How to Tell 5 Year Old that our Precious Girl Will Be Leaving Us Soon

[HoleinmyBucket]

We have a little 11 year old spaniel - and a 5 year old son.

Our younger dog died unexpectedly earlier this year and we told DS that our dog was very poorly, that the vet tried their best to make him better but he was just too poorly and he has died which means he won't be coming home.
DS accepted the explanation - although did ask where our dog had gone now - and asked if the vet still had him. I didn't really want to explain that he has been cremated as DS can be quite sensitive and I didn't want that preying on his mind - I said that he had died and that means we won't see him again (we aren't religious so haven't said anything about him going to heaven or to be a star in the sky or anything along those lines - but do talk about him a lot and say that we loved him very much and those memories stay in our hearts).
Anyway, it was inevitable, but today we had quite a grim conversation with the vet about our precious little older spaniel - she has really severe arthritis in her hips, and despite all the supplements etc that we give her, and the maximum dose painkillers, monthly cartrophen injections etc etc - we are going to have to face the facts that her quality of life is noticeably decreasing. Sooner rather than later we are going to have to make the terrible decision for her.
So, I'd welcome any experiences anyone has had in preparing small children for this - our DS likes to gather all the facts and then takes a while to process them. I'm thinking it would be better to prepare him that it's going to happen rather than just spring it on him once it's happened. But I know the whole concept of making a decision like this about a living creature will be such a huge thing for him - and will probably raise a million tricky questions. I don't want to scar him for life thinking that his parents are heartless dog haters by telling him we are going to make the decision - but at the same time, as we have advance notice I think it's better to prepare him for it rather than it come as a huge shock. It's going to be devastating for all of us to lose her (massive understatement!).
Thanks in advance.

No real words of advice I'm afraid but I'm very sorry for you. We told our dds that Barney had gone to heaven. We're not particularly religious but they get a lot of it at school and they understand that it means that their loved one has gone. Their Nanny, my DMil, died a couple of years ago and we told them the same thing then. It just seems to be a nice way of explaining it without it seeming confusing or scary.

There's several lovely children's books available that talk about death and the loss of a loved one. I guess they're written about family members but they apply to pets too.

There's a lovely one called Up In Heaven about a little boy and his dog. She is sort of in heaven but it's a nice place full of happy dogs. I can't read it without wanting to cry!

I hope you're all ok and you get to spend a little more time with your old girl.