Old Boxer, having a hard time making the decision.

[Cruisesmom]

Good morning all.

I have an 11 year old boxer boy that I am having a hard time gauging when his time is.

He has been a very active crazy happy boy all his life. The past two weeks I have noticed the usual signs for his age catching up to him. I am normally very good at making the call. I believe in the better a day early than a minute too late.

That being said, here is where I am:

-11 years old.

-Multiple small lumps, bumps. We have declined to biopsy them with his age. Boxers are cancer machines, I’m sure we will have something come up malignant.

-He has slowed down a lot. More time spent on the dog bed in the shade while outside. Once inside, 95% of his time is on the couch. I don’t see signs of pain, or being painful.

-Eating is hit or miss. I bought canned food to entice him, and he has stopped declining his meals when a full can is topped over his kibble.

-He is weak in his back end. He has a gait in the trot similar to a slow pace, both legs on each side of the body move together.

-Any level of activity such as a flight of stairs or trot through the back yard has him really tired and over-heated.

-Seizure activity has started. He has had 4 seizures in 3 days. They look like grand mal seizures. Last 10-15 seconds. He takes about 10 minutes to come back around to normal. His gums are white for a good 20-30 minutes after his episodes.

The last one happened last night. I made my mind up that this was it, and made the appointment for a euth today. He is either fine and being a happy old dog, or its bad. i thought the heat we are having could have thrown him for a loop and gave us these bad past couple of days. He slept in the a/c last night in our bedroom and had a great morning. Happy, ate, playful, interested in being outside with his buddy.

I cancelled the euth for today. I am having a really hard time calling it.

I know a trip to the vet is going to be alot of diagnostics to really tell me he is either full of cancer, or has a brain tumor. I am not asking for advice on his treatment. At this point i guess i need reassurance as to what my signs need to be, to make a clear headed decision.

[Simkie]

I’m so sorry, Cruise

When I’m faced with a decision like this, what helps me is to consider:

Are things ever going to get BETTER? Or are we just starting the long, slow downhill slide?

They can have good days, but when the general direction is all down, I try to pick a good day and let them go there. I feel like it’s just not fair to wait until they get worse, when I know it’s coming and there’s no real hope of anything different.

Those seizures are scary. Any chance he’s just been working on an electrolyte imbalance or something else “fixable” like that? Or is your gut really that he’s got something in his brain?

[Jodyml813]

Hugs, it’s never an easy decision. My opinion is if the bad days are bad and outweigh the good, then it’s time. I think you have your decision and know that you are doing the right thing by this guy. I agree with a day early vs an hour too late too. Hugs.

[Cruisesmom]

[QUOTE=Simkie;8736778]
I’m so sorry, Cruise

When I’m faced with a decision like this, what helps me is to consider:

Are things ever going to get BETTER? Or are we just starting the long, slow downhill slide?

They can have good days, but when the general direction is all down, I try to pick a good day and let them go there. I feel like it’s just not fair to wait until they get worse, when I know it’s coming and there’s no real hope of anything different.

Those seizures are scary. Any chance he’s just been working on an electrolyte imbalance or something else “fixable” like that? Or is your gut really that he’s got something in his brain?[/QUOTE]

Thank you Simkie. I am leaning towards a brain tumor. He has never had any neurologic issues or electrolyte imbalance. He has the"Vestibular Disease" walk and stance on the bad days.

[Cruisesmom]

[QUOTE=jodyml813;8736779]
Hugs, it’s never an easy decision. My opinion is if the bad days are bad and outweigh the good, then it’s time. I think you have your decision and know that you are doing the right thing by this guy. I agree with a day early vs an hour too late too. Hugs.[/QUOTE]

thank you.

[horsenut_8700]

Are you sure they are seizures and not syncopal episodes? If he is having exercise intolerance I would be worried about heart disease (which Boxers are also known for ). I would also agree with the " better a day too early than a second too late". He knows quality, not quantity.

[jonquil]

Hugs. This is so hard.

[2tempe]

OP - My heart goes out to you. I read these threads with some trepidation but to help prepare myself. My OLD girl (15+) shep/chow is deaf and fairly weak in hind end, and I watch her like a hawk. She is eating WELL, and otherwise healthy and does short walks. But if she changes, if I thought there were cancer or had to face seizures, or if she was disinterested in food, I believe that would be the end.
Its never easy but it sounds like you are working your way down to a decision, and for what its worth, lots of support is coming from COTH.

[monstrpony]

I’ve got one in about the same shape as 2tempe’s. It is just very hard. I’ve been ready to make the call at least once a week for the last few months, but she always has a moment of pure joy galloping around the yard, before she retires to her bed for the day. Still eating well, has some weakness behind, I’ve had to help her up a couple of times, and her having been absolutely 100% housebroken for upwards of 12 years, she’s had a couple of accidents recently. I know it’s coming, I know it; I want to be a day too early rather than any too late. It’s just very, very hard. You have my sympathy.

