Hello,
Sorry for this long post...I want to try and explain our situation as best possible.

It is with a huge broken heart I ask for this advice but we want what is best for our sweet Maverick (14 years).
After a trip to our local hospital Labor day weekend it was discovered he has a spinal lesion located at L4S3, hip/spine arthritis, but bloodwork was good. Neurologist cannot diagnosed exact issue without an MRI or spinal tap which require anesthesia not recommended for his condition and age. Could be a tumor, or progressive degenerative disk issues. Performing these tests would only tell us exactly what is going on, and surgery at this point is not an option. He was discharged with Gabapentin 300 mg and Codeine 30 mg given every 8-12 hours to control pain. We managed to do pain meds every 12 hours but now seems to need every 8.

In the last four months, we have taken him to rehab therapy with laser (except on spine), hydrotherapy and acupuncture. About 2 months ago we began Adequan injections as well. It has been a rollercoaster of good and bad days. Maverick is not able to get up on his own without assistance and has a difficult time getting back down. His attitude through this has not been one of frustration but still appearing to accept life as it is, mostly sleeping, laying in snow watching surrounding activities, eating and drinking. Although he used to get excited for walks, he now mostly has to be encouraged. This week eating has slowed somewhat and I am encouraging fluids.

I know this very difficult decision falls primarily on the owners and each story is different. We, in no way, want to keep him going for our sake and would love to see him romping and running his race at full speed in Heaven but don’t know if we are doing the right thing by putting him through all of this. Our adult daughter just cannot let him go and will spend every cent left in her bank account to help keep him with us for as long as possible. But, is this a quality of life for our guy? I know it is unlikely he would pass in his sleep but this has been my prayer for months.

Please, I am hopeful a husky owner who may have experienced similar issues can provide us with some insight/advice/help other than measuring his good days vs bad days, or that it is time when he stops eating and drinking.

Thank you all so much!
Barb

I put one of my dogs down a couple months ago after fighting around with bone cancer. We were not in a position to blow every cent on trying to delay the inevitable and we chose to do pain management as long as it was feasible and effective. Through change of diet, a combination of prednisone and tramadol, and a thc/cbd oil additive we got 5 months. We had the option to amputate the leg and go through chemo and that would get us maybe a year or so to the tune of several thousands of dollars and a lot of pain and discomfort on keno's part.

My outlook during the ordeal was as long as he isn't in visible pain we will keep it up, but eventually the limp returned and the fluid pocket around the cancer hemorrhaged creating an open wound that would never heal in his condition and we called it. My husband didn't want to "give up" at any time, but it was what keno needed. At 14 Maverick has had a wonderfully long life and in general if they are showing pain, aren't eating, or can't function without constant assistance it's time to give them their dignity and make the call. Going bankrupt to prolong the inevitable just ins't wise and isn't going to change the ultimate outcome. The sleeping and laying around is a side-effect of the pain meds. They make them sleepy to the point they aren't always lucid enough to notice the pain. It's hard to let them go, but they deserve peace. They have brought us too much joy for us to let them suffer through so much pain at the end because of our own weaknesses. Hopefully his peace will become your peace when the time comes.

Thank you!!

I've been debating how to respond or even if to respond ... see, I have a 12-13 year old rescue who's having problems with her back legs. She doesn't exhibit any symptoms of pain, just sometimes (often?) has problems getting up the porch steps (and refuses to use the ramp I built for her!)

I keep watching her knowing that one day will that day will come. She's still quite mobile, goes out wandering on the desert - but doesn't wander as far as she once did, now she sticks pretty close to the trailer. I'm of a mind that putting her down before it becomes too much of a problem for her is probably the better course but that doesn't mean that we're going to do it tomorrow or the next day.

Where her quality of life has little value will be quite soon enough ... but I don't envy anyone who has to make that call.

I'm with Twister on this one. Aside from financial situations, I let a dog go when when their quality of life has taken a sharp downward turn with no return trip. Especially if they're elderly. Once they need assistance with everything from walking to going to the bathroom and they seem to lose interest in essential functions I think it's time. You can tell when a dog is suffering and not getting any respite as they continue to decline toward the inevitable.

I have had to let two go. One I woke up one morning to find her laying in her own defecation and unwilling or unable to get up. The second had a bacterial infection that, after many steroid shots, only got significantly worse the next day. She couldn't even lift her head it had blown up so much and she wouldn't get up. The absolute misery on her face was obvious and I didn't want her to die an awful death from affixation or sepsis.

