I have an elderly dog, she’s 16.5 years old and in a month we’ll have reached 15 years together. I adopted her when I moved out of my parents when I was an irresponsible 19 year old kid, and I’d be lying if I said this well behaved girl didn’t help raise me. Right from the jump, she was well behaved, protective but never aggressive. Loyal, adaptive. The perfect dog.

And right now, I am really struggling. Over the last year or 2 I’ve watched her slow down a lot. Arthritis in her back legs have made it so she needs to be carried up and down stairs. But over the last couple weeks I’ve been coming to the conclusion that it may be time for her to pass on. Just typing this out is hard. But today, she’s been having a good day. Walking a little better, seemingly more content and comfortable. She’s been having good days and bad day. And I just don’t know how to make the decision to let her pass on. My heart feels broken. I just want to do right by her as she has by me the last 15 years.

How do I know when it’s time? How do I know I’m making the right decision? She’s still eating and drinking. But I know she’s in pain. I plan on bringing her to the vet this week to hopefully get some advice, but I am still worried I won’t know that it’s time. Ive lost a couple dogs that I grew up with, but this dog has been by my side my entire life adult life. I knew she was the one the second I laid eyes on her at the shelter. How am I supposed to make the decision?

I am getting close to your situation too, my friend. My yellow lab turned 14 in February. She has arthritis in both back legs. She also had about a 45 second seizure on March 3.

I have been doing monthly injections of Librella at the vet since November and I think it has helped. I've also been using glucosamine chews in her food for about 5 years and I think those have also helped with joints like they are supposed to over the long run.

When I took Cosmo pheasant hunting in November like I have for the last 13 years, I could tell it wasn't going to be same ever again. She slowly would just lag behind me. I still took her a few times in December when the weather got colder and we got some birds. But I was very distraught at the time. I constantly teared up that day while trying to hunt.

I've since come to peace with reality. It takes time. I am just grateful for the time I still have with my 4 legged friend. We still go on short walks and I still plan to take her in the boat this fishing season, weather permitting. Her hunting days are all but over though. A hunting dog needs to be in pretty good athletic condition and no one can defy Father Time.

16.5 years is a long, healthy life. You will have so many memories to be grateful for moving forward. It's a difficult process to go through.

I think you will know when it's time. Internal systems will start to fail and bodily functions will not work as they're supposed to. Until then, I will be keeping you in my thoughts.

We’ve had to let 6 dogs go in 20 years. I can tell you this, no one can tell you when it’s time for you to say goodbye.

We’ve seen them decline and did everything we could. Some we waited too long and back legs gave out and after we let them go, we felt like crap because we waited too long. We’ve also let one go and played the what if game and questioned whether we could’ve done more. From my experience these emotions are normal when you’re the one making the decision.

I’ve even given advice to others to let them go with dignity only to not follow my own advice. We humans tend to wait too long because we don’t want to lose them and delay our own pain meanwhile we’re prolonging theirs.

At the end of the day it will never be easy and for me probably the most difficult decisions I’ve ever made and will have to again.

@gim thank you and appreciate your perspective.

My old girl has been on Librella injections the last several months as well. Since she was a couple years old she got fish oil capsules once a day and the last several years she’s been on dosaquin as well for her joints as well. I feel lucky that she’s lived over 16 years. It just hurts so much knowing I can’t get that time back with her.

I am always sorry to hear about this deal.

Not matter what anyone says or how/when they choose to do it,

it's always a personal decision and one that, if all possible, we can try to feel good about.

@Jar11591 @gim

I'll say sorry in advance.

Pretty sure you guys know we've been through this many times.

Dogs were of varying ages.

When things go well, it's an old age deal.

But own enough dogs, and over a long enough time, you're going to see everything else.

We've had to say goodbye to a couple of puppies and just about everything in between.

Sux - flat out.

But I will open up a little here.

This is something that I feel pretty strongly about

but have no intentions of putting my version of this on anyone else but me.

The day we get a dog, any dog, it's a happy time, especially in the beginning.

Once the years add up, the good times get even better, and the memories multiply.

All of this is knowing that this time will come.

So after all that love and loyalty, IMO, there is no reason to be sad.

Nor is this a hard choice for us.

We want to ensure the dog retains its dignity for its entire life.

We want the dog not to endure pain for its entire life.

If & when that changes, we feel so fortunate to love the dog so much that we can again be there for him or her.

It takes more love to say good bye than it does to get a new pup.

But saying goodbye is part of the deal.

It's sort of a bad deal, but it's the only way we can get to share our lifes with them.

Tank is sitting here and probably wants to know why I'm sad.

A-Jay

Thank you gentlemen for the words and advice. Losing my childhood dogs were hard, and I knew losing this old girl will be hard too. But to be honest I could never have imagined just how hard this would be.

I had this same discussion with our family vet many years ago. He explained it best by saying when your dog has more bad days than good it's time. It's not easy but you don't want them to suffer.

You said she's still eating and drinking fine. I assume the other part of that equation is good too. I would say if her pain seems manageable, she has more good days than bad (as mentioned above) then she's truly not ready.

Your vet should give you some good advice. Had to put down 3 cats over the years (deathly allergic to dogs). The most recent last November. You'll know and you'll be at peace about it. Well, as much as you can be anyway.

