How do you know when it's time to put down a dog?

My dog is 15 years old (would be 16 in August). She currently lives with my mother because my neighbors would call the police during the day if my dog barks. She has been pretty deaf for a little while but now she can't really see it seems (her eyes do look pretty cloudy). She will go to the bathroom in the house all the time now too which she never used to do. According to my mom she drinks lots and lots of water which is making my mother think something may be wrong with her kidneys. Very recently my mom also said that my dog can't really stand up and walk around very well (her back legs will be very wobbly I guess). She says the dog doesn't make any noise like she's in pain or anything though. She also says the dog will seem confused (one example was her standing in front of the dishwasher as if she is wanting to go outside).

I will be flying home in two weeks for a visit but my mom is talking about having her put down when I'm there because of all of the above problems. I don't want to regret putting her down without knowing that it was actually the right decision.

I just try to think of this like how a human would be. If you can't see and can't hear, how would you know where to go to get someone's attention to let you outside? If your back legs aren't strong enough to really walk around, why would you try to walk around to go to the proper place to actually go to the bathroom? It all just seems to be kind of sudden. I saw my dog when I was home for Thanksgiving and I don't remember her making any messes in the house or acting wobbly just walking around. She has struggled a little with stairs for a little while though.

Thanks for any input

Thats tough!

I would tallk to the vet. Take a proffesionals opinion into consideration. You are considering qaulity of life, I commend you. To many people do not do that and keep the pet around for their own selfish reasons.

I really don't know what to say, but good luck in your decision.

If you and your veterinarian can't do anything to help your dog and he/she can't function on their own anymore, it's time.

The quality of life thing is rough because you don't know how happy your dog is. A dog can be the most happy just being petted and sweetly talked too.

FYI, I know a veterinarian and she says sometimes when you think a dog can't go any farther, they "bounce back" and live months to years longer.

When you and your dog feel its time. I mean that is such a deeply personal decision. My friends are going through this right now and outside input is pointless. They take turns caring for the dog and are discussing the matter privately.

They tend to give you that look that it's time.

My dog went back n forth acting fine then the next day unable to walk. I carried her up the stairs for a few days to go to bed. Then one day b4 the kids left for school she just layed down in the kitchen and her bladder let go. I told the kids to say goodbye as that was the last sign.(She had'nt done that in 14 yrs). Yes you can see the pain and read the "Im ready now " in their eyes. The vet said please come in now as its not pretty when they go into convulsions etc when you just let them pass on their own. Held her in my arms and told her thanks for helping me raise 3 kids, and how much I loved her. I figure there has to be room in heaven for pets that bring us such joy.....
Sorry its not easy no matter what you decide

Quote from missk66 : My dog went back n forth acting fine then the next day unable to walk. I carried her up the stairs for a few days to go to bed. Then one day b4 the kids left for school she just layed down in the kitchen and her bladder let go. I told the kids to say goodbye as that was the last sign.(She had'nt done that in 14 yrs). Yes you can see the pain and read the "Im ready now " in their eyes. The vet said please come in now as its not pretty when they go into convulsions etc when you just let them pass on their own. Held her in my arms and told her thanks for helping me raise 3 kids, and how much I loved her. I figure there has to be room in heaven for pets that bring us such joy..... Sorry its not easy no matter what you decide

i hate u for making me cry

it's one of the hardest decisions you'll ever have to make. You have to think about quality of life, but also use common sense.

When we had to put our cat down, it was 2 days before Christmas. We so wanted to keep him through the holidays. He hadn't eaten in days and was starting to refuse to drink water as well. He was dehydrated and blood work found that he was in the beginning stages of renal failure. We weighed our options and asked the vet how much time he had, and he said it was a matter of days. We were spending almost $300/day in vet bills and he wasn't getting any better, if not worse.

The night before we put him down, I found him hiding in a closet. He never did anything like that normally. The look he gave me made me realize that he knew what was happening to him.

