My very old dachsie pal

[gunther's mom]

My dachsie Gunther (11 years old) is fine. His "brother" Jake, who is a rat/fox terrier is about 17 years old. Over the past few months Jake has been really really showing his age. We have a superb vet and he has generally been under excellent care. (Jake was in the pound twice as he was an exceedingly rambunctious terrier-but we rescued him.) It's just so hard to see him feeble. Part of me wants to take him to the vet for a "tuneup"-the other part of me wants to cuddle him and just make him comfortable. I guess I just don't know what's best for a 17 year old dog.

[lotsadox]

Just love him. I've had a lot of senior dogs in the past few years (I had two a year apart and then inherited two from my mom that were almost the same age). It's very hard to see them get older, but I've found that they often accept it better than I do. I have an almost 16 year old and a 14 year old that I adopted this year. The 16 year old is starting to fail and having some problems, but she seems happy and still goes to the gate to bark at people going by so I just love her and let her be. The vet says she's doing better than most of the other dogs she has in that are her age. She basically healthy. She has problems with her back legs being weak that are related to the back surgery she had 6 or 7 years ago. She's pretty deaf and doesn't see too well, but she still loves to eat and bark at things and seems to enjoy life so I just enjoy having her.

[BucksBuddy]

If you have a vet you trust I think they can give you pretty good direction. With two of my past furkids the vet was the one who said that they had lived a good life and if it was his pet.....We once had a groomer we had had for years tell us it was time to send our cocker spaniel to the rainbow and when I got to the vet the answer was "for heaven sakes not yet."

[Kim H.]

I would probably take him to the vet and have them do a general checkup (labs and physical exam), just to make sure there is nothing acutely wrong with him that could be easily remedied. Then if he is comfortable and content, I would enjoy his time as long as he is with you. :heart:

[quavec]

:hugs1: to you. I don't know what to suggest. Seems you already love him bunches.....

[SirOliversMom]

A vet check might make you feel better. Obviously it's not love and care that he's lacking, just getting slow with age. If he's in no pain then there's just love and you have plenty of that obviously.

[gunther's mom]

Thank you for your replies. Jake looked a lot worse tonight and is having trememdous difficulty walking. He did fall asleep, but if he wakes up and cannot get comfortable we'll take him to the ER vet. Otherwise, we're taking him to his regular vet tomorrow first thing in the AM.

[Chapo's Mom]

:rayz: (http://www.dachsie.org/vbb/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#):rayz: (http://www.dachsie.org/vbb/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#):rayz: (http://www.dachsie.org/vbb/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#):rayz: (http://www.dachsie.org/vbb/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#):rayz: (http://www.dachsie.org/vbb/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#):rayz: (http://www.dachsie.org/vbb/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#):rayz: (http://www.dachsie.org/vbb/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#)coming your way! :pray: (http://www.dachsie.org/vbb/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#) for the best!

You 2 have a history. Nothing can change that!

[Patt]

Sending mega :rayz: :rayz: :rayz:and :pray: :pray: to Jake. Seniors are my fave, at the present I have two. As suggested I would take him to the vet it just might be some simple little thing and a little medication will help him get through whatever it is. Please keep us updated.

[SirOliversMom]

I love seniors too. Please let us know what your vet says.

[TessieMom]

Sending lots and lots of prayers and rays your way! :rayz: :rayz: :rayz:

[gunther's mom]

My DH took Jake to his regular vet first thing this AM. After several routine lab tests, the vet took Xrays. Jake has a tumor that is in the chest cavity.
One cannot miss it on Xray even if you have never seen an X ray. According to the vet, it seems to be sporadically pressing on the esophagus and a bit on the heart. Oddly the lungs do not seem affected. We /nor the vet do not have any idea of the nature of the tumor. The vet felt that even "an eight year old" would not do well with any surgery of this nature. Certainly we would not put Jake through this. The vet put Jake on Rimadyl for comfort.
Jake did visit his young Boxer friend Daisy today and seemed to enjoy this.
He's having no problems eating or drinking. He does do the terrier frolic a little bit, but otherwise I believe he's showing significant weakness though not severe discomfort. I do not believe it will be long before we take him to the Bridge. We tried to call a vet who comes to the house but he was SO busy and not available to talk. Our regular vet has a room with a couch, tree... and the vet tech introduced my DH and Jake to the room today.
My Dachsie and Jake have come to terms with each other over the years. Jake even laid his head down on Gunther's back. We would like to possibly have some memorial for Jake at the wonderful shelter that took him in twice.
When my DH first met Jake the shelter folks said " oh yes we know Jake".
I am glad my work schedule is a bit less now so that I have some time to spend with him- more time than I would usually have. Ah life is just so short.
You guys are terrific-it really helps to "type and think things out"-I'm glad we didn't delay getting him to the vet.

[Juneysmom]

I'm glad that Jake is doing better on the meds. I know what you are going through. I'm going through the same kind of grief with Bunny. Sending rays. :rayz: :rayz: :rayz:

[Patt]

Jake will perk up a bit on Rimadyl, I love that terrier frolic. Sending special :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: and :pray: :pray: to Jake.

[lotsadox]

Sending rayz for Jake :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: and hugs for you. :hugs1: :hugs1: :hugs1: :hugs1: This is the toughest for you. Jake knows you love him and will do your best for him.

[TessieMom]

Sending lots and lots more rays your way! :rayz: :rayz: :rayz:

[SirOliversMom]

All of us here at some point have come or will come to the point you're at now. I sympathize with all of my heart. It is so difficult to know when is the right time, thank goodness you took him to the vets and at least now you know what's wrong and can spend the remainder of your time simply loving him and enjoying the rest of the time you have left together. Big :hugs1: to you during this difficult time.

[Rob]

All of us here at some point have come or will come to the point you're at now.

That is the really, really hard part about having pets. You know some day your heart will be broken.

Some :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: from Milo and I.

All the best,

[gunther's mom]

Hi folks- Gee I think that Rimadyl stuff is amazing. Now mind you Jake's 17 but he's now running around the couch. I tell you this is one amazing dog. To give others "space' that "appropriate"- I guess I'll post on the "Health Concerns" section as it looks as if the arthritis may have been a bigger factor than the tumor. I would not have imagine such good fortune as temporary as it might be.

[Chapo's Mom]

Sending Chapo :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: your way! Enjoy your time and make it count. Glad he's back to normal!

[Patt]

How exiciting for Jake, the meds gave him a different outlook...
WTG Jake :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[SirOliversMom]

Wonderful news!!! :cheer:

[TessieMom]

That is fantastic news! Glad he went to the vet! :cheer: