I'm losing my Jack,

[nilesobek]

My old dog Jack, a Jack Russel terrier is 17 years old. He had some kind of a stroke 2 years ago and I have to take him outside every hour or so to go potty.

I did not want the dog, he was a year old and had nipped a child then put in doggy jail.

Jack was the best woods dog I ever had. He outperformed every other dog I ever had.

So I scheduled a death day for him next week.

[In_The_Wind]

1. I'm so sorry, nilesobek.

[MADem]

2. Is his quality of life poor?

He can't adjust to using a wee wee pad?

I have a terrier who is late middle aged, who will go use "the paper" (a weewee pad) in the wee small hours of the morning. She prefers to go out but she knows that she won't be popular if she wakes people up from a sound sleep.

They also make diapers for dogs, these day...

The reason I ask about his QOL is because I have a relative with a blind, deaf dog--you'd think that dog had no quality of life but he still really enjoys his food, knows the layout of the family home, follows people around by smell, and loves napping with his favorite family member. He's without a lot of sensory input, but he wags his tail, isn't in any pain, and enjoys snuggling on the couch.

If your dog is in pain or unable to move very well or at all, that's a different situation, of course.

I'm sorry this day has come for you. It's just an awful feeling -- and I can say that from sad personal experience.

[nilesobek]

4. He cannot walk walk very good.

It might be hip dysplasia. He still has normal scat and urine.

I have a really bad cry everytime I think about what to do. My little buddy, so full of love and life...

[Fla Dem]

5. I'm so sorry for you. 17 years is a wonderful lifetime for a dog.

But if he's in pain without any remedy and he is suffering, then releasing him from all that is the humane thing to do. Shower him with love in the time remaining. You gave him a good life and he in turn loved you.

[MADem]

7. It's a terrible, terrible thing to have to go through.

It's far harder on you than your pet. So painful and distresssing--the term "heart ache" is apt.

If you lose your nerve, you could try this--it might help give you a little more time:

http://orthodog.com/index.cfm/products/hip-hound-brace/

There is a video at the page as well.

Are you giving the dog anything for pain? My vet had one of my dogs on the odd baby aspirin in her later years--it really helped and it seemed less 'side-effect-ish' than some of the stronger arthritis meds.

[nilesobek]

12. I'm giving him a quarter of a tramadol on occasion.

He perks up a little then crashes. I ok'd it with the vet for the right dosage, about 12 Mg's.

I've been fielding strong suggestions that I shoot my dog. I'm never going to do that. I've got a humane vet for a price.

[baldguy]

3. :(

[femmocrat]

6. So sorry, nilesobek.

Seventeen years is a good long run.

[irisblue]

8. I am so sorry

I have had to help 3 dogs & 3 cats over to the Rainbow Bridge. My last sweet old girl, Princess Peanut was 14. I am so sorry.

[Skittles]

9. we love all the pets we have, but there's always that one

the one you just seem to, well, identify with more

sounds like Jack has been yours

my sympathy to you

Jack has been good to you, so stay true to him to the end....remember he can sense your mood.....and yes, I know how hard it is

[Arazi]

11. There's no good answers here

So sorry for this. Be strong and do what's right for Jack

[mopinko]

13. the last big favor we do for our buddies.

so hard to do, but so important. we just cant make them suffer when they start to fail. we cant make it make sense to them, like you could to a person. i cant imagine the horror of them in pain, w no understanding of what the cause is, or what the hope is.

it is a thankless task, so i will say thank you for him.
be good to yourself.

[nilesobek]

14. What an unfair world

we live in regarding mortality, is all I kept thinking. I used to rescue dogs and have lost some but somehow Jack has really gotten to me on an emotional level. I thought about using a surrogate to take him to the vet, but we have to face this together.

[mopinko]

16. yes you do and

the crazy thing is that he will still be comforting you right up to the end.

best of luck w healing.

[a la izquierda]

15. So sorry

I just went through this a few weeks ago and it is so difficult.

[area51]

17. I'm so sorry. n/t

[nilesobek]

18. Update: I took him to the vet this morning.

It only took a few minutes. He did not shudder but went to sleep.

I am not relieved, to the contrary, I feel like a monstrous creature.

[Fla Dem]

21. You are not a monster. You did what was best for Jack, not what was best for you.

He is at peace. Cherish the 17 years you had with him. It's hard I know. I've been there. Talk about him with family and friends. That has always helped me. He'll always be in your heart.

[Demonaut]

23. it's the kindest thing you could do...they leave us too early

you gave him a great life, what dog does not love the woods

[nilesobek]

29. I had rescued a chocolate lab

from an abusive home. They left Zeus with no water or food, and as a result, the dog attempted to chew through the concrete to get out.

I took an arbitrary decision to rescue Zeus and just take him.

I took him up to my homeless sanctuary, my respite, but he did not thrive. He had cancer and died. I dug a giant deep grave for him on site.

But I took Jack up there and he reveled in the wild. I lost him for a few hours one time, and finally found him on a logging road just at dusk.

[irisblue]

24. Your Jack went to sleep on your lap, surrounded and loved by his person

who held him as he slipped over to the Rainbow Bridge. No monster would ever show love and put Jack above his ownself. I grieve with you.

[Ilsa]

25. You gave him a wonderful long life during which

He knew he was loved. There was nothing more you could do.
Bless you for being so conscientious. We need more people like you in this world.

Ilsa, "mommy" to two rescues, one of which was my foster "failure".

[shenmue]

26. Hug

[rumdude]

19. Very sorry to hear this

My condolences.

[lame54]

20. Just went through that recently...

it was painful and I questioned myself a lot afterwards

Now that time has passed I know I did the right thing

It will hurt - let the tears flow - then remember how awesome a companion he was

[Demonaut]

22. Just be there when he goes, it's so very hard

[nilesobek]

27. I want to thank everyone

for the heartfelt condolences. So many of you have had similar experiences and gave me new ways to think about it.

There is still all these Jack relics, the dog toys and dishes, his white hair in my kneepads from work. The reminders.

[Skittles]

28. ...

Grieve not,
nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were beside you.....
I loved you so --
'twas Heaven here with you.

--by Ilsa Paschal Richardson

[In_The_Wind]

30. ...