Dog Dementia
- Thread starter Envillegc1
- Start date
My last girl left this world half way through a meat and two veg dinner, f**ked if I could ever do that again it was early August and I’m still not over it.
Willowbank
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Envillegc1
Well-Known Member
Understandable, completely.
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
Perhaps not a bad way for an old lab to go.
tackb
Well-Known Member
Full disclosure , I didn’t cope
he had your wife a familiar face and smell , I’m sure he was ok
For what it's worth, I think 30/40 years ago shooting/working dogs didn't live long enough to be getting diagnosed with Dementia ( living ten or eleven probably max). Then came along specific working dogs food. So instead of dogs being fed any old stuff, shooters took on board how beneficial it was to look after thier best shooting pal. From my experience I would say my dogs have lasted 3 to 4 working years more this last twenty years than they did before. They also probably got a couple of years in retirement. I think I've had two dogs that probably Dementia got to them. The first signs I'll bet are missed is you thinking are , he's not seen me, heard me, he's not interested. Then the staring and wandering around the pen. I've found that from here they go down hill pretty fast I always go on the three Ws. Wagging tail, Wolfing food and walking with purpose. It's an absolutely horrible time for the dog and yourself to go on the final trip to the Vets, but I've been more times than not to be Vets when the dogs were born, so I've no problem going on thier last journey. I might add, I always cry like a baby back home . One thing to add, go on your normal walks, shoots etc and go past a point we're you don't think , do remember when ( insert dogs name here) did this or that. I was going to say rant over. But I don't think it's a rant.
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
No thoughts about a new pup?
Dunwaters
Well-Known Member
I’ve had to do it several times, once I did it myself with a dog that absolutely hated the vets, I’ll never do that again.
With the others I brought them in, brought them home and buried them in the garden where I can go to visit and reminisce.
It’s not easy, but I owe them.
Don’t go telling me I can’t bury them in the garden, I can, and I will as long as I live here.
Some rules are made to be broken.
With the others I brought them in, brought them home and buried them in the garden where I can go to visit and reminisce.
It’s not easy, but I owe them.
Don’t go telling me I can’t bury them in the garden, I can, and I will as long as I live here.
Some rules are made to be broken.
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Cogswell & Harrison
Well-Known Member
Hi, I'm new to the forum by a few weeks.
Probably of no use to this thread but I had to say my last goodbyes to my Chocolate Labrador last week.
She wasn't a gun dog, we adopted her at six months from my wifes extended family who could not cope with her antics, typical antics I might add. We soon had her under our spell though and after heaping love and affection on her coupled with basic training, she was fine.
Over the years the roles were reversed and she cast her spells on me. Together we went anywhere and everywhere, uphill and down dale, river banks and canals, woods and fields you name it and she was up for it. Just over four years since, she did her cruciate and had a plate plus screws fitted, this didn't dampen her enthusiasm but it did curtail her running although she could jog and trot without any bother.
Still remaining sharp as a tack, I noticed earlier this year that on her way out to do her toilet that she started before she got outside, as in left a bit of solid on the kitchen floor. I didn't attach much importance to this and put it down to her eagerness to eat first then go out side. This seemed to be a one off but shortly afterwards she started to struggle with what I would call low leaps and difficulty sitting and standing up, at this time she was thirteen and a half years.
Well, the incontinence came back in late summer but we worked around it and mentally she was the same dog she had always been. We stuck to our daily walks and wanders and she was very much up for it but when the time came to return home she seemed to be eager to get back, I took this as her knowing that it was always teatime when we got home.
Over the years many people have said to me "oh, I had a dog once but its back end went". I've never understood what was meant by this, never needed to really. Sadly, two weeks ago I found out first hand. I thought my old girl had tripped on her way out but the reality was that she had lost control of her back legs and I had to help her up. She could stand for a while, not long, but long enough to get herself back inside the house. Pretty soon after, a day or so, her front legs went the same way, the sad part was that she was still as sharp as a tack .
Those in the know will be familiar with this scenario but having since read up the symptoms, I knew this was the time.
We took her to the vets last week, Thursday it was, and we said our last goodbyes. I held her face, looked into her big brown eyes, told her that I love her and that I always will, kissed her nose and then she was gone.
We had her cremated locally and she's sat next to me as I write this, she's in a very ornate and decorative tube and the sort that I hope she would approve of. It's killing me at the moment but I know we did the right thing and in time all the memories will outweigh the current sadness.
That was Bella's story.
Probably of no use to this thread but I had to say my last goodbyes to my Chocolate Labrador last week.
She wasn't a gun dog, we adopted her at six months from my wifes extended family who could not cope with her antics, typical antics I might add. We soon had her under our spell though and after heaping love and affection on her coupled with basic training, she was fine.
Over the years the roles were reversed and she cast her spells on me. Together we went anywhere and everywhere, uphill and down dale, river banks and canals, woods and fields you name it and she was up for it. Just over four years since, she did her cruciate and had a plate plus screws fitted, this didn't dampen her enthusiasm but it did curtail her running although she could jog and trot without any bother.
