How to prepare?

now online

Please be gentle with me, I'm actually crying posting this.

I've a beautiful nearly 15 year old yorkie who's shared most of the biggest events in my life who's health is failing him.
His eyesight is gone his hearing isn't good either and he can't always control his bladder. What we call his senior moments. He sleeps most of the day but when he's awake he just alternates walking around in circles or stands starring into space.

A few days ago he started to struggle to get up from his bed his back legs were giving him trouble, but funnily enough he's walking fine on the lead.
He's in meds for arthritis but right now this isn't agreeing with him causing him to have an upset tummy.

Half of me is saying because I love him so much, I should let him go. The other half wants him to go peacefully in his own time.
Right now he's happy and content sitting in my lap but watching him walking into things and losing control is breaking my heart.

I've two young kids who also adore him, I've been trying to tell them gently he's an old man who won't last forever. They don't agree.

I guess my question is how best to prepare both them and myself.

I'm waiting till after the weekend to bring him to the vet and if he tells me he's suffering then I'll have to make the right decision for him.

jellybear

What a heartbreaking post

I'm so sorry you're going through this but all you can do is enjoy every second with him. Plenty of cuddles, lots of tasty food for him.and maybe a trip to his favourite place- the park, beach etc.
Create lovely memories so that when you look back you will know you gave him the very best life possible and that his days were filled with love and care.

I often say that what gets me through difficult times when my beloved pets have passed away is knowing that we gave them the best life possible and that they wanted for nothing. They could have lived a very different life tied up outside all day, no love or care if someone else had owned them but, they didn't.

Enjoy your time with him and spoil him rotten. If at the end of the day making that decision is what's best just know that it's the last kind act you can do for him. Will be thinking of you. X

janmaree

My heart goes out to you, I truly mean that, I have walked in your shoes and nobody really knows until it's their turn. No amount of preparation can make it a painless parting but it does seem that you have done your best for both your pet and your kids. I was especially touched by how you say he shared so much with you, it was the same with me and losing our little dog was a double wrench of loss as I looked at her and saw my Mum's hand resting on her head as she sat by Mum's chair. Mum is gone, our little dog is gone too and it keeps on hurting. It's impossible to accept at the time but that hot, soul consuming pain starts to ease as we go along and the shocking disloyal thought of having another dog changes to feelings of thanks to them for being so loving and unconditionally accepting of all our frailties. They're wonderful ambassadors for having a pet and we owe them so much for that. I couldn't possibly advise you on what to do, I think you have things under control and will do what only you can know is right, and when. All I can do is send you good thoughts to help you endure and let you know that it will pass and that things will get better in time. And when you reach that stage and find yourself looking into the smiling eyes of another furry face, you will meet again. Take care. J.

Gael23

I’ve been here and I know exactly how this feels. Only you and your vet know when his quality of life has declined unacceptably.
To answer your question there’s no real way to prepare yourself. But you can console yourself with the fact that you had him for 15 years which very good going and that you done everything possible and gave him a really good life.

I always wanted mine to go in his own time too and unfortunately that didn’t happen but something I’ll always remember is when our vet told us he wasn’t going to get better he assured us that we had done everything possible for him and that meant a lot.
All I can add for now is to spoil him a bit more than usual and make the most of the time you have left

aonb

Sound like a bit of dementia (staring into space, walking in circles) which with the incontinence, is the hardest thing to watch OP.
As mentioned earlier, only you can make this decision, but you know that the time is coming, and you know that you love your little dog so much, you cant see him continue if his quality of life deteriorates, you know too that keeping him because it hurts too much to help him on his way is not fair to him.
You need to sit down and tell your children that your dog is very old, and really not very well, so he may not be around for very much longer. Have they experienced a death in the family, that they could relate to? When we lost pets, Ive found that the children were quite stoic, and we planned 'funerals' which seemed to make it easier for them to accept.
As for yourself, you're going to be loosing a member of your family, and a good friend and comfort. Its hell, its horrible, but your little dogs quality of life or pain levels, are all that matter, and if you do have to decide to PTS, it will be a consolation that you did your last final duty for your beloved pet.

now online

Just wanted to say thanks for all your kind words. Wilson went to doggy heaven yesterday. I know it was the right thing to do for him. He had a great and happy life and he'll always live on in our hearts.

Baybay

So very sorry for your loss.

janmaree

I too am very sorry for what you're going through, little Wilson sounds like quite a guy. I think you were lucky to have each other. J.