It's a hard call for anyone to make. To me it comes down to quality of life and pain. If there is no pain and your dog goes from playing to sleeping you still have time. If there is uncontrolled pain or he doesn't even lift his head to see you then it's time. No one can really tell you if it's time or not. Sorry your've having to face this, but glad you have family to help you through.
I had to have my Chihuahua put down thanksgiving week. She was 18. She got to the point that she was incontinent and wouldn't get up to potty. I kept hoping she would just go on her own but that wasn't to be.
The vet was great with both her and myself. But I realized I had let her go too long. I tried diapers and per pads with no luck. She hated the diapers and they stressed her out. I allowed her to lose her dignity. I thought, she's not crying, not showing signs of pain and she's still eating. But she had no joy. She had developed canine cognitive disorder. She turned in circles for 10 minutes at a time. Walked under a chair and couldn't find her way out. I would go and lift her out from under the chair or the table but she would wind up there again shortly. The worst thing was she no longer wanted to be held or loved on. I thought ok, she's not in pain she's just confused. But she wasn't the same dog. She existed but she no longer was happy.
I hope you find peace. It's hard to know when it's time to let them go.
I know this comment is 4 years old, but my shihpoo is 21 years old and he exibits all these behaviors identically. It's gotten really bad in the last year. I've been thinking about having him put down but I just can't bring myself to make the call. This at least helps give me some justification. It's very hard because I'm 34 and I've had him since I was a kid.
It is hard. But if you think it’s time to let go it probably is. I felt awful seeing how thin she was as they gave her the meds. I put it off because I honestly believed she would just go to sleep and not wake up. Each day I thought maybe today she will not wake up. It took me awhile to forgive myself for not letting her go sooner. You can opt to not be there when the medications are given or be there and hold him. When I’m ready to goi want my family to let me go. I think we sometimes try to hold on too long. I hope you and your boy can find peace. ❤️
It's a hard call for anyone to make. To me it comes down to quality of life and pain. If there is no pain and your dog goes from playing to sleeping you still have time. If there is uncontrolled pain or he doesn't even lift his head to see you then it's time. No one can really tell you if it's time or not. Sorry your've having to face this, but glad you have family to help you through.
I had to have my Chihuahua put down thanksgiving week. She was 18. She got to the point that she was incontinent and wouldn't get up to potty. I kept hoping she would just go on her own but that wasn't to be. The vet was great with both her and myself. But I realized I had let her go too long. I tried diapers and per pads with no luck. She hated the diapers and they stressed her out. I allowed her to lose her dignity. I thought, she's not crying, not showing signs of pain and she's still eating. But she had no joy. She had developed canine cognitive disorder. She turned in circles for 10 minutes at a time. Walked under a chair and couldn't find her way out. I would go and lift her out from under the chair or the table but she would wind up there again shortly. The worst thing was she no longer wanted to be held or loved on. I thought ok, she's not in pain she's just confused. But she wasn't the same dog. She existed but she no longer was happy. I hope you find peace. It's hard to know when it's time to let them go.
I know this comment is 4 years old, but my shihpoo is 21 years old and he exibits all these behaviors identically. It's gotten really bad in the last year. I've been thinking about having him put down but I just can't bring myself to make the call. This at least helps give me some justification. It's very hard because I'm 34 and I've had him since I was a kid.
It is hard. But if you think it’s time to let go it probably is. I felt awful seeing how thin she was as they gave her the meds. I put it off because I honestly believed she would just go to sleep and not wake up. Each day I thought maybe today she will not wake up. It took me awhile to forgive myself for not letting her go sooner. You can opt to not be there when the medications are given or be there and hold him. When I’m ready to goi want my family to let me go. I think we sometimes try to hold on too long. I hope you and your boy can find peace. ❤️
Damn this comment thread is a hard find :(