Current Events > man my gf's dog has arthritis and we have to take care of her, it is so sad

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she's on like 3 different kinds of medicine and she just hobbles around the house. she can't go up or down the stairs by herself, so I need to carry her up and down. sometimes she can't even get up to eat or drink so I need to set her food and water dishes in her dog bed

why do things need to get old and sick CE?
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If I ever got that bad I'd just want someone to shoot me rather then let my family see me in that condition.
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That poor dog is very lucky to have people who care about her that much. Excellent pet ownership, OP.
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SideshowBob311 posted...

That poor dog is very lucky to have people who care about her that much. Excellent pet ownership, OP.

First off, this. You and your gf are amazing people. Know that.

Second, as hard as it might be to think about, you might want to consider putting her to sleep. It's hard to say, but if the dog is having that much trouble his/her life quality can't be that high.
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I haven't had to make the decision, my dog is "middle aged" and still kicking, but when the family dog I grew up with was put down, it wasn't really my decision, it was up to my parents, but I'm glad I didn't have to make it. She was really getting miserable, though, struggling to stand and had to be carried on stairs, etc.
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_MorningStar posted...

Second, as hard as it might be to think about, you might want to consider putting her to sleep. It's hard to say, but if the dog is having that much trouble his/her life quality can't be that high.

I know :(

It is really hard to make that kind of call. I do feel bad about it as is, though. I guess the way I look at it is that she still has good days a long with the bad. Yeah she can't go up stairs by herself any more, but sometimes she could go down them and I just don't want to let her try/put that kind of impact on her hips. She still plays with and chases our other dog (who is a 7 pound chorkie who is really chill and so is a good playmate) some days.

but yeah I think about it a lot, it sucks
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Balrog0 posted...

_MorningStar posted...

Second, as hard as it might be to think about, you might want to consider putting her to sleep. It's hard to say, but if the dog is having that much trouble his/her life quality can't be that high.

I know :(

It is really hard to make that kind of call. I do feel bad about it as is, though. I guess the way I look at it is that she still has good days a long with the bad. Yeah she can't go up stairs by herself any more, but sometimes she could go down them and I just don't want to let her try/put that kind of impact on her hips. She still plays with and chases our other dog (who is a 7 pound chorkie who is really chill and so is a good playmate) some days.

but yeah I think about it a lot, it sucks

Well, that to me seems like it's not quite her time yet. She can still get around, just as good parents you want to take as much of a the strain off of her as possible. Instead forcing her not to go up and down stair to prevent her from hurting herself.

And don't think you are alone man. I've got a dachshund that just turned 15 last month that I've had since I was 16 years old. I know that she only has a year or two left, e at most before I have to do what I'm talking to you about. And I have tears in my eyes thinking about it.

But what it boils down to is, it's not about your pain. It's about theirs. At what point is their suffering to keep you from hurting too much? It's hard to say.
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