Question:If we walk by him now he reacts and turns to nip. he is now staring to nip at family members and we always have to tell friends to " be carefull "and "go arounf him". Is it time to put him to sleep? This is devestating to my family. We have had him for 11 years.
Answers:
I have a 15 year-old border collie, who also suffers from some loss of hearing, as well as vision. In a dog that old, it's pretty inevitable that there will be some loss of senses. I definitely say no to putting him to sleep. If he's still eating, drinking, and appears to be otherwise healthy, it would be cruel to put an end to his life.
Losing his hearing has caused him to be startled when he sees you but didn't hear you coming. You just need to try not to sneak up on him. Try to imagine yourself losing your hearing, and how many things would startle you because you didn't hear anything before you saw it. He'll adjust, just as you will. Calling his name when you approach will be helpful. Just let him know you're there, and be thankful that you were blessed with so many years of joy.
Take him to the vet
it may be his hearing and it could also be his vision...is he starting to lose that also? if people come up to him from behind or from his side he my not see them due to losing peripheral vision...so he may be getting startled
While it's a hard choice to make and I can sympathize with you this decision can only be made by you. My Pit was 12 when I had her put down. She still wanted to play and be active however, she had lung cancer and was not able to breath. I could not watch her suffer and I could have put my husband down easier then I could her, but I did what was best for her. She would have never let me suffer. My best advise is to talk with your vet. He can give you an idea of what to expect as your family friend grows older and looses more of his hearing. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
He is old and crotchety. Is he in pain?
If he is in pain and it is this making him bad tempered have him put to sleep. If he is just old and bad tempered it is up to you and the family you live with whether you can pit up with him or not. You need to shut him in another room if you have visitors if you do keep him for his and their safety.
Bless his old heart, talk to your vet and see what he advises.
Like people - aging dogs sometimes get cranky because their vision and hearing becomes impaired, heart and circulation slow down, they may have an unseen ailment causing them constant discomfort.. or they just plain don't feel good. Keep the dog in a quiet safe area where he is comfortable and not subjected to unwanted human interaction - take the dog to the vet - they can help determine if the dog is in pain - then it is up to you to determine if the dogs quality of life had diminshed to the point it is time to euthanize him. Does the dog eat, have an appetite, have control of their bodily functions, have severe arthritis, have a bad heart, can he walk without severe pain? If a loved pet is suddenly nipping at family members - he is telling you something is wrong - he can't tell you any other way.
you didn't say what breed he was. that can matter. for some dogs, 13 is very old age, and I'm sure they can become tempermental. just like older humans get "grouchy".
deafness is a distinct possibility. to have that checked out, and just to make sure that there isn't something causing him to nip at you, I think you should have him checked out with a vet. vets are trained to know what causes dogs to change their behaviour, and he can do blood work, just to make sure that there are no internal problems. an older dog should have this done twice a year anyway.
if he is ill, it's probably time to have him euthenized, I'm sorry to say.
You don't need to have him euthanized. If he is hard of hearing or seeing there are different training methods you can use to make his life more comfortable.
Starting with what you are doing is a good start. Make everyone aware of the situation, and ask them to adjust. He is likely unsure of his surroundings now that he can't hear well, therefore making him a tad bit grouchy.
It could be his sight as well as his hearing. At 13 years old he is starting to really feel his age. He could also have a bit of arthitis. My shep mix did the same thing when he started getting old and really feeling it. He most likely just doesn't want to be bothered anymore. It's typical for an elderly dog. I wouldn't suggest putting him down, unless his health is declining rapidly. Just make sure everyone is careful around him. And if you are going to have people over, maybe put him in another room where he can be by himself. That way he can have his peace and no one will accidently get nipped.
Hi...there is NO reason to put your dog down if he is not in pain and suffering. It sounds like "geriatric" syndrome!! LOL...Four legged or two...when we get older things happen to us that can frighten us...or make us grouchy! You've had him long enough to know his mannerisms..talk to him like you always have...if he doesn't respond he probably is losing his hearing...find a way to let him know you are coming...stomp on the floor.get a whistle..as long as there is no pain..enjoy him!!
Good luck
If he can't hear well, people walking by him may just make him nervous. Try walking by in front of him so that he can see you and don't walk up behind him or pet him when he doesn't know you're there. If your dog isn't in any pain and is just losing his hearing, it's probably not time to put him down yet. Deaf dogs can still live happy lives. Also, since he's getting older, you may want to have a vet check his sight. It may also contribute to his nervousness if he's going blind.
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