I don’t want to get rid of or *kill* my dog. Yes, he is a lot to deal with and only became ***officially*** my dog last year after my grandmother passed, but I’ve been his primary caregiver for almost 9 years. I cried over the weekend after realizing I can no longer put this off. *Uncle Scott* is very important to me.
I’ve been told it is inhumane keeping him alive 💔 All of the pics I posted were taken within the last 6 months, with the last pic taken Saturday when he was sick. All these years and he has never let me hold him, as he’s not a cuddle/leaning dog.
His dementia + physical limitations are affecting my mental health. Nothing that I’ve tried helps, and the new cognitive chews I gave him last week made him worse!! I thought he was going to die Saturday bc he was mostly unresponsive, refusing to eat or drink anything. I stopped giving him those particular chews, and noticed on Sunday that he was doing much better.
Yesterday and today I’ve been giving him tramadol to soothe his pain and nerves. The upside is I was finally able to sleep 5 hours in a row before he woke me up screaming again. This is not the occasional whimpering. It is a cry-scream-yell-bark combo that goes on for HOURS at a time. I’ll manage to soothe him for a couple hours, then he’s right back at it.
I pick him up and carry him around everywhere, including holding him on his sides or behind his hindquarters to ensure that he doesn’t fall in his own pee and poop, I lay him down on a rug to eat, where I sit on the floor with him - holding his food bowl near his face. I’ve still been giving him all of his supplements, but he cannot even stand with his shoes on anymore. The vet says it is bc of his cognitive decline.
I’m only considering giving him to a rescue bc I’m hoping a more capable person will step up to adopt him, and it is better than just ending his life. But what if he suffers while waiting to be seen as worthy of someone else to adopt only to end up on the kill list anyway? I do not want him mistreated before his inevitable death.
Please help with any advice that you have. I am really breaking down about this 😖
ETA: he has an appt for euthanasia and cremation at the Vet for Thursday. Thank you to everyone who has responded with grace and compassion.