time to say goodbye?

[basquiatfan]

I have a 13 year old german shepherd who was diagnosed with arthritis in her front legs two years ago. She cannot take most pain medication because it upsets her tummy so she is on paracetamol twice a day.
She has been limping for some time and can only have short walks on a lead. I noticed recently that she has been hobbling more on her walk and I am worried that she is in too much pain. She likes to play very short games of tug with me still and I had thought that meant that she still had some enjoyment in her life. But now I wonder if the adrenalin that comes from the excitement of playing overrides the pain for a short time and she is uncomfortable most of the time.
I am constantly wondering if it is time to let her go but I am finding making the decision so difficult. She used to love running and chasing and she has lost all that.

Hi @basquiatfan, I'm sorry to hear about your dog. What has her vet advised? Have you asked for a second opinion from another vet?

The best advice I have ever heard about when to PTS was to think about all the things the dog used to love and see what they have left, and then weight that against whatever pain/discomfort you think them to be in (because it is so hard to actually know).

Sometimes the decision is made for you, but it is often a really difficult call to make.