wwyd? pts question

[henlake7]

I have an appt booked monday to have my dog pts and Im already second guessing myself!
My girl is 17 yrs old is deaf and has heart disease, that has never really bothered her.
Also the last yr or so she has started drinking and peeing tons and losing weight. Vet and I both agreed it was likely diabetes but no tests done as it wouldnt change the outcome (neither of us thought treating it at her age would be fair).
She went blind about a month ago and her eyes now look dreadful, red and with severe cataracts, although they dont seem to bother her when I clean them.

She has adjusted to being blind and deaf, still potters around the house and loves her food. So she is still happy enough it seems....its just with the weight loss and eye issues Im worried her diabetes is very advanced and I dont want her to go into DKA and suffer.
I know they say 'rather a week too soon then a day too late' but what if its a month too soon? How do you know?

OP I am so sorry you are having to consider this. The hardest but kindest thing we can do to help our dogs.

On some occasions it is so hard. Dogs are stoic and put up with a lot.

I find it easier to think what my dog has stopped doing rather than what they can still do.

In an old dog drinking a lot can aso mean kidney issues which can make the dogs feel very sick and poorly. Losing weight aso indicates some serious heath issues put this together with heart disease your dog wi be feeing pretty rough. With a 17 year old dog with the symptons you describe it will not be a month too early.

Pdsa have a list of questions that may help youQuality of Life

Thanks for the reply, its just so hard isnt it?
Doesnt help that I lost my 16yr old girl to advanced dementia only 4 mths ago and Im really not ready to let the 17 yr old go as well (even if my heart says she is ready.😢)

I understand having been in a similar situation a few years ago with a 17 year old dog with various health issues.

I kept thinking I’d know when the time was right but I’m not sure it’s that straightforward.

I do remember someone gently saying to me if you’re questioning is it time, it probably is and I do think she was right.

It’s the hardest and most heartbreaking decision to make but it really is the kindest one as when a dog deteriorates suddenly, as another dog of mine did, it really is traumatic for everyone and the guilt is just awful. I’d rather be early than my dog suffer any more than they need to though it doesn’t sound like you are.

I’m so sorry you're going through this but know you’re doing the kindest thing.

It’s so hard, but you have to put them first, not you.

A good standard is make their last day their best day not their worst, you have to put your feelings aside and do the right thing. She’s had a long life and I’m sure full of love, dogs hide pain well, I think you know it’s the right thing.
Have a lovely day with her tomorrow 💐

I would ask my vet for his/her opinion and base my decision on that

I would rather be a month too soon than a day too late. Let your dog have a few days being spoilt and then let her go in peace.

I felt like this with my old girl last year; I went against my instinct and kept her going a bit longer because she came out and ran round like puppy a few days before she was supposed to be pts.

My biggest regret is not following my gut; she ended up having seizures in the early hours of the morning of my daughter’s birthday. It was quite traumatic as she became trapped between her bed and the wall and paralysed on the back end.

We woke up to her crying in pain; the worst thing was knowing that she’d suffered unnecessarily.

I think if you are considering it then deep down you know the time has come but it is an awful decision to make.

You said upthread that your heart says she is ready. So she is, because you know her best.
It’s so hard, it’s the worst thing we do as dog lovers, but we do it out of love. When it’s time, when they’ve had enough, we hold them close and we send them off, pain and stress free. Not for us, for them. I’ve done it, more times than I can count. It’s utterly shit, every time. But it’s always been the right thing, for that dog, at the right time.
I think you, in your heart of hearts, think it’s time. So send her on her way, it’s the last gift you can give her.
I am sending you much love, I know it’s beyond brutal xx

Thank you for saying this, it’s what I’m doing with mine this weekend. All his favourite treats and toys and sausages and cuddles. Then I will phone the vet on Monday morning.

It's so hard OP. I would take your vet's advice. We decided on the day, as it was too hard thinking 'this is her last day', 'this is her last night' etc.

@bridgetreilly
Have a lovely day together, all the chocolate and burgers!!
Thinking of you and your lovely dog 🐾

It is a very difficult decision to make. And I'm sorry you are in this position.

A few years ago we had an appointment to put our dog to sleep but on the morning he was running around as though he was a puppy again. So we cancelled. 2 days later which was a Bank holiday weekend it became obvious that we needed to ASAP. He was suffering. I have always felt guilty that I could have but didn't.

Vet advice to us after was it's better to early than too late.

Well, its done. Goodnight baby.😭

Id convinced myself that morning that I wasnt going to go through with it, probably the only reason I actually went.
But the vet said all her symptoms together (weight loss, drinking excessively, heart problems, blind, deaf, eye ulcers) meant that she was probably in pain even if she wasnt showing it.
So hard when there isnt one big thing/reason for the decision.....just multiple age related conditions that were slowly taking away her quality of life.

It may have been a bit early but I never want to be rushing them to the vets in pain or terrified as their last moments. We had a lovely weekend with me spoiling her rotten and I held her as I said goodbye.

I wasnt ready....I never would be but I think she was.

So sorry op. Sounds like she had a lovely weekend with you and a peaceful end. My dog is 4 and he’s the sweetest boy. I would be devastated too.

@henlake7
You've done the right thing, your lovely wee dog has had a long happy life. Would you like to share a photo and what their personality was like?
🐾🌈

So sorry OP but she had the best life you could have given her and a peaceful end.

Loved to the very last minute, that’s the best you could ever give her, sorry for your loss but know she can rest in peace now.

Oh I'm so sorry, it is absolutely horrible going through it. She is in peace now, and I hope you are too, knowing you did the brave thing. I found the lead up incredibly stressful as it's something that is so hard to decide.

You are the best of owners.

Im so so sorry for the loss of your beautiful girl. It’s utterly heartbreaking for you but you absolutely did the right thing for her and let her go peacefully knowing how much she was loved. I don’t think we ever feel ready and it really is the hardest thing but you were so very brave today. Be kind to yourself now.

🩷🩷🐾🐾so very sorry