Is it ok to put my Yorkie down?

[canana]

Originally Posted by Captainzing

Reminds me of a story


A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in- law, and four-year old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather’ s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped, the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in- law became irritated with the mess. “We must do something about Grandfather, ” said the son. “I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.” So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather’ s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.



One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather’ s hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled

Wow, thank you for sharing such a heart-felt story, Captainzing. Such a sweet meaningful story.

My past Bibi had a heart condition at 8 years old and was on medication for the remainder of her life. I didn't realize small dogs live a longer life back then, so I thought she was going to leave us soon. So each day of every month, of every year, I cherished her time with us. As an ignorant dog owner, our family didn't know how to properly house train her either. There were many times when she had accidents, including in my bed. But we LOVED her so much. It hurts even when I think about her now after 5 years she's left us.

At 17 years, she lost mobility in her hind legs and could not stand or walk. I still remember that day she realized she couldn't stand up anymore. She was crying and begging me with her eyes to help her. I got her a brand new pink dog wheelchair. It took some time for her to get accustomed to it. Then, we all saw how happy she was again, running around in her wheelchair! It was the cutest thing! We put diapers on her because she could no longer potty on her own. She slept in my bed each night with her diaper on, and I comforted her each night and prayed that she'd be okay. Occasionally she'd wake up, forgetting that she couldn't stand up and would cry. She later became blind, lost her hearing, and became senile, but and ate/pooped/peed regularly. It wasn't until she turned 19 that we felt it was finally 'time' and she hadn't passed away naturally that we had to put her down.

Bibi had a very long and happy life. We did everything we possibly could for her and accepted all her flaws for what she was. When she left us, I didn't know such pain was possible. She was really more than family to us.

To Sandyx7: I can imagine your frustration of land mines, it's definitely not fun. It's probably too late for house training now too, since she's an elderly dog with health issues. I would probably put a diaper on her and do what you can. If though, you find her existence to be a nuisance, which I cannot relate to, I'd suggest that you surrender her and hopefully find her a new home, if possible, before choosing to end her life. That would be sad. But not as sad as putting her down if she still has a decent quality of life.

To answer your original question, no one can really tell you whether it's okay to put your dog down because she has accidents and you're tired of cleaning up after her. Only you can decide that.

[teasell]

Hi this post nearly broke my heart. I understand being frustrated.

My yorkie is 8 yrs old and has never been completely housebroken. No problem I love her anyway. She'll go weeks with no problems then she'll slide.
She gives me love no matter what. To have a pup for so long and even consider putting her down goes against my nature. I keep thinking would you do this to a child if they had some sort of problem. I commend your son for his comment.

Matese the more you post the better I like you. You made me cry too. You are such a good Yorkie mommy.

[Britster]

I agree with posts above and OP has received great advice.

Only thing I'll add to the conversation is that I don't necessarily think rehoming or giving to a rescue is the best option. It can very hard to get older senior dogs with bladder issues to be adopted out, first of all, and second, it's plain hard on the dog. In a few cases, euthanizing almost seems kinder, IMO.

I can definitely understand the frustration. I don't think I could live with a dog who had accidents all the time unless there was a medical issue that popped up of course. Just like people, dogs get older, and can sometimes not hold their bladder anymore. But that's why I worked so hard with Jackson as a pup to properly potty train him. It sounds to me like she was never trained so its just sad that is having to suffer now for owners mistakes but I don't want to shame you or judge you. We all have our limits. I will just say it makes my heart hurt a little.

[canana]

Originally Posted by Britster

I agree with posts above and OP has received great advice.

Only thing I'll add to the conversation is that I don't necessarily think rehoming or giving to a rescue is the best option. It can very hard to get older senior dogs with bladder issues to be adopted out, first of all, and second, it's plain hard on the dog. In a few cases, euthanizing almost seems kinder, IMO.

