Our dog is a 14 year old yellow lab. His back legs give out and they have begun to give out on him. His "poop" is very dry and just seems to fall

I am curious about his tail tone. My two big concerns would be something called lumbosacral disease (aka cauda equina syndrome) and degenerative myelopathy. In any case, I always recommend a physical exam by a veterinarian. You probably are not going to be able to measurably change these symptoms, because they sound more neurologic than musculoskeletal, but medication may be helpful. Only a vet doing an exam could help answer this. You might be shocked though, how much improvement you could get with an NSAID if this is a musculoskeletal issues (ie. hips)
So before considering euthanasia, have an exam done to determine that nothing further can be done. Again, some of these things could be very simple and comparatively inexpensive.
If nothing can be done, you WILL know when it is time. Watch the dogs eyes for change in facial expression, monitor appetite and know that dogs DO NOT manifest pain usually by vocalization. So just because the dog is not crying out doesnt mean she/he is not in pain. Laying around for a 14 yr old dog is ok, but if the dog's quality of life is in question, I recommend euthanasia.

I do not believe it is his hips. He has had problems with the back legs for years, due to his climbing fences and getting them caught over the years going under fences. They are quite thin and he crosses them when he walks. Our vet is aware of this. It is just that lately they are giving out on him and he can't get up. Also the "pooping" issue has just started a couple of months ago and is getting worse. Thanks for getting back to me on this.

I was just curious of your outcome with your lab. I have a 15-yr old black lab who's hind legs have become very lame in the past year an a half. He suffered through peripheral vestibular disease as well back in April 08. He can't stand erect on his hind legs for more then a a minute...he starts to take the sitting position. He walks around with his back legs half bent almost all the time. He has been incontinent for quite some time and he is on the maximum dose of proin. He has had the same thing happen with his bowels. He will be just laying there, unaware, that his poop is coming out beside him. I have to slide him over and then help him get outside. This doesn't happen all the time. We have a some good days, but most mornings he wakes up soaked with urine. He still has no problem eating or drinking, which makes it so hard to decide what's best for him. We do believe he is in pain...but he's a lab, always so ready to please us. Your situation sounds so similar to what we are going through...I was just wondering if you were willing to share how your yellow lab is doing. Thank your time.

I had a dog very old had the same problems, would pee on the floor as soon as she got up on her way to go outside. Her back legs got very bad where it looked as tho they were popping out of place, I took her to the vet she said that its because she is so old, just like people everything wears down, She said it doesn't hurt her, and there is not really anything we can do for it. Its just part of aging, sad I know. Just keep your pup happpy, After all this happened to my dog she only lived about another year and a half.She was old tho 16 if your dog is young take her to the vet could be a UTI. wish you luck. And one more thing labs are known for having bad hips anyway if she is in pain I would call the vet to see if you can give her some asprin to help make her more comfortable.

My rottweiller did the same thing and we gave him 4 ioooiu of vitamin e and in 3days he was up and walking. his poop look the same way as your dog ,but after the 3 days he was able to eat and dring and walk , run just like he did before. i kept on giving him the vitamin e for the rest of his lie but only 1 capsule a dauy from there on. i promise it will work. (4) 1000ius a day.

Dogs will fight for their life, but when they seem to have given up than I think its time to let them go. You will feel it, when you look into your dogs eyes. If they are suffering unbearable, thats a good indication as well. I wish the best to you and your dog!