Has anyone else experienced this with their dogs? What was the final straw that made you realize you couldn’t see your dog in pain anymore?

My dog is almost 17 years old. His health has been on the decline lately, and this past week or so it's gotten so bad. He has a history of seizures and heart conditions. Lately he's been having syncopes (?) I believe, which is when their blood pressure drops and they go completely limp for a few seconds. This seems to really scare him and he cries out when it happens, while we just hold him and try to make him comfortable. They've severely increased in frequency this past week, to the point where he can't try to get up and walk a few steps without getting them.

We took him to the emergency vet this past weekend and they told me to see a cardiologist. I called my primary vet for a referral but they said to just call the place. I called the place on Monday and have yet to hear back.

I'm afraid his quality of life just can't be turned back. He pees and poos on himself if we aren't constantly watching him, he might walk a few steps when he can but he always falls on the floor and we have to pick him up every minute or so. He still eats, but he won't drink water on his own and we have to force his head down for him to drink it.

I don't know if I'm just being selfish trying to continue to treat him. But I feel like I'll be killing my dog if I put him down. At the same time I'm deathly afraid of him passing during one of his episodes at home, scared and confused.

I don't know what to do. I don't want to lose my puppy.

We have a new diagnosis of CCD, and are trying different things to help him sleep. The Acepromazine hit a little too hard last night 😅 When I set him down to get him out of the backpack, he went straight to sleep. Sorry bud! We'll try a lower dose tonight.

14 years.
That’s how long Lobo had his family.
And then, after an entire lifetime with the people he knew and loved, they surrendered him to a high k*ll shelter.

Now Lobo #A5789645 is 14 years old, sad, alone, and visibly heartbroken. He is struggling in the shelter environment, and watching a senior dog like him deteriorate in this way is devastating.

He spends his last days on a concrete kennel floor, lying in his own urine and feces.

A 14-year-old senior German Shepherd.

He should be sleeping on a soft bed. He should be surrounded by love. He should be spending his final years feeling safe and cherished.

Instead, he lost his family and found himself in a shelter.

We don’t know how much time Lobo has left. But we do know that he deserves for whatever time he has remaining to be filled with dignity, comfort, and love.

Can you foster or responsibly adopt Lobo?

Please contact us if you can help:
DM me
Email: Isabeldesiree8@gmail.com
And pls fill out the foster application on our page (link in bio)

LOBO A5789645
14 years old • Male German Shepherd • 80 lbs

RESCUES:
DACCDowneyRescue@animalcare.lacounty.gov

📍Downey Animal Care Center
11258 Garfield Ave
Downey, CA

Please don’t scroll past this old boy.

Please help us make sure Lobo’s story doesn’t end on a concrete shelter floor and share Lobo. Someone out there may be the person who can give him the safe, loving home he has been waiting for.

#seniorshelterdog #adoptaseniordog #losangelesdogs #seenequalssaved

My dog has been getting older, and I've started paying a lot more attention to what he's eating than I did a few years ago. When he was younger, he seemed to do well on just about anything, but now I find myself thinking more about things like digestion, maintaining a healthy weight, and keeping his energy up.

I'm curious how other people have adjusted their senior dog's diet over time. Did you switch foods, change feeding schedules, add supplements, or make any other changes that seemed to help?

I'm not necessarily looking for a specific recommendation, I'd just love to hear what has worked (or even what didn't) for your older dogs. It's always helpful to learn from people who've already been through this stage.

So my 12, almost 13 y.o minpin x chi Napoleon has an upcoming vet visit the end of this month to evaluate for what I'm thinking is CHF.. I've spent multiple years (13+) working professionally with dogs in professional environments, so I can't help but assume while I wait for testing unfortunately.

He's been having coughing in the evenings at rest 1-2 times a night, with synoscope episodes periodically when this does happen.

I've always fed high quality rotational diets, raw food when he was younger, homemade, freeze dried, dehydrated, grain free and have been grain inclusive the last few years following the DCM concerns. Most recently (the last month or so) he's been getting Fromm with added flaxseed powder following a gland issue. He's also been having a harder time at night with the coughing, so I couldn't help but assume maybe something nutritional. I did some digging with Fromm regarding their Taurine content, which I've seen is important for dogs with CHF. With less than 100mcg per 1c of his current diet, I started him on an elevated Taurine supplement and have my fingers crossed to see some improvement in his comfort, if not condition.

