My parents have two dogs, DC and Belky.

DC is 2 and Belky is 15 :sigh

He seriously poops and pees in the house EVERY morning. He can't make it outside fast enough and a lot of times he doesn't even realize he's doing it. He's lost 4 pounds since his last checkup and he has horrible arthritus in his back legs. I don't think he can feel his back legs.

My dad REFUSES to put Belky down. Even though, his teeth are falling out (he's on a special food), he can't see very well and his arthritis is so bad. I honestly think it's time, even though he's a great family dog, he's lived a long long life with us, and it's costing them more money and time to deal with his special needs.

The Vet says he is "average" on her report for him, DC is listed as "good" (because he's overweight) and my parent's cat Blace is listed as "excellent"

Anyone ever have to deal with an older, senior dog?

I just put my senior dog to sleep last month. She was having the same issues as your dads dog but she also had no bladder control and would just lay there and pee herself. So on top of being blind, deaf and having severe arthritis she was a mess. Onyx had no teeth either so she ate soft dog food :puke. We toiled with our decision to put her down but made the decision that she had ZERO quality of life.

I miss her every day...I had her 15 years and got her at 6 weeks. :cry

my first family cocker got to that stage. couldn't control her peeing, coughing constantly. she slept outside our bedroom doors at night, but just laid there...coughing all night. she couldn't jump up on my bed anymore and was just, ready to go. she was 14.

no one in the family wanted to put her down. we were kinda just hoping she would pass in her sleep. we'd get up every morning to see her still laying outside our bedroom doors, still breathing. we wanted her to pass on her own so we didn't have to do it to her. :( when it finally came down to it, it was the first time i'd ever seen my dad cry (and i didn't think he liked her that much) and when it was all over and done with, we felt guilty for waiting so long. we felt like we were keeping her alive for our own selfish reasons.

i would just make sure he sees the dogs quality of life and ask if he's keeping the dog alive for himself, or for the dog.