Dog-Can't Stand Up

[Route 66]

Well, my old pal is approaching the end of his life soon.

My Bullmastiff is 10.5 years old. He has had great blood work even up until now. However, he has had increasing issues with the back half of his body. He's slow to get up and slow to move around and has to lean against something to sit upright. Although he's been slow to move around, he's still alert and wagging his tail and eats and does everything else fine.

Today we found him to have released solid bowels next to himself and unable to move. I gave him some Deramaxx for pain and he improved enough to want to get up. He could only go 15 feet and laid/fell back down. We are trying to get him to urinate because we know he has to go outside but cannot. We tried supporting him with towels and do the work for him walking but it wasn't enough.

He eats fairly well and drinks fine but we limited his water intake a bit as we knew he already had to go. We called in to see if we could have a house call for putting him down and we can but haven't decided to do it yet. He doesn't whine or anything and lifts his head fine and wags his tail easy. I don't see it being his spine or he couldn't do that I don't think. I am just thinking its a disc or hip issue. I will stay with him through the night tonight and see what to do tomorrow. Jesse has been with me for over a decade.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I had to put my dog dog about a year and a half ago because of leg problems. It took him a long time to stand up and he didn't want to go down steps. I couldn't stand to see him suffer. It was very hard and I still miss him but it was the best thing for him. His quality of life wasn't very good.

 

[big dog cowboy]

My old beagle had epilepsy. That got kinda ugly at the end. We put him down just to put him out of his misery.

 

[Gemini Dolly]

Time to put him to sleep. Cant let the dog suffer. I had to put my doggie to sleep when she developed an inoperable tumor. When she got to the point where she could no longer walk, it was time.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

My old beagle had epilepsy. That got kinda ugly at the end. We put him down just to put him out of his misery.

how do you know a dog has epilepsy?

 

[big dog cowboy]

how do you know a dog has epilepsy?

That is what the vet told me. He also said Beagles had a history of that. I took him at his word.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

That is what the vet told me. He also said Beagles had a history of that. I took him at his word.

was he walking funny and bumping into stuff?

I guess epilepsy in humans is different in dogs

 

[theogt]

was he walking funny and bumping into stuff?

I guess epilepsy in humans is different in dogs

I think you're confused as to what epilepsy is.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I think you're confused as to what epilepsy is.

isn't that when you read numbers backwards?

 

[theogt]

isn't that when you read numbers backwards?

I think it means he can throw a baseball with both hands.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I think it means he can throw a baseball with both hands.

I'm thinking of dyslexia

don't know why

 

[theogt]

I'm thinking of dyslexia

don't know why

Woah, woah, woah. Hold on a minute. I thought you were joking.

You thought the dog had dyslexia?

 

[Rampage]

I had a big dop I had to put down a few years ago. he was 157 pound mutt. he was part Doberman,Great Dane and Akita. he had the same problems near the end. just make sure that his last days are great by giving him extra attention and some food(a hamburger or piece of steak) if he's still eating.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Woah, woah, woah. Hold on a minute. I thought you were joking.

You thought the dog had dyslexia?

I got the 2 conditions mixed up, I'm not sure what you're trying to get at

 

[theogt]

I got the 2 conditions mixed up, I'm not sure what you're trying to get at

Hey man, I'm not trying to get at anything. I'm sure there are lots of dogs with reading disorders.

 

[Hostile]

Woah, woah, woah. Hold on a minute. I thought you were joking.

You thought the dog had dyslexia?

The dog thought he was a god.

 

[Faerluna]

I had a cat with epilepsy. She had grand mal seizures if she didn't take her meds.

She was in the animal shelter for 5 years and they didn't even know, so apparently nobody had ever seen her have one before.

She had her first one with me about a month after I took her home. It was incredibly scary.

 

[tomson75]

Rowdy, my heart aches for you bro. My little pit/boxer mix is getting up there in age too. She'll be 11 in October...I took her on a run this morning and she just about gave up....first time she's ever done that. It's incredibly hard to watch them age so fast...I'll be destroyed when she goes.


....and for the rest of this thread...

I'm not sure how this incredibly sad thread turned into one of the funniest things I've ever read, but I'd like to thank Bob and Theogt for making that happen. You're getting your *** kicked today Sacamano....I wish I had been here earlier to chime in.

 

[ologan]

Well, my old pal is approaching the end of his life soon.

My Bullmastiff is 10.5 years old. He has had great blood work even up until now. However, he has had increasing issues with the back half of his body. He's slow to get up and slow to move around and has to lean against something to sit upright. Although he's been slow to move around, he's still alert and wagging his tail and eats and does everything else fine.

Today we found him to have released solid bowels next to himself and unable to move. I gave him some Deramaxx for pain and he improved enough to want to get up. He could only go 15 feet and laid/fell back down. We are trying to get him to urinate because we know he has to go outside but cannot. We tried supporting him with towels and do the work for him walking but it wasn't enough.

He eats fairly well and drinks fine but we limited his water intake a bit as we knew he already had to go. We called in to see if we could have a house call for putting him down and we can but haven't decided to do it yet. He doesn't whine or anything and lifts his head fine and wags his tail easy. I don't see it being his spine or he couldn't do that I don't think. I am just thinking its a disc or hip issue. I will stay with him through the night tonight and see what to do tomorrow. Jesse has been with me for over a decade.

Rowdy,I know it's small comfort,but try to think what Jesses' life would have been like if you had not had him.We are really only their stewards and guardians,and I firmly believe we will be judged by how we performed those jobs. I will be faced with this myself in the near future,as my surviving Springer is in her 14th year. Everytime she stumbles,my wife asks me "Do you think she's really had a good life?" We both know the answer to that,and it provides some comfort that our job has been well done. I have a feeling that you would agree with how Jesses' life has been.

 

[Route 66]

Unbelievably, he got up and ate from my hand a full meal and drank a good amount of water and finally relieved himself outside. Hes doing much better in that department however I don't know if he had a slipped disc, nerve pinched or something with his heart.

Now, he seems restless and gets up but pants occasionally and his whole body if you look at it closely is moving to the beat of his heart. It seems like he has symptoms of blood pressure being high, heart issue or pain. I realize dogs hide pain differently than humans and I don't want him to suffer but he has improved quite a bit since earlier today. I am staying by his side through the night and seeing what to do first thing in the morning.

It's hard to put him down when he wags his tail fast and seems somewhat alert and eats and drinks heartily. His stool and everything else seems great. I will probably know more tomorrow morning.