[Beckham03]

Hugs. We just went through this, lost my old girl of 15 on Monday. She had terrible knees, but was otherwise really happy and interactive. Her backend was giving out more, I started slowly noticing other little things. Last week she developed some off and on diarrhea. Sunday came home to vomiting and diarrhea. Was fine Monday morning, eating, happy…developed some respiratory discomfort/distress after lunch. Rushed her to the ER where I work where she was placed on oxygen. I approved chest rads witch showed pneumonia. We stopped. We hadn’t even began to dig into the other problems and she likely wouldn’t survive and not fair to put her through that. She had still been eating and interactive that day and I didn’t want to wait until her life was miserable. I couldn’t make her five again. It broke our hearts, but it was really the only choice.

I completely agree with your day too soon and no heroic measures. These seizures or other events combined with age/other issues…I don’t know any vet that would beg you to keep going. You are a good owner putting her well being first!!!

[Zu_Zu]

Jingles for your heart ~

[chalice18]

Oh, I am so sorry. I know how hard it is to lose such a beloved family member.

One thing I read a while back that has stuck with me is “The Rule of Five Good Things”. You write down the five things your dog loves to do most and when they can no longer do three or more of them, it may be time to consider euthanasia. I think it’s a good judge of their quality of life.

This is such a tough decision, but I have so much respect for you not wanting to let her suffer. Sending hugs and prayers your way!

[MsM]

It is so hard! I was thinking he was doing okay for an old dog until you talked about the seizures. If those are not under control, then I think the quality of life is not what I would want. So sorry.

[Cruisesmom]

Thank you for your support COTH.
Diesel had a really good day yesterday. Happy, playful, interested in who was at the door, scarfed his meals down.
I woke up to a happy old dog again this morning. But i have a couch and loveseat soaked in urine. I now have an alarm set to take him out a couple times during the night. I will go home on lunch today as well.

No seizures since wed night. I am just gonna keep trucking until I see that happy old man not happy anymore.

[Cruisesmom]

[QUOTE=horsenut_8700;8737206]
Are you sure they are seizures and not syncopal episodes? If he is having exercise intolerance I would be worried about heart disease (which Boxers are also known for ). I would also agree with the " better a day too early than a second too late". He knows quality, not quantity.[/QUOTE]

I have had that thought in the back of my mind, syncope could be going on. The seizures happen while at rest or just getting up, and look like a grand mal episode. Down, thrashing, incontinence and unconscious.

My plan is the same if it is syncope or seizures.

I bolded your last sentence. I needed to hear this, thank you!

[Sswor]

I am so terribly sorry. It is the hardest decision in the world and yet the greatest kindness as well. We all should be so lucky to have an advocate to help us pass gently and without pain and fear. Be brave for him when it is time, you will see him again someday. I let my first go too long and I was too late. I regret this still and there are times the grief and pain and tears will hit me randomly out of the blue even so many years later. I learned from my lesson and probably let the next dog go a few days too soon. But there are no regrets for him, only sadness at my loss of such a wonderful companion. Be at peace with your decision and take good care. I’m so sorry. There is nothing in this world like a good dog.

[Ponyplusaninch]

This is super tough, but just a caveat–the seizures won’t get better. If anything, they will get worse in terms of severity and duration. It’s one thing to have a younger dog and treat, it’s a different story with senior dogs where treatment options are limited, and usually the seizures are tied to something more serious.

We have been through this with two corgis. The first one we had started to have clusters of seizures, and we such a hard time getting my father to consent to euth’ing, despite that being what the vet recommended (dog was 12 or 13 and already had seen a decrease in quality of life). The next time seizures came around, it was long, drawn out, and agonzing for everyone involved. Thank God our vet is so willing to go the extra mile and met us right then so we didn’t go through a third round. When another senior corgi later went through the same thing, there was no question after the first onset of seizures.

My advice is that if you’re not going to schedule a date and play it by ear (which is totally fine as an option), do your best to mentally prepared that if it needs to happen now, it happens now. I find the very sudden goodbyes to be more traumatic than the scheduled ones, so I personally try to avoid the “play it by ear option.” Doesn’t mean I cut life short, but I do try to let the dog go with dignity and comfort.

[Marshfield]

Hugs. It can be incredibly tough to know when. My best friend is struggling with that question now.

The one thing I would suggest would be talking to your veterinarian and asking about having a few compounded valium suppositories on hand. That way, if a really ugly seizure starts during the night, you have a means to do something until you can get to the ER or your regular veterinarian.

[Foxtrot_s]

We have a boxer, darlings.

I’d not go for anything more in the diagnostic field, just anything that can help him. As long as he seems happy, you can rest easy. Once the scales start tipping into the negative area too often, you will know.

Our old Bull Terrier had heart problems - he just slept and went out to pee and came back in to sleep. One night I was on the phone with my daughter and my husband found him by my chair - just passed on peacefully without even a gasp…
We knew he would go soon, but he was not in significant crisis at all…
Bless all these old citizens. Good luck - I’m sure you will know.

[glitterless]

I don’t have anything to add that hasn’t already been said. Just wanted to send hugs and jingles for you and your old friend.