Question: Old Lab possibly dying

[digApony]

Hi,

I have a very good natured large lab who is old, has three legs and a 22 bullet in his chest.

He has been sick, but pretty much active for over 9 months since we discovered the bullet in his chest. He was on antibiotics, but they made him weak so my Vet took him off.

He is an outside dog that "was" very good about sticking close to the house and to my other outside dog.

However, lately he has been going off into the woods. I would find him in the wash/trench where it appeared that he could not get up. So I would pick him up and help him walk back to the house.

This only happened on ocassion. But now he is doing it daily. Last night I searched my woods in the dark and found him after I passed him several times. He was lying in the leaves in an area where he could get up on his own. Tuesday pre-dawn I searched for him and found him lying in the water. I assumed he could not get up.

But what is strange about all of this is that he fights me all the way back to the house. I feed him and give him water, he eats but then immediately takes off back to the woods again.

Last night I was so tired of having to search for him that I tied him to my back porch. He fought me the whole time that I was trying to tie him. This behavior is completely out of character for this very mild mannered dog.

When I arrived home from work this evening he had wrestled himself out of his collar and I am assuming that he headed back to the woods.

I feel bad and very guilty, but I am exhausted and do not have the energy to search for this dog in the dark and wrestle him back up the hill to the house. He ate good this morning and had water.

I also think that if this dog has the energy to fight me, and to go as far as he does into the woods, that he is strong enough to come back on his own if he wanted. Also, my dog and I are very close and he always wanted to be near me, came when I called and greeted me when I pulled in the driveway. Lately however he is always in the woods.

So what I am thinking is that he is wandering off to die and very determined to do so. I have heard of animals doing this.

Has anyone had an exprience like this? And do you think I should round him up one more time and take him to the Vet to be put down?

This is hard for me since he is "my" dog and we are very close.

Thanks. digApony

[brody]

honestly - if you can afford it I think yes you should take him in to the vets and have them confirm what your heart is telling you - it is time to let him go and then help him do so
if he is special to you you will be racked by guilt if he lingers or suffers or vanishes - and all those options are possible

hang in there ... my heart is heavy for you and him

[digApony]

Thank you. I will. That is what is making me feel so badly. I don't want him to suffer that way. I just wish I could find someone to do it for me. This one is hard for me.

Thanks again.

[digApony]

I guess u can end this thread. I looked for him early this morning but it was too dark. My ex husband is going to search for him and take him to the Vet. : (

[Minelson]

I am so sorry for your loss...

[digApony]

Thank you. I tried so hard to find him this morning to hug him and tell him good-bye. He doesn't go far, but it was so dark even with a head light and he's black. I probably passed him several times. But I did call him and talk to him so maybe he heard me.

I will bury him tonight when I get home from work...next to his friends who preceeded him in death.

I have a growing pet cemetery behind my barn. digApony --All dogs go to heaven...and especially this one...the sweetest dog I ever had.

Thanks again.

[cathleenc]

I am so sorry for your loss of a dear friend. Sounds like he had chosen his time and you supported him in that choice, with dignity and grace.

do you have a picture to share with us? It's nice to put an image together and to celebrate your friend with you.

Wishing you peace

[digApony]

Good news! The silly boy came home wagging his tail behind him. My ex husband found him under the back porch happy to see him! He seems fine, just thirsty.

The problem is, he's always been a roamer, but with three legs he gets into a spot where he can't get up and back to the house. He's a lab so he likes to lay/play in the water.

Soooo, as long as he's happy, eating and does not appear to be suffering I am going to keep him for a while.

However, I'm going to build a pen over the weekend. I can't keep roaming the woods in the wee hours of the morning looking for him.

Anyway, thanks to all of you for your support!

[copperhead46]

My tears were just starting to flow when I reached the last post, yes, put him up and go with him on his walks............
P.J.

[Minelson]

I'm happy for you

[digApony]

Originally Posted by copperhead46

My tears were just starting to flow when I reached the last post, yes, put him up and go with him on his walks............
P.J.

Yes! I will take him on walks. Let him lay in the water, pick him up when he falls and help him up the hills. I want to know what he knows and try to see what he sees and why...

I'm so happy! Thanks again.

[cathleenc]

oh, absolutely delighted to read your update!

yippee!

now we really need a picture!

[digApony]

A picture tonight! I'm at work right now and very happy!

[Ravenlost]

Instead of looking for a place to die, perhaps he's just a bit senile. I'm very glad he was found and is acting healthy. A pen is the best thing for him now. Good luck!

[digApony]

Originally Posted by Ravenlost

Instead of looking for a place to die, perhaps he's just a bit senile. I'm very glad he was found and is acting healthy. A pen is the best thing for him now. Good luck!

Yes, I thought about senile...he seems confused sometimes. But he hasn't forgotten how to roam!! lol

And I agree with Copperhead....... I'm looking forward to roaming with him! I'll bet I get a better workout than him!

Thanks again.

[beccachow]

Awww, hugs to the poor baby! I agreee, unless HE is giving up, don't YOU give up on him.

[Shygal]

Originally Posted by digApony

Yes! I will take him on walks. Let him lay in the water, pick him up when he falls and help him up the hills. I want to know what he knows and try to see what he sees and why...

This is a wonderful post and a wonderful statement to your love for your dear friend

[Maura]

In the book, "Sounder", the dog went off to lie in oak leaves, which healed him. Maybe this is what your dog is trying to do. If you can get a hunting dog collar with a light on it, or reflective coating, it may help you find him. Or a bell. A GPS would work well, too. You could also try feeding him just before you go to bed. He'll probably come home for food, then you can tie him or otherwise contain him until morning.

[digApony]

Originally Posted by Shygal

This is a wonderful post and a wonderful statement to your love for your dear friend

Thank you. Yes, I do fall in love with my animals. I fell in love with my horses. Whenever we sold one my children and I would cry like babies.

Since my dog has a bullet in his chest the abcess is pushing on his trachea. He can't bark or make a sound.

One time I was sitting on the back porch and I heard this soft bark. You could tell that he was making quite an effort to bark. Well he had fallen in a narrow trench in my back yard where I had dug up a water line.

So that is why I search so hard to find him. It's not his fault. Some people say it is a waste of an animal to keep a crippled dog alive, especially an old one.

But my Vet has offered/suggested to put him down three times in the past two years. I said no. So as long as he's willing to keep living, I'm going to let him.

And this latest experience has taught me something important. Animals love us and they understand and they communicate... I want to know them.

Thanks again and have a very good evening. digApony

[Willowynd]

OK...that made me cry. Yes, I agree that containing him is best for his own protection. He probably is going senile...but seems to be getting around just fine. I know you will enjoy the time you have left with him...especially when so much time isn;t wasted searching for him.