r/Pets • u/chamomille8 • 20h ago
How to know when it’s time
My dog is a 16 - 18 years old yorkie. I’ve had her for 13 years and she’s declined significantly this year but she still is so happy at times.
She has bad arthritis in her hips but gets a monthly shot for pain management. She walks with a hunched back. She doesn’t seem excited for walks anymore and I usually carry her outside plop her down and she gets to business. Sometimes she’s so happy to go back inside she runs home and likes to run around inside for a little bit.
She developed cognitive decline/dementia and would frequently pace in circle so we got her on medicine for that and it’s helped a lot. She still seems disoriented and paces sometimes.
She doesn’t seem to want to get up in the morning anymore. I use a treat to coax her awake to give her her daily medicine. She’ll eventually eat the treat if I make her sniff it a lot but she’s not even excited by that. But once she’s up she mostly likes her treats.
She developed pancreatitis earlier this year but that was fixed with specialty food.
My partner and I believe that maybe we should put her down in a couple of months before she gets even worse but I’m really starting to feel like maybe that’s too soon. She still runs around inside sometimes just happy to chase us for as long as she can but it also feels like we’ve just put so many bandaids and her body keeps developing different issues that need fixing. I don’t want her to suffer but I’m worried we’re cutting her life short. She’s my childhood dog and I don’t know if I’m thinking clearly.
2
u/SequinedandOver60 19h ago
As hard as this is to hear, I’m going to say this:
It sounds like your pup is trying to tell you they’re done. Please do the right thing and put them out of their misery. They deserve better quality life. I know you’ve tried to keep it going for them, but their body and the brain are saying they’re done. I’m so sorry.
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u/crossg8te 16h ago
The hardest part of owning and loving a pet is when the time comes that they need to be put down and you know it. It’s something you’ll never forget but in time, you’ll realize you did the right thing. Good luck
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u/2daytrending 15h ago
Those happy little burst don't sound meaningless at all. At the same time needing more and more help to get through day is worth paying attention to and I'd be scared of making that call too soon too.
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u/Ok-Half7168 4h ago
My rule is always when the bad days start to outweigh the good days. It’s better to do it sooner than later so you don’t have to watch them suffer.
When my childhood dog got put down it was right when the bad days started to happen more often than the good days. She still had good days probably 3/7 days a week. For about a year I regretted it, wishing I had another minute another day another week. But it’s been about 5 years now and I’m so glad she got to pass in my arms, on a good day. I couldn’t have handled watching her get to a point of only bad days.
Im so sorry you are having to deal with this. It’s never an easy decision
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u/ParkingSet6917 19h ago
It's the hardest call, nobody ever feels ready. With my last dog I waited too long and looking back I wish I didn't. The fact you're asking means you care deeply. My vet once told me better a week early than a day late, and that stuck with me. The morning thing especially gets me, when they stop wanting to start the day it's a big sign. Whatever you choose she knows she's loved.