he seems almost normal. He doesn’t stand up straight, his rear end is down a bit, but he is SO much better. Maybe it was a stroke, maybe not but he is nearly himself and off the danger list! Thank you for your concern.
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Today he is a little shakier and there is a giant puddle of pee in the living room. He has NEVER done that before. So, worries continue.
Jingling hard.
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So far, cautiously optimistic. Today he is struggling a bit on the hard floor. I let him out and he looks great outside. I went back to get the camera, and he had followed me back in. I got a picture but it isn’t very good. He is definitely a Spaniel, but he got shaved a couple of weeks ago and I swear now he looks like a German Short hair pointer! I couldn’t get him to look up.
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Still jingling here
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this will be the last update unless something dramatic happens. I believe Trooper had a stroke. He is diminished, but seems to be doing alright. He has a will to live so I will keep him going hopefully for years yet. Thanks for all your good wishes for my terrific dog.
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I just recently put my 17yr old Pom down and was struggling with the “is it time” question. Lap of Love’s website had a quality of life questionnaire that was very helpful to easy my mind making the tough decision. I realized for the last several months my dog was just existing not really living anymore. It was so hard but I’m glad I got to be there for him. Hugs to everybody who is going through the same thing I was
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Well, a not so good update. Trooper has been better with his pain meds, but we ran out so I let it go to see how he would do. Not well. Petco opened a new vet clinic in near by town, and the first visit ws free, so we went today. That vet said she had been around Springers her entire life, and she is sure he is more like 14 or 15 than 10. She also thinks his problem is that he has degenerative myelopathy.
I am going to take him back to his regular vet, for his pain meds. This vet gave us a sheet for pain meds at a pharmacy, but they didn’t have carprofin at CVS. I am very distressed about poor Trooper.
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Jingles that Trooper is doing better.
Not sure how familiar you are with DM, but it is NOT a painful condition. So if he’s having pain, it’s not DM causing it.
There are many other diseases/issues that have similar symptoms to DM, some of which are treatable.
Unfortunately many vets jump on the DM bandwagon without further diagnostic testing, such as X-rays, ultrasounds, MRI, etc.
DM can only be positively diagnosed through a necropsy.
well, this vet told me to do DNA testing to see if he has a gene that would identify it. She didn’t think x-rays would help. sigh, I will call his real vet tomorrow to at least get him some pain pills. He is STILL lame on his left front leg. The pain pills seem to hwlp a bit with his walking.
I’m glad to hear the medication is helping. Hope Trooper is feeling better soon
DM does not affect the front end of the dog, just in case you didn’t know that.
As for the DM dna test. It can not tell you if a dog has DM or not.
The only thing it can tell you, is if the dog is clear (N/N), a carrier (N/A) or at risk (A/A).
If interested, here’s some more information on DM
https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/degenerative-myelopathy
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When is it time? A very difficult question and only you who knows your dog can know when it is time. I’ve been fortunate that there was no doubt!
Our last lab (11 years) - well, he got out of the river one day after 10 minutes, lay down by the ute and was just done. Took him to the vet the next day - blinkers on here - and he had a very aggressive form of cancer - as in, according to the vet, it was actively growing on the test slide. Put down.
The Lab/Greyhound (15 years) - a gorgeous cross - just got tired. Very tired and started to dissociate from us. Was okay at 14.5 years- still came running out to go with the you for a walk or work on the farm. Just a bit slower. Then, over the next 6 months, he went down hill. When he didnt want to come out, I knew it was time to let him go.
My BC - well, that was a no-brainer - 3 strokes and a heart attack. Really felt for the vet when her veins collapsed with the sedation.
Best wishes
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Rae, this thread was started for my other dog. She was put down in June. This dog just started getting wierd around the time Toffee was in her last days. I am not thinking of having him PTS any time soon, this is just sort of a follow up. His health hs declined suddenly. But the pain pills seem to really help.
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One more note. I took him to my regular vet today. She didn’t think dm, but she did agree he is probably 14 or 15 years old. She thinks it is probably arthiritis, and she gave me some carprofin and a joint suppliment. She also hd the techs give me a nail trim, gratis, amd since his feet are so fuzzy, she trimmed the hair off his pads. He is defintely walking better already! Next week, off to the groomer!
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I’m glad he’s walking better and the pain meds are helping. I hope they give more happy times with him.
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I read this entire thread with tears. I have a 15+ year old dog here (rescue, her intake papers say 2007) and I can tell she’s getting old. She’s losing a bit of weight, but her appetite is still as voracious as ever; she just gets puppy/active dog food now to help keep some extra calories. Her teeth are worn down, but she never turns down treats and she still has moments where she plays like a puppy. But she just looks old and she spends more of her days sleeping. She loves her sunbeams and I think her favourite part of the day is when the sun beats on ground in the dog run and she can lay in the little den/hole she dug and just soak it all in.
I’m dreading the day I have to make that call for her. I remember putting my first Doberman down in 2019 due to a complete stomach torsion. He was 9 years old and it was the worst moment of my life. I was prepared, but also not; I don’t think you’re ever truly prepared to say goodbye to your best friend. But when I looked at him in his little kennel gurney, I knew he was ready. He didn’t want me to try and save him; he wanted me to hold him as I let him go. Even though it’s been a few years, I still cry when I think of him and remembering that last drive to the vet is one of my most painful memories. I knew, deep down, that he wasn’t coming home with me, but I was trying to be hopeful that I could save him.
I’ve spent a lot of time in euthanasia-centered threads here on COTH lately and I’m struck by how compassionate the replies and support are. It’s amazing. There is no judgement, just pure compassion.
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My apologies - I have been off the Forums for a while due to work pressures.
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Sometimes in female dogs, incontinence when they’re sleeping is “spay incontinence” and can be treated with meds. It’s just their hormones and the muscles relaxing when they sleep. A friend has a fairly young dog with this, but she’s doing well with meds.
For what it’s worth, she wasn’t spayed at a particularly young age.
well, senior dog Trooper is probably going to cross the bridge soon. He can scarcely walk anymore. I have put down carpet runners and he did better for a week or two, but now he is doing badly. He peed in the house twice today. I know it wasn’t on purpose. It seems like I just lost Toffee.
Trooper was very depressed tonite when I got home. I didn’t take him to Kim’s because I didn’t want him to pee on her carpet.
I’m sorry. Hugs and jingles to you and Trooper.
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