I can definitely understand the frustration. I don't think I could live with a dog who had accidents all the time unless there was a medical issue that popped up of course. Just like people, dogs get older, and can sometimes not hold their bladder anymore. But that's why I worked so hard with Jackson as a pup to properly potty train him. It sounds to me like she was never trained so its just sad that is having to suffer now for owners mistakes but I don't want to shame you or judge you. We all have our limits. I will just say it makes my heart hurt a little.

Hmmm... That's a valid point. Can't imagine how the poor baby would feel if she had to suddenly change homes. Or be abandoned. It's so sad...

They give us such unconditional love, I cannot not reciprocate.

[danniko]

This post hurts my heart as we have been going through some health things with our dog and when we first talked to the vet, I broke down worrying about losing her. Things seem to be improving but that fear is still there.

Sophie is only 7...I'd do anything to know I would be blessed to have her 14+ years. She has habits that irritate me to no end sometimes but I learned last week that when she's quiet or withdrawn, I'm silently pleading with her to be the little diva that she is. I was so excited when I heard her standing beside me in the kitchen barking for a cookie and while it will annoy me time to time, I will never take it for granted because one day I will be wishing to hear that little bark again.

I don't have much to offer because like was already mentioned, rehoming may stress her out more and you've been given great advice by everyone else. Just please think of all the love she's given you and it's not her fault she wasn't fully housebroken. You've had her her whole life and it breaks my heart for her that you seem to not want her because she is no longer able be the dog you want her to be.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by danniko

This post hurts my heart as we have been going through some health things with our dog and when we first talked to the vet, I broke down worrying about losing her. Things seem to be improving but that fear is still there.

Sophie is only 7...I'd do anything to know I would be blessed to have her 14+ years. She has habits that irritate me to no end sometimes but I learned last week that when she's quiet or withdrawn, I'm silently pleading with her to be the little diva that she is. I was so excited when I heard her standing beside me in the kitchen barking for a cookie and while it will annoy me time to time, I will never take it for granted because one day I will be wishing to hear that little bark again.

I don't have much to offer because like was already mentioned, rehoming may stress her out more and you've been given great advice by everyone else. Just please think of all the love she's given you and it's not her fault she wasn't fully housebroken. You've had her her whole life and it breaks my heart for her that you seem to not want her because she is no longer able be the dog you want her to be.

Jackson is 8 and he really hasn't showed signs of slowing down much and OMG some of the things he will still do... I would've been annoyed with when he was a pup but now I find them so endearing LOL.

Like when I am sitting at my computer and he wants my attention, he will go run into the other room and find things to chew (a pen, a bottle cap lid, random!! stuff) and come and start flinging it around because he just *knows* that I am going to have to get up to take it from him. I'll tell him drop it, he does, and then when I try to go grab it, he will pick it up again and play with it. Then I of course end up on the floor playing with him -- his ultimate goal

So yeah when my 8 year old dog starts chewing things inappropriately, I just smile. It makes me feel good that HE still feels that good. I can literally not even think about the day he is not around. My heart aches, I can't even think about it. He has become such a part of me. I can hardly remember my life without him. He has been constant partner in crime for 8 years!! I would give anything to keep him around for as many more years to come.

[Captainzing]

Dexter will do the same thing

[Wylie's Mom]

I'm really unsure what to say here, to be totally honest. I feel SO badly for this pup bc of the situation she is in...vulnerable, frail, old, fragile health. I feel bad for the owner, who it seems has never fully bonded with this little kiddo. I wish you had made a decision re-home her years and years ago, when the potty training first failed.

If you think she truly has a lot of life left in her, then I suggest you start talking to yorkie rescues where you can surrender her. But like others have pointed out...I can see it being just super tough on her at this point, to re-home.

And I need to really point something out here -- you said she has "difficulty walking" but is not in pain. The truth is that if she does have difficulty walking, then it's bc she IS in pain. Otherwise, she would walk normal. So, has her walking issues been diagnosed or....????

[yavenay]

Also you can get doggie diapers for her if she has a medical condition. My Brandi (RIP) had to wear doggie diapers because she had lost control of her bladder, she was also a senior.