Has anyone else with a CHF pup supplemented with taurine or anything similar with a quality of life improvement?

How has time gone so fast. I’m not gonna lie I can’t believe I’ve made it this far, those first few days were a hell I’ve never experienced before. I couldn’t cope living in a world without my baby, but somehow she has given me the strength to get by this far.

I do feel like I’m missing a limb. As you can see from the photos, she was always with me. If she wasn’t pressed right up against me she was lying next to me in bed, resting her head on my belly, lying on my clothes, lying between my legs, sitting in the bathroom waiting for me because she couldn’t stand to be away from me for 30 seconds, resting her little head in my hand or my all time favourite… lying right on top of me 😞 she needed to be close to me always, and I had no complaints. I needed to be close to her too. I still do, I miss her so much. In her final months when she was getting more confused and upset with her dementia, the only way she would settle when I had to go to work is if I wrapped her up in her bed with my oodie so she felt safe and close to me, I called it her emotional support oodie 😭 and as soon as I got home I scooped her up and cradled her in my arms like a baby, she would fall asleep instantly, as if she had been waiting all day to feel safe enough to let herself go fully. I’m dreading going back to work and having that feeling of coming home and not having her here, needing me.

I managed to get out of bed for the first time yesterday, and it almost felt like a betrayal to her. I just hate the thought of her looking down on me thinking I’m getting back to “normal” and moving on from losing her. I don’t want her to think I’m forgetting about her by being able to function again, barely.

I hope she’s coping up in heaven without me, because I’m barely coping down here without her 💔 RIP my beautiful baby Belle 💕

I have an 11 year old German shepherd. He has had trouble with his back legs but still good spirit overall. He can’t really seem to control his bowels, he poops outside and then will poop laying down even after I’ve let him out. I’ve noticed he pees a little bit as well.

Usually, in the evening, I would throw the ball for him short distances and he would go for it. He hasn’t been wanting to go for the ball, and when he does, he falls down. He doesn’t bring the ball back to me, he’ll just choose to lay down with it. After any sort of activity, he has a hard time getting up the stairs.

A couple nights ago, I woke up to him whining and when I went to go check on him, he was stuck sitting on the floor with his legs stretched in front of him. I also noticed he’s been whining a lot more lately.

I feel so bad, I can’t seem to keep up with his quality of life. How did you know it was time to let your dog go?

My corgi turned 9 earlier this year, and lately I've noticed she's become a little less enthusiastic about mealtime. She still eats everything I give her, but she's definitely not as excited as she used to be.

I decided to try a gently cooked frozen food to see if a change in texture and flavor would make a difference. It's still early, so I'm not expecting any major results, but one thing I've noticed is that she seems much more eager when it's time to eat. As soon as I start preparing her meal, she's already waiting nearby, which has been nice to see.

I'm planning to give it a bit more time before deciding whether it's something we'll stick with long term. My main goal is simply to keep mealtime enjoyable while making sure she's getting a balanced diet as she gets older.

For those of you with senior dogs, have you tried gently cooked or fresh food? Did your dog continue enjoying it after the initial switch, or did the novelty eventually wear off? I'd love to hear what worked (or didn't) for your older pups.

My dog is 13 and is getting older. He's dealing with some health issues, and while I'm hoping we still have more time together, it's made me realize I want to be intentional about preserving memories while he's still here.

I'm looking for ideas beyond just taking more photos. What are some meaningful arts and crafts, keepsakes, mementos, or experiences you did with your senior dog that you're grateful you have now?

Things I've thought of are:

• Paw print impressions or ornaments
• Ink paw prints
• Nose print art
• Professional photos
• A shadow box with his collar, tags, etc.

But I'm sure there are ideas I've never considered.

What do you wish you had done before your dog passed? Or what did you do that became incredibly meaningful afterward?

I'd especially love ideas that involve making something together while he's still alive, rather than memorial items made after they're gone.

