Is it time to put my dog to sleep?

My family has a 14 year old Yorkshire Terrior. He is extremely overweight (16 pounds) and blind. There are also odd growths on the top of his skin, like tumors (they apparently are not painful to him though) and he had kidney stones earlier in his life. He was also neutered when he got the kidney stones taken out. Over the past 3 or 4 months, it's been downhill, he will not take walks and refuses to bark at the door when he needs to go outside to do his business, which means he's constantly going to the bathroom in the house, on the carpet, everywhere, missing the puppy pads we bought for him. He has diarrhea and it smells horrible. He doesn't have any stamina and sleeps all day long. My family certainly doesn't want to put him down because we love him, but should we wait until he dies naturally? or put him down?

Is it time to put my dog to sleep?
First of all...I'm so sorry your doggie is going through this and also, because I know how hard this must be for both.





We too are going through a similar experience-our 17yr old Shi-Tzu is having senior dog health issues also and I'm in your shoes.





Best advise given so far is to see your Vet and get a medical opinion on whether or not the doggie has any quality of life.





Our little girl isn't in pain but she too is peeing everywhere, is blind and mostly deaf. However she still has a good appetite and drinks plenty of water. In our case we have decided to hold on for a bit longer. We try to make her life as comfortable as possible: lifting her to sit in her favorite spot high upon the sofa, carrying her up the stairs after being outside and giving her extra attention and love.


Condolences to your family.
Reply:put it out of its misery
Reply:I really am sorry to tell you this, but I think you should put him down. According to your description that dog is miserable, and if you are religious, he will be in a better place when he dies. So, yes I think it's time to put him down.
Reply:keep the dog wait until it is his time


until then try to get an other puppy from the shelter
Reply:It is sad but I would suggest putting him down because I think he would be much happier.
Reply:It sounds like he doesn't have much of a life at the moment. Sometimes putting a pet to sleep is the kindest thing you can do for them. After 14 years, it is hard to let go, but may be the best thing. You can be with him at the end.
Reply:That's a horrible thing for you to deal with. And I'm sorry you have to do it. But, if you love the dog, then you probably should. He sounds unhappy, and you wouldn't want to be miserable if you were him. Just go buy him a burger and some fries and give him a happy day. Then leave him with the vet to be put down. It's the right thing to do.
Reply:If there is no suffering let him die naturally. If there is suffering put him down. Is he fighting hard for his life? Trying hard to live? Chart down any signs of extreme pain. If the list get's over 20 signs in a week I would say put him down.
Reply:Have the vet check him out. But it sounds like its time to let him go. I'm sorry. :( If the vet says he should be put down, he'll do it right there as long as he has your permission.
Reply:I know this is hard... my friend just put her dog to sleep. I would say let him go. I know putting him to sleep will be hard but... put the dog out of it`s misery!!
Reply:Talk to your vet about it. If he is sleeping all day long and seems happy, and doesnt seem to be in pain or anything then there really isnt a need to put him to sleep. But ifyou think he would be in a better place then I guess it would be something to consider. I'm sorry to hear about it, and good luck
Reply:It sounds like it's time to let him go. It's never easy (I've done it way too many times for beloved but sick pets), but is it any easier to see him suffering and not able to do things he used to do?





This is a gift you can give him - to let him die painlessly and to finally *end* his suffering. In many cases we're not able to do that for humans.





Give him a last great meal (my dog got fried eggs served to her at the kitchen table), take him in and let him go. Then do something for yourself in memory of your friend. (I got a new piercing - whatever works, right?) You'll be sad for a while, no doubt, but given what you wrote it seems like the right thing to do.





Good luck.
Reply:Sounds like he is miserable. If i were you i would put him down, out of his misery. I know you love him but Your dog if you look at it sounds like he is already in bad shape IT is his time to go. Here is what you do to make it less painful spend a day with your dog treat it the best you can then when it is time to put him down there you go...you realize it is not a total loss at least you would have great memories...but i don't know it is up to you, just look at it from all angle's. Make sure you really want to do that or keep him till he dies.
Reply::( put him to sleep and out of his misery. i had to do it to my 18 year old shih tzu.. i hated to do it and i cried for weeks...she was a member of the fam but in the end she was suffering and that was worse to think of. The issues with diarrhea and smell are because the cancer is eating his body...he's already dying but slowly. Dont torture him. humans tend to selfish about this but dont put him through it!
Reply:What has your vet said? There are medications the vet can prescribe that will help with incontinence. The diarrhea can also be controlled. If this dog is in pain, or if he has no joy left in his life, I would have him put down. If he's ill enough that you think he should be put down, you can't put him through the misery of dragging it out and letting him die naturally over a period of perhaps many months. If you make the decision that it's time, it would be easiest on your dog to have your vet come to the house - no stress involved at all for your dog.
Reply:Well i think its the end of your poor dogs life and that if his strength is going downhill and he is sleeping all day, its best to put him down.





consider this: he is not going to get back to normal weight if he dosen't take walks, if he is blind then he is blind then he will not use the puppy pads because he can't see them, and most likley he will die a painfuol death because of those tumors on his skin.





