When to euthanize a dog with arthritis

It is time to consider euthanasia for a dog with arthritis when the pain can no longer be controlled, or when your dog can no longer get up, walk and toilet without distress, and your vet has run out of options that help. Arthritis itself is not fatal. The decision is about pain and mobility that can no longer be managed.

Many dogs who seem to be at that point improve once their pain plan is reviewed, so that review comes before any decision.

What end-stage arthritis looks like

"End-stage" is an informal term. It describes joints so worn that the dog struggles with basic movement even on treatment. The signs owners describe most often are:

• Cannot rise or stand unaided. Several failed attempts, or needing to be lifted every time.
• Falls. Legs sliding out on smooth floors, collapsing on turns, or becoming afraid to cross a room.
• Soiling where they lie. The dog knows they need to go but cannot get up in time.
• Pressure sores. Raw or thickened patches on the elbows, hips and hocks from lying in one position, and sore skin from urine.
• Pain despite treatment. Panting at rest, trembling, restless nights, yelping when moved, or snapping when touched.
• No interest in life. No greeting at the door, no wish to go outside, lying apart from the family.

One caution about appetite. Many dogs with severe arthritis keep eating well, because joint pain does not usually put a dog off food. "Still eating" is weak evidence that a dog is comfortable.

My dog can't walk: is it arthritis or something else?

Arthritis gets worse over months and years. A dog who walked yesterday and cannot walk today very likely has something else going on, or something added on top. Possibilities a vet will consider include a slipped disc, a spinal stroke, a torn knee ligament, vestibular disease, internal bleeding and nerve diseases that weaken the back legs.

Some of these can be treated, and some are emergencies. A dog who suddenly cannot stand or use their back legs needs to be seen the same day. Do not assume it is the arthritis reaching its end. Why an old dog's back legs give out goes through the causes.

What to check has been tried first

Arthritis treatment has more options than it did a few years ago, and many dogs are on a plan that was set long ago and never revisited. Before deciding, go through this list with your vet.

Your vet decides which medicines suit your dog, at what dose and in what combination, usually with blood tests to check they are being tolerated. Never give human painkillers. Ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen (paracetamol) and aspirin can seriously harm or kill a dog and must not be given unless a vet has specifically directed it. The same goes for leftover tablets or another pet's prescription.

What can I give my dog for arthritis pain describes each option, and our guide to arthritis in senior dogs covers long-term management.

Agree a trial period with your vet for any change and a date to review it. If everything reasonable has been tried and your dog is still in pain, or still cannot get up, you have reached the decision.

Large dogs you cannot lift

Size changes this decision. A small dog who cannot walk can be carried outside, bathed and turned in bed. A large dog who cannot rise may be impossible for one person to move at all.

That has real consequences. The dog lies in urine, sores develop, and you may be unable to get them into a car. You can also be badly hurt trying. Ask your vet about a full-body harness with handles at the front and back, ramps, and whether a wheeled cart would suit your dog. Carts work best for dogs with strong front legs, and arthritis often affects the elbows and shoulders too.

If a large dog cannot stand and cannot be kept clean, comfortable and moved, their quality of life has gone, even if they are bright and eating. Being physically unable to provide that care is a legitimate reason to choose euthanasia. Many areas have vets who will come to the house, which spares a painful trip.

When to euthanize an old dog: how to decide

The same questions apply to any old dog, whatever the illness. Answer them honestly, in writing, once a week.

• Can they do the basics: get up, walk to the toilet spot, eat, drink and rest comfortably?
• Is pain under control for most of the day and night?
• Do they still want things, such as food, company and going outside?
• Are there more good days than bad? Mark each day on a calendar so you are not relying on memory.
• Can you physically give the care they now need?

A quality-of-life scale for senior dogs turns those questions into a score you can track and take to your vet. Then ask the vet to examine your dog and tell you plainly how much pain they see and whether anything is left to try. When to say goodbye covers the decision in more depth.

Owners who wait for a clear sign with arthritis often wait a long time, because the decline is gradual and there is rarely a single bad day that settles it. It helps to decide in advance what your line is. For many people it is the day the dog can no longer get up to toilet.

If you decide it is time

Euthanasia is carried out only by a veterinarian. Never attempt it yourself. The vet normally gives a sedative first, so the dog is asleep before the final injection. What happens during pet euthanasia explains the appointment step by step.

Fees vary with the size of the dog, home or clinic, and the aftercare you choose. See how much it costs to put a dog down for typical ranges, and ask your own vet for a quote. Afterwards, coping with the loss of a pet may help.

When to call the vet today

Call your vet or an emergency clinic the same day if your dog has any of these:

• Sudden inability to stand, or sudden loss of use of the back legs
• Dragging the legs, knuckling over on the paws, or sudden loss of bladder control
• Crying out, trembling or panting in pain that does not settle
• A hot, swollen joint, or a leg they will not put down at all
• Vomiting, black or bloody stool, or refusing food while on an anti-inflammatory medicine
• Open, wet or smelly pressure sores
• Collapse, pale gums or labored breathing

This article is general educational information and is not veterinary advice. Loss of mobility in an old dog has many causes besides arthritis, and only a veterinarian can examine your dog, judge their pain and say which treatments are still worth trying. Decisions about pain relief and about euthanasia should be made with your veterinarian. Never give a dog human painkillers or any medicine your vet has not prescribed for them.