Try getting doggie diapers. They do help and she will be able to sleep in bed with you

[pstinard]

I think that people are fixating on the dog not being potty trained. Clearly, the dog was at least partially potty trained (few dogs are 100% perfectly potty trained) and is becoming more and more incontinent. This (in combination with the other chronic health problems that were described) *could* be one of the signs that the dog is nearing the end of its life. This is really a conversation that should be had with the veterinarian, who has the dog's medical records in front of them.

[mybellababy]

Originally Posted by pstinard

I think that people are fixating on the dog not being potty trained. Clearly, the dog was at least partially potty trained (few dogs are 100% perfectly potty trained) and is becoming more and more incontinent. This (in combination with the other chronic health problems that were described) *could* be one of the signs that the dog is nearing the end of its life. This is really a conversation that should be had with the veterinarian, who has the dog's medical records in front of them.

I totally agree with you. The disc problem can be causing some nerve damage and incontinence. I also hear the op loves this dog, diva dogs come form love and attention. Its so hard to make the call when its time to let go that we look for approval but it comes down to the fact we just have to make that call all be our selves and some help from our Vets but I have never found a Vet that helped that much with it.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by pstinard

I think that people are fixating on the dog not being potty trained. Clearly, the dog was at least partially potty trained (few dogs are 100% perfectly potty trained) and is becoming more and more incontinent. This (in combination with the other chronic health problems that were described) *could* be one of the signs that the dog is nearing the end of its life. This is really a conversation that should be had with the veterinarian, who has the dog's medical records in front of them.

I have to disagree that few dogs are 100% potty trained. Callie absolutely will not go in the house I have had to take her out in hurricanes and big snow storms. All the dogs I grew up with didn't have accidents either until they got very old. Most of my family who has dogs has fully potty trained dogs as well. Being deaf and having cateracts is not a reason to put a dog down. I have seen deaf and blind dogs live happy lives. I think honestly most dogs get arthritis when they get older but its treatable. Those issues don't seem end of life bad. If the dog is suffering from lack of love and not wanted plus the issues she has then it might be better for her to be put down. I have seen dogs with much worse issues get treatment and live even longer happy.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

I have to disagree that few dogs are 100% potty trained. Callie absolutely will not go in the house I have had to take her out in hurricanes and big snow storms. All the dogs I grew up with didn't have accidents either until they got very old. Most of my family who has dogs has fully potty trained dogs as well. Being deaf and having cateracts is not a reason to put a dog down. I have seen deaf and blind dogs live happy lives. I think honestly most dogs get arthritis when they get older but its treatable. Those issues don't seem end of life bad. If the dog is suffering from lack of love and not wanted plus the issues she has then it might be better for her to be put down. I have seen dogs with much worse issues get treatment and live even longer happy.

By 100% potty trained, I mean NEVER have an accident. But my main point is that whatever degree of potty training the OP's dog had has now been completely lost. I don't remember my childhood German Shepherd ever having an "accident" (although I have to admit that it would have been my parents who would have found one and cleaned it up). However, she became completely incontinent during the last weeks of her life as she underwent kidney failure. I cleaned up after her then, until one day while I was at school, my parents had her put down and buried in the back yard without my knowing about it. I was traumatized because I didn't get a chance to say goodbye...

Be that as it may, it would be wonderful if vets were trained to help people make end-of-life decisions for pets. It's difficult for pet owners to judge whether their pet is suffering, or whether the owner is being selfish in wanting a suffering dog to stick around purely for the owner's benefit. I feel for the OP, and I don't think that we in Yorkietalk have enough information to judge the owner's heart or make a decision that is better made between the owner and veterinarian, taking the health and happiness of the dog into account.

[MoYra]

Can you put her down after 14 years of devotion, and unconditional love? I swear i can wash wee and poo all day long just to have all my dead babies back

[Captainzing]

I think this applies to everything


How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.
George Washington Carver
Botanist, Agricultural Chemist, Inventor, Educator