When to say Good-bye?

[McKenzie]

My family dog Quincy (Bouvier mix) is 13 and has had a long and challenging life. When he was 5 he came down with a rare disease that ate away at his muscles. My parents stuck by him and he pulled through but he ended up with permanent damage. It wasn't a big deal then but now since hes old it has become a big problem. Hes eyes are sunken so now hes almost completely blind, he has no muscle around his head so when he bangs into things his head his skin cuts easily and he can't hear much.

My parents take very good care of him as he is the only "child" my step father has ever had. They put cream in his eyes 3 times a day, drops in his ears, they put up ramps and cut-off unsafe areas in the backyard and they won't move furniture around so he won't run in to much.

The problem is that he will walk right into you if your standing in the middle of the room. Hes does run into walls and table chairs. He once stepped on my brothers one year old. When you take him out for a walk some times he falls right over the curb.

It breaks my heart to see him stumble or hear him banging around but they won't let him go. Some days you have to drag him off the couch so he can go to the bathroom. If hes not lying around hes running into things. My step-father refuses to believe that Quincy may need to be put down.

How do you make that decision?

Thank you for reading.

 

[Bob4eva]

Thats such a sad story

Im sorry to hear about your dog,and as hard as it is,your step-father needs to put this dog out of its misery.

 

[McKenzie]

Thank you, it is really hard. We all love that dog so much but I think he feels that since Q isn't lying around whimpering that he isn't suffering. He has been taken to the vet a couple time and I thought he wasn't coming back but the vet says he has another year and sends them home with hundreds of dollars worth of creams and drops and pills. What kind of life is that..

 

[2dogmom]

Somewhere I saw a list that pretty much said that whenthe time comes whenyour dog is losing functions such as sight or hearing, and is not able to do things that are fun anymore, that it is time. Now I cannot find it. There is something similar here:
http://leerburg.com/bridge.htmhttp://leerburg.com/bridge.htm
and some info here:
http://www.thepetcenter.com/imtop/euthanasia.htm
Really from what you have described it sounds like this dog has no enjoyment out of life, but I also understand your parents are having such a hard time letting go. It is one of the hardest decisions you can make for your friend. I hope they find the strength to let Quincy go.

 

[Bob4eva]

Exactly.
Have you spoken to your father about this?

 

[Barb04]

I think the decision has to come from within the person. When I had to put my CJ to sleep it was so hard. All of a sudden she got real bad and we knew that it was time to let her be in peace and not hold on to her for ourselves.

 

[milos_mommy]

if he's just walking into people, and stumbling once in a while, i think you may have some more time. he doesn't sound like he's in pain, from your description. if he doesn't seem to be enjoying life anymore, if he's limping or not getting up, if his tail never wags, etc, then it may be time.

 

[mrose_s]

if he still has quality of life, he still has time. if you can still see he enjoys his life, then he's okay.

i've heard of people putting like a fragrance on their furniture/wallls etc. like an oil you might use in an oil burner so that the dog can smell things before he hits them,.
they might also be able to work on a warning command for curbs, like 2 quick tugs on the leash or soemthing so he learns to be aware that a gutter is coming up.

 

[bubbatd]

It's so hard to let go......... my guide post was the tail ..........no wag , no happiness . Bless his heart !

 

[meco]

Yes such a hard decission.... If I were in the position I would do whats right, put your pal out of his missery.. You were graced with a whole load of love and memories just do whats great and let him go...