When do you know it's time?

[LolaTheShowgirl]

I've had my little yorkie from the moment he was a tiny pup, just a few months old. Last week he celebrated his 16th birthday and the years have gone so quickly.

He's been blind for about 3 or 4 years now and copes with it brilliantly. His sense of direction is amazing. He is also almost completely deaf (he can just hear when you shout loudly), but again, seems to be resilient to his disabilities. He still gets up when I enter the room and wags his tail at me. He goes outside but only sometimes, but the cold weather has always been very much an enemy of his!

I took him to the vet about a year ago regarding a lump on the side of his snout, about the size of a pea. The vets said they could operate, but it would be very risky due to his age and frailness and they would completely advise against it, but it would be best to take him home and if it gets worse or appears painful, then euthanasia would be the way to go.

It doesn't appear painful to him and he eats like a trooper. His appetite is definately still here, but now there is another thing that has come to my attention.

When he gets out of his bed after a snooze, he is unsteady on his back legs. They seem to just go from beneath him for a second. He's now earned the affectionate name of Bambi, but inside i'm crying. I hate to see him like this. People say they know when 'the time comes' but i'm afraid that I might be totally avoiding confronting 'the time' and i'm missing it completely.

Does he sound like it would be the kinder option? I wish I could just wake up to find him all wrapped up in his blankie and he has gone that way. I keep telling him that it's ok for him to go now and praying for him to go in his sleep. Pathetic, I know, but I don't want to be the one to have to make that decision. I'm crying so much right now. I just don't know what to do for the best

Aww Lola, I'm sorry you're having to face such a difficult decision. Have you taken him to the vet about the unsteady back legs? Is it just when he gets up or is it all the time?

Awww lola that is so touching.

I have had my westie since she was a baby and she is only 6 and it breaks my heart that one day I will possibly be in that positition

I think it is true, you will know when the time is nigh (so to speak) because you love him, you will know when he is suffering and you will know what to do.

{{{{{{hugs }}}}}} for you.

So sorry for you, Lola, this is really difficult and he has been with you so long.

Do you think he's in pain? If so, can you sort it with painkillers etc?

If he's not in pain, and if he isn't distressed, maybe you should carry on.

If he is in real pain and you can't sort it, then you may need to think again but it is really tricky.

My darling cat was very ill for a long time and I had to keep thinking what was the right thing. I did keep on with her, and she recovered from a nasty illness and she was happy and mousing until the very last unexpected day. It was really awful when she went, but she wasn't in pain and had three mice on the very day.

As long as you feel you are being kind, you will do the right thing

Wow, I didn't expect so many replies this late at night. Thanks everyone I haven't taken him to the vets yet. I'm frightened of hearing those words that it will be kinder to put my baby down He's really funny because he still tries to escape and run upstairs (where he is not allowed and he knows this!) and then as i'm climbing the stairs to go fetch him, I see his ears as he's lied at the top waiting for me! He's just so lovely, I can't imagine life without him. Like people get excited to see their children or partners when they're going home from work, I get excited to see my little dog but he's just been my rock, been there when i've cried, when i've laughed. He saw me leave primary school, then secondary school and then college. We've grown up together, I just wish he could live forever and ever

Hang on there Lola. Pets mean a huge amount, and whatever other s* is going on, they are there for you.

The vet might be a good idea, my mum has two litte Norfolk terriers, now aged 13. One of them has always been a bit weak and was v ill last year, it turned out that she has always had a twisted windpipe and this has meant she has been weak, but now with heart pills she's a completely diffent dog. I took her to the vets with mum and was convinced it was curtains, but couldnt have been more wrong. Vet will tell you the best thing.

I think it's worth going to the vet and just getting him checked over. If he is eating well and seems alert and happy then I think he is probably fine. It may be that he has had a small stroke and will recovered, or it might just be old age. My mother took our old dog the vet to say goodbye, and th vet put him on some new drug (originally developed for Altziemers (sp) for people, where it didn't work out, but quite effective for dogs) it gave him a good year or so extra life, in much better spirits.

It is really difficult judging the right time. With our cats we left one too late and regretted it, and then worried that we were too quick the next time.

Hi Lola. Please do take him to the vet. The vet cannot make you put him to sleep until you decide, but they can and will give you an honest assessment of his situation. I know you don't want to hear it, but if he is suffering and they can't help, they will tell you this and then at least you have all the information you need to make the best decision for him. If, on the other hand, they can help him, then he will enjoy the benefit of this. At this stage of a pet's life you need to make decisions for the pet, not for yourself - which is the hardest thing, but very important so that you do not look back on his life with regret.

He sounds like a darling