We had to put our Cori down on September 22, she was 14 yr old half Pyrenees. She quit eating at we knew that was bad, the dog lived to eat. I think it was the very next day she couldn’t get up and somehow my wife lifted her into the car by herself (90+ lbs) and made it to the vet. We had tried to find at home euthanasia but everyone was booked out two weeks or so. Luckily I was able to race away from work and make it to the vet in time to say goodbye. Like someone posted above, only you will be able to make the decision on the right time, but the vets and friends can certainly help. I would definitely say not eating is the biggest red flag, then again we have a perfectly healthy dog that doesn’t want to eat until her brother tries to steal her food.

Coco is going tomorrow to the vet to see if they will confirm that it’s the right time for her.

That’s a good girl coco! I wish I could pet her from here, give her some scritches for the BR crew

Listen to the vet and do what's right for her. We bred dogs for many years and have always kept a pack of some breed up until six years ago. I've been through the end phase many many times and it's just bad. I feel for you, but you'll know when.

Sorry you're going through this. I'm right there with you knowing that the time I have left with my old dog is getting short. She's lumpy and needs help getting up from being on her side a lot of the time. Our house is split level and I've started taking her out the garage so she can go up and down carpeted stairs to be a little easier on her. She's been my fishing buddy and best friend for 14 years, it's going to kill me when it's her time.

I’ve got a 13 year old yellow lab mix. Last summer she started stumbling and falling. Started laying around, not eating or drinking on her own. She would eat, but only if I hand fed her. She let me give her water if I squeezed a wet washcloth over her mouth, hope that makes sense. We all thought that it was time to say goodbye.

Took her to the veterinarian, he wanted to check her out before doing the deed. Turns out she developed a severe case of vertigo. In dogs it’s called something else but I don’t remember. Antibiotics for a week, a meclezine if needed. She’s doing great.

All of that to say if your girl is eating, drinking, pooping and peeing and her pain can be managed, it’s probably not time. Your veterinarian will hopefully know what’s best.

We are hoping for the best for you and Coco.

A-Jay

Thank you. Today she’s having a good day. Even getting up on her own. She goes to the vet again later this week for her normally scheduled librella injection, and to see if she’s keep her weight, and if the increase in her gabapentin as of today has any effect until then. If not, then I think we will have our answer. I feel like I’ll never have an actual answer though. A couple people came over yesterday to see her for the last time. Whether it’s this week or not, it won’t be long.

This is so d**n hard, and to think I have two more dogs I’ll have to go through this with lol!

Most vets are compassionate and will let you know when it's time. I can only imagine what you're going through. Many people don't understand that pets are not only family, but there's a special bond.

My dog is 15 years old and while he's still perky and likes to play, he also sleeps a lot more. And sometimes he misjudges when he tries to jump up on the couch. I'm thankful for the time we've had, but I know that's winding down.

Sorry to hear about this but definitely understand it’s part of the process of raising, loving and enjoying the time with them for as long as it is.

We have a Morkie and she turned 8 this past February. I know that time will come for us someday and when it does, it will be next to impossible for us.

We have no kids and have been married now going into year 18. So she is like our kid. Our little weekly/bi-weekly trips to Petsmart for an occasional stroll around the store or just picking up her treats or getting her nails trimmed, are priceless. She loves car rides, she poops in store and I clean it every time and when she is ready to leave she heads for the doors. 😂 It’s hilarious.

The VET and I had a conversation about this situation for when that time does come. He says that a lot of people/owners leave the room when they do the procedure because it’s too sad for them. But he said the animals are really sad when the owners leave them. He said we should always be there with them at time of passing no matter how hard it is because they will feel more comfortable with their owners in there. It left an impact on me so I will not let her go through any procedure without me at the very least staying in there with her. I have too much love for our little girl. She is family to us, not just some animal.

Just my 2 cents, hope this helps.

I agree with @FLYING HIGH, stay in the room and love on your pet until the very end. It’s hard, I’ve had to do it before but it’s the absolute least I could do for a pet that was loyal to me to their end. I’ve had several that I miss to this very day. I wouldn’t take anything for the memories and pictures that I have.

I wish you good luck @Jar11591 and Coco.

Coco is keeping weight on, and even gained a pound. That’s a really good sign. Her new medicine regiment seems to be working. The vet doesn’t think it’s quite time yet. She did tell us this is pretty much the last realistic option, and when this medicine loses it efficacy, then it will most likely be her time. We’re getting more lax with her renal-support diet, because right now calories are most important.

So as of now, nothing is scheduled as far as EOL. We’re hoping the new dose of medicine continues to help, and I’m enjoying the time I have left with her.

Thanks, yall,

Here’s me in the back seat with her on the way home from the vet. We got her a jerky stick that she devoured.

Tomorrow, we will be making a phone call to schedule Coco’s last day. The medication she’s been on the last couple weeks has lost its efficacy, and as we were told, there aren’t really any realistic options left. Unfortunately it looks like we won’t make it to our 15th year mark together on May 1st, but she’s never cared much for milestones anyway. She’s been the most perfect dog by my side for nearly 15 years, and I don’t know how I’m going to fill the hole she will leave when she makes her exit.

She had some laser therapy today to hopefully make her more comfortable until the day arrives. Not sure the exact date but it will be within the next week or so. My heart hurts.

So sorry to hear that. Making that decision is never easy. Been there plenty of times.

Make each day count. Unlimited treats are a plus!

😢

I’m so sorry @Jar11591, it’s never easy to go down that road. Like @12poundbass said, “unlimited treats are a plus.”

Very sorry to hear this. My thoughts are with you. Sounds like Coco has been a very special dog.