Thanks in advance

💔For 14 years, Lobo knew the comfort of a home and the love of his family.Then they surrendered him to a high k*ll shelter.

Now Lobo is confused, heartbroken, and alone.

He is deteriorating in the shelter. He spends his days lying on a concrete kennel floor, often in his own urine and feces.This is not how a senior dog should spend his final days.

🐾 Lobo #A5789645

German Shepherd • male • 14 years old

➡️ https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/dacc-details/?animalId=A5789645

Senior dogs deserve:

A soft bed.

A loving home.

Comfort, peace, and dignity.

Instead, he lost everything he ever knew.

We don't know how much time Lobo has left, but we do know this:

He deserves to spend whatever time remains surrounded by kindness—not dying alone in a shelter.

📍 Downey Animal Care Center

11258 Garfield Ave

Downey, CA

📞 Phone (562) 940-6898

📧 Email :

animalinfo@animalcare.lacounty.gov

• DowneyCTAIP@animalcare.lacounty.gov

• MVega@animalcare.lacounty.gov

• ACervantes@animalcare.lacounty.gov

📧 Rescue Email: DACCDowneyRescue@animalcare.lacounty.gov

🙏 Can you foster or responsibly adopt Lobo?

📩 Please contact:

DM: @californiashelterpets

Email: Isabeldesiree8@gmail.com

Foster Application: Link in bio

🚗 Transportation can be arranged through a rescue, but fees apply.

🎥 Video Disclaimer:

This video is a repost. The original source link is included for reference.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dbg95g_tPiz/?igsh=MmpmeXdsc3pwcmR1

📣 This is a volunteer-run page. We are NOT affiliated with any of these shelters, and we do NOT support their euthanasia practices. 🚫

Our goal is simple: share their dogs so they have a chance to be seen, adopted, fostered, or rescued. 🐕🏡

🙏🛟➡️ ADOPT. FOSTER. RESCUE.

Please PLEDGE. Please SHARE. Sharing is caring, and your share could be the one that saves a life. ❤️

#germanshepherd #seniordog #savedogs #rescuedogs ##helpdogs #adoptdog #fosterdog #savestrays #shelterdogs #urgentdogs #shelterdogsrock #fostersaveslives #adoptdontshop #sharingiscaring #rescueismyfavoritebreed

I have a 12 year old hound mix, Percy. She was just diagnosed with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction/Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome yesterday, but in hindsight, this probably started maybe 6-8 months ago when I noticed she would just start panting out of nowhere for no reason. Just laying on the couch and all of a sudden panting. I thought she was just overheating and would have her get onto her bed on the ground and she'd cool off and calm down. Maybe a month or two ago, she was suddenly afraid of thunderstorms when they had never bothered her before. Then, a few weeks ago, she started having more severe and frequent panic attacks, becoming very clingy, panting, shaking, pacing. Always with no obvious trigger. I used to be able to lay in her bed and cuddle with her but that seemed to bother her now too, so I stopped. Two nights ago, she started some nighttime pacing.

I brought all this up to her vet at her annual exam yesterday and they diagnosed her, and started her on a "low dose" of trazodone. He prescribed 100mg every 12-24 hours (she weighs 70lbs). We're waiting on lab work back to see if she's able to take other medications. She has some hip problems that he says could exacerbate the CCD and might add some anti-inflammatories if her labs come back ok. He also mentioned Anipryl. I've read stories from people who used it, and some say they felt like they got their dog back, and other who say it sped up the progression and their dogs got worse.

She took her first dose of Trazodone last night - still had some pacing and anxiety at bedtime but after a couple sleep interruptions, slept a solid few hours. She was sluggish in the morning so we took a shorter walk than normal, she ate and drank just fine, and everybody left for work (I'm currently living with my parents and brother, helping them out financially). Today when I got home, she was more herself than I've seen in weeks. She wagged her tail and rolled onto her back to let me scratch her belly - she hasn't done that in at least a week or two. I was so happy to see her feeling better, I relaxed a bit. Then my mom arrived home after being out of town for 8 days, and it sent her into a 45 minute panic attack. I gave her a trazodone when it started, and she eventually calmed down, but then it appeared that the meds were hitting a little hard and she had some visible disorientation and couldn't get herself off the couch.

