To consider euthanizing my dog

[Episcomama]

I think we need to euthanize our black lab and I need to hear from others who've been in our shoes. She is 14 and has been declining for a while. Biggest issue is her hips, for a while now we haven't been able to take her on long walks and she struggles on our stairs. Took her to the vet a month ago; he thought that despite her age she has decent muscle tone in her legs, so we likely have about a year.

This morning she couldn't stand up. Couldn't get her back legs up. I helped her and laid her on the sofa. After a while she was able to stand and walk a bit, but her hips seemed splayed, almost as though she's trying to balance on a slippery surface. At the moment she's able to walk, but slowly. She spends a lot of her time lying down now, although when people come to the door she goes over to it. Also had a number of poop accidents indoors. I think it's time but I'm so concerned about "killing her" too soon. But wondering if we're being selfish to see how she does. We have an in-home euthanasia service coming tomorrow. Our vet has no appointments today so is unable to see her. Do we wait and see? Go ahead with the appointment?

Thank you for all of your kind messages. Miss C was put to sleep last night. She deteriorated in the last week and it was the right thing to do. We had a vet come to our house, and it was tender, loving and peaceful. Really, it was the best process that it could have been. We miss her dreadfully. This morning when my boys opened the front door, "Don't let the dog out!" And then remembered that we don't have a dog.

Im really sorry to hear that.

The loss of my first dog hit me much harder than expected, so id advise to just give yourself time over the next few days and weeks. Life suddenly without a dog was full of things i hadn't even thought about such as crying when the tesco delivery came and i realised i didnt have to try and navigate blocking the dog and getting the groceries.

It always helped me to think that i was very lucky to have her, and that each moment of pain was worth if it was the price to pay for having such a wonderful friend.

Hope your doing ok op x

Sorry to hear about your dog but its good she had a happy life and loving family.

I’m so sorry that you have lost your little friend OP—it’s really tough. We had to say goodbye to one of our cats last week after a long struggle with mobility issues caused by a malformed spine and although I know it was absolutely the right thing to do it still broke my heart.

I hope you can take some comfort that you gave her many happy years and didn’t allow her to suffer any longer when she told you she was struggling. I think it’s the last kindness we can give to our pets as hard as it is.

Oh OP I’m so sorry to hear this. Take care of yourselves 😢