Comments on: Dog Dementia

By: Belle

Belle — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 14:24:36 +0000

My dog is 18+ years old. She went through a bout of dementia at 16 and her symptoms were similar to what you described. She would walk towards a wall and just stare at it and sort of just forget where she was going. She would pace constantly at night which drove us nuts (we thought she had diarrhea). In any case, we saw our vet and gave us a few options. We opted to give her a super low dosage of anti-anxiety meds and it helped A LOT! We only used it for 6 months and she is just fine. She still has bouts of confusion but its not like she’s in pain -just a bad day here and there.

As long as your dog is able to control their urine/poop and is not in pain then it doesn’t make sense to put them down. But if there is no chance of treatment then it is hard to see them suffer..

Best to you both!

By: ali

ali — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 19:26:37 +0000

I am sorry about Pico. I haven’t commented because my attempted comments contained stories with strains of sympathy that degraded into horror. Pico looks very sweet and at peace in the photo. I have no doubts he is well loved. Reading this makes me miss my dog, Bo. He suffered similar ailments. I never got to say goodbye to him because he lived in Costa Rica at the end of his life and I lived in Colorado. Give Pico a belly rub and a kiss from me. Thinking of you and sending love.

Good luck.

By: Madam restora

Madam restora — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 09:16:06 +0000

For fucks sake sister. Get Pico to the vet tomorrow. It’s time. By the sound of it, he’d do it himself if he could.

By: Bevitron

Bevitron — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 09:02:17 +0000

This is a little poem by Franz Wright that appeared in The New Yorker a long time ago – I cut it out & stuck it on my fridge where it has been ever since. It’s about a cat, but it translates to dog, too. It’s helped me with various beloved animals over the years; maybe it can help someone else.

http://bookofjoe.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c5dea53ef016306bc2dd0970d-pi

By: Sister Wolf

Sister Wolf — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 05:16:41 +0000

Tin Lizzie – Yep, I wish it could be o easy with humans too.

Gretchen – We did test for bladder infection, but thank you for mentioning.

Jools – Yep, yep. I have been through it with another dog. The vet stayed with me while I cried. Not looking forward to doing it again.

Bevitron – Yep. I would want to be euthanized. Thank you for sharing your story with me. xo

MizLottie – Waaaah! Okay. Thank you for sharing your story.

Carla Fox – Oh god. I know you’re right.

Andrea – Oh dear, so much suffering. Yes, I will ALWAYS have a dog, could not stand daily life without a dog.

Tenley – Okay. Thank you for your wisdom.

thriftstorelawyer – He doesnt like peanut butter (!!!) but he loves my chicken. I’ll roast him a chicken.

Andra – Okay. xo

DJ – I’ll try, Thank you xo

Stephanie – Arf.

Christina – I’m glad you left a comment! Thank you so much.

Kimberley – What a great resource!!!! I’ve already shared it with friends. Thank you.

Beannie – Ok, xo

Miss Y – Your English is fine. Thank you for sharing your story.

Marn – Very helpful words, thank you.

Debbie – So much sadness, so unfair. I’m getting ready to let him go.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 04:20:48 +0000

Sister Wolf, I have put down one dog and two cats and it’s never easy. You’ll cry like a baby for sure, but if Pico is too old and sick maybe it is the best thing. I’m so sorry you’re going through this … it really is the worst to watch a beloved pet deteriorate like that. Whatever you decide to do, I’ll support you.
XOXOXO
Deb

By: Marn

Marn — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 22:53:01 +0000

Within the last few weeks Anne Lamott, author, posted a passage on Facebook which included the quote below. (Anne, a spiritual writer, has had WAY more than her share of sadness of late. Fair warning if you choose to read her on Facebook.) I saved part of her passage to perhaps share with a friend going through the death of a beloved pet. I am sharing it with you with in the hope that it may resonate and even bring you some comfort.

Anne Lamott..on the death of her dog Lily: “But one of the saddest things happened. We had to put my darling old dog Lily down. She died peacefully at home in my son Sam’s arms on Wednesday.

I think she was the closest I’ll come, on this side of eternity, to experiencing the direct love of the divine. You may know the feeling.

Through this love, Sam and I came through. We cried a lot, but agreed to let our hearts stay broken for awhile, because that is how light, grace and healing can get in, through the armor.”

By: Miss Y.

Miss Y. — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:33:57 +0000

Well, we had to put our beloved dog down last November, because his dementia had gotten to a point that was just too sad to watch.
To give you the gross detail (and you can absolutely choose not to publish this comment because it is sad and gross), I told my mum that enough was enough when we caught him drinking his own pee (he had become incontinent, he was almost blind). I thought that this is not a quality and worthy life, this is not how we want to remember him. His dementia had started two years peviously, but as long as he seemed happy and wasn’t in pain, we wanted to keep him as long as possible. The peeing thing was really, really sad.

Sorry for any spelling/grammatical errors, English is not my mother tongue.

By: Beannie

Beannie — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 12:49:30 +0000

I am so sorry for you and Pico. Imagine what you would want if you were Pico and do that.

By: Kimberley

Kimberley — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 04:56:46 +0000

My “heart dog” Walter, a 50 lb., mutt lived to be 20. I had some success with melatonin, EFAs, and valarian for his nightime anxiety and confusion. They gave him another 6 months of comfort. Some ideas https://pathwithpaws.com/blog/2010/02/01/dementia-and-anxiety-in-your-older-dog-what-to-do/

Nobody can tell you when it is time- you will know without doubt when it is time to let Pico go.
I had the vet come to the house and I will never do it any other way again.
Lots of love to you.