What are the signs it's time to let go of my struggling senior dog?

When making the decision if it is time to say goodbye to a loved pet, I suggest making a list of 5 things Willie loves to do. If he is no longer able to do at least 3 of them, his quality of life has declined to a point where it may be time to say goodbye. It is never an easy decision to euthanize an animal, but it is in the best interest of that animal to do it when their quality of life declines significantly. Making these kind of decisions is something I help people with frequently, and I would be glad to consult with you further if that would help. You can press the "consult online" button under my answer if you would like to talk further with me.

What a hard decision for you to make! I work for a home euthanasia service, so I do face this question all the time with my clients. You need to look at Holly's quality of life. I typically suggest making a list of five things a dog loved to do; when they no longer do at least two of them, then their quality of life has declined to point where euthanasia should be considered. Given that she is incontinent, blind, can't hear well, stands in a corner and stares, and is losing weight, I would say her quality of life has declined quite a bit and it may be time to let her go peacefully. I would have a discussion with your vet about this, and I'm sorry you are in this position. I hope this helps!

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. I'm sorry you are having to deal with this issue. The right time to euthanize a pet is based on quality of life. If you feel his quality of life is diminished then it is time. In my opinion, no veterinarian will turn you away or judge you for wanting to euthanize her based on the information you provided here. Quality of life is based on many factors. You can check out this link as it may help you to make a decision. ( https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/sites/default/files/import/assets/pdf/hospital/companionAnimals/HonoringtheBond/HowDoIKnowWhen.pdf ) I hope this helps. Best wishes.

I’m sorry to hear that you were going through this with your old boy Maxx. It’s going to be a tough time for him and for you as you try to navigate his geriatric years. The most important thing to consider when making a decision like this is Maxx’s quality-of-life. If he is still mostly acting like himself, happy, enjoying going on walks, eating, and doing the things that he has always loved to do, then I would say his quality of life is good. If however he is lethargic, sleeps most of the day, and is grumpy or withdrawn from the family members, then his quality-of-life may not be as good. Based on your description of Max it sounds like he is not in pain which is a good thing. If Max is having more good days in a week then bad I would consider this a good quality of life. When you start to notice the good days are becoming further apart or he stops acting like himself it may be time to let him go. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

This is always a hard decision as our loved ones get older. My rule of thumb is to look for when they have more bad days than good days or they quit eating or quit getting excited about things that ALWAYS use to make them excited. From what you're telling me it doesn't sound like she is ready to be euthanized BUT you know her better than anyone and with her age and all of her problems, whenever you make that decision it will be be The Right time for her and you. She is so lucky to have such a loving family and to have lived such a LONG life. I hope this helps!

I hate to hear that about Tootsie. It’s always so hard to know when to let them go. I recommend to keep a daily calendar. At the end of the day mark if it was a good day, a bad day or a mediocre day. This will give you a concrete way to evaluate her overall quality of life. Things to look for are decreasing appetite or not eating, no longer enjoying the things that they used to enjoy, pain or isolating themselves. These are all quality-of-life indicators. I hope this helps you through your difficult time. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I am so sorry about Nubby. It definitely sounds like it is time for an exam/consult re: humane euthanasia with a veterinarian you are comfortable with. Yelping when moved, panting and shaking when at rest are likely signs that Nubby is in pain. Incontinence and inability to use her back legs are definite factors that diminish quality of life. Wishing you strength and love during this difficult time.