Watching your dog through the years, observing how he has slowed down, is common. It had to happen eventually. But there will come a time when your pooch’s quality of life will be visibly altered. They go blind; hips become displaced, and some other physical problems emerge with age.
You will need to ask yourself many questions, including if it will be kinder to let him go peacefully or hold on through thick or thin.
But – if the latter – will you be doing your pup a kindness by keeping him alive although he may be suffering?
You can always consult a veterinarian. Most will be very honest with you about your dog's continued good or bad health. However, they cannot make a life-ending decision for you. Vets will dole out the medications for as long as you think Fido will take them but eventually, even the doc will advise you enough is enough – it’s time for you to decide.
And that is when you will have to ask yourself pointed questions about your pooch.
After the break check out the questionnaire provided. Do the positives out-weigh the negatives? Be honest with yourself – and your furry family member.
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Nancy Class
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Bello
Katherine Velasquez
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Never
Cathlena C. Sutter Hinkle
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When you know they are suffering. Hardest thing to do. 🙁
James Surma
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Hardest thing I ever did
Dawn Hollars
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When the vet says there are no other humane options had to make this decision for my 2 pugs months apart. It was like letting go of my own kids. One had cancer and the other a trachea collapsed.
Cin Rucker
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I couldn’t and he gave up himself, I miss him
Brittany King
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Hailey Lyles
Tracey La Monica
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Hardest thing to do. No doubt. But in my case-she had severe organ failure and her BUN was so high it couldn’t be read. My baby girl. Darling Bud.
Nancy Prins
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I have put down 4 dogs over the years…each time it gets harder and harder. My baby is now almost 14, and that one will kill me…I talk to her often and ask her to go on her own some day or night…not sure I will be able to do it when the time comes
Henry Rios
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Elvia Leon Rios
Jason Mueller
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It’s hard to do even when it’d time
Deb Jervik Sommervold
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It is the hardest thing we ever did lost our pug last Oct miss him so much but know he is not suffering any more
Laura Good Whalen
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You absolutely must do it, she loves and depends on you to be there for her right to the end no matter how hard, we all face the heartbreak, and yes, I have lost 5 dogs over my lifetime and NEVER would I let one of my family members cross over on their own!
Rob Fiorello
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Cosmo had bladder cancer and other renal issues…I watched it unfold in a matter of four days…I just didn’t understand how it could all go so badly in so short a time…I have four little men, but I could have 40 and would love them all….God is truly lucky to have him, and I hope St Francis remembers his beloved “red velvet cake!” God Bless the animals, yours and mine!
Betty Winters
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This was my little Sassy girl,,,was blessed to have her 14,,years,,,had to say goodby 3 mos. ago,,
Jon Nicholls
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So sorry for your loss. It is devastating.
Nancy Prins
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Laura Good Whalen I know I will when the time comes….but just once I would like for one of my dogs to die in their sleep when I am asleep or at work 🙁
Johnny Elizondo
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When is it time? I am owner of 2 pugs (kids).
Dot Griffiths Dallaire
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I do not want to think about this now!! My Milo Man will be 13 in July and still seems pretty healthy – he plays with toys, runs(trips up the stairs trying skip some).
Jennifer Kemler Kaski
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I have 2, my girl got diabetes this last fall and is now blind, she is 11 will be 12 in September. My boy is in good health and will be 10 in April. I know one day they will both break my heart, but I can’t imagine not having had them in my life. So I enjoy what ever time I have with them
Carol Person
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I don’t even want to imagine
Giovanni Rivas
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Ashley Moore savage.