Enjoy every minute you have with him.

Quote from skipadedodah : That's tough! I would talk to the vet. Take a professional's opinion into consideration. You are considering quality of life, I commend you. To many people do not do that and keep the pet around for their own selfish reasons. I really don't know what to say, but good luck in your decision.

It's sad to have to say goodbye, but even worse to consider how much suffering may be going on that you don't know about. Does the dog have regular veterinary care? It might be something that can be easily treated to make the dog's final days/months/years more comfortable. Either way, take the dog to a vet for a check up and ask their opinion. They're not in the business of killing animals - it's bad for the bottom line. So if your vet says "it's time" you know they speak the truth.

Quote from Mad Scientist : FYI, I know a veterinarian and she says sometimes when you think a dog can't go any farther, they "bounce back" and live months to years longer.

Sorry, but personally I do not think I could ever trusts the Vets opinion on this subject.

They get $200 to put it down, or $2000 or more to keep it alive. It is ALWAYS in their best interest monetarily to keep it alive, so on the off chance they actually DO say you should put it down, the dog would have to be a day from dying anyway.

Quote from RUsum1 : Thanks for any input

It's a tough choice, but an easy one and you already know the answer.

Think...it is your dog but hasn't lived with you for at least 7+ months. It can't control when it goes to the bathroom or can't figure out the proper place to go to the bathroom. It can't hop and play and follow around the family like a good ol' dog, can't go outside for the smells and heck...can't really walk you said...plus your parents are left with the messes.

I have never had to answer that question, but you need to help the pup out.

If you decide to not put the dog down, you should find somewhere else for it to live. That is a big burden to put on your mother. It could be very tramatic for your mother if the dog passes away while in her care.

Best of luck. I know it's a hard decision to make. Be strong and make the right choice even if turns out to be the harder choice.

First, I wish you the best.

My first MinPin, Miles became diabetic between 8 and 9 years old. I had him at the vet all of the time. It was very hard to get his sugar regulated and he needed bloodwork and ultrasounds on a regular basis. We gave him insulin shots twice a day and finally had him stable. He was happy, he played, enjoyed his food, and acted normal. After about a year he was diagnosed with Cushings. The vet told me she could treat him with a cancer med but his sugar would go out of control and we may not have been able to get it under control. At this point he had developed cataracts from the diabetes and started loosing teeth. He went through a whole lot for a small dog.

I was devastated. I wanted to do right by him. I talked to my family and even the vet agreed that the Cushings treatment would probably be very harsh on him......the main point was.....he would never be cured of either. Just treated. So, I made the choice not to treat the cushings. I remember coming home from work very late every night and just laying next to him on the floor, petting him, telling him how much I loved him, and just cried.

I will never forget the day it was time. This July will be 4 years. I went to feed him in the morning and he was stumbling. He did not want his food. So my husband made him rice and hamburger. He turned away from that. And the way he looked at me that day, I will never forget. I could see it in his eyes that he was telling me he couldn't do it anymore. He looked so sad, a look I can not explain but I knew.

I could not take him to the vet. My husband and sister brought him. The vet called me when they got there and told me, "Miles is now suffering." I asked her is there anything at all, anything to save him. She said we had done everything and there was nothing else. I told her that since he was suffering, to let him go rest in peace.

It was one of the hardest things I've done. I basically crumbled. He was my boy and I did my best. But the one thing I always said was that I didn't want him to suffer.

I miss him and love him to this day. But I know he's in a better place without pain.

Quote from Moot-N-Me : And the way he looked at me that day, I will never forget. I could see it in his eyes that he was telling me he couldn't do it anymore. He looked so sad, a look I can not explain but I knew.

You make it sound like it haunts you...

sad, scary story.

Quote from Curtieson : You make it sound like it haunts you... sad, scary story.

No, it doesn't haunt me.

When I think about that day, the memory is vivid. It sucked. He was loved and I miss him. That's all.