Further to my thread here: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s....php?t=1156833

Well Jess made it through Christmas (and it was lovely!) but now I think it might be time to get her put to sleep, but wonder am I doing the right thing!
She is still eating, not too much but she still enjoys her meals.
She wags her tail when I come home and still enjoys back and ear rubs, but...
She sleeps all day and night only getting up for her meals and to go in the garden for her toilet, no more walkies now for her, she can't go far
She isn't really interested in playing, if she picks up a toy she starts coughing and just goes back in her bed.
She has lost more weight and is getting boney, I've tried feeding her more to build her up but she will only eat so much food a day and no more. Been giving her food high in calories but she is still getting thinner.
She does sometimes seem uncomfortable in her bed or wherever she is lying and jumps up, she even yelped yesterday before jumping out of her bed.
She had a fainting spell yesterday, I think her tablets are not working as well now...

So given all this I'm thinking of having her put to sleep before she is really suffering, at the moment she seems depressed and often uncomfortable and I can't bear the thought of having her put to sleep but I'm going to have to
I always told myself that when her quality of life had gone I'd do it, she doesn't seem to have much pleasure at all now.
Going to the vets tomorrow for more tablets and going to ask their advice, but in my heart I do think it is time

How do you know when it's the right time when they have a slow decline into illness like this? I feel like the executioner holding the axe over her head but I know it's the kindest thing we can do for our loved pets, I don't want her to suffer more than she has to.

I think you need to speak to your vet & try to ascertain what, if anything, can be done for Jess & how the illness affects her. It's a horrible decision to have to make but can also be the kindest thing to do if your pet is suffering & their quality of life is poor.

I do feel for you & you clearly want to do what is right for Jess. But you are the one that has known her all her life & you have seen the changes that have come over her recently ~ so you are the best person to make the final decision, howver painful it is for you.

I wish you all the best with whatever decision you take ~ don't beat yourself up over it though ~ it happens to all of us pet owners at some time, just part of the joys & sorrows of having a pet, & you'll still have all the lovely memories of Jess.

Thank you for the reply
I've made an appointment for her tomorrow and asking the vet what he thinks. I know she has had a good long life and we have had some fantastic times (and some not so fantastic too!), but she is never going to get better so will have to see what the vet advises I guess.

I think it may be best for her to be PTS. My auntie and uncle have a rather old black lab, who is stupidly fat, and can't get up very easily, he wants to play but can't, and it's really hard for me to see, having my own little puppy now. I know why they aren't getting him PTS but I think it is fairer to the dog. I know that another dog will never replace this one, but it helps to move on, and it's fairer to put the dog out of it's pain, in a less painful way.

I do feel for you however, so talk it through with your vet and see what they come up with =] Good Luck with her =] xxx

I've had dogs all my life but they were my parents dogs so it was their choice when the time came.
This is the first time it's been solely up to me and it's horrible!
I know I will be ok eventually but I really am loosing my best friend, she really has been a super dog and she deserves to go with some dignety. The thing I'm worrying about the most is the fact she is terrified of going to the vets, so much so she has her head in my armpit and tries to bury her way out of there!
I feel guilty knowing her last moments will most likely be filled with terror due to where she is...but I can't really afford to have the vet come out to do it
I'm having her cremated and keeping her ashes after it's done to and not sure how much that will be.
I'm going to miss her so much but hopefully we'll see each other again when it's my time.

I think you are doing one of the bravest things any owner can do. You said it yourself you want too let her go with dignity which i think she will want too. I only lost my cat Simon in july and i do regret it but i am being selfish too him he was suffering to the end. I have got tears well up now thinking of you and your dog. Just think of all the happy times you have had with him not the sad ones. Letting him go is the last thing any owner can do for there pet.

Jane X

I understand what you're going through.

I had to have my cat Fudgie put to sleep on Saturday. She had a tumour in her mouth since Xmas and had been on painkillers. But Saturday morning she just wouldn't eat and when she tried she couldn't swallow. She was just hunched up and looked so sorry for herself - we just knew that the time had come to make the decision to have her pts. We couldn't have left her like she was until today as it wouldn't have been fair on her.

The vet said he could have put her on steroids but that would have prolonged her life by only a week or so.

If we had kept her alive for another week it would have been for our own selfish reasons and she would still have been suffering.

i thought i had written a post and forgotten about it, im taking my old girl, Jess, to the vets tomorrow, its her time.

she still eats and wags her tail, she tries to go for walks, but ends up limping home after 10 mins of gentle walking and will go so stiff she needs lifting to stand up. she is happy a lot of the time but you can tell her back legs especially are stiff and her front ones hurt. she is also faecally incontinent at times, and has started leaking urine in her sleep. although i would say 4-5 days a week she is ok, the 3-4 that she is bad, its awful to see.

we thought she may have to be put to sleep before christmas as she got really bad, and couldnt walk. she got a bit better, but we have only had another month -2 months max and shes going downhill. she can no longer crouch properly to poo and gets so frustrated with herself that she whines and scratches the floor with her front feet.

i feel its best to let them go when they are still having the good days, when they dont just know discomfort and are so ill they dont eat etc. my Jess if 10 years and 4 months old. i think tomorrow may be her last day with us but i know its the best thing we can do for her.

good luck

this is exactly what im trying to get my head around its so hard to be the one to choose.

I realy do no what you are going through. When we put Simon to sleep. He had suffered nearly all his life with either bladder stones or cystitas, we lost him too liver failure. He had started too go down hill at xmas 08 and i missed some signs that he was getting worse in June. He had given up. We rescue a couple of cats and its like he just gave up. Like too say its alright if i go now you will be alright. He had been in the vets on and off for about a week and decided that enough was enough for him and decided to end his suffering all the vets where crying as he was a popular litte boy there. I also feel like you do. I am lucky that when he went he seemed happy just too see us and he fell asleep in my arms. Its hard but we are all here for you.