Giovanni Rivas
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❤️
Helen Diamond
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It’s the hardest most heartbreaking thing ever…we have lost a couple over the years and each one hurt ….our last one Tara went in her sleep in bed with us 2 yes now and we miss her everyday. …we cannot get another one we live with our daughter who has a 140lb Rottweiler and our health is very poor….so please enjoy every minute you have with your little one xo
Ashley Moore
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That is terrible….. 🙁 <3
Giovanni Rivas
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I’m sorry
Velinda Sinkler
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My baby girl Myah… She had a seizure I took her to the vet they couldn’t do anything for her. She had no prior symptoms to this…. She was brain dead… It was the hardest thing I ever had to do… I miss her everyday… I lost her this Feb.13th… 🙁
Greg Guter
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Its never goodbye. Its “until later my deerest friend”
Wilhuff Tarkin
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I can’t read this without crying
Nikki Smith
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Jesse Brown
Sheila Linderman Maracle
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When nature takes them over the Rainbow bridge! They are mine for life.
Jeff Mathis
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Agreed
Thomas Boettcher
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Unfortunately they don’t live forever so love them everyday. ❤️
Arthur Chao
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I lost my first pug two years ago. Everyday I always think about her. I have one pug left and he is almost 7. Both were my babies. I carry her dog tag with me everyday so she is always with me.
Renee Hardy
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My old Manny. 13 this year. Still has$#%&!@*
Rob Fiorello
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God Bless her, and you!
Mary Brewton
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I also lost my pug it wil be three years in June, It was by far the hardest thing that I ever did, I miss him so , I still cry over him being gone, But I know that I did what was best for him, rest in peace Howie, love you and miss you.
Lorraine Lynn Smith
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2/2/2012 I had to put down my 16yr old pug Blue. Worst day of my life. I think of him daily. Even had to go to counseling for a while afterwards. He was the reason I kept going. Now he’s just around the corner on Rainbow Bridge waiting for me.
Kristina Murphy
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My Tinker has epilepsy too. My biggest fear is that I won’t be there
Lorraine Lynn Smith
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I have my little boy Blues tag on my key chain. It’s been 4 years & my heart aches as if it were just yesterday.
Theresa Horne
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So sorry!
Angela White Grammer
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Our Vet told us you will know when it is time. We had to make that decision 7-2-14 for our PugGirl Katie. She was 14 years 3 months to the day. It was also my birthday. You know that you can’t let them struggle and suffer. Still breaks my heart to this day but she knew we loved her and we did what was best for her. You will know.
Beth Hewitt
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That pic looks like my Petey &Skittle. I lost both pugs ( my best friends ) January 2015. Petey had a tumor & Skittles kidneys were failing. They were raised together & they crossed the bridge together. My love for them had to be bigger than my selfishness. They were miserable & not eating. It was time. Hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I miss them so much.
Sean Gleason
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If you are a dog lover, you will know when it is time. And you will be 100 percent right. I lost 2 of my babies on the day I decided it was time. They went by nature on their own. I always wonder if I should have made my decision a little sooner, but the lesson I learned is, when it’s time, you’ll know ow, and you will be 100 percent correct. It’s the hardest thing you can ever do.
Jeff Sinkler
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Yes Velinda Sinkler I miss my princess myah not snuggling with me on couch she’s the second female we’ve lost and it’s so hard to let go
Alejandra Leota Manning
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My family lost our baby girl from parvo, her name was Beans. I talked it over with my siblings who were 16 and 17 almost 18, and we decided to have her put to rest even though she was only 1 because her body wasn’t expecting the medicine. And they had her on a solid morphine drip in her IV she was in really bad shape. I made the decision to sign the papers for them to put her to rest because our mom was in the hospital and my dad was working and we couldn’t get ahold of him. When he found out he was saprised i was that stong that i did what was best for her.
Dixie Vance
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Mary Brewton: I have been wondering this very question for almost a year. We have an older dog and I worry about her. It doesn’t seem as if she is in pain, but she certainly does have trouble walking. Thank you for this article
Stephanie Swanstrom
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Alicia Lisa Minger-Marsh does Sean know about your fundraiser?
Julie Peterson
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Hardest thing I’ve had to do, but he developed congestive heart disease and was having problems breathing and had stopped eating. Helped him to heaven last week, this has left me feeling so empty!
Joe Vegas
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What a horrible thing to ask!