Lady getting worse

David

David

Moderator
Staff member
We're going through a bad patch and Lady now won't do the 200yds walk to the field for a wee in the morning. I've taken to popping her into the car and going to a local wood that she likes. This morning she just did what she had to do then asked to go back to the car after only walking about 100 yds. I'm finding it quite difficult to know what to do. She seems quite comfortable and content just lying around in the house or in the garden and she still follows me a round if I'm doing gardening. Not helping these days but watching.

The "thing" for me is how do you decide when the time has come. I think not just yet but it can't be far off and it's obviously in the back of my mind.

We're trying a different anti-inflammatory at the moment. We were giving her Metacam but now we are trying Galliprant. So far it hasn't shown any noticeable improvement. Lady is also on 3 x 300mg Gabapentin and 2 x 80mg tramadol. It all makes her a bit dozy and she drinks lots because of the tramadol I think. She also pants a lot of the time even if it's cool which is not normal.

I think her back issue is the one to really worry about. She has a weakness now in her back legs and you can hear her dragging her paws every now and again. Also she occasionally loses stability at the rear and either goes flop bot or staggers a bit. Having said that she can still muster enough propulsion to jump into the back of the car. I lift her in and out but sometimes she gets ahead of me like this morning and just goes for it.

Anyway a bit rambling but it helps to get thought s out so to speak.
 
kateincornwall

kateincornwall

Location
Cornwall , UK
Oh David ,what a sad post to read this morning . It is such a worrying time when we see such a decline in our elderly dogs , we feel helpless I know . What I have always done is to keep a simple diary, just noting the good and bad days , so that when the bad outnumber the good , I can be prepared to make that final but kind decision . The fact that you have mentioned how much it is on your mind makes me see how worried you are, like any good owner is , wishing I could offer more advice but sending all the very best to you and R xx
 
Stacia

Stacia

Location
Malvern Worcestershire
So sorry @David to read about Lady. I feel she is drugged out of her mind, she must feel completely zonked out. Can you review her medication? I would stop at least two of them. Have you tried her on Paracetamol, this was the drug prescribed for Rourke by specialist vet.

As for when you know the dreaded day has come, well, you just know. Otherwise you might decide to do it a little earlier. At the moment she seems content around the house and garden and while she is like that and eating, I would let her enjoy life for the moment until that changes.
 
snowbunny

snowbunny

Location
Andorra and Spain
I'm so sorry, David, this must be so hard for you. I know it's a very different thing, but Ginny can only do short walks here in Spain, so we're looking at options for carts for her (I'd planned to get one in the UK in May, but hey ho) so that she can join us on the occasional longer walk, but hop into that to be pushed when she's tired. Do you think that's something that could work for you both? So she still gets out and about to see the sights and sniff the smells, but within what her body can cope with?
 
Jacqui-S

Jacqui-S

Moderator
Location
Fife, Scotland
I guess it is difficult to because we have that expectation that our dogs like a walk too, but maybe Lady is more than content just pottering around the house and garden?
I don't have any personal experience here, other than knowing Lilly is content just hanging around the house some days.
Take care of yourselves.
:hug:
 
David

David

Moderator
Staff member
snowbunny said:
... so we're looking at options for carts for her (I'd planned to get one in the UK in May, but hey ho) so that she can join us on the occasional longer walk, but hop into that to be pushed when she's tired. Do you think that's something that could work for you both? So she still gets out and about to see the sights and sniff the smells, but within what her body can cope with?
Click to expand...
Actually yes I'd sort of thought of doing something like that but hadn't got any further than thinking about using the wheelbarrow. :rofl: I'll have a look.
 
David

David

Moderator
Staff member
Jelinga said:
So sorry @David to read about Lady. I feel she is drugged out of her mind, she must feel completely zonked out. Can you review her medication? I would stop at least two of them. Have you tried her on Paracetamol, this was the drug prescribed for Rourke by specialist vet.
Click to expand...
I've tried reducing and then stopping the tramadol because I think that's what's got her a bit dopey but then she get's really acute pain in her lower back. She's just jumped up onto the sofa next to me by the way. My shadow!
 
Shaz82

Shaz82

Location
Essex, U.K.
So sorry that Lady is struggling, it must be so hard for you to see her when she has difficulty and pain. It sounds like she is content though if she is pottering around the garden with you, sniffing about is sometimes enough. We worry that they have not had enough exercise but sometimes they are happy just being with you, enjoy just being with each other:hug:
 
David

David

Moderator
Staff member
snowbunny said:
There's this sort of thing: Carretillas y carritos de jardín | ¡Rebajas hasta el 28 de julio de 2020!

But I think something like this would be better for us: PAPILIOSHOP LEON Remorque à vélo poussette chariot pour 1 ou 2 entants: Amazon.es: Deportes y aire libre
Click to expand...
Brilliant! It needs to be all terraine and possible to lift over the odd kissing gate. I like the idea of the bicycle one but that's not going to work for me. Our uk roads are just not equipped for cycling in the countryside.
 
SwampDonkey

SwampDonkey

Doug used to pant a lot,. He had problems with his back too. Pain and drugs can do this.i used hydrotherapy a friend used acupuncture there are different things to try. It is hard it was with Doug but you do know,. Theres a lot you can do in the meantime. They can have full and happy lives, it's just different.
 
Granca

Granca

It's sad when walks don't seem to be on the agenda any more, but I don't think that a potter around the garden is any less enjoyable for an older dog. If she's still eating, drinking and enjoying your company that's positive, so continue to enjoy her company, as @Shaz82 says. We just have to be guided by what seems appropriate day by day, as Lady will have good and bad days, just as we do. :hug:
 
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