Bit of backstory, I adopted my dog "Loki" in 2013 area. The shelter listed her at the time as around 5 years old. If that's what her age was back in 2013, she is right around 17 years old. Has been a great dog, you can tell she is old though by activity level, etc. She still eats fine, albeit only wet food because of almost no teeth. But she gets up, eats, drinks, etc. She will get in moods of very high activity but then settles down.
Over the last year or so I've noticed her wandering around the house in circles a lot. She's had a couple of seizures as well, which the vet concluded it was due to her age. Each one would last maybe around a minute or less, vet didn't seem to concerned about it though.
In the last 6 months though I've noticed she will literally just stand in a spot and act like she can't hear me, which is probably true given her age. Then she jumps when I come up to her even in front of her face. Will just let out random yelps while sleeping. She's also gotten worse with using the bathroom in the house, though she was never really house trained, but was on a schedule and it was fine.
Now it seems even taking her out a couple hours she won't go at all, she'll just wait to come in and then go a few minutes later. I've tried crating her at night to curb it while I'm asleep, but she will just go in her crate. Mind you the crate is just big enough for her to lay down and stand up in, so there's not a place for her to go in the corner and lay on the other side of the crate. I'll wake up every morning to her literally standing over her pee and poop just waiting to be let out. Won't bark, yelp or anything, just stands there all night I assume.
I'm at a lost as to what to really do. I also suffer from mental health issues and I've had therapists tell me she's had a good life and to put her to sleep, but I don't want to do that, especially since she is still eating. I don't know if I can keep taking care of her though and just do not know what to do at all. I know the flooring in the bathroom (her primary spot) is probably trashed at this point. Do I just keep cleaning and managing it and risk myself getting more and more depressed and all or what? I've also tried pee pads on the floor, but she will just move them out of the way.
I guess I'm just looking for some advice on what to do, how to manage it, especially with my issues I have.
submitted by /u/rbeason
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