How do you know it's time? (pts)

[barleysugar]

I'm so heartbroken about my spaniel, he is only seven but is really quite poorly. He had pancreatitis 2 years ago, and it's made him diabetic. This is ok, we have been copIng with the daily injections and strict diet etc, but he has never really stabilised.

He is 100% blind now due to cataracts, he is painfully thin, can see his ribs when he breathes. He spends all his days asleep under the kitchen table, and can't even enjoy a walk because he can't see where he's going.

I feel so sorry for him, he's a shell of the happy waggy dog he was, and to top it off, he went for my husband when he injected him yesterday.

I'm thinking he's reached the end if the road if I'm honest, but I can't imagine living without him.

How do you live with yourself for making this kind of decision?

Our lovely vet helped us make the decision, he said he would PTS if it was his dog, it was very sad but we were at the end if the treatment road.
Our dog was only 7 too, we had done everything we could and we couldn't do any more.

Can you talk with your vet? It did really help us.
I'm sorry for you, the heavy heart takes a long time to lift
Take care.

By the sounds of it, the time has come. A shell of the dog you knew is no life for a much loved pet. We had our much loved evil westie PTS in March. We still miss her but it was the right thing to do, in fact I thought I was rushing into it but when Dh took her the vet said she couldn't actually allow us to take her home in that condition. Which makes me feel guilty that we let her suffer. We didn't mean to, she was just so loved. Next time I wouldn't hesitate.

I would book an appointment with your vet, not to PTS there and then, but to discuss the options and the way forward.

If your vet also agrees that you've reached the end of the road, then you can also discuss how and where you'd like PTS to happen, for instance I'm a great believer, where possible, in having a dog PTS at home - it creates a lovely, peaceful and very private passing, with all family members, including other dogs being able to say goodbye. You can also think about/discuss things like cremation afterwards.

Wishing you all the best - this is one of the hardest parts of dog ownership.

Thanks, it really is hard. I appreciate all your responses so thank you.

I do wonder if he'd be better if he had the cataracts done but it's serious ££ and no guarantee that he'd see better for instance it could actually cause glaucoma and a lot of pain. Plus they wouldn't do it unless his diabetes was under control, and it never has.

I just don't think he's happy : (

so sorry to hear that your dog is unwell but I think the same as the previous posters speak to your vet first but I think you know that it is kinder to let him sleep now, I can't imagine having to make that decision and I hope you can see a way forward for you And your dog...hugs to you