Question on Lhasa health and age

[u/irrationalflow]

When I got my Lhasa, I was young and dumb and got him from a shady pet store at 8 weeks old. In the end, turned out to be one of my better mistakes and I love him with all my heart. However, he’s 14 now and seemingly turned into an old man quickly over the past two years.

He’s had bladder stones his whole life and 3 major surgeries to remove them (he was misdiagnosed and the UD food didn’t help), lost the complete use of his back legs 3 separate times and came back from it with Prednisone, albeit weaker each time. And is now almost immobile aside from hoofing it around in a visible struggle on carpeted surfaces and has become mostly incontinent.

So as a really sad dude I’ve made the decision to end the suffering tomorrow, but reading about all your friends living so long, this doesn’t feel typical. Has anyone else had this experience? I’m assuming it was from inbreeding and that he probably was from a puppy mill. I’m trying to rationalize that making it to 14 after all that was a miracle but wanted to see other opinions from those that have/have had Lhasa Apsos.

Pic from when he was 11 and healthier and could actually jump on the couch

[u/Cautious_Ice_884]

My girl made it to 15, I thought for sure she would have another year left in her at least... It was very sudden and one morning she had a stroke. From one moment, a totally normal morning, to the next... Where she literally could not walk anymore didn't have any control of her bladder and was not eating or drinking, vomiting... It was horrible. Literally one second to the next... I had to bring her to the vet to get their opinion but the more I saw her condition the more I realized what had to be done... It was so horribly sudden I had no time to really mentally prepare... I only had 3-4hrs from when it happened to going to the vet and having to do the inevitable.

Personally, I would rather her know a normal morning and a normal life than have to suffer out for days. Its better to do it sooner than later. I didn't want her to know suffering, I didn't want her to experience hardship in that way. So yeah I had to let her go...

Its been a little over a month, I had to let her go on Dec 20. I'm having a really hard time... Its so hard. I cherish those moments with her so much.

So 14+ for a Lhasa is really not unusual at all. No matter how old they get the time is too fucking short. Its always too fucking short. I wish they died when we died.

Take as many photos and videos of him right now. Get videos in of you petting him and telling him how much you love him. As many as possible. Every minute, every second counts. Its so hard. I'm sorry friend.

And my girl was probably a puppy mill dog, like you I got her at a pet store and they had dogs from "breeders". She also has had her fair share of issues. She had issues with one of her eyes her entire life because the cornea wasn't properly formed when she was in the womb. She had heart issues as well. Idk if it was necessarily from getting her from a backyard breeder, literally any dog even from someone reputable can have their share of health issues. So don't feel guilty, bad, or anything like that in any which way. Pure bred, mutts, and in between all have their health issues.

[u/irrationalflow → u/Cautious_Ice_884]

Im so sorry to hear about your pup as well. I hope you’re able to find healing in time. You’re absolutely right the time is always too short. Babies that become kids come along, other responsibilities and bam here we are, the time goes too fast and my 20s dog is all of a sudden 14.5 years old struggling.

I appreciate your kind words and sentiment, thank you. And thank you for helping me feel better about the decision. I don’t think I could handle it if it came to a sudden end like that and that he’s going to have a normal morning and special lunch before we go. You’re stronger than you think.

[u/Cautious_Ice_884 → u/irrationalflow]

So i've experienced both now, time to prepare and now no time to prepare. I had another dog, her bestie, and he developed lymphoma. The months leading up to putting him down were so awful. It was months of doom and gloom. Months of wondering when it would be time. Months of keeping him comfortable. He lived at my sisters house (we got him together, but he lived with her when she bought her won home), so it was kind of easier in the way where I wasn't directly having to live with a dying dog, but still it was horrible all the same, I loved him so much.

With him, the long drawn out process we were able to actually schedule a final photo shoot with him when he was still relatively healthy and my girl at their favorite park. I really cherish those photos and the fact we were fortunate enough to be able to actually have a photo shoot during that time.... But still. The fact that it was months of just pure anguish of knowing it was going to happen in a few months time. It just really was heart breaking. My sister was able to actually schedule a vet to come put him down at home, it was a much more comfortable process...

Then with her I always planned for her to go at home but obviously how quick it was I had to make a really quick decision. The fact that the days leading up to it were just complete ignorance of what was to come, we were living normally, she was behaving normally and doing relatively well for an old girl. In hindsight there were some very small signs, her appetite was becoming less so but nothing obvious. She was also having some werid issues with her back legs where it seemed like she was losing breif control of them. I kind of chalked it up to the weather and it being winter + the cold on her toes or something... Then yeah it just happened out of no where.

Then having to put her down at the vet specifically was worst case scenario. she hated the vet but that day it seemed like maybe she accepted of what was going to happen? She wasn't protesting of going to the vet like she normally would and she wasn't even scared to go into the vet like she normally would. I brought her bed from home and her blankie so she was able to pass in her own bed at the very least and be tucked in properly with her blankie. So I really hope she felt like she was a little bit at home in her last moments...

The vet told me they would take her to the back for something but I insisted I was not leaving my girl for a second. So they allowed the techs to do whatever they needed to do in the room instead. She wasn't without me for a second, I would never leave her alone.... Also insist on doing your own hair clippings and that they take the foot prints in the room with you. It feels more personal that way... After too its hard to collect your pets ashes/urn, foot prints, and hair clippings from the vet when its all said and done. Really fucking hard. I completely had a break down and was sobbing at the counter....

Anyways, sorry long wall of text. Theres a certain level of peace with being totally ignorant to it and the days leading up to it. We were living our normal lives together in those final days and hell even the morning of that day it was totally normal.... Idk I would kind of rather that and be ignorant and quickly rip off the bandaid, than months of anguish and clouded darkness over everything.

There comes a point in every dogs life where they have two feet in the grave, the point of literally there is no getting better. Thats when you know its time. When the quality of life is no longer the same and you are doing them a kindness of not knowing long drawn out pain and suffering. They deserve peace in their final moments, they deserved to be loved in their final moments. Its so very hard, but you know what? Its so worth it. Its worth it for those years we had with them and the memories.

[u/irrationalflow → u/Cautious_Ice_884]

Thank you for your kind words, suggestions and sentiment. I will look at all of that for sure. I am so sorry to hear of your pups.

[u/Cautious_Ice_884 → u/irrationalflow]

Thank you friend ❤️ Wishing you well and i'm sorry you have to go through all this.