trouper. She survived a blood disorder when she was only a few months old because of prayer. They thought sure she would bleed out at home but she made it. She has a heart murmur and the vet said not to let her get overly tired but she needed to not have too much excercise. That is what worried me too about so much paceing she does. Several years ago I had Max, Mandy, Tina's portrait made for father's day. (all schnauzers, 2yrs. apart) Max and Mandy are gone now and I am soooooo glad I have their portrait hanging out in the sunroom. I would not take nothing for it.

Just stopping by to let you know you are in my thoughts:)

I hope today is a good for you all

I wanted to come by and say the same thing, I've been thinking of you.

Today has been a hard day. She is asleep and is breathing very deeply. Kayla, Lexi, and Dudley keep going in the bedroom to check on her. Its so sad because they realize something is wrong. I have cried and cried and it hurts so bad to see her just laying there. Just talked to my husband at work and he said when he checked on her and took her to tee tee last night she seemed real anxious in her kennel. Just standing and staring. He said he thought it might be better not to confine her at night and if she needed to walk, let her walk. He said he felt like it might help to work some of the fluid off her little body. I had not thought of that but it might help her to be able to move around. I think I am going to put her little bell back on her collar, like she had when she was little. She was a tiny little thing and the bell helped us keep up with her. lol!!!! Keep her in your prayers and me too, I am a basket case. Appreciate y'all so much.