No one can answer this for you …
When I started off as a young vet I used to get phone calls or speak to people face to face to discuss when it was the right time to put their elderly or sick pets to sleep, I always found this is a difficult situation, and it has not got any easier as I get older, in fact it has got worse if anything.
This situation and how it is handled does vary from owner to owner, some seem to want their dogs or cats put to sleep too soon when I felt I could do something about it, and at the other side of the spectrum I often met owners who were keeping their pets alive in a sea of pain and confusion just for their own sakes. Dealing with this situation can be a heady mix of sentiment, anxiety and sympathy for the pet but a good vet has to stay detached and focus on what is best for the animal. This can sometimes lead to frayed nerves on both the part of the owner and vet.
My stock, one size fits all approach goes as follows : It does not really matter what disease your pet is suffering from, at the end of the day this down to you the owner, all you can do here is to assess your dog’s quality of life on a day to day basis and make sure it is not suffