How Can I Say Goodbye To My Companion Of 14 Years? Options

[Suzanne64]

Hi,
My little guy Taz is a Tibetan Spaniel that I got from a rescue almost 14 years ago. Not sure exactly how old he is, the vet thought he was about 2 when I got him. So he's around 16.
He earned his name by tearing around the house and jumping up to 3 feet in the air. I would often find him on top of the kitchen table when I got home from work. He liked lay on the back of the couch, like a cat. He would dance and prance like crazy when I got home and whenever I would say the word "treat". He liked to throw his treats in the air a few times before devouring them. Reminded me of a trained seal.

He started having problems about 5 years ago. First he started dragging his right front paw and stumbling. Once, after jumping off the couch, his hind legs went completely paralyzed, and I freaked out. He recovered within an hour or so, though and was walking fine. The vet took x-rays which showed degenerated disks in his neck and mid spine and mild arthritis. I started giving him glucosamine, and tried to keep him off the furniture (no small feat - I think he was a cat in a previous life) He did great, though the slight paw dragging continued. Then, he started having episodes where he would fall over, arch his back, howl like a coyote and pass out. He would be in a stupor for a while but then be fine. The vet said it was probably neurological. This happened a few times maybe once every 6 months. Then he started coughing and having trouble breathing about 2 years ago. Then he had a really bad fainting episode where I really thought he was gone. I took him to a new vet, and they did x-rays and told me he had congestive heart failure. So we put him on heart meds and a diuretic, and he had been doing really well. Then he tore his ACL in September 2009. He could hardly walk. The vet was hesitant to recommend surgery because of his age. I used a sling to help him go potty, then I got him a little knee brace, which helped stabilize the knee. It took almost 8 months wearing the brace, but his knee healed up and he walks without a limp. However, he has not been able to run since then.

Over the last few months, it's been harder and harder for him to walk. Sometimes he walks like he is drunk, especially when he first gets up, and has a hard time keeping his balance when he goes poop. He whines when he stands up and lays down. Two weeks ago he started having bad coughing again, and was very lethargic. The vet said to up the dose of diueretic to the maximum, because there is a lot of fluid in his lungs. We also started him on Gabapentin, which is supposed to help with neurological pain. He seemed to be getting around better after a couple of days on it. His breathing improved, but the last few days he's been coughing again, and his appetite has been poor. He pretty much sleeps all the time, but he does still like to walk around and explore, and walk down the street (well about 2 houses down) sniffing everything. My pet sitter told me earlier this week I should think about putting him to sleep. He's been panting and shaking more over the past 2 weeks.

Right now he's laying on the floor by my feet, sleeping soundly and breathing normally, but every once in a while he will whine. I got him to eat tonight. I made a steak with baked sweet potatoes and green beans for my own dinner and shared with him. I also bought some new soft jerky treats from PetSmart and he ate a few. He also ate some tomatoes and cheese for a snack earlier. (he LOVES vegetables).

Taz is the first "forever pet" that I've had as an adult. This is the first time I'm having to make this decision. I actually keep praying that he will go in his sleep so I don't have to do it for him, but he is such a trooper. I have been crying constantly since this possibility has become a reality. If it's this hard to think about it, how hard will it be to actually do it, and deal with it afterwards? I love that little guy so much.

Thanks for listening...

Suzanne

Here is a picture of him from late 2007, before all his health issues, and one of him in 2009 wearing his brace.