How to know when to PTS

[Ihaveoflate]

I'm sorry if this has been asked loads before !

My JRT cross is 17 years old and has heart failure. We took her to the vet for her annual jabs (which they didn't do - impairs immune system apparently?) and he said that there was nothing more they could do for her in terms of medication and that the next time they see her it will probably be to put her to sleep. She is on two types of medication for her heart.

It was my DH who took her so I didn't get to ask questions, but basically I'm not sure what signs to look for. We had our 19 year old cat PTS a couple of years ago and I felt we left it a bit too long - I don't want to make the same mistake.

Current signs it may be time:

• can no longer go on her walk around the block (had a fit the other day so we've stopped walks altogether)
• is now basically deaf and blind
• regurgitates her food regularly and will vomit bile (but still eats 2 small meals a day and enjoys treats)
• pretty much incontinent; we take her out every 2 hours or she will have an accident
• sleeps all day
• haven't seen her wag her tail for months
• has recently started howling when we put her to bed (never done this before); we have to go down and reassure her which usually stops it
• bit doddery on her legs in the garden and sometimes topples over when she's doing a poo

But then saying all that, she still looks pretty chipper and gest excited at meal times. I just don't know what to do - would having her PTS now be cruel? I don't want to leave her too late and have her suffer.

Thanks for reading and all advice appreciated.

Personal experience - they tell you. I can't really explain it better than that, but one day you just know. Obviously, you have to be open to that and not someone who wants to hang on no matter what, but that really doesn't sound like the sort of person you are. I think there is a big difference between cats and dogs. Cats are stoics - they don't show pain and they will act like they are fine if they are on deaths door. Dogs, not so much. When life is more of a chore than anything, I have always found that they told me it was time.

Honestly, by the sound of it she's not having much fun. Out of all the things she used to enjoy, she's left with eating (and perhaps having some attention from you). She's unwell, she vomits bile, she's unhappy at bedtime, she's incontinent, she's losing her balance...

Only you know your dog, but her life doesn't sound much fun.

It's a horrible decision, and it does sound as if it's one you may have to make before very long, but for me, it was when my lovely canine started to look sad and depressed at her inability to be clean in the house. Her kidneys were failing badly and one day, I just knew that the time had come. We went to the vet a couple of hours later.

DDog2 was rapidly overtaken by an auto-immune collapse/galloping leukaemia, and after two days with the vet, she called to say I needed to come and say goodbye because it wasn't fair to let him suffer.

As MoonDust says, you will get the message loud and clear. You have to think of it as the last kindness you can do for a valued friend.

Thanks all for some sound advice.

I know in my heart the time is getting near, but she isn't letting me know just yet. I will monitor carefully and probably have a chat to the vet in a couple of weeks.

I would love for her to go to sleep at home in her bed, but I don't think they're doing visits now during lockdown.

It's just awful, isn't it? But we've had six wonderful years together (adopted when she was 11) and have some fabulous memories.

I'm very sorry, I know how hard this is, but I think the time has definitely come. Dogs are very adept at hiding their pain and discomfort, and from everything you've written, your dog's quality of life is gone. The poor thing is suffering. I would not be waiting.

You can just tell. I had my 10 year old dog PTS last April. He was showing no interest in food for 5 days (very unlike him), struggling to walk and no energy. The night before he couldn't stand up so I slept downstairs on the floor with him. Next morning refusing to drink, incontinent and confused. Got him to the vets with the help of a family friend (no way I could have got a 60kg dog into the car on my own) and they agreed it was the right thing to do for him

Thanks @Tinysarah1985 - that's a helpful description of what to look for.

I think we're quite near, but she still gets joy from food and gets up from her bed when she wants something (albeit slowly). She has moments of confusion, but is generally quite lucid.