How do you when to PTS? I'm scared to do it too early but I don't want her to suffer.

[Cocolapew]

My dog is 11 and suddenly started limping really badly a couple of months ago, the vet said it was arthritis and she's on loxicom and Yumove. She improved but has suddenly got worse again.
Her spark has just gone and I'm so sad.
She's not really interested in her food and is panting a lot more, she has a heart murmer, the vet said it was about a 2-3.
She has a horrible growth hanging from her stomach, we were told it was a skin tag but I think it's something worse. We are going to book her in to get it snipped off but I'm worried she won't wake up.
I'm heartbroken that we might need to have her pts, but at the same time I don't want her just existing, she doesn't want to go on walks anymore and isn't reacting to us as much.
Everything seems to have happened so suddenly, my heart is breaking.

Hi OP. I’m asking the same question. My old girl has cancer and the massive tumour on her leg has just started to ulcerate (it’s also in her lungs so amputation was not a solution). I know once ulcerated it’s difficult to heal, but she’s still enjoying 3 short walks a day, plus food (mostly human now but good stuff) and treats.

If it helps, when my girl gets to the stage your girl is at, I’ll let her go to the bridge. I may have to do it sooner dependent on the ulceration.

Lots of love to you x

Thank you, the vet insisted the growth was nothing to worry about but it's changing and for the first time it looks like its annoying her when she lies down.
I put her dinner out this evening and she just lay looking at me, she did eventually wander in but never can finish it in one go. She did make short work of my pizza though!
Hugs to you and your ddog 💞

Yes my girl would devour pizza too! Loves finding discarded kebab on our walks - former stray. I’m mostly hand feeding her now, realise she is actually playing me here but I don’t care. If she didn’t want to walk I think that would be an indicator for me. But it’s the hardest decision xx

She likes to go the front, I sit out and she potters about eating my bushes. When she goes for a walk it just takes too much out of her.
Urgh! This is awful

Lovely image of her ambling about under your watchful gaze ❤️

See what the vet says.

Do you have a photo?

She's a lab/cocker mix, what about yours?

Ah! Fat fingers. Reported my post! What an idiot!!!

Well your DDog is still lovely

I've reported too

Your dogs look wonderful. Sorry to hear you're in this situation.
My mother had to let my cat go. I was in NZ at the time so didn't get the chance to say goodbye. My mother said that Kat wanted to be allowed to go in peace and I trust her gut on this.

I think you'll know when the time is right.

I can't get to sleep, I keep crying thinking about it all.
Sorry about your Dcat Marty

The comforting words ( well, they comfort me), are

Better one day early than one week too late".

You know your darling do

It is really hard and I am not sure vets take the lead in this decision in the way they used to. I worry this is since pet insurance has been a thing and finance has been available for costly treatment. They told us our dog was feeling better and was doing OK but we knew he was not himself and was suffering. Have confidence in your knowledge of your own dog. Personally I wouldn't agree to any invasive or painful treatment to extend life.

Thanks @Cocolapew and I’m sorry for the distraction on your thread. MN have intervened now.

Thinking of you x

I am so sorry to hear about your lovely dog. It sounds like you know in your heart that its her time. As veterinary nurses we would never change an owners mind once they have made this decision as they are best placed to assess quality of life. There are no platitudes that make it any easier but it really is the greatest kindness we can afford our pets to give them a peaceful and dignified final journey.

Thank you for the replies, she was brighter this morning, happy to see me awake. She gets a dental stick and sardines for breakfast. She ignored the dental stick and then the sardines for maybe 30 seconds but then ate them up.
I will watch her closely the next few days to assess how she is.
I absolutely agree Sleepingfogs, I've always said I wouldn't get her invasive treatment.
Thanks again x

So sorry about your DDog, Cocolapew.

I guess everyone has different thoughts on this. But if it helps, my opinion is that you have to assess the dog's whole life and think 'if it was me, what would I want'. I think you have to consider quality and frequency.

Quality... So, if the dog seems to be in pain, but is still mostly engaging and eating some choice food (not necessarily boring biscuits!) then maybe it's still happy enough. Is it sitting outside, sniffing the air and watching people walk past? Is it still leaning into you with pleasure when you pet it? If that were me, I would choose life. Some physical pain is tolerable if you are still enjoying things. DDog doesn't have to necessarily enjoy walks anymore, but probably should enjoy sniffing and watching things. The same as elderly people.

Then you have to look at how much time your DDog spends in enjoyment mode and how much in sad mode. If DDog is sad for a day then enjoys a few days, maybe it's not time yet. But if sad mode starts to take over, maybe it is time. It's really difficult in that middle ground though.

xx

Ahh @Cocolapew I’m so sorry you’re in this situation. I was there in December and made the decision and honestly I think I let it go too long. I was so conflicted but he was clearly struggling and for his sake I should have let him go earlier. The vet did say he could give him more pain relief and give us another few days but it would have been just for me I was doing it as my boy was ready to go.

(((Hugs))) it’s horrible time for you.

Thanks you for a your kind words and for all those going/have gone through it.
There's been a bit of a development. The growth she has has white stuff on it, I noticed it yesterday and for the first time thought it was annoying her.
DD2 said that she though Molly was leaking poo on her bed but it's the white stuff oozing.
I'm just back from the vet and she said it was fat bursting out. Molly likes to lie on my driveway which is stones so she might have cut it.
She's going tomorrow morning to get it taken off, and a tiny one on her back.
She's definitely a bit perkier today but moving about a lot so I'm presuming of because of this.
Fingers crossed she comes round ok, she's a bit (!) overweight but she shouldn't be under long.
Thank you all again, I definitely feel better tonight. Thank you as well @FeistySheep for your advice, she definitely is quite happy pottering around out the front.