It's never an easy decision because no one wants to see them go.

Thank you!

Newborn,
I agree with what everyone has said, i think in your heart you will know when that time has truly come, enjoy what you have now the best you can.
I often go back and forth on what i would want when the time comes, we all hope they will pass in their sleep, i know from friends that's rarely the case and i would hate that i could not say that last good bye.
Sierra was unexpected, she collapsed on a sunday, after many test on that monday we said good bye that night, it was very fast. I am kind of happy it was not a drawn out wonder for us on when it was "time" and the though of that tears me up when i hear others speak of it.
I wish you the best for when you have to make that call, its never easy but you know its right.
Hugs.

Thank you so much...and so sorry to hear about Sierra. So, so hard to watch their decline in later years.
It has been a difficult road the last 4 months for all of us here. Pain meds seem to be helping if given every 8 hours. He will go from a bad day of not seeming interested in much then the next he is burying his food in the snow and howling. Such a rollercoaster. He has been the absolute best family companion we’ve ever had and are so grateful for these 14+ years. Maverick is a real trooper, at early age he had surgery for an ectopic ureter, age 6 and age 9 had TPLOs. I try to imagine him running again one day, at the speed of lightning with his husky smile and pray for wisdom in what is besr for him til then.

We went through an MRI and spinal tap with a 13yr old. Also helped her up and down for 6mo+. Poor thing could stand to relieve herself only part of the time. She was on pain control but could walk when helped up and down. For quite some time she still had a twinkle in her eye through it all. Once her eating started to wain and she no longer had spark in her eye we felt it was time. When we reflected back years later and feel we kept her longer than we should have. At the time we felt we were doing it for her. It’s so incredibly hard to make a end of life decision on someone who cant speak and is your family member. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Dang. These are the hardest of times. We agree all that has been said above. Listen to Maverick, and listen to your heart is the only advice we will offer. May we all meet again,

I feel your pain! I've let go of 2 dogs. 1 I had to make the choice, he could no longer walk without assistance so I completely understand your indecision. I always used to wonder how he would "tell" me when it was time...its true they do and its also very clear, you will be in no doubt. The 2nd - well that was way harder, she passed in the night, in my arms. I knew what was happening and couldn't stop it. She didn't seem to be in any pain, so i let her go.
I'm sorry...

Thanks everyone, Maverick is still with us, still eating, although much less, and tolerating his pain meds.

mav1016 wrote:

Thanks everyone, Maverick is still with us, still eating, although much less, and tolerating his pain meds.

That's great news, was just thinking of Maverick,

Thats amazing

That’s such good news! I’m so glad

I went through something similar as you with a prior husky. it sounds like he is dealing with a lot of arthritis and spinal pain which is causing a lot of the lameness. You obviously have tried accupuncture and adequan but have you tried a nsaid like rimadyl or galliprant. The later is the most safest of all nsaids and great for older dogs, although you should consult with a vet. With these kinds of issues it take a multi modal approach. Good luck.

Hello again,
Many thanks to everyone for your helpful comments and support. Maverick actually rallied a bit since my last post but his strong pain meds were needed every 4-5 hours and his quality of life was poor. The spark in his eyes seemed to be gone and although he was still eating somewhat, he no longer seemed to have much interest in life. We tried everything possible for our sweet boy but it just wasn’t enough. As many of you have experienced, we had to make what was the most heart wrenching decision ever… and let him go in peace on July 5th.
No goodbyes, but see you soon, sweet pup, you will always hold a very special place in our hearts, and will never be forgotten!!
Run free in Heaven, Mav, til we meet again!

As you've probably noticed, I just had to let my girl go free.  I was reading back over my notes and it seems as if she'd been going downhill for the last year.  If she were a car, I'd have replaced the "rear end" but she wasn't and with the pain from her spine and hips and the continual degradation of her leg muscles where it became difficult and painful to get up or down I decided that it was time to let her go.

To say you have my sympathy and understanding is an understatement ... someone please give me back my heart!

Just read about your sweet Sasha! I am so very sorry, and am right there with you. Sasha’s last year sounds very similar to ours with Maverick.
No words of comfort can fill that huge hole we now have in our hearts but grieving improves with time, and usually another sweet pup. I just don’t think I can ever go through this again. My prayers are with you, too!