My 16 yo pup’s health has been declining for the last two years but the last six months she’s been soiling herself and peeing in bed which are managable. I don’t mind cleaning up.
But her dementia has been getting worse and worse and my once velcro dog just goes in to a dark room and sleeps by herself. Most of the time she gets stuck behind doors and narrow places and unable to walk backwards. She cries before we can rescue her. She has a hard time finding a comfortable way to lay down on her bed or floor and has trouble getting up by herself. She needs to be helped out of bed.
And since I live on the second floor of and apartment building with no elevators she has trouble getting up and down the stairs. When I carry her she whines and cries, and she's heavy so it's not really a sustainable option.
Some nights she doesn’t sleep at all because of her aches and she constantly falls while walking and I’m afraid she’ll hurt herself badly. The vet says rehabilitation and acupuncture may help with her hind legs but I don’t want to put her under more stress than she needs. She hates car rides and for the last year not comfortable in unfamiliar places. And even if her legs improve I don’t know if it will be worth it for her to go on like this. She seems geniunely unhappy and doesn’t want to interact at all.
I’m considering putting her to sleep but can’t help but feeling confused and guilty.