Quality of Life

by wendy rees
(uk)

I have 2 Golden Retrievers, one of which is almost 11 years old. She has chronic hip problems which she has Previcox daily for, and we are totally guided by her on her exercise. Just recently, she has shown signs of confusion and lack of sight, in that she refuses to move either whilst out for a walk or in the house unless our other Golden guides her. If the other Golden isn't around, I can't get the old girl to move and have to end up carrying her home - at 34kg not an easy option. She seems to have more and more episodes where she becomes very nervous and frightened. Are we getting to the point where we have to think about her quality of life? I am planning on taking her to the vet for a check up - but she gets very very anxious whilst there, so trying to wait until she is due for her hips to be checked if possible.


Response from Golden Retriever Magic:

So sorry to hear about your older Golden and the confusion she is displaying. Unfortunately, some of the symptoms she is showing are quite significant and may signify a poor quality of life.

We know she has hip issues and also her sight seems to be getting affected (this is not uncommon in Goldens at her age). The fright, nervousness and unwillingness to guide herself without your other Golden may primarily be functions of the first two ailments--namely, her hip dysfunction and poor sight.

If she has pain with movement and she is losing her sight, she may display all of the symptoms you mentioned.

So even though everything seems bleak at this time, please have her hips checked again and also ask the vet if anything can be done to improve her vision. This may be wishful thinking on my part, but you never know how things can turn out...