My 8-year-old dog wobbles and has a watery eye. Is it end of life?

The decision to euthanize is extremely difficult and there is no right or wrong answer. I advise my clients to consider euthanasia when they feel like their pet is suffering so much that they don't seem themselves anymore; or just don't seem to enjoy life anymore. You will be the best judge of this. From what you are describing with Toto, I would consider euthanasia an option, because he has signs of pain (not eating and wobbling) and is not able to be a normal dog. A fifteen year old dog is quite old; which tells me that he has definitely had a good, long life. It will be worth taking him in for an exam by a vet, before making a final decision, because they may be able to help him. Either way, it's a personal decision and I'm sure your vet will be OK with whatever option prevents any unnecessary pain. I hope that helps and wish you the best during this very difficult time.

Hi there! I am so sorry Simba is not feeling well. From the picture, it looks like the white part of his eye (called the sclera) is very red. There are many reasons why his eye could be red. He could have a corneal ulcer (a scratch on his eye caused my trauma or dry eye), his could have conjunctivitis (inflammation of the tissue around the eye, caused by allergies or bacteria) or glaucoma (high pressure inside the eye) or something systemic causing these issues. I recommend going to the Emergency Clinic and seeing a veterinarian sooner rather than later if you are worried. Typically, a veterinarian will performed a full physical exam and ophthalmic (eye) exam. This includes a schirmer tear test (to determine if he has dry eye), a fluorescein stain test ( to determine if he has a corneal ulcer), sometimes the vet will check the pressure in the eye too. I also recommend seeing a vet ASAP if Simba has change in color or texture of the eye, any increase of green or yellow mucus discharge (may indicate infection), an increased pain, holding eye shut or a sudden squirt of clear liquid may indicate a ruptured ulcer. If so, this can be an emergency and should be evaluated at your earliest convenience. You can also start a consultation with, if you would like to talk more about this! Good luck and I hope Simba feels better!

Hello, so sorry you are going through this. I cannot make a decision for you on whether or not you should put her to sleep. That is completely up to you. It would be nice to find out what might be causing her symptoms before you jump to the conclusion that there may be no hope. She may have a treatable issue. I suggest you get her to your vet for an exam. Sometimes they can find things on exam that can help you make a decision. Some simple bloodwork may also be very helpful. The vet may be able to dispense some medications to make her feel better. I don't think you should give up until you get some type of diagnosis. In the meantime, for the eyes you can wash them out with this solution: ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-eye-wash-for-dogs ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian right away if at all possible. The symptoms you have described can be the result of an intoxication, orthopedic pain such as arthritis or a neurological problem. An examination will be performed and x-rays may be needed to diagnose the problem. From there, appropriate treatment can be prescribed. I hope this information helps!

Poor Wompa! It sounds like he has a lot going on with him at the moment, and he should see a vet immediately. It's quite concerning that his eyeball is very red, and any eye condition should be considered an emergency. That's because leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. His eye could have been injured or he could have a severe infection. I also see that Wompa isn't neutered. I would be extremely concerned that his anus is swollen due to a perianal sac tumor. Benign perianal sac tumors occur most commonly in unneutered older male dogs, but there is a chance it could be malignant. It's very important that this is examined right away as well. If his anal sacs have ruptured due to a tumor, that could be the yellow substance on his fur. Finally, in terms of his leg, he could have arthritis in that leg. If it's very cold where you are, that could be causing him to not be able to put any weight on that left leg. I would have Wompa seen by a vet as soon as possible.

Sadly, many of the ailments of human senior citizens can also occur in our canine companions. Impaired vision or blindness can occur in dogs and can be due to things like cataracts, glaucoma, etc. The good news is that these diseases, if caught early enough, can be treated and sometimes even reversed or cured! My best advice is to take Baby to your local veterinarian as soon as possible to have a complete ophthalmic examination performed. Some of the tests you should ask for are as follows: a menace test, intraocular tonopen test, schirmer tear test, and fundic exam. I hope this helps. Have a great day.

Simba could have blood pressure or blood sugar issue and I think giving him corn syrup was a good start. That said, Simba could be suffering from balance issues. One condition that could explain what is going on is called vestibular syndrome. You veterinarian could confirm it by doing a full physical exam or discovery what else could be going on. I hope Simba feels better.