So we have a 10+ year old male border collie. He's always been big for the breed (70ish lb). The past 6 months or so he's really started showing his age. Aug/Sep he had several days he went to the bathroom in the house during the day. That seemed to get better but happened overnight last week. He also has had some times where he seems to struggle to get his business done outside.
All that could just be a flash in the pan, but he's also starting to meet us at the door less and less, going back for quite a while now. Recently he has started barely moving from a spot when people come through a room. E.g., yesterday everyone took a nap in the afternoon trying to get prepped to get back into the normal routine. My wife and my son got up and walked through the living room and I don't think he even picked his head up from the couch, he just looked at them. Previously he would always get down and come up to us.
Finally, there's been some times I come home for lunch and, if doors were left open, he's in like the back of our master closet or upstairs in our son's closet. Basically the farthest, darkest corner he can go to and lay down. Clearly it has us a bit concerned about the changes.
He's developed some growths that could be something, but not sure we want to get them tested. One is right next to his femoral artery and the vet said even if we wanted to remove it, there's a decent chance his mobility would get screwed up and of course the artery could get hit and kill him, so probably not great to do.
So all that to say, I've never been a huge pet person and am struggling with this. I definitely don't want to just jump at putting him down too quickly because he's old and its showing, but at the same time if his quality of life is really suffering then I don't want to have him hang on well past when it should have been time.
Thoughts?
All that could just be a flash in the pan, but he's also starting to meet us at the door less and less, going back for quite a while now. Recently he has started barely moving from a spot when people come through a room. E.g., yesterday everyone took a nap in the afternoon trying to get prepped to get back into the normal routine. My wife and my son got up and walked through the living room and I don't think he even picked his head up from the couch, he just looked at them. Previously he would always get down and come up to us.
Finally, there's been some times I come home for lunch and, if doors were left open, he's in like the back of our master closet or upstairs in our son's closet. Basically the farthest, darkest corner he can go to and lay down. Clearly it has us a bit concerned about the changes.
He's developed some growths that could be something, but not sure we want to get them tested. One is right next to his femoral artery and the vet said even if we wanted to remove it, there's a decent chance his mobility would get screwed up and of course the artery could get hit and kill him, so probably not great to do.
So all that to say, I've never been a huge pet person and am struggling with this. I definitely don't want to just jump at putting him down too quickly because he's old and its showing, but at the same time if his quality of life is really suffering then I don't want to have him hang on well past when it should have been time.
Thoughts?
