I've had my dog since i was in elementary, we've had her for around 12 or 13 years now. A golden retriever's typical lifespan is around 12-15 years.
Since she was our only pet until just months ago when we rescues an abandoned cat, she has become emotionally attached to all of us, like a family member.
Now, the days aren't so bright for her. She looks tired, you can see it in her eyes... she seems lost lost... and sometimes it seems like she is partially blind or deaf.
Sometimes she doesn't notice you, or looks at you like you are a stranger, and now she doesn't even respond when you call her name several times.
She isn't even able to go downstairs anymore, she would fall and someone would have to carry her back up - and she's a pretty big dog.
She used to be able to get into the back of the jeep by herself, but now, we would have to carry her or put her in the kennel and lift the kennel into the jeep.
Throughout the day, she has trouble walking, and recently she has had a tendency to fall while walking around the house or just falling into her food and water bowls while eating or drinking.
We have talked amongst each other several times about euthanizing her, and it is a hard subject to think about, but we all know that she isn't going to get better from her current health.
Every time we talk about it though, it seems like she has found new life and doesn't seem as tired for a while... and it just makes us feel worse about even thinking about it.
Every day, I wake up and check the dog, because I'm afraid that one day I'll come upstairs and she won't be breathing anymore... and another fall down the stairs could possibly be her last.

So I guess my question is, how would you justify yourself about euthanizing your dog that you've had since you were a kid, and how would you deal with it afterwards?

mortality.
growing up you heeded to see more death to be able to let go out loved ones.

if she is suffering then you help her to avoid further suffering
but if she is just getting weaker but still enjoying life nurse her as long as possible
hope she sleeps in your room

if you decide to euthanise, hold her while she falls asleep, she deserve not to die alone
and afterwards (any way she leaves you) remember the good times with her
she'll be waiting at the rainbow bridge

weaker, slower, forgetful...
earlier, she walked in front of me and just stood there, as if she was looking through me, not at me. i was holding my arms out towards her and calling her name, but it's like she didn't even notice me.
about 5 minutes later, she walked around me in a circle and walked out of the room, which broke my heart... but she came right back in the room a couple minutes later and laid her head in my lap, which brought me to tears.
she used to sleep in my room, but my room is downstairs, and she can't even get down there anymore. my house is built on a hill, so upstairs and downstairs are both at ground level.
if we ever had to go to that point of euthanizing her, i would just have to be in the room... i don't think i would be able to not be there at the end.
i'll always remember the best times with her. my brother moved out over a year ago but video calls on skype every now and then, and he almost cried just seeing how she looked and how much she's changed.
... rainbow bridge

that just means she is getting older and closer to the end
and perhaps her vision and hearing is starting to fail
but usually if dogs (and other animals) feel that the time has come they will try to hide
have you been to a vet lately?
vitamin supplements might help her feeling better

btw, i would either carry her downstairs or sleep somewhere upstairs to be near to her

ps:

The Rainbow Bridge is the theme of a work of poetic prose written some time between 1980 and 1992, whose original creator is unknown. The theme is of a mythological place to which a pet goes upon its death, eventually to be reunited with its owner.

pps:

http://www.irishsettercanada.org/rainbow20bridge1.jpg

This post was edited by brmv on Mar 4 2013 06:11am

how so?
she has normally walked behind furniture or into corners and just stand there a lot recently and it's hard for her to back up now, so she's stuck there until someone moves the furniture or actually moves her.

last time we took her to the vet was for some growth on her foot, the vets didn't know what it was.
they said they could take a sample and ship it somewhere to get it tested, but they also said they wouldn't perform any surgery to get rid of it - know what it is and do nothing about it, worthless vets here.



i've never known her exact weight, but i'm guessing that she's between 70-90 pounds, and she squirms a lot when she is being carried... not good while going down 9 steps, turning, and going down 7 more.
i've wanted to sleep on the couch several times, but my parents yell at me and give excuses such as "you're gonna sweat on the couch" or "we just got you a new bed set" and such.

she's also been losing a lot of hair, and you can see the extreme hair loss on her legs and feet.

she takes her monthly heart guard medicine, and i gotta check if she got it for this month or not yet. i'll suggest vitamins tomorrow (10:30 pm for me right now)

we were going to bring her to the vet today because her foot was bleeding last night, but we ended up not going. it seemed like she was biting foot or something.

This post was edited by Hobo on Mar 4 2013 06:33am

not a good sign if she has pain when you carry her - sorry to have to say this
heartworm prevention? - probably not worth taking anymore if she does not go out, forget about that poison
adelaide?

ps: get a sleeping bag and sleep on the floor

This post was edited by brmv on Mar 4 2013 06:49am

more like fear of being carried, not pain.
not sure, she goes outside several times a day.
?

i'll probably do that some time, not today though, got an early class tomorrow >_<

outside on you lot or furthe? heartworm prevention only needed if she mingles with other dogs

re "?"
with your time @ 10:30pm above sounded like south australia

This post was edited by brmv on Mar 4 2013 06:59am

outside in the yard, she doesn't go too far at all. sometimes she just stands in the garage.
she has never been good with other dogs, she chases all other dogs away - even though she can hardly run after them anymore.
heartworms can be transmitted through mosquitoes though? at least that's what i saw in my 2 minute google search >.>
dunno what adelaide is. - OH LOL it's a place
on an island, not in aus.

This post was edited by Hobo on Mar 4 2013 07:09am