Putting down my dog: The late great Little-Dog

[robbob]

112. Sorry for your loss

My sweet dog Daisy is losing the use of her back legs. It's been going on for months now, and it's killing me. They think it must be a degenerative nerve disease affecting her spinal column; she's in not pain and still loves to go for walks, but I don't let her do stairs and I lift her in and out of the car.

I'm taking her to a doggie chiropractor but she says if it was just a blocked or pinched nerve in her back we would have seen more improvement by now, which we haven't. I'm thinking of getting a dog wheel-chair to support her back end, but it feels like that would be the final stage. When she gets up her momentum she still trots along fairly well but of course, being a hound she has to go down into every ditch and puddle, following her nose, and on rough terrain she wobbles and falls down and has trouble getting up and going again.

She's only 9-10, my little hound dog, and she's the love of my life. I don't know how much longer she's got; every winter I wonder if it will be possible to get her through it. She's terrified of visits to the vet; luckily I have a vet friend; I will ask about the possibility of having her put down in a near by park, enjoying treats and lying in the sun on her favorite blanket.

It's hard because, aside from her legs, the rest of her is healthy. She's eating well, as I said she doesn't seem to be in any pain and she loves being held and petted and going for her car rides and walks. I've asked her to let me know when she's had enough. Sometimes I wish it was something final and clear, like cancer or a painful condition, because then the decision, still painful, would at least be obvious. I suppose in the meantime I'm just grateful she is still in my life, and still enjoying life as much as she can.

Again, my sympathies, Cali. I am not looking forward to the day Daisy leaves me.