Questions to all of you about how long to let a dog continue

My elderly female dachshund, whom I rescued at age 11, now around 14, is now totally blind, and seems to be mostly deaf. She really is very sweet, still, but I have to clean up after her daily as she no longer goes out into the yard for her poops and pees. She goes either in my house or on the deck. I've been doing this for over a year already. Other than that, she doesn't seem unwell. She loves to eat, and she lives, I mean LIVES, to be next to me in my bed at night. However, if I try to take a trip, for even a few days, she won't eat. It's very disheartening. I have another larger dog as well. He is attached to me almost as much, but he still goes into the yard to do his business, and he would be okay being boarded. I think not so for little Feather. She had been used for breeding most of her life, as she is a unique color of longhair dachshund. In the past when I've gone away for a short time, I've had a kind neighbor to look after my pets. I can tell, though, that they don't care for having to clean up Feather's poop! What would you do?

Seeker, IMHO you are the only one who can make this decision. You followed my threads about Al and Callie over the last year so you know I have a huge amount of empathy for you and Feather.

To me the deciding point is quality of life for the pet and quality of life for the human. In my case I gave up being away from home overnight so I was here to tend to both Callie and Al. That's not a choice everyone could make though. For me if the pet is eating and drinking OK and seems happy with life I am willing to do what needs to be done for them. At the same time I know not everyone is physically able to do that. Al was a big boy - over 65 pounds - helping him get around was getting to be more than this old body could handle some days.

Do you have a vet you trust? I took Al to my vet for her opinion when he started peeing and pooping in the house. She gave me some good, practical tips that gave him a few more months. One of the was to use diapers. It's possible to buy doggie diapers at the pet store. Clever Al learned how to skim out of the diaper after he pooped in it! While I did not enjoy picking up poopy diapers around the house it sure beat having to scrape the poop off the floor then mop. (Sorry if I got too graphic for anyone!) She also kindly and compassionately confirmed I'd made the right choice when I took Al and Callie for their last trip to her office.

I would say follow your heart. What does it tell you about Feather?

Feather and Seeker.

A sincere thanks to you, LIZ! I have not really minded picking up after Feather, though she has practically ruined my deck. In past, she exclusively went on the deck, but now it's in the house as well, albeit on my vinyl floors. I have no sense of smell, so I really can't tell if she's going on my carpets. I can clean up on the vinyl, which I do! The little thing follows me from room to room, then at night, when I am preparing for bed, in the bathroom, she waits patiently outside the bathroom door. I say, "Do you want to go get into the bed?" and she promptly runs to the bedroom waiting for me....so I guess she can hear selectively!
I will keep her as long as she seems to be functioning in this way.
I had my daughter's Jack Russell when she moved overseas. He got so I had to help him up and down one step to go outside. Finally he could not get up at all, and I took him to the emergency vet, who confirmed his heart was failing, and I had him put to sleep.

Al's deafness was selective too!

It may be that she's picking up on your aura, and also for the time of night regarding time for bed?

They have pet diapers.

You end a dog's (or cat's) life when they are suffering and you can't stop it...talk to your vet.

Thank you, JD~!

I have a similar problem with my two 14 year old cats, in good health but I'm having trouble taking care of them and am allergic/sensitive to them so I have to take additional meds, etc. I have tried to find them homes and did not take them to the humane society as, when I called, hoping I could pay them extra to take a longer time placing them, the first thing out of the woman's mouth was that they would be instantly put down because of their age. I had to pay a zillion dollars when I want on vacation in February and one was pooping everywhere because he did not like the litter and I do that every year and I want new rugs instead of these cheap ones (again, for my asthma) and, when I think as rationally as I can, it will not make a very big difference, either way, if I lose them now or in a year or two when they get ill and I have the stress of that (I do not want to afford an illness, can't do it physically in any event).

I am going to talk to my vet (close, part of the negative of the humane society is you have to make an appointment to drop them off and they're a ways away so I'd have to drive all that way with the cats crying in the car) and make a decision in the next year or so. I keep threatening them, when Calvin weaves in front of me and almost trips me, etc., I warn him if he makes me fall he's toast.

When I was volunteering at the no kill shelter here I fostered a sick 14 year old. The vet was amazed at how much better she looked after a month, she gained weight and her fur brightened up. I set her up in the bathroom, a low stress area out of the way,with a cd of music, a low shallow litter pan and food right next to her bed. But her last week here she stopped getting out of bed and pooping right in bed...we found out she had been diagnosed w/ cancer and the owner dropped her off. I think some people just can't handle sickness. I'd like to think she enjoyed her last weeks with me. They let me be there when she got the final meds.

I think it takes special people to care for pets when they get to the end but only you can decide if you are up to handling their needs. It's too bad the shelter in your area has that attitude, I know whatever you decide it will be because you care. If it is too stressful on you they will know, so it's a delicate dance of what works for both of you.

Thanks to all of you for sharing your perspectives and experiences on caring for the senior pets! Little elderly Feather...still LOVES to eat, still sighs when she's petted, and loves, I mean LOVES to get into bed with me. I admit, I hate having to clean up her poops and pees on the deck, but, for the most part, she's not doing it in my house.

I'm having the same problem with my 14 year old maltese. He has taken to peeing and pooping in the house. He does go out sometimes and do his business, so I don't know why he's doing it in the house now. Even though, when I see him poop in the house it looks like he is surprised by it.

But he is still happy to see me when I come home and loves to sleep with me. I don't believe he is any pain, except maybe in his hips, He gets up slower than he used to but he seems happy. He's ruined my carpet, but I still believe he is having a quality life and enjoys life. I don't think I can put him down yet even though my husband and I are both tired of cleaning up after him. He's still loved. I hope he goes quietly in his sleep so I don't have to make the final decision.

So I understand it's a hard decision. I've had to make before. It was really hard. Best wishes to you.

I think we all feel that way...and about ourselves too...

but truly unless the dog is "just old" he's probably suffering to die in sleep...

Man I miss Caleb!

Yes, Gayle & JD...it's a difficult choice. I know I won't have Feather put to sleep unless it appears she's suffering.
I did have to do that with my daughter's Jack Russell a couple of years ago. He was arthritic and couldn't get up even one step, and I could tell he was in pain, but I would lift him up the one step to go outside to potty and the little fella never went in the house, not once. One morning, though, he couldn't get up at all. He would try to get up and fall back down. I took him to the emergency vet and they said his heart was very weak and failing, so I stayed with him as they put him to sleep. It was sad, but he had a great life with my daughter who left him in my care when she moved overseas. He was happy with me as well, and my goofy Golden mix loved him.