Will the vet say it’s time?

[Unicornp]

My Ddog is around 15 years old. Poor eyesight in one eye, struggles to stand back up from laying down, she can’t put wait on her paws, back legs have gone. She can’t even eat her dinner stood up anymore, her legs just go. She still can manage a small walk but doesn’t take long for her legs to go. She sleeps a lot. She’s also starting pooing indoors :( I know I need to get her seen, the thought of her being put down is so sad, she’s been in our family years but of course I don’t want her to suffer.

What's her quality of life like? A tool like this could help you make the decision:

https://www.lapoflove.com/how-will-i-know-it-is-time/lap-of-love-quality-of-life-scale.pdf

Good luck, it's horrible.

Gently, she's already suffering a lot.

Many people give their dog an amazing last day, take her to her favourite place, play with her favourite toys for a while, make her some treat food, my parents DDog got a chicken breast and gravy and they let her try a little bit of proper chocolate.
Lots of cuddles and fusses.

Any good vet will let her go, be with her when that happens and hold her until she's gone.

Weight on her paws*

Thank you both. Her quality of life isn’t great really, small walks at a time, appetite the same but struggles standing to eat. Seems to be looking sorry for herself and sleeping lots :(

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. It's so sad as they get older.
It sounds to me like it's time and you know it but you don't want to part with her.
It's the final good thing that someone can do for an animal so try to take comfort in that. Go with her and give her a cuddle as she goes. X

Read back what you have written. She is suffering. You have obviously given her a wonderful life and you need to step up and let her go now.

Honestly OP as heartbreaking as it is to think about it already sounds like she doesn't have a very good quality of life, she's just existing really.

Any decent vet would suggest it's time to let her go rather than spend any more time letting her suffer.

My love, it is time and I think the vet will tell you so too.

I'm sorry. it's very hard to do but it is also the right thing to do.

If she's now doing the toilet indoors and is sleeping most of the time it's probably time to let her go. My old dog was like this and he'd also gone blind. He had no life so the vet put him to sleep. It absolutely killed me but it was the best for the dog. It really is the kindest thing for them.

OP the best thing we can do for our dogs is to give them the best life and a good death.

Don't let her suffer. Make her last days wonderful and happy as it's the best thing we can do as pet owners.

Kindly, OP, your ddog is telling you it's time.

We had our beloved Dog PTS yesterday 💔

We knew it was coming as she had cancer & had already made the decision to have her PTS at home, which is something you might we want to consider as we found it really beautiful in a way & I'm sure it will be a comfort to us when it's not so raw.

She went in the sunshine, outside on the patio, with her head in my lap & Dd & Dh stroking her.

Good luck with your decision, however you do it, it's heartbreaking but the last, loving thing you can do for your beautiful dog.

It's time. Once they start pooing indoors it's time. They've lose control of their functions, cant do anything they enjoy anymore. We're keeping them for our sake at that point, not theirs.

Let your sweet girl keep her dignity.

There are some vets who will suggest exploratory surgery, tests, vitamin supplements, special diets - those who think a doting owner is a cash cow
You know when it is time to say goodbye

It's your dog and your decision only OP. The vet cannot decide it for you.

It seems your dog is ready to go. It's true what they say, you won't regret if you do it a day too soon, but you will regret it if you leave it a day too late.

Heartbreaking but true.

I find the adage ‘Better a week too soon than a day too late’ to be very wise.

At the stage your dear dog is at, she won’t get better, just worse. So really, helping to give her a kind and loving departure now is the right thing for your years of friendship together.

Sending good thoughts.

Exactly what I was going to say.

It's an absolute privilege owning a pet but with it comes the responsibility to do the right thing - and it's hard and heartbreaking

As far as I know, vets won't tell you when it's time - because it has to be your decision.

I agree with other posters, it does sound like it's time. It's a tough decision, but a loving one.

Im so sorry. She sounds like a very much loved family member but she’s telling you she’s tired now. Sending you so much love

I let my 14&1/2 year old English setter go last Monday. I went with the week too early philosophy in the sense she could walk and eat, but her back end kept going and she struggled to stand to go to the loo. I loved her so much, and so I let her go, I lost my other elderly dog in Feb and she had become more like you describe yours - I left it slightly too late with her and felt so guilty - didn't want to feel like that again.
I'm so sorry you need to make this decision, but your dog loves you and knows you love her.

It’s hard, but it sounds like it’s time. A wise person once told me it’s better to let it happen a week too early than a day too late. 💐

Thanks everyone. Just so hard but know it’s the right thing to do. She looks fed up😪

Most vets will do a home visit, we got our cat PTS at home, it was much less stressful for her.
Unfortunately vets can't make the decision for you but a good vet will tell you you're doing the right thing.
So sorry you're having to go through this, it's never easy x

🥲I'm sorry, but I agree with everyone, she's telling you it's time. Dogs that have been clean, hate the indignity of toileting inside, when they can no longer either physically get out in time or cba to, you know it's time. 💔

she's struggling to get up, can't stand to eat...

Find the strength to do this FOR her (not to her, FOR her)

lots of love & hugs for you botb
xx

My heart goes out to you. I have had to make this decision several times, and nothing makes it easy. Dogs live in the moment and have no concept of tomorrow. So give her the most wonderful day, with her favourite activities and food. And then hold her dearly while she gently falls asleep.