Well, to start off, in recent months my beagle Tracker (5 years old) has developed severe meningitis, and really bad seizures. At first the vet gave us medications for both (can't remember the names and dosages off the top of my head). As the months went on, the medications looked like they had worked, his seizures had started to die down a little bit, and he wasn't acting as depressed, nor sleeping around the clock like he was doing before treatments.

I had missed his medication dosage one day, as my father was in the hospital having a stent put in his heart, and when I came home to check on the dogs after I had remembered that I'd missed his medication the previous day, Tracker was in the middle of a seizure, I rushed to his side and held him as instructed by beagle breeders, and showed him love and affection, and after the seizure had subsided, and he regained his senses, he got up and went to the door to be let out, I let him out and looked at my arm that had been near his mouth, and there was blood on it, as well as on the floor where he had been laying and convulsing, and that too had a fair amount of blood on it. I was told by another person in my neighborhood that had just put his beagle down not even 6 months prior for the same thing, and he said his beagle was showing the same symptoms mine is now, and his beagle was only two years older than mine....

Now, my question is, would it be more beneficial for Tracker, for me to continue the medication for him, and let this continue, or take him to be put down..? I've had him for the full 5 years of his life, and I've grown attached to him, as has my two year old daughter, and my other dog, granted it would be heart breaking for us, but would it be more beneficial for Tracker? I really don't want to put him down if it's not necessary. Any suggestions are more than welcome.

Thanks in advance.
Chris

((((Chris)))),

I would not even begin to presume to tell you what decision to make. It a very difficult, painful decision that you --with the advise of your vet-- have to make.

This past October, I had to make that decision for my 11-year-old cattle dog, Libby. She had congestive heart failure and we'd fought for her life since January. She would go to the vet weekly for ascites fluid to be drained from her abdomen. There were three separate occasions when I thought I was losing her but she would bounce back and give me a look that told me she still had fight left in her--that she wanted the chance. Finally, in October the day came when there was no fight left in her. The vet and I both agreed that she had given up. The vet, the techs, and I all said our goodbyes and I held Libby while she was going to sleep.

A dear friend of mine had a border collie who, at the age of 10, suddenly developed a neurological problem. The emergency vet said he wasn't in pain, his brain just wasn't firing right. My friend chose to put the dog down not because of pain but because she felt the dog's dignity demanded it.

We each have to decide what is best for the dog and what we can live with--will you regret or second guess yourself. Well, actually, regardless, you WILL second guess yourself--"did I do 'it' too soon" or "did I wait too long?" You just have to decide what course feels right to you...that you can justify to yourself when the doubts come.

Thanks a ton for the reply. Yeah I know I'll be second guessing myself until the day comes that I have to go on to that "other place" we hear so much about, but anymore he's back to sleeping constantly, not wanting to do anything, and before hand he was this energetic, let's go out and run, let's go for long walks, let's go outside and play kinda dog, and he's slowly developing this "Oh God, I woke up again" look in his eye, I mean, I heard that a dog can let you know when he/she thinks it's time for them to go, or when they don't want to put up the daily struggle of life anymore.... is this his way of telling me? Or am I interpreting this completely wrong? Just some random thoughts that occasionally pop into my head when I look into those big brown eyes of his every day.

I do however know, that once it's done, it's done and there is absolutely no bringing him back from it....

Others might feel differently, but for me, it was all in Libby's eyes. For 10 months her eyes told me, "Mom, give me a chance, I want to keep fighting". Then, her eyes said, "Mom, I'm tired. I give up." It was time.

You know your dog better than anyone. If his "oh, God, I woke up" look is because he needs a change in medication, that's one thing. If it's because this is as good as it will be and he is tired of living this way and is trying to "check out" then that's a whole other thing. Have you talked with the vet about how you are feeling and what your dog is experiencing? Now is when having a good relationship and bond with the vet is so important. Libby had spent so much time at the vet over the 10 months that they had gotten to referring to Libby as "our Libby". I was able to talk to the vet and the techs about my decision process and they knew me and Libby well enough to be able to share in that process and not make me feel alone and horrible for the decision I made.

Yeah, I know all about that, my brother put his rottie down last year from the same thing my beagle has (his pictures are in the new member section). But his rottie had meningitis, shoulder, and joint cancer, and something else. I know he's still kickin' himself in the butt over that. I just wanna bide the time with my beagle for a little longer until it's absolutely necessary. I just got back from the vet, they took more blood, and gave him more pills, 60mg Phenobarbital, two daily. They said it'll take 10 days to get the blood results back. Hopefully they come back good.

Saying prayers and crossing fingers for you. Enjoy every day you have with your beagle. They will make for precious memories when your friend goes to Rainbow Bridge.

[wishbone]

Poor Tracker, sending him vibes and lucks.

It's more like matter of having good time and bad time, if he was more on having bad time you will feel it's time for you will he's just suffering and on the other hand, it will just fine if he still enjoying and just fine for more time. We are here to guide, love and care them and it feels so good inside. You can also try to look for more further information on what he's suffering and hope to see more expert advices and medication.

[lil mutt]

spend your quality time with your pet while he still have time...

I hope that he will be healthy again...