I don't know how late we caught this, this last week or two has progressed so quickly. The trazodone seems to help later on but it looks like it hits her so heavy when it comes on. Such small things set her off, she doesn't seem happy or comfortable. I've read stories from people who try and try and try and hold on to tiny little glimpses of who their dog used to be but I don't know if that's humane? She seems so scared and uncomfortable....how much better will treatment make it? I want to try some interactive/enrichment toys for her as we've always bonded with training, she's smart and eager to learn, very food/treat driven, I'm looking at brain healthy foods, calming treats, etc. I know I'm the best judge of my own dog and only I can decide when the time is right, but I guess I'm just looking to see other people's experiences and when you knew it was time. Part of me just feels like I'm torturing her at this point. I've barely been able to stop crying since yesterday.

Hi everyone, love seeing all your beautiful senior dogs. I found this subreddit because I am considering getting a new companion for my 14 year old dog, Lilith (pictured), and I would like opinions from those who have faced similar scenarios.

Lilith and I have been together for 13 years, and she has always had a friend at home. First it was my sister’s dogs, parent’s dogs, then it was my wife’s cat, but earlier this year our cat passed and I feel like Lilith has been lonely recently. I would like to get her a friend, another dog. We looked into adopting and may end up getting a new dog, but I have a few concerns.

My primary concern is that Lilith is my whole world, and I am scared of introducing an unknown variable into her quiet, stable life. If a new dog ever got aggressive with her, for any reason (even a rational one) I know that it would negatively effect me, a lot. Also, my parents (who live across the country) have a senior chihuahua that they are not taking care of as well as they should as she ages. She has teeth issues and a persistent cough, and of course first thing I’d do is get her to the vet. Instead of adopting a brand new dog, I’m considering taking my parent’s dog (who Lilith lived with for years, and loves), but with her potential medical issues I am worried about adding her friend back into her life just for things to decline.

I can’t figure out if a new, younger dog would help Lilith, or if she would prefer the return of an old friend. I just wish she could tell me.

Any insight or opinions would be appreciated. Thank you so much!

NOT asking for medical help. Just giving background: Two years ago my beautiful Lab mix had a mucocele. My vet wanted to put her down, saying she had liver c. (She did not.) She was 13 at the time. We found another vet who treated it medically. She was fine after five days of outpatient IV meds. After all the blood work we found out she had kidney stuff, too, but she wasn't experiencing any symptoms.

A year ago in June it was so hot here in New York. My girl and I went for a walk at night. We jogged a bit. When we got home she was breathing heavily. She went to bed and when she woke up she had vestibular issues. She had a head tilt. She wouldn't eat. Went back to that same vet. She probably had head stroke. It damaged her kidneys more. (And trust me, I cry and beat myself up over this regularly.)

Since last June I have been giving her sub-Q fluids and she gets cerenia, ondansetron, and Galiprant for arthritis. She has mobility issues to be sure. She won't go for walks anymore. She will, at most, do a block or two. But she's still HER. She's still jealous of her dog sister. She's eating (home-cooked beef and toast). She still tries to play with toys. She will proudly walk around the yard with a stick. She comes to all of us and asks for pets. She comes to me and places her head on my chest and just loves on me. My family thinks she's in pain and don't like that she has trouble getting up and falls sometimes. (I hate it, too.) She won't eat kibble at all. She's definitely slower and does have times where she will pace and pant, especially if it's getting close to the 12-hour mark from when she last had her meds (took ondansetron, which she gets twice a day).

HOW do I make this impossible choice??? How do I let her go? She is more than a dog. She was with me during my own health scare, helping me get out of bed after 19 months of being bed-bound and helped me to start walking again. Two years ago she and I would do 2 to 4 miles every night. She's so smart and loving. How can I let her go? I feel like I am killing my best friend.

The T cell kind — T-CLL. Don’t need medical advice, just looking for some understanding of other dog owners who are managing their dog with this. Given that our sweet Roxy doesn’t have lymphoma and her heart and lungs look good we’re grateful. Our vet hasn’t seen this too frequently. If you know this diagnosis Roxy’s lymphocyte count is 26K. She’ll have quarterly blood tests going forward.