14 year old German Shepherd, old age?

My dog Buddy was 14 years old when I had to put him down. 14 is old for a German Shepherd. In "people" years, he is 98 years old. And that is a full life. (7 years for each year). Making the decision to let him go was not hard, I knew it had to be done. The hard part was deciding when it should be done. When he started going downhill, had a hard time getting up, it was only a matter of days. Perhaps I was selfish in waiting so long and I could have spared him a few days of pain. It is very heartbreaking to watch and know that your constant faithful friend is dying and there is very little you can do about it, except to help make him as comfortable as possible. When he couldn't get up anymore is when I brought him into the vet to be euthanized. I stayed with Buddy through the process which went very quickly. The vet gave him a shot and Buddy was gone in less than a minute. It's been four months now and I still miss him terribly. My personal pain has gotten a little bit better with each passing day. I try to concentrate on all of the fun times and all that Buddy brought into my life. You may want to consult with your vet to help determine when the right time is, to minimize your dog's pain. The one thing that did make Buddy happy was the extra time I spent with him, petting him and talking to him during his last few days. I know it calmed him. I'm so sorry that you are having to experience this, my heart goes out to you.

1

Honestly, she probably has a few more good years if she's acting that way. Shelters typically don't know very much. I adopted a year and a half old Australian Shepherd mix, once. She turned out to be a Catahoula Leopard Dog puppy who more than doubled in size. Many people I've known who worked in shelters as volunteers said that the people who do this typically are VERY wrong. If she is fourteen, you'll probably have a few more years with a calm, experienced dog. If she's not, which I don't think she is by the description, you should have a lot longer. Older dogs tend to not get adopted as easily, and it'd be a shame if a shelter's incompetence at guessing a dog's age took such a sweet girl out of this world. Personally, I never trust anyone on how old a dog is unless they know someone who saw it come out of its mother. I know a dog is at least a certain age if I talk to someone who has known it for that time, but I don't trust guesses. Our vet said our puppy was fully grown as well.

I lost my 14 yr old 3 months ago and I hope that I didn't let him suffer. I came home after being gone less than 2 hrs and he had thrown up 5 times. Within the next 3 hrs he threw up 6 more times. The worse smell and look I have ever seen in all my yrs of livingh and when his cat shiffed his mouth and jumped back from his pal and shook his head a ran under the bed, I knew he had smelled death. I took my dog to the vet and had him put down within the hr. the vet agreed he was old and had lived a great life ( I cooked for him cause of his allergies ) and that he probably had stomach cancer. I hope and pray he did not suffer due to me not paying REAL good attention to the signs that say..I am ready to go now.

Don't hold on to him for you.

It still kills me that he is gone even though I can still feel him near at times. which is comforting.

my husband did get me a dog otherwise I may never have gotten out of bed again....

you're very lucky for your dog to still be alive at 14 especially as it is a german shepherd. They often have hip/leg problems. I have a german shepherd too and at an old age, they can be a lot less bouncy and excitable.

I really feel for you, the last German shepherd I lost was a couple of years ago, he was 13 years old, he had been in excellent health for 12 and a half of those years then all of a sudden he just seemed to get really arthritic' y , he had trouble standing after lying down etc, he was put on Rimadyl and seemed fine, he still enjoyed short walks twice a day, then one day he looked up at me and his look said it all, 'mum I have had enough, please help me', the next morning I said goodbye to him, the vet put him to sleep in our lounge, I knew it was the right time, as I know that you will know when the right time will be to say goodbye to your faithful friend.

My thoughts are with you.

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/awzAJ

It's GREAT to know you've decided to take this senior girl home. Sure, having older pets is tough. The very first dog I ever owned was a 12 year old stray hound who was with me for just under two years, but I'm willing to bet it was the greatest two years of her long life. I think it's the ones you adopt as old dogs that teach you the most - they know they only have so much time. Thank you for taking her. I'm sure she's gorgeous.

Hello all GSD lovers..... I think we are at the stage now at just over 12 my boy is on a downward struggle, with getting up & thinking of it getting down too with sliding down to position, cannot stand too long to eat his food.... sleeping far more during the day, he is thinking more about whether or not he wants his treats! at night mostly he gives us some really sad tired looks "talks" to his dad while resting his head on the side table.... sometimes he doesn't hear me come in from shopping he is in such a deep sleep, I miss that greeting of my boystrous bounding strong boy who wants to help with the shopping as he has always done from a puppy!! has always had a very active/fun life had his companion a westie called Jessie from the moment he joined the "pack" sadly whom we had to say goodbye to in July & my boy has aged big time since her going & he was so depressed for a week.... He is not enjoying all that is around him & although adores us & I know I cannot let him continue when the bad days are more than the good, he does have moments when he looks "happy" then I think maybe not yet :-(your thoughts & feed back? feeling sad :-( daily...photo December 2013

There are a couple of things you have to ask yourself and answer honestly.

Is your dog having more bad days than good?

Is he enjoying things less and less?

Is he in any pain? Taking medications for pain?

If you answered yes to these, it is time to let him go. I know that sucks and its such a hard decision to make, but the best gift you can give him for happiness after that is death. You letting him go and allowing him to be free at the "rainbow bridge" is an ultimate gift of love.

Take him in to the vet, have them look at him and ask them their honest opinions.

Give him some big hugs and loving and hold his paw when it happens. You are the MOST important thing in this world to him as he has been your trusty friend for years. Give him the gift of release and know that when you do that you are loving him the very best way you can.

I'm so sorry. The back end going in G.Shepards are very common, and you know what needs to be done. I know its very difficult, but you've got to think of his quality of life.

He's reached a fantastic age, 14yrs is amazing for that type of dog. Its ashame you don't live in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, Uk, as this is the service that I offer for my clients.

Sounds to me, like he's giving you that look. The look that is saying he has had enough, please help me.

Keep strong, this is the time where owners have to be selfless, I now its a extremally hard thing to do, but call the vet. Get him/her to come to your home or get him to the surgery.

I'm thinking of you at the time of your loss.