Pet question for animal lovers

[kkwis2]

First I'd like to say hi, I'm Kim. I am a huge fan of THE one and only Podcast and a bit of a lurker here but post more on the Budget Board. I'm posting here as I know there are many animal lovers here, including most of the Podcast crew....we all know how Theresa feels about her cats.

So my question:

How do you when it's the right time to put your pet to sleep? We have am almost 15 year old Springer that we got as an 8 week old puppy exactly one week after a we got married. To say that we are attached to her is an understatement. She was our baby before we had kids. She trained us in on the whole parenting thing.

For 15 years old, she's in darn good health. No one can believe she's 15. She still has puppy like qualities at times, but she sleeps a whole lot more (like 23 hours a day). She's getting pretty crabby in her old age and quite grabby when it comes to food. The hard part is that she is having a lot more accidents in the house. She doesn't know when she's pooping, so a couple days a week it ends up on the floor. That doesn't bother me so much since it's solid (TMI????), but now she's having more peeing accidents as well.

So from those with experience, how do you make that decision?

 

[Gigi22]

Well, it is kind of an empathy thing. In my experience they tell you that it is their time. You have to rely on your knowledge of your pet. But, they tell you. And it is clear--and then you have to be brave enough to follow through for both of you.
There is a unique and special beauty in having an older pet. I wish you both the best.

 

[daneenm]

CHeck out the other thread on the same topic. i will tell you that we had much the same experience with our 15 year old Beagle. First couldn't get outside fast enough to poop, then my carpet was ruined because she couldn't hold it long enough and would pee in the house.

Sadly, this went on for many months in our case. We had to keep her outside a lot more just to make it easier on all of us. This was tough on us since she was in the house most of the time since we brought her home at 10 weeks. It did not seem to bother her in the least. She loved to sleep on our back porch in the sun on her pillow.

She also was the most mellow dog as our children were toddlers (pulling her ears, etc.). However, in the last year, she was very sensitive to touch and would nip if something hurt her. This was compounded by the fact that she had lost her hearing and sometimes she would not realize we were there, so would think it was a 'surprise attack.'

It is so hard to see them age. Megan was our first baby and will always hold a very special place in our hearts. I didn't think there would be a point when I would 'know,' but there was.

I held her as she was put down and, as hard as it was, I was glad I was there to see her off after all of the wonderful time we had spent together. It was very peaceful.

 

[kkwis2]

Me again.

How ironic that I chose to post on this board, put up my post and then looked through the others posts to see that someone else had asked a very similar question. Weird timing.

Thanks to those who have responded!

 

[SrisonS]

I think that when a pet is totally not themself, you might wanna look into that option. Or if anything, have them checked out by a vet; in case something else is wrong.

I had to make that decision a few years ago; but we eventually found out that he had a health issue. I believe he was only like 8 or 9 (he was my wife's before we moved in together); but his habits totally changed. For one, he was a PIG, but eventually hardly ever ate; even though you could tell he wanted to. He was also laying in weird spots in the apartment. Actually, very normal areas; but places he's never sat before. But the really big issue was his bathroom problems. Not only would he poo on the floor... right in front of us, no less; but he would also pee in our bed. We thought he was acting out, becuase maybe he didn't think his box was clean enough.

After a while, we eventually took him to the vet. Come to find out, he had a softball sized growth inside of him. I'm pretty Joe Cool under most situations, but I've never felt so weak (physically from emotion) after seeing that x-Ray. He was such a lovable giant, but we couldn't let him suffer anymore. So that day, we went home without our Mickey.