it is so hard when your best friend gives you that look - and you keep thinking - the tail still wags and their not in pain - and your dog is like a child - ever more so cuz they love you no matter what and never ask for money - only treats - lol - and that is where i am now. My girl is almost 14 - a sprnger spaniel - she still gets around - i help her into her chair and in and out of the house for her dog time - is it me that won't let go? My vet will come to my home and let her pass in my arms - is getting old a reason for letting go?
i read the "bridge" poem and i know it is true - i need some advise here - please help

peace - deb and chloe

[chevy & karen]

Originally Posted by zoe409

it is so hard when your best friend gives you that look - and you keep thinking - the tail still wags and their not in pain - and your dog is like a child - ever more so cuz they love you no matter what and never ask for money - only treats - lol - and that is where i am now. My girl is almost 14 - a sprnger spaniel - she still gets around - i help her into her chair and in and out of the house for her dog time - is it me that won't let go? My vet will come to my home and let her pass in my arms - is getting old a reason for letting go?
i read the "bridge" poem and i know it is true - i need some advise here - please help

peace - deb and chloe

Hi Deb and Chloe, I feel as long as Chloe is eating, drinking and going to the bathroom then there is no reason to help her to the bridge as of yet. Is she suffering deb?
Please keep talking it will help to not be alone with your thought's...
Prayer's to you and Chloe...

[Lara's mom]

Just because a dog is old does not necessarily mean that they are ready to cross over to the Rainbow Bridge. To give you an example; my border collie X Bailey who is going on 13 yrs old began having trouble jumping on and off of the bed which is her preferred place to snooze and gnaw her cheweys. I made her a set of stairs with the help of a couple of friends. Problem solved! As long as your dog is still enjoying a good quality of life; enjoying her food, short walks, time spent with you and she isn't in pain, do whatever you can to make her life easier and just enjoy every moment that you have with her. When the time comes, she will let you know or, you will see it.

I really think there comes a time when you both will know its the right time. This is an agonizing decision for all owners and I know what you are going through and feeling. I would suggest that you set your limits - know what things you think she would have to be doing to show you that she doesn't have good quality of life, and then do what your heart says.
I don't envy where you are right now, best wishes to you both.

I agree with the others, as long as she's eating, relieving herself and not in pain, she can still have quality time left with you. It's always a hard decision, but listen to your heart and you'll know. Best wishes!

[blueskies29]

I just went throught this two and a half weeks ago...
You WILL know..no matter how much you want to hang on to your baby, there will come a moment..something they do/don't do, a friend's comment..something where you will agonizingly stare truth in the face and know the time has come to let go.
My lab was almost 17. For the last few months, Sasha needed help on stairs. Rainy days meant an even slower start to the day. I took her to the vet, did the bloodwork, begged for a definitive answer "Is it time?". The vet kept saying he felt she was still enjoying a good quality of life. Not excellent mind you, but still good. What was my minor inconvenience of helping her up stairs compared to having my girl who still enjoyed food, treats,walks?
17 days ago, she went out and as I was watching her I realized..her spark was gone. It was no longer enough to help her with stairs because, while she still tucked into dinner like nobody's business, when I looked at her face I knew..she was tired and sore and..I don't know how else to say it..done. She had become a shell of what my baby had been. I chose the route you say you would opt for. A few days later the vet came to the house, I was able to say my goodbyes with her on her bed, relaxed at home. I couldn't recommend any other option personally.
I kept being told "you'll know" when I was asking "now?" and I got frustrated because I just wanted someone, ANYone to tell me if I was doing right by Old Lady..but the impossible truth is simply that yes, you will know. No amount of coaching, questioning can tell you better than your own heart. When you grieve more for their quality of life now than the loss you will feel with their passing, you will know.
Keeping you in my thoughts.

[Lara's mom]

blueskies is right. It isn't something that you can describe but, there comes "that moment" when you just know that the quality of your beloved baby's days just isn't there anymore. Nobody can tell you what it looks like but, as the parent, you'll know it when it happens.

Unfortunately, there are no words that any of us can say that will make that decision any easier for you.

I lost my mom on June 22 of this year and, having watched her suffer for a long time without any hope for a good outcome, I gave serious thought as to how our fur babies are actually better off than us because when the time comes, we can ease them gently out of this world and into the Summerland (Heaven if you're Christian). My mom would certainly have preferred to go gently from this world. However, that option doesn't exist for human beings in North America.

When that time comes, the last and most loving thing you can do for your beloved companion is to ease her/him gently out of this world and into whatever lies beyond. It is the ultimate act of love. I truly believe that...

My thoughts are with you- all that I would have said has been spoken.....

[Lunareclipse]

My saint has hip dysplasia. I know one day I will have to put her down. I don't really like to think about it, though. But it creeps into my mind everytime I have to help her get outside to do her business or help her on the bed. If she gets any worse, she will be too big for me to do much else.

[Lara's mom]

Sometimes, the best and only thing you can do is just take each day as it comes and try to ensure that every day is a happy one for your baby. That too is an act of love.