Need Support

[mindy10]

Well I have had such a bad two weeks. I have a dog thats 15 and Im having daily panic attacks and aniety knowing its the end of life for him. Don't get me wrong. He still will eat, goes outside by himself and does get excited when I come home from work but I can tell he is really slowing down. He has a real bad heart and mostly he sleeps. But Im obcessed with him. If he has a day that he sleeps alot I think this is it hes done. THen he has his good day and he is up alot and excited to see me and I feel ok he is fine. My husband thinks im crazy and said just leave him alone and let him live out his days and stop thinking everyday is his last. I think I almost gave him a heart attack today because he was outside and I went to see where he was and I scared him and he jumpted in two feet of snow. The time I got to him he is crying and I picked him up and he was all limp. Of course I said this is it he is having a heart attack. I know I know I need to see a councelor. Anyone else having a hard time coping with a aging pet. Thanks for your time Mindy

[cpietra16]

Mindy don't worry. I do the same thing. My Winnie is a 13 year old lab and every morning I watch for signs of life. She is deaf and can;t hear me wake up so I never see movement until she feels the floor move (vibration). She eats, plays, happy to see me, but has bad arthritis...I just worry about her. If your dog is happy and he is not suffering...let him enjoy his life...

ps...is he ok after you scared him?

[mindy10]

Hi thanks for responding. He is fine after I scared him. He ate a little and now has been sleeping for hours. I was just so scared I gave him a heart attack. He has a real bad murmer. I pray to my dad to take him in his sleep when his time is here so I don't have to make that awful decision. Thanks again. Mindy

[diandpat]

Hi Mindy...I can certainly empathize with you as we have a 16+ yr old and a 13 yr old. I do consider it an honor to take care of them at this point in their lives and we do our best to adjust to life such as it is now. With that being said I do think back to not so long ago and miss the energetic dogs that we had. I miss our long walks in the woods mostly. We still go to the woods but it is very slow. The thing is THEY are just as happy as before. They still enjoy it so so will we. It's just the way it is now.

We do find ourselves checking Ginger's breathing if she is asleep too long. Don't have to check Hobo's...she snores We would LOVE for them to go quietly and peacefully in their sleep but we know that that is very unlikely. So we pray for strenght and wisdom to make the right decision in a timely manner. So far, it is not time. I do take many many pictures and videos now as I don't want to forget a thing

I can tell you love your dog very very much. Just enjoy whatever time you have left and whatever quality that is. Your dog has no qualms about getting old. He is just going to live every day as it comes. Try to enjoy that with him. There will be time enough for sorrow when he gets his wings.

Good luck and if you do start taking pics maybe you could post some here...