I'm sorry but you will have to out him to sleep, its the most humane option and safest for the little guy.
Reply:I wouldn't let it die its self
Reply:hun u know in ur heart if the dog is miserable if ur heart aches for him then yes i would say its time.. jus remember all the good times dont be sad it over be happy u had the time u did with him.. dont feel bad for him if he is suffering which it sounds as tho he is then he will be going to a much better and peaceful place and he will have his younger body back he is better off sweetie jus make the decision and u will feel so much better cause u will know hes better off i know its hard but all things in life are hard when it comes to loving somthing and letting it go.. jus know in ur heart u are doin this because its best for him maybe not for u dont be selfish hun give him peace good luck sweetie
Reply:As a dog-lover -"Yes".





"Quality of life" is as important to animals as humans. We can instruct family, or make a "Living Will" that we don't want any surgery or treatment, etc.


Animals cannot. But there comes a time when their 'enjoyment of life'/"Pursuit of Happiness" is so limited it isn't really there.





I've got a 13yr old dog. It's Summer here and I leave the back door open. From 2 - 4am this morning, after a normal diet, he had severe internal problems I could hear from two rooms and a hall away. Then he'd get up and go outside.


Come Winter - I think it might be his time, if it continues.





Do you want to remember your loving, lively pet, or the frail one you're talking about now?





I always cry, but there does come a time.
Reply:sheepeshlysheepy I am sorry to say but your dog is suffering....


I...*sniffle* had ..........*sniffle* to put my dog to sleep to!!!





I luved him sooo much but he had all legs broken and couldn't walk ever again... when I went to sleep with him his eyes seemed so hopless and sad...





2 days later knew it was time...





Your dog is suffering and if u no wats best for him put him down..


Good luck....
Reply:I would take your dog to the vet and see what they say. He may be in pain. Maybe there are medications that can help. At that point you can make a better educationed desision. Playing God and having to choose the dogs fate is hard, especially to that of a member of the family.
Reply:It sounds as if the greatest act of love you can do for him is to euthanize him.


Think about it; how do you think he feels spending the rest of his life in this state? You know he's only going to get worse and not better.


Think about this too; instead of the last moment of his life feeling like this, you are giving him the opportunity to give the last second of his life pain-free as he slips away.


It's been nearly a year now, since I had to make that heart-wrenching decision with my cat, but I certainly do not regret the end to his suffering.


My best wishes of heart-healing to you!
Reply:Hi, I would definately put him down. He has lived a long life and when the quality of life is not there, that is a signal to the owner of the pet that it's time. If you let him die naturally you may be letting him suffer more than he has to. I watched my husband's dog die naturally and it wasn't a pretty sight. I felt awful for the poor animal. I personally had my cat put down because it had kidney failure and after taking care of it for 6 months doing treatments, he started to pee involuntarily whenever I picked him up. The next day I had him put down so he wouldn't feel anymore pain than he had to. It is a sad yet loving event to put down an animal. It shows the love that you had for your pet. I wish you the best. A new animal will help heal your pain. I have a new kitten now and he's a sweetheart.
Reply:i think that you should wait he may just have a really bad stomache virus id wait till it got worse so you wouldnt have to lose somthing so close to you.
Reply:I know it will be very hard, since you have been with he soon long, but you need to put him down. With our dog, it was so hard watching her go through everything, we wanted to help and take her pain away. Dogs aren't suppose to outlive us, which means a lot of us will have to make this kind of choice. Ask his vet for another opinion, just to have something to go by.
Reply:If he's not in any pain, I would let him live.Geez, listen to these people..If they had a family member who was getting old and slept a lot to go along with other things that comes with age, would they take them out back and shoot them too?!
Reply:I know that this is a hard decision for you, but do what your heart tells you to do. Also think about what you would want done in that situation, if you knew your time was near and you were basically on life support, would you want them to go ahead and let you go and stop holding on to something that was out of their control. Good luck and my deepest sympathy is with you and your family
Reply:First of all make sure you consult your veterinarian about his condition immediately, especially the tumors or growths. Lack of exercise and poor diet and nutrition that leads to obesity can/will lead to a shortened life. With the proper care cats and dogs can live into their 20's or even early 30's.





A lot has to do with heredity, environment, etc... so it's not a guarantee that any cat or dog will live that long but 14 really ins't that old... regardless of what some people may say. Unfortunately there are too many times where our pets just get too far along in an illness and there is little we can do.





If your pet is truly suffering and you feel this is your only option to end pain then this is a personal decision that no one in this group can make for you. It's a tough decision as well. You may also consider natural alternatives to possibly help turn his immune system around to fight any illness and start a natural diet (and NOT most of the poor quality food found in stores) to help with weight loss. Make sure to work with your vet immediately!





I hope it's not too late and I wish you the best for your companion.
Reply:I have had to be in the same situation my self. You have to realize your pet is in the last stages of life. To me its better to let them go and not suffer any more. The love you have for your pet will live on in your heart. You will always have good memories. But right now you need to step back and look at how he is suffering and ask your self is it worth having him to wait in this condition to die on his own? Cause you don't know when time will be. Let him die feeling no pain. Its hard to let go but your pet will thank you for it.
Reply:he definitely sounds like he is getting ready to go, but have you asked your vet if he is suffering? If the dog is not suffering, than I would say NO, you and your family will have to suffer through the smelly stuff and just love him until HE starts to suffer, then it will be time to put him down.