At what stage would you say is time to say goodbye 😔

[enidblyton33]

We have an elderly dog - 15 years old. We’ve had her since a puppy and love her to bits. We’re currently discussing if it would be kinder to put her down 😢. She has bad arthritis so is no longer able to go on walks. Is incontinent, so is restricted to only a couple of rooms in the house. The vet has now removed all her previous medication for arthritis and she’s just on a strong painkiller. She eats very little now. Has been deaf for a while and is sometimes quite spaced out ( think due to meds)
Never been in this situation before. I know it’s a horrible question but if you’ve faced this what made you decide it was time?

We made the decision as soon as her quality of life started to suffer. It's strange but it's almost like he told us when it was his time. He just seemed different, you could see it in his eyes he wasn't happy anymore.
It was absolutely horrible and I don't think I'll ever get over it, but he was my best friend and I wouldn't want him to suffer. Ever.

I've had to make this decision for 3 elderly dogs, and will no doubt have to again within the next year.

I look at them as individuals - what are their favourite 3 things in life? If they don't do one anymore and they're struggling with another, it's time in my mind.

I've not had dogs but had many many cats and I tend to think 'would I want to live like that?' and 'will it get better, or worse?' in these situations.

If it's no to the first one and worse to the second, you have your answer. In practice though, I think you just know when enough is enough for them.

Pets are our family and it's our responsibility to care for them for their whole lives. That means making the tough decisions, especially when those decisions are the kindest things. It's really hard though and you have my every sympathy.

My dog was 15 too, he lay down one evening and couldn't get up. Brought him to the vet and they said to hold off, that we'd know if he got worse.he picked up for a week or so then suddenly the same, rang the vet and he said we should consider putting him down. When he went the next day we had to carry him. Went at night time to avoid other people but the place was packed! Sobbed my heart out but he gave me his paw just before he went asleep which I thought was lovely. I think when you know you know. Big giant hugs.

Can you do her a bucket list countdown?
Our ddog has recently had cancer surgery. We planned a ddoggy fun week when we thought we may have to pts... ...

For me the key is to not let it get to crisis point when they have no quality of life at all e.g. they no longer enjoy anything and are just surviving.

it's hard but it's the one last thing we can do for them.

I’m going through this at the moment too so I really sympathise with you. I agree that I’d rather do something earlier until things get to crisis point x

My last jack Russell's breathing got really bad, he could only breath comfortably when held upright, that was the time to say goodbye

When they can't walk and toilet, loose the inclination to eat and drink and the spark has gone from their eyes you should let them go, they have already made up their minds that this is what they want. Don't wait until it is an emergency, but let it happen in a calm, controlled way with you at their side. Remember the moto - better a week too soon than a day too late. My thoughts are with you. X

We tried too hard with our last dear darling dog. He had pancreatitis, and looking back he just wanted to left quietly to fade. But we hauled him up the motorway to a specialist vet to try to cure him. He spent a week there, his condition zooming up and down. Until the vet said finally, enough. We should have done it sooner. A final trip up and we were with him in a vets when he should have been at home. I’m weeping as I type this, and it was more than a year ago. Our DDD was the beating heart of our home and I think we let him down.

The best advice I ever came across was to consider all the things your dog used to enjoy, and see what's left. Our old girl was down to sniffing and eating, plus she was in pain and wasn't going to get better, was in fact getting rapidly worse.

Thanks for your replies - some good advise.

Advice

It’s always a tough decision to make. But you know your dog and you will know when the time comes.

There's a saying 'a week too early rather than a second too late' that I wholeheartedly agree with.
I don't agree with the sentiment when it's time you'll know. I didn't. It's a terrible decision to have to make but better to do it whilst the dog & the family can still enjoy his/her last few days than leave it to crisis point of or low quality of life.

our beautifull girl loved her food. She developed a nasal tumour and 7 weeks later stopped eating. We knew it was time...