HELP 16 yr old Husky Chow issues

We need help to determine if we are considering the right thing. Our 16 yr old Husky Chow is suffering from arthritis. She has stopped her 2 daily walks and has reduced her food intake to less than half a cup of dry food a day. She will not eat wet food at all. She has also stopped enjoying table scraps which we were doing to get her to eat something. We have her on a pain med and a muscle med along with a couple of herbs, all approved by our vet. Since she is not eating, they are upsetting her stomach and she is coughing up byal. She is sleeping most of the time, day/night and when she is not sleeping she is pacing but cannot lift the back legs and drags her rear paws accross the ground. We can no longer wipe her feet when she comes in from the wet grass. She has never had an accident within the house so she still has her facilities. She is panting all the time and I believe that is due to the pain. We are looking for help making the decission of putting her out of her pain. We truly don't know if that is the right choice. She is still very affectionet.

Looking for all opinions ~ Thanks Doug

 

While on the face, your input sound like its time. However, she may be ill from another reason like an infection or something. That may be the root of her not eating & feeling bad & sleeping etc.
I would just take her too the vet & have him check her over & help you decide on any course of action.

Best wishes & good luck.
TC

 

Its a tough decision to make. We had to put our dog down last year for the same reasons you describe. At 16 years old and she is suffering it may be the humane thing to do. Like Dixie2012 said let the vet help you decide the course of action.

 

Doug,

I agree that your best bet right now, is to take her in to the vet and have a heart to heart. As a former vet tech, I would say that there may be something causing her to be off her feed, but it may also be time to let her go.

If it is time, know that you are not alone in having to make that tough decision...I had to make a similar decision a couple of years ago with our old Yellow Lab. She was about the same age. It is never an easy decision, but the one thing that I always let lead me is what the vet who trained me used to say, "If their quality of life is not quality anymore, then it is time to let go."

I hope this helps.

 

Other than the eating, most of her symptoms sound like a response to pain. IMO, the reduced appetite does not seem consistent so there may be something else going on. That said, 16 years for such a large dog is a long time so I unfortunately believe there is likely not a lot of time left

 

It is with a sadden heart that after speaking to our Vet it was determined that it was time to let Blondie go peacefully. She will be greatly missed; however we were truly blessed with the 3 1/2 years we had her. We adopted her from a kill shelter in which she never belonged. She knows that she was loved and part of our family.

 

I hate that part of dogs - they're around long enough to take a piece of your heart but not anywhere near long enough....

 

Doug,

I am so sorry to hear that it was time to let her go. I am glad that you were able to help Blondie go peacefully. My condolences to you you and your family.

 

Really sorry for the loss, but glad you were able to give her a few last good years. That's very important. You did the right thing.

We've had FuzzyBear for 17 years since we got him as a rescue kitten...and I know he doesn't have much time left either. Choking up as I type.