File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
/an/, how do you know when it's time to put a pet down?

I've had a lab/Dalmatian mix for almost 14 years now, so she's getting pretty far up there. In her youth, she was always kind of fat (I spoiled her), and due to breeding she has hip dysphasia, but she's always been healthy otherwise.

About 3 years ago she started losing weight. I assume it's just part of getting old. She has cataracts and, after a bout of ear infections, partial hearing loss. But, her quality of life has always seemed good enough, actively greeting family members, control over her bowel functions, healthy appetite, etc.

However, for the past couple of days she's just been falling all over the place. Her back legs don't seem to be working properly, but she doesn't show any signs of pain when I examine them. Has she had some kind of doggy stroke?

I don't have the money necessary to treat her, and even if I did, I doubt she'd live through any surgery. I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to take her to the local vet because about ten years ago she tore her ACL and, instead of suggesting surgery, they first suggested I put her to sleep. They're in the habit of killing dogs for little reason, and the only vet around.

It looks like her time is running out. How do I know when it's time to let her go?
>> Anonymous
Poor doggy. :( My condolences.

My first cat started going down due to heart failure, and we set her date for the end of the week. After a couple days, I bumped it up to 'a few hours from now' as she was starting to decline severely. Sometimes it just hits you and you can't help but go 'oh, it's time now'.