My old dogs breathing has really slowed. When he's a sleep I keep thinking he's dead. He's very deaf so don't respond to a call. I have to go up and touch him and have even had to shake him to wake him has this happened to anyone else? He's over 14 years now and has some on going conditions, (at type of lupus and LP). He is sleeping more but I think thats just his age
I am sorry that I don't have any advice but just wanted to say I feel for you and know all about worrying your dog isn't breathing! Sometimes I watch Snowie closely (he's only four years old) to make sure he's breathing because there's barely any movement or sound. If I can't see his rib cage rising and falling clearly, I go up and touch him to feel the movement (I am a worrywart) and sometimes he wakes up with a confused look as if to say: Why did you wake me up?!
I know this is a sadly worrying time for you. But the truth is, the very best way he could go would be in his sleep... Enjoy every day you have with him, and be glad he has peaceful slumbers.
Yes, I think it's common with all old animals, including humans. I have a 19 year old cat who has some ailments, also deaf and her breathing is so shallow sometimes it's scary. Yes, we sometimes reach out to touch her to see if she is alive. Though her breathing is shallow she's deeply asleep and sometimes it take more nano seconds than usual for her to wake up, even more scary for us.
I had this with a friend's dog, who was half Lab, half Doberman. We were looking after him and one morning I woke to find him, to all observations, not breathing. It terrified me, but I stroked him and he woke up. He was 21 when he had to be PTS.
Yes I had that with an old Collie x springer, I often thought she was dead! She had heart problems and we eventually had to have her PTS after a massive fit that she never came around from. It would have been lovely if she had just gone to sleep and never woken up.
My old lab got to 15 and a half. He was on tablets for his heart and water tablets for his lungs. As dogs get old their hearts get flabby for want of a better description, there's probably a technical term, and can affect breathing. I'm sure your vet has checked his heart and breathing though. Unfortunately I'm afraid it's just a symptom of old age. My vet, who had looked after murphy his whole life, told me to just let him do whatever made him happy if that was sleeping and eating cake then so be it. He didn't eat cake but he did sleep a lot. As long as your old boy is comfortable try not to worry let him sleep and spoil him when he's awake he deserves it.
Can't offer any advice but just wanted to send you big hugs and enjoy every minute you have with him x
That Simon & Garfunkle song just popped into my head. You know the one...... "Old friends, old friends sat on their parkbench like bookends A newspaper blowin' through the grass Falls on the round toes of the high shoes of the old friends Old friends, winter companions, the old men Lost in their overcoats, waiting for the sunset The sounds of the city sifting through trees Settles like dust on the shoulders of the old friends Can you imagine us years from today, sharing a parkbench quietly How terribly strange to be seventy Old friends, memory brushes the same years, silently sharing the same fears. Time it was and what a time it was it was... A time of innocence a time of confidences Long ago it must be, I have a photograph preserve your memories There all that's left of you."........... Hope your old friend has a contended peaceful time xxx
He seems fine and it is hard but i do wish he could go quietly and peacfully in his sleep. It would be the best possible thing for him its just i really do keep thinking he's dead sometimes. I know its a natural thing to sleep more as he gets older, he does seem very happy its just the is he or isn't he thing when I come into the room.