Still remaining sharp as a tack, I noticed earlier this year that on her way out to do her toilet that she started before she got outside, as in left a bit of solid on the kitchen floor. I didn't attach much importance to this and put it down to her eagerness to eat first then go out side. This seemed to be a one off but shortly afterwards she started to struggle with what I would call low leaps and difficulty sitting and standing up, at this time she was thirteen and a half years.
Well, the incontinence came back in late summer but we worked around it and mentally she was the same dog she had always been. We stuck to our daily walks and wanders and she was very much up for it but when the time came to return home she seemed to be eager to get back, I took this as her knowing that it was always teatime when we got home.
Over the years many people have said to me "oh, I had a dog once but its back end went". I've never understood what was meant by this, never needed to really. Sadly, two weeks ago I found out first hand. I thought my old girl had tripped on her way out but the reality was that she had lost control of her back legs and I had to help her up. She could stand for a while, not long, but long enough to get herself back inside the house. Pretty soon after, a day or so, her front legs went the same way, the sad part was that she was still as sharp as a tack .
Those in the know will be familiar with this scenario but having since read up the symptoms, I knew this was the time.
We took her to the vets last week, Thursday it was, and we said our last goodbyes. I held her face, looked into her big brown eyes, told her that I love her and that I always will, kissed her nose and then she was gone.
We had her cremated locally and she's sat next to me as I write this, she's in a very ornate and decorative tube and the sort that I hope she would approve of. It's killing me at the moment but I know we did the right thing and in time all the memories will outweigh the current sadness.
That was Bella's story.
Envillegc1
Well-Known Member
A good friend gave me this advice, after 5/6 years get another dog, it will learn from the older dog, keep the older dog on its toes and you perhaps dont work them before they are ready and you then have another mate to keep you company. We left ours a bit later, but I can vouch for the teaching bit.
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
@Cogswell & Harrison
If it doesn't hurt like hell when they die, you didn't deserve to share their life when they lived.
Sounds to me like she had the most wonderful life.
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
spannulman
Well-Known Member
Hi there, sorry to hear this. I lost my spaniel last year aged 15 1/2. He went a bit odd at 11. Sat in pigeon hide, i sent him for a bird and he leapt on it with both front feet like he would a toy, then buggered off 200yd shaking it like a patterdale.
Please bear with me here, it’s a bit of a story.
When he eventually brought it back it had barely a feather left. I was shocked as he was always soft mouthed. He seemed to have forgotten simple commands too so I took him to the vet as we feared dementia and she suggested something called Vivitonin. She said it is some kind of human asthma medication which opens up small blood vessels which can sometimes have a positive effect on dogs’ brains. I was sceptical but she said it doesn’t work on every dog, but if it does work you’ll see the difference almost right away.
Within two days he was a different dog. I looked back in my game book this week and noted that just two weeks later i took him to the same hide and he picked several birds and returned with them perfectly. He even caught a hare later that year ( i think the hare was poorly or stupid as it ran into cover and lost its advantage). Honestly, i can’t recommend this stuff highly enough. I bought it from an online vets to keep costs down and it was less a £ a day.
He thrived on it and we had a taste of the old dog when i misplaced his pills when we were away at the wood. He went downhill quickly and perked up within hours when we got home the next day and gave him another tablet.
It worked for my old fella and gave us and him a few more ‘good’ years together until he declined rapidly last year. But 15 plus for a hard working spannul is a great innings.
Honestly, i would at least try it for a few days and see whether it works for your dog. She said maybe 40/50% of dogs get a benefit but if it works you’ll know in a couple of days. I hope this helps.
Rake Aboot
Well-Known Member
I keep 6 yrs between all my 3 dogs
I always have three , and I try to keep 6 yrs ( maximum) between them.
When you put a dog down, don’t leave it longer than a month to replace the dog.
You’ll only regret it if you do.
I always have three , and I try to keep 6 yrs ( maximum) between them.
When you put a dog down, don’t leave it longer than a month to replace the dog.
You’ll only regret it if you do.
Rutland lad
Well-Known Member
I’ve had two periods in my life without a dog. One was a year, one 18 months. I can honestly say it was awful being without. We saw people walking their dogs and felt we were missing out on one of life’s basic needs.
As I write this I have next to my feet my 13 year old rescue black lab who’s on borrowed time. Cancer and arthritis are slowing him down massively, but he’s still my lovely old boy. Next to him is my nearly two year old black lab who has learnt a huge amount from the old fella, and is a calm sensible young dog.
However - we’ve made a decision this is our last dog. If he lives a full life I’ll be in my mid 70’s when he goes and we feel another one after that isn’t practicable. But never say never ….
Envillegc1
Well-Known Member
Hi
Thanks for that.
Will have a look into it.
By way of update, he has now also lost loads of weight.
He is eating normally so vets next week.
There’s a lot of dog lovers on this site, so this will be an unpopular opinion.
Don’t wait for an accident to happen. kids come first and any sign of aggression toward them from an animal would be one of its last acts in my house.
A friend of mine had a working terrier suddenly turn on his kid, after a few months of worrying signs. Needless to say the dog was shot, but it was a few months too late.
I count myself as a dog lover, I hope to never be without them and losing a dog is a terrible thing. But I’ve also sadly had to put down a few dogs and when they turn, they are animals, chances are you won’t be there to stop it happening.
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