I bought my dog diapers today. Ollie's been having age related incontinence lately. He even pissed on my bed. Twice. In two days.
I've known he was having trouble for a while now. I've cleaned up the messes. But it wasn't until I actually was standing in front of the rack of dog diapers that I realized how bad he's gotten. I feel horrible for the old guy. He's not happy about the diaper. He's always hated having any accessory on him. Clothes, bandana, didn't matter. His head hung and he just looked at us as if wondering what he'd done to deserve that kind of treatment. The diaper was much worse. Tail tugging and this big ball of something between his legs making it hard to walk added to the shamed look he gave us.
I'm starting to wonder when his time will come. He's been to the vet for this, they tested for diabetes and kidney failure. They speculated cancer. He's too old to put him through discomfort of the treatments so why bother getting the diagnosis.
I love this dog and I don't think he's suffering. If he was, the decision would be easy. In fact he even seems to be doing better lately. He's getting around a lot better. He can even jump on the bed again. Of course when he does, some muscles relax and he pees. But he wasn't able or willing to make that jump for a long time now. I know that I'll probably know when the time comes. I did when it was finally time to put my cat down a few years ago. But I worry that I won't. That I'll miss it because I don't want to see it and that he'll suffer because of that.
this was my Ollie-dog when he was younger and felt better.
I've known he was having trouble for a while now. I've cleaned up the messes. But it wasn't until I actually was standing in front of the rack of dog diapers that I realized how bad he's gotten. I feel horrible for the old guy. He's not happy about the diaper. He's always hated having any accessory on him. Clothes, bandana, didn't matter. His head hung and he just looked at us as if wondering what he'd done to deserve that kind of treatment. The diaper was much worse. Tail tugging and this big ball of something between his legs making it hard to walk added to the shamed look he gave us.
I'm starting to wonder when his time will come. He's been to the vet for this, they tested for diabetes and kidney failure. They speculated cancer. He's too old to put him through discomfort of the treatments so why bother getting the diagnosis.
I love this dog and I don't think he's suffering. If he was, the decision would be easy. In fact he even seems to be doing better lately. He's getting around a lot better. He can even jump on the bed again. Of course when he does, some muscles relax and he pees. But he wasn't able or willing to make that jump for a long time now. I know that I'll probably know when the time comes. I did when it was finally time to put my cat down a few years ago. But I worry that I won't. That I'll miss it because I don't want to see it and that he'll suffer because of that.
this was my Ollie-dog when he was younger and felt better.
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My first thought was cancer as well. My vet however, told me it was more likely heart disease. The way my vet termed it, dogs display drastic differences in the way they react to their heart failing they age. Mostly it manifests itself in their intestines, getting weak, and losing motility.
I never went to vet school so I haven't a clue what I am talking about, but that could be what us going on. Either way, I think you ate doing the right thing on not taking extraordinary measures to extend his life. The treatments for cancer especially is painful, and the side effects are just not worth it for an animal that only knows that it is in poison, and not why it is in pain.
Good luck, and I wish you and Ollie as much happy and healthy time as you can get. My only recommendation is don't wait to the bitter end as I did. Mowgli was in a lot of pain their at the end, and I wish I hadn't put my own desire for him to stay around ahead of his comfort.
He looks like a good boy.