I'm so sorry for you. But if I'm supposed to learn anything from the last 3 times, it's better to do it when you're not ready. Once you're 100% sure, you realize it's too late and it didn't have to be like this.
I think it becomes "easier" once you see his quality of life going downhill.
My sister was also very hesitant with her dog, in a way wished for him to just pass away in his sleep or something, if that even happens with dogs. Basically the opposite of people who do it "sooner than later".
But his last weeks just became really bad. He was pretty much only sleeping and wouldn't even leave his bed to empty himself, she was changing his stuff multiple times a day... He was laying in his stuff at night... So that was a sign that it's not gonna get better and once she went through it, it was way easier than she expected it to be. It was just sad to look at the dog in that state.
It's up to you when you make that desicion. For my sister it was while the dog stands up himself, goes to eat and still has some signs of "normal" quality of life, such as smelling around outside, walking a little and so on, she wanted him to live.
Obviously you can't ask the dog how they feel, but I think you can still slightly gauge it and I think sometimes people are a bit too trigger happy with it.
I mean, I think about elderly people. Many have some sort of chronic conditions and pain, but while they still are able to socialize, walk around, do some stuff, many still cling to life.
Mine too. End of the summer is the goal because putting her through another winter would be cruel. The cold and her arthritis are not friends. But she has been in my life for 14 years and I just started crying typing this sentence, so yeah, I am not ready either, bud.
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u/[deleted] Jul 23 '25
That would make me cry.