I have a small dog, a lhasa apso. She'll turn 17 in May.

My family is starting to think about putting her down.

She's pretty much blind and deaf (not entirely, but mostly), she gets around mostly by smell.

We've noticed that these past few days she can't go down her stairs to her dog door to take care of her business anymore. She's starting to have "accidents" all over the house.

She does have arthritis and it's really hard for her to walk and move around, but we've been giving her medicine that helps a lot. On her medicine she gets around fine, she can even jump up on the couch when she wants to. The vet says she has some kind of heart condition that makes her do this gagging kind of thing sometimes, but that doesn't seem to cause her too much grief (yet).

Idk, when is it a "good" time to put an animal down? Is she suffering enough right now? She still receives sooo much love, and loves us back... I just feel like it isn't right yet.

I guess a fear is that she'll hurt herself trying to get down the stairs to get outside, when no one is home.

This post was edited by Dark_Joker on Mar 31 2015 07:29am

I think when it gets to the point where she is constantly in pain and struggling to do normal things.. Might be close to the end

If she is still eating normal and still have enjoyment in life, then you guys should keep her a bit longer.

Thanks for the response.

Yeah, I agree. I believe we're getting close to the end, but we're just not there yet.

I guess I'm just curious what you guys think the threshold point is. At what point is it time to make such a decision?

I feel like it should be when they simply can't function anymore. Can't move around, can't eat, etc due to pain or whatever.

It should not be a decision. Comfort her until the end.

I believe the biggest factor is eating and walking. If they can't do either on their own.. Might be time to put them to rest

Eating, drinking, sleeping, walking ... Pretty much if she can't do basic function without pain and agony, might be time

Yeah that's how I feel about it, but this feels like such a controversial issue.

I respect both sides of it. Granted she's not at this point yet, but I wouldn't want to see her suffer, and like you said if she can't even perform those basic functions then is she really truly living anymore? However, what gives me the right to decide when it should be her time?

I guess I'm just in favor of comforting her as long as possible and making the decision when the pain and immobility begin to dominate her life.

Thanks for the responses guys.

its problably the right thing to do, but i dont think i could do it

My dog was in same boat.he Was 16 was walking around in circles one night in so much pain had to put down not fair to animal only gonna get worse at that age.its not painful for them still tough to do

It sounds like with medicine her quality of life isn't effected too much. Shes able to get around, do what she wants without too many issues.
As long as she can go outside with medicine to take care of her bussiness, and not have to be carried everywhere... Then I would tell you you're right. Not yet.

An animal will let you know when it's time. No one can tell you otherwise.

a big problem is that she can no longer do this by herself, we do have to carry her outside. Which is becoming a problem, but we'll just have to adjust and adapt for it.

You guys have given good feedback, thank you. I feel like it's a difficult decision to make no matter what, but it is definitely not her time quite yet.