[Charlie1941]

Hi. my name is Charlotte. I really don't want to ask this. I have had a small poodle for 16 years. I got him when he was 5 weeks old. He has been my constant companion and has gotten me through many dark painful nights, including a long bout with shingles and the sudden dearh of my husband in the miiddle of the night. He is the sweetest, most humble little creature I've ever seen. My problem? He is both deaf and blind. However, Vet says that his heart is excellent and he seems to be healthy. He can find me anywhere in the house and he starts barking when he hears my car pull up. Strange that he hears that but nothing elsee. He wakes np in the middle of the night for water or to go outside. Now. I have had several people tell me that I should let him go, put him down. They say I am being selfish by forcing him to live in a dark lonely world. Am I? Is he miserable? He doesn't seem to be but how do I know?
Please I need advice from some one was exoerienced this.

 

[twyla]

You know your dog best, seems like a happy fellow. I have many a senior pet, if they are eating, drinking and enjoying their life, it doesn't matter what other people think so long as your dog is happy.
Blindess and deafness haven't stop your dog thus far.

 

[PeggyTheParti]

Looking back through your previous posts, I’m wondering if Charlie’s tail is still down all the time? And how are things going with his fecal incontinence? Are you both managing okay?

Evaluating quality of life is so so hard. My heart remembers the pain of these questions that have no perfect answers. We’re here to support you. 💛

 

[Liz]

End of life choices are always difficult. @DogtorDoctor shared his perspective here.

 

[Dianaleez]

Always ignore unsolicited advice. And try to be honest with yourself.

is Charlie in pain? Does he seem content?

 

[TerraFirma]

He sounds like he's still happy and what a beautiful example of how our dogs intertwine with our lives and support us!

He likely knows the reverberations of your car's engine, the smell of its exhaust, and he's so in tune with his surroundings that he knows "mama is home!" Animals have perception we can't fathom, and if he's healthy, eating, and still seems happy and is following his sniffer...give him the best twilight years ever. Those people saying to let him go are crossing a boundary that's not theirs to step over.

Here is a positive takeaway from all that people are saying - maybe you take that as a head's up to start thanking him daily for all he's given you and to start tracking his daily quality of life. It could help tremendously in terms of grieving later on and in terms of making decisions when he does tell you it's time.

 

[Minie]

You know and love Charlie. The time to let him go, is when his quality of life is markedly less. @DogtorDoctor wrote, not quoted correctly, that she had never experienced someone saying they had put their beloved pet down a week too early, but had heard people regret and say it was a week too late.
This link might help you access Charlie's quality of life Quality of Life Scale for Pets online calculator

 

[SteveS55]

As long as he’s healthy there should be no problem. His sense of smell is probably working overtime. At sixteen your pup probably doesn’t have long to go. Enjoy him while it lasts. You will know when the time comes to let go.

 

[Footprints&pawmarks]

I went through this recently with my corgi mix. She was getting incontinent, and had some soreness, but life was still good. She still had her corgi smile and that tail wagged and wagged.

But one morning, she looked at me, and her eyes said, "It's time." I had to carry her outside, and as careful as I was, she yelped in pain. I couldn't get her to the vet fast enough!

I'm grateful for the sunshine she brought into my life, and I'm grateful for her telling me what she needed.

 

[SandyTopknot]

@Charlie1941 how wonderful that your furry friend is enjoying life at 16. @Minie shared the link I was going to suggest - thank you, Minie! - because you and you alone know your dog well enough to assess quality of life. Your well-meaning friends may be projecting how they would feel if they were deaf and blind - for dogs, the primary sense they use is smell, not vision or sound. I've had several dogs who went deaf late in life and one who had very little sight in one eye and lost the other - all of those dogs did great, as it sounds like your guy is doing. If he can find you in the house, knows when you get home, and is still living a good life, then celebrate that with him every day.

