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bklyncowgirl

(7,960 posts)

70. Owner of a 14 or so year old Border Collie? here. It is heartbreaking

Mon Sep 14, 2015, 06:44 AM

Sep 2015

Ours has trouble with steps as well. Vet says he has arthritis and may have a slipped disk. His hind legs shake.

Glucosamine Chondroiten helps. We'll probably get him some pain killers as well--though our budget of course is minimal.

He sleeps a lot. Sometimes he's so still that I look to make sure he's still breathing.

We have a ramp--a sort of handicapped ramp for dogs--to help the old boy get in our pickup truck. Got it for 25 bucks at a thrift store.

Mind you old Bucky has had a good life. We owe it to him to give him as good a quality of life as possible. I'm sure your dog has enjoyed many good years too. At least picking up a Pekinese is easier than hoisting a 50+ pound mutt with a bad back and very definite ideas of his doggy dignity.

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I hate seeing my dog get old. [View all] trumad Sep 2015 OP

Oh man MuseRider Sep 2015 #1

Yep. That circle of life kinda sucks. But enjoy today. yeoman6987 Sep 2015 #26

Jessie was the puppy MrG always wanted, and she was my connection ScreamingMeemie Sep 2015 #2

So sorry, trumad. frogmarch Sep 2015 #3

I have a 14 year old Boston Terrier Texasgal Sep 2015 #12

Oh, my goodness, this is exactly what I am going through with Cheyenne Samantha Sep 2015 #37

Dr. Tinycat recommends extra hugs and cuddles shenmue Sep 2015 #4

It's very difficult. femmocrat Sep 2015 #5

Our baby went through all that at 16 1/2. MoonRiver Sep 2015 #6

Our old dog spent Christmas dying. Our vet had missed all the obvious signs pnwmom Sep 2015 #7

I was with a friend today while she made the decision to put her husky to sleep. tammywammy Sep 2015 #8

ONe of my saddest days was when I had to put my little dog to sleep... CTyankee Sep 2015 #14

I've had to put the outside stray cats to sleep. tammywammy Sep 2015 #19

I just can't take another go around...it was too much for me... CTyankee Sep 2015 #23

When my grandmother died, my grandpa was given a little toy poodle tammywammy Sep 2015 #25

Life is too boring without my beloved roody Sep 2015 #40

I can relate to that. So many people have made their peace with the mortality of pets CTyankee Sep 2015 #42

Dogs are so much work. I did not intend roody Sep 2015 #65

Yeah, that's a rough one. Ohio Dem Sep 2015 #9

Poor thing GummyBearz Sep 2015 #10

My 55 lb fifteen yr old Shepherd cross won't go down the stairs... riderinthestorm Sep 2015 #11

Funny Thing Samantha Sep 2015 #38

My old lab's hanging in there but the stair thing weighed heavily while house shopping last year. Gidney N Cloyd Sep 2015 #13

Before my 2 labs, I had a Boxer and he developed neuropathy at the end GreatGazoo Sep 2015 #43

My previous lab lost use of his hind legs to a tumor that we had removed... Gidney N Cloyd Sep 2015 #50

I would like to see my dog get old. He was recently diagnosed with cancer, at age 6. Electric Monk Sep 2015 #15

Oh no. So sorry to hear that. DirkGently Sep 2015 #17

This mythology Sep 2015 #24

I am so sorry irisblue Sep 2015 #34

Oh, I'm so sorry CrawlingChaos Sep 2015 #68

I was going through this last year with a 21 year old cat Warpy Sep 2015 #16

I'm so sorry.... magical thyme Sep 2015 #18

Went through it with our two cats mcar Sep 2015 #20

I'm so sorry! I think it's the saddest thing in the world that man & woman's best friend smirkymonkey Sep 2015 #21

Princess Peanut is 14 irisblue Sep 2015 #22

I adopted a terminally dog from the pound gwheezie Sep 2015 #30

Our life cycles are different and the pain of loss can be made up by saving/rescueing/loving so many TeamPooka Sep 2015 #27

I was just thinking the same thing today.,. zappaman Sep 2015 #28

Our 12 year old doxie is getting cataracts. She can make it down stairs, but I have to carry her up. X_Digger Sep 2015 #29

I know how it feels. madaboutharry Sep 2015 #31

It is tough watching a member of the family get old Gothmog Sep 2015 #32

Quite a few of my dogs have been better people than I've ever been. hunter Sep 2015 #33

If there is a God fadedrose Sep 2015 #45

Vetri DMG glinda Sep 2015 #35

My 6-year old dog has heart disease and will live at most another couple of years. Nye Bevan Sep 2015 #36

Okay, everyone. SheilaT Sep 2015 #39

I love old dogs. Yes, it does break your heart but they love when you help them adjust to old age. Sunlei Sep 2015 #41

I know what you are going thru fadedrose Sep 2015 #44

it's the only bad thing about dogs. mopinko Sep 2015 #46

that was Hershey in his last year or so of his life dsc Sep 2015 #47

Imagine how he feels watching you grow old. DemocratSinceBirth Sep 2015 #48

Yeah but I can still climb stairs...barely. trumad Sep 2015 #49

My beagle is 15 now. I know what you azmom Sep 2015 #51

Special place in heaven for human parents of old dogs! cilla4progress Sep 2015 #52

A bit of advice: Don't skimp on painkillers. razorman Sep 2015 #53

Listen to this man Ex Lurker Sep 2015 #55

Thanks for the moral support. We all know the dangers of painkillers. razorman Sep 2015 #57

I forgot to add, my condolences on your loss. razorman Sep 2015 #58

Thanks. It's very tough, as you well know NT Ex Lurker Sep 2015 #61

After 2 years of mourning the death of my buddy, Ben the 4th......... Ernesto Sep 2015 #54

I've lost many kitties over the years, including my 19.5 year old baby girl. Arugula Latte Sep 2015 #56

that's what got me through losing my fat cat in march fizzgig Sep 2015 #66

... Arugula Latte Sep 2015 #72

Yes. LWolf Sep 2015 #59

Trumad, our Daisy died two weeks ChazII Sep 2015 #60

Sorry to hear that Chaz. trumad Sep 2015 #63

One of the coolest dogs I ever had was Boots, adopted after his owner passed away JCMach1 Sep 2015 #62

The last wiener dog we had....Just broke our heart because she didn't know what to do anywhere...... a kennedy Sep 2015 #64

Paws around you all trumad. LeftOfWest Sep 2015 #67

I feel for you trumad CrawlingChaos Sep 2015 #69

Owner of a 14 or so year old Border Collie? here. It is heartbreaking bklyncowgirl Sep 2015 #70

I Know The Feeling Tru ProfessorGAC Sep 2015 #71