General Chat

My old boy is 10 years old. He was a nightmare of a puppy who messed and dug everything. Made me cry with his awful behaviour.

Up until last year he had improved no end.

We lost our our lady 2 yrs ago and since then he's started gradually regressing back to puppy hood.

Every 3 weeks out of the blue he has started messing it lasts for about two weeks. Not proper mess but watery pooey mess (sorry to be so graphic)

He's been to the vets and there is nothing physically wrong with him. It's just senility.

Nothing that he has been given to help the problem has worked.

I love him dearly but I can't do this for much longer. I can't let the kids out in the garden because of the mess there (you can't pick it up it's not that sort of mess) and I'm having to keep him in the conservatory with the other two because he poo's as he walks along.

Am I so wrong in having come to the end of my tether. This is now happening too often. On top of his manic barking and grumpiness I'm thinking we've come to the end of the road much as it breaks my heart to say so.

Honest advice and opinions welcome xx

how is he in himself?

Maybe his diet could be changed? I'm sure there is some dietry food available to help him.

I hope you can find some solution soon. All the best.

Tina x

Muffy -

I do feel for you. Our dog (we had him put to sleep recently) suffered from senile symptoms, although it was his athritis that finally got too much at the end. He didn't have a 'messing' problem but we did have aimless barking, not knowing where he was, lack of affection, lots of in/out the garden and waking us up without fail around 5am. I got quite stressed by it, and felt guilt, and frustration that I couldn't help him. His condition did stabilise with the Hills BD diet, but this doesn't work for all. It's hard, but you have to assess his quality of life (and your well-being too). Take care, Sheila

Hi Tina we've changed it three or four times now.

The problem is he is a real greedy dog and will eat clods of earth and any sort of rubbish he can find so as good as the food maybe he ruins it by eating any rubbish he can pick up.

In himself he's become more highly strung and *yippy* but no less affectionate and energetic xx

I had asimilar problem with my big cat shane (German Shepard) we fed him on rice based products then chappie and he was ok

Thank you Sheila.

It's such a hard call. BUT I'm struggling so hard balancing taking care of him with the welfare of my girls who can no longer use their garden because of the mess.

I'm pressure washing it daily but it's not really sufficient. What with disinfecting the floor at least half a dozen times a day and the manic barking I'm about worn out.. xx

Oh dear, I feel for you on this. It's slightly comparable to a situation we faced.

Our eldest dog (female Yorkie) died of old age that left the Bichon who missed the Yorkie, who was top dog, terribly.

Her behaviour was awful, she became snappy and so wilful she was impossible to control.

We had to make a decision, we didn't want her re-homed because she was really too old, we decided that her life was miserable and chose to have her put down.We had discussed her mood change with the vets for a couple of months.

It was a bloody awful day when hubby took her to the vets and I know it was 50% for her and 50% for us. We were unhappy and so was she.

Nobody can make the decision for you but what is the dog's quality of life? I think you have to take that into account as well as your own wellbeing.

Sorry probably not much help.

Sue xx

I have a 10yr old who seems to be barking a lot lately but I think it's cos her hearing may be muffled so she barks at noises that she could easily distinguish before.
Also she is more grumpy because she has a lot of joint pain now.Perhaps you should have one more visit to the vet for advice because it would be a shame if they can do something for him.He might be grumpy cos he's getting tummy ache or feeling nauseous.
hope you can make the right decision either way
love and ((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))
bunny x

Muffy - I found the barking hard, too, ours was compounded by the fact that he was deaf as a post so you couldn't even shout at him! Also had to be careful not to startle him, as he was so deaf.

Thank you Sue.

Of course you've been a great help. I'm struggling hard with this. I appreciate your words xx

My friends dog was messing in the house, and she changed her to dry food which helped.
Carole x

Hiya Carole. He's always been on dried food. We've changed the brand under veterinary advice but it's not worked.

Thanks everyone for your advice and kind words.

Much appreciated xx

I think you have to look at the all round picture. Is he happy, does he have a good life? Are you stressed? and is your childrens health at risk? If the vet can't help and says it is senility I don't think you are going o be able to do anything to improve his and your well being. we have been there with two dogs and two cats. You love them and because you love them you have to let them go. I do feel for you Muffy, a hard decision to make.

Ann
Glos

Muffy,

For us it was the guilt of doing something which was half selfish because we were also unhappy.

But us getting frustrated with her was no good for her either.

It is really difficult and I truly believe it is the feeling that you are letting your pet down which delays a decision. You have children who are being affected, if it was me they would be the priority and I would not, personally, be able to cope with the play restrictions.

Sue xx

I'll be honest. He's never been what you would call a happy dog.

I rescued him from travellers and he was a quivering wreck. He took a shine to me and trusted me so I took him on. He's never been *normal* but we just got on with it and did the best we could with him.

He looked to my old lady dog as his mum and when she died he took a massive nose dive.

It was like somebody took his security blanket from him. For a dog like that it's devastating.

I really don't want to do it but I can't do this anymore. The last lot of poo I had to clear up reduced me to tears. I've just had enough of it and I feel awful as it's my job as his owner to do that. It's just constant at the mo. xx

our old cockers getting dodgey.deaf,odd accidents.shes 13.so we think she,ll not be here next year.your not on your own hun.xxx

oh Muffy, I do feel for you - my son just had to have his much loved bull terrier put down for different reasons but the vet said it was the only way and quite frankly I had to agree but it was truly awful. In my lifetime I've wept buckets over many dogs - he can't be happy if he can't control his bowels, it's such a loss of dignity for the poor old fellow - I should be guided by the vet - he'll tell you if it's the right thing, or I would sincerely hope he would. Be brave, you've given him a better life than he ever would have had with travellers

Thanks Ann. My Dad said the same to me earlier. I've honestly done the best I can. I pride myself on looking after my animals and giving them the best life possible.

I'm not adverse to clearing up the odd poo here and there but this is unlike anything I've come across before with my other animals. I feel guilty for even thinking of giving up but it's affecting the kids not being able to use the garden.

They aren't stupid kids. They have animals and know to wash their hands etc. But it will only take the little one to fall over. Put her hand where the mess was and rub her eyes then god only knows what will happen next. Plus she's a thumb sucker so it's just too risky.
xx

You know what you've got to do in your heart don't you Muffy? You'll find the strength to do it and as you say, your children have to take priority and the risks are to grat