[Kitchen Cottage]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=602102093263894&set=vb.100003923251759&type=2&theater&notif_t=video_processed



I took this video of Denzel last night.... frankly, I am coming to the conclusion the poor little sod doesn't have enough quality of life left. 

[Womble]

KC, One thing I don't think anybody has said; if you do decide to have him pts, would you then be able to take on another rescue dog who otherwise wouldn't have a chance?  If so, that's maybe another thing to throw into the mix. It's an awful decision to have to make though  .

[Kitchen Cottage]

I will still have 3 dogs and that is enough.  One of my dogs, Luca, is also a blindie who doesn't like other dogs so it would be wrong to get another while I still have him. 

[in the hills]

Bless him.

Having owned an old blind dog some of this looks very familiar to me. He doesn't seem to be walking too bad in my opinion and he does show interest sniffing at the floor.

I don't think that anyone can help you just by looking at a video or reading what you write. We can't for example see how he enjoys his food/treats or watch his pleasure (or lack of it) when you interact with him.

I would say the same as some others and ask a vet to sit with you at home for 10 minutes and watch Denzel. He could have a health check and these things may help you come to a decision.

He looks a cared for little dog, thanks to you. He may not enjoy life in the same way as a young, strong, full of energy dog but he may be happy in his own way. Personally I couldn't judge from the little information you are able to give on a forum and the point at which we say enough is enough and say goodbye varies anyway from one owner to the next.   

[Kitchen Cottage]

If you look at the earlier video, you will see his gait has change a lot.

He isn't just blind, he is deaf/blind.  My other blindie is far more conversant with the layout of my garden.

Denzel doesn't really interact with me.  He will take a step towards me sometimes when I click, but only sometimes and the rest of the time I am going to him and he turns away after a minute. 

I really do want people's opinions after watching both videos if possible.

The vet being at my house will mean nothing.  As soon as Denzel is aware that someone else is there he will freeze and back into the wall. He is very damaged.

He will have a home visit anyway.  I couldn't subject him to a vets office.   He has had such a sad sad terrible life, no animal deserves the suffering poor Denzel has had to endure. 

[in the hills]

I understand that he lacks vision and hearing and of course his background means that he is very different from my old blind dog.

Everyone will look at this differently, KC. I think that you have come a long way with him. He no longer bites you and you say that   'he likes a pat on the head'.  So, he does interact with you. It may not be in the same way as your other dogs but  'in his way'.  I would consider that a success for Denzel and for you.

Avoiding the other dogs is probably a wise and sensible thing for him. He can't see to read their body language. My Flattie had to be watched very carefully as he was so friendly to other dogs but couldn't read their language to know that they were saying 'back off' and so they could be aggressive towards him as they couldn't work out why he was still bounding over. Denzel is safer in keeping his distance.

Between 7-12 years old you think. Well, gait does change with age. My Flattie moves differently at 10 than he used to as a young dog. Only a vet could assess , with any certainty, if this was just age or a specific problem. Many of my old dogs ended up taking some pain relief to help with movement as they aged.

'Howling'. Well again, IMO, only a vet could find out if there was an underlying problem. Probably wrong to assess on a forum. Example, my old blind dog (and hearing did fail as he got older) would howl to certain very specific sounds ..... A certain note in Emmerdale theme tune, certain point in washing machine cycle, motorbikes, etc.

I tend to use a similar 'think list' as Doganjo. An old dog, particularly with problems, is not going to enjoy life in the same way as a young dog and the list just helps you think calmly about it.

I personally think that if you are having to ask on here then the time to say goodbye is not now. I think that when it is your own dog that you can generally just feel that the time has come. I've usually been able to tell when my oldies have had enough and no longer have any enjoyment ..... 

[Fleecewife]

The question has to be do you get him put down before he's in unbearable pain and totally miserable, do you judge that from now on his quality of life is only going downhill. Or do you keep him alive for as long as possible for your own sake?
My choice is to make that judgement before the dog has become as bad as he eventually could.
You must think of his welfare, not your emotional attachment to him.
I don't think it's a question of waiting til the last possible minute.  After all the trauma he has had, he deserves an easy death.

The video shows a lost animal, bumping into things, confused by his environment.  He seemed better on a leash.  It looks to me, and no I'm not a vet, as if the weakness in his back legs will progress, he will dribble urine and get ever more unhappy.  He is never going to get better.

The process of euthanasia by injection includes finding a vein, and Denzel would be better not knowing about that bit, so get a strong sedative from the vet to give him first, so all he knows about is a tasty treat then falling asleep.

[Old Shep]

I understand you wanting opinions and this is a really hard time, which i know well.  However only you know your dog and between the two of you a decision will be made. Even a video cannot depict what you see daily. Dont ask strangers ask your dog xxx  hope you understand what im trying to say and i really feel for you.

[Kitchen Cottage]

I understand you wanting opinions and this is a really hard time, which i know well.  However only you know your dog and between the two of you a decision will be made. Even a video cannot depict what you see daily. Dont ask strangers ask your dog xxx  hope you understand what im trying to say and i really feel for you.

Actually, whilst it may not work for you, it works for me to ask for opinions and this has been very helpful to me.

I have only had Denzel for 18 months.  Dogs aren't homogeneous and Denzel and the way he reacts is unique to me.

I am not asking for others to make the decision for me, but it helps to have others views. 

Sometimes I am so used to Denzel's disabilities it is hard to view them objectively.  And I don't have a memory of a young fit dog to judge deterioration against.

[Womble]

What's a 'chain dog' KC?  It doesn't sound great!

[Kitchen Cottage]

In bulgaria it's common to have dogs on chains outside the house to discourage callers.   Those dogs are encouraged to bark and often have no shelter available.  Where the rescuer lives.... people also blind the dogs to make them more barky and aggressive.  This is likely to be how Denzel came to be blinded. 

[Marches Farmer]

For me when deciding on the fate of an animal or bird I'm responsible for the crunch question is what is their quality of life like and, if poor now, what are the chances of it improving in the future? 

[Penninehillbilly]

In bulgaria it's common to have dogs on chains outside the house to discourage callers.   Those dogs are encouraged to bark and often have no shelter available.  Where the rescuer lives.... people also blind the dogs to make them more barky and aggressive.  This is likely to be how Denzel came to be blinded. 

Britain is called a nation of animal lovers, sometimes when we hear of british cruelty I think the name is a 'joke' (in bad sense of the word), but reading this I now see, apart from the few idiots, how differently we treat our four legged friends.

[Kitchen Cottage]

Thank you all.  Your wide ranging opinions and views have made me look and consider Denzel's existence very carefully. 

I have now spent 3 days going over every part of his life and his enjoyment..

I have come to the conclusion it is time to put him to sleep.

[Bionic]

KC, I really feel for you. It was obviously such a tough decision but you have done the very best you can for him.
I am sure he will be happy and less stressed in doggy heaven