Atlanta Kennel Club's guest speaker this month was a veterinarian who specializes in hospice care for pets. She recommended the link posted above by Minie, and also suggested making a list of all the things your pet really enjoys and make those happen as much as you can in his old age. That way you'll know you gave him a great life, right up to the end. Through the years I've had to make the decision to euthanize many dogs, and each one has been perfectly clear with me, telling me in their own way that they were ready to go. Our hearts know - you'll know, and from what you've written, it doesn't sound like "today" is what your little man is telling you. 🐾💖🐾

 

[cowpony]

I think it's important to consider the animal's quality of life, right now, in this moment. Is he in pain or nauseated? Also, is he frightened or confused? Dementia can be a real issue with senior animals, and I think people don't always realize just how distressing it is to the sufferer.
Additionally, I think it's important to be realistic about the prognosis for improvement or deterioration. A dog that has stopped eating for dental reasons will have improved quality of life after extraction of the painful teeth. A dog with diabetes may remain stable for months or even years on insulin. A dog in pain from cancer will probably see increasing numbers of bad days and decreasing numbers of good days.

 

[kmh625]

Hi. my name is Charlotte. I really don't want to ask this. I have had a small poodle for 16 years. I got him when he was 5 weeks old. He has been my constant companion and has gotten me through many dark painful nights, including a long bout with shingles and the sudden dearh of my husband in the miiddle of the night. He is the sweetest, most humble little creature I've ever seen. My problem? He is both deaf and blind. However, Vet says that his heart is excellent and he seems to be healthy. He can find me anywhere in the house and he starts barking when he hears my car pull up. Strange that he hears that but nothing elsee. He wakes np in the middle of the night for water or to go outside. Now. I have had several people tell me that I should let him go, put him down. They say I am being selfish by forcing him to live in a dark lonely world. Am I? Is he miserable? He doesn't seem to be but how do I know?
Please I need advice from some one was exoerienced this.

I

Hi. my name is Charlotte. I really don't want to ask this. I have had a small poodle for 16 years. I got him when he was 5 weeks old. He has been my constant companion and has gotten me through many dark painful nights, including a long bout with shingles and the sudden dearh of my husband in the miiddle of the night. He is the sweetest, most humble little creature I've ever seen. My problem? He is both deaf and blind. However, Vet says that his heart is excellent and he seems to be healthy. He can find me anywhere in the house and he starts barking when he hears my car pull up. Strange that he hears that but nothing elsee. He wakes np in the middle of the night for water or to go outside. Now. I have had several people tell me that I should let him go, put him down. They say I am being selfish by forcing him to live in a dark lonely world. Am I? Is he miserable? He doesn't seem to be but how do I know?
Please I need advice from some one was exoerienced this.

If your baby seems happy- tail wagging, eating/drinking, I don’t think you need to take any action. Years ago, my poodle mix became diabetic and was blind. She still loved life and you could tell it. We knew when it became time to let her go… that joy had disappeared. 💔🐩

 

[fjm]

If he can navigate your house, enjoys trips out with you guiding him, is eating and drinking and showing no signs of pain or distress I don't think you are being selfish - I think you are being a careful, caring owner. If he were panting, restless, unable to settle, pacing aimlessly those would all be signs of discomfort that might mean hard decisions to be made, but for dogs their sense of smell and ability to sense vibrations can go a long way to compensate for loss of sight and hearing. If you have a kind and trusted vet I would be guided by them and by your dog. This is the twilight time: make every day as happy for you both as you can, with moments of joy for him - favourite food, a special treat or outing, a special cuddle - and store up good memories for yourself.

 

[94Magna_Tom]

You're not being selfish. Just the opposite is more likely from the sounds of it. A dog mostly sees the world thru his nose. He sounds like a very Happy dog who still has a lot of love to give.

 

[Charlie1941]

I

If your baby seems happy- tail wagging, eating/drinking, I don’t think you need to take any action. Years ago, my poodle mix became diabetic and was blind. She still loved life and you could tell it. We knew when it became time to let her go… that joy had disappeared. 💔🐩

I am relieved at your answer. Thank you.

 

[Charlie1941]

You're not being selfish. Just the opposite is more likely from the sounds of it. A dog mostly sees the world thru his nose. He sounds like a very Happy dog who still has a lot of love to give.

Thank you so much!!!