Anonymous
11/30/2023 13:22
Subject: How do you know when it is time?
Anonymous wrote:I am also struggling with this decision with my 16 year old dog. She is blind and deaf, has difficulty going up and down stairs, and will soil any carpet/rug/item of clothing left on the floor. However, she will use a pee pad if left in the laundry room floor. If there is rug or clothing on the floor for her and no pee pad, she will pee directly on the floor.
She is content to be in my presence and will follow me from room to room…so I try to limit going up and down the stairs. She and my 13 year old dog are codependent. I don’t know what either of them will do when the other passes.
Sorry, didn’t mean to hijack. This weighs on me heavily
OP here. Oh no. It is hard. I am sorry you also have to think about this. I think it is particularly hard to know when if there is a general decline but no big event.
Anonymous
11/30/2023 13:19
Subject: Re:How do you know when it is time?
If there is NO rug or clothing on the floor for her and no pee pad,
Anonymous
11/30/2023 13:18
Subject: How do you know when it is time?
I am also struggling with this decision with my 16 year old dog. She is blind and deaf, has difficulty going up and down stairs, and will soil any carpet/rug/item of clothing left on the floor. However, she will use a pee pad if left in the laundry room floor. If there is rug or clothing on the floor for her and no pee pad, she will pee directly on the floor.
She is content to be in my presence and will follow me from room to room…so I try to limit going up and down the stairs. She and my 13 year old dog are codependent. I don’t know what either of them will do when the other passes.
Sorry, didn’t mean to hijack. This weighs on me heavily
She is content to be in my presence and will follow me from room to room…so I try to limit going up and down the stairs. She and my 13 year old dog are codependent. I don’t know what either of them will do when the other passes.
Sorry, didn’t mean to hijack. This weighs on me heavily
Anonymous
11/30/2023 10:41
Subject: How do you know when it is time?
I'm so sorry, OP. When we live with them and see them on a day to day basis, it's hard to see how much they have lost. I am certainly guilty of this. I let my first dog, my heart dog, go on for too long, and it still eats at me a decade later that I couldn't see past my loss to give my dog the death he deserved.
Try and think back to when he was a young dog. Pick the three things he liked the best. When he is no longer capable of doing 2 of 3 of them, it's time.
I wish you peace with your decision, whatever it might be.
Try and think back to when he was a young dog. Pick the three things he liked the best. When he is no longer capable of doing 2 of 3 of them, it's time.
I wish you peace with your decision, whatever it might be.
Anonymous
11/30/2023 10:32
Subject: How do you know when it is time?
A week too soon is better than a day too late. So sorry OP.
Anonymous
11/30/2023 08:53
Subject: How do you know when it is time?
CosmicFlower wrote:My 6-year-old dog wasn't doing well - she couldn't walk, had lost her sight and wasn't eating or drinking. I could see she was in pain but still wanted to be with us. Our vet examined her and confirmed it was just a matter of days, even suggesting we put her down at the clinic. But I couldn't do it, so we stayed by her side instead and waited. It was really hard to see her struggling. She passed away before morning. I could tell she wanted those last few hours with her family, even through the pain. It was heartbreaking to lose her, but I'm glad we got to be there in the end. 💔
Wow six is so young! I hope you meant 16
Anonymous
11/29/2023 23:04
Subject: How do you know when it is time?
Oh, that’s so hard. I’m so sorry.
Anonymous
11/29/2023 21:43
Subject: How do you know when it is time?
With the dog soiling himself, I think you are nearing the end of good quality life. I’m so sorry.
Anonymous
11/29/2023 21:06
Subject: How do you know when it is time?
I think dogs don't like to soil themselves. In my personal opinion, if you wait until the dog is lethargic and miserable, you've waited too long. Better to go out on a good day.
Mine had a lot of dignity and her last few months (basically waiting for DH to be ready) were really hard on her due to incontinence and being carried. She hated that. But she was eating right up until the last injection, nothing could stop her from eating.
Mine had a lot of dignity and her last few months (basically waiting for DH to be ready) were really hard on her due to incontinence and being carried. She hated that. But she was eating right up until the last injection, nothing could stop her from eating.
CosmicFlower
11/29/2023 21:04
Subject: How do you know when it is time?
My 6-year-old dog wasn't doing well - she couldn't walk, had lost her sight and wasn't eating or drinking. I could see she was in pain but still wanted to be with us. Our vet examined her and confirmed it was just a matter of days, even suggesting we put her down at the clinic. But I couldn't do it, so we stayed by her side instead and waited. It was really hard to see her struggling. She passed away before morning. I could tell she wanted those last few hours with her family, even through the pain. It was heartbreaking to lose her, but I'm glad we got to be there in the end. 💔
Anonymous
11/29/2023 20:25
Subject: How do you know when it is time?
Anonymous wrote:I don’t know even what a bad day would be for him. He is a sweet dog. He sleeps most of the day. Is happy to eat and be near us. But is having real trouble walking and going outside for the bathroom. Today, for instance, he slept near my feet most of the day. I took him outside a few times (carried him) but he wouldn’t go to the bathroom. Then he urinated all over himself. He ate breakfast and dinner happily.
If it were me I'd wait. I can tell when they're unhappy. I've had sick dogs too one with liver cancer one with epilepsy. It's rough. To me this dogs living bed the can now. Does he seem to be in a lot of pain?
Anonymous
11/29/2023 20:22
Subject: How do you know when it is time?
I don’t know even what a bad day would be for him. He is a sweet dog. He sleeps most of the day. Is happy to eat and be near us. But is having real trouble walking and going outside for the bathroom. Today, for instance, he slept near my feet most of the day. I took him outside a few times (carried him) but he wouldn’t go to the bathroom. Then he urinated all over himself. He ate breakfast and dinner happily.
Anonymous
11/29/2023 20:17
Subject: How do you know when it is time?
My vets always told me what they have more bad days than good. Sounds like he's happy to get baths and likes walks doesn't sound like time to me...but what do I know not being there sounds happy he got a bath that's something.
Anonymous
11/29/2023 20:06
Subject: How do you know when it is time?
OP again - but now he is trotting around the bathroom after I gave him a bath.
Anonymous
11/29/2023 20:05
Subject: How do you know when it is time?
My dog is almost 17. He has been going downhill for the last 6 months or so. How do you know when it is time? He still likes to eat and get pets. He is having trouble walking and I have to carry him outside for the bathroom and sometimes he goes inside (he never, ever did this before). He still seems happy but I just don’t know. Today he urinated on himself because he couldn’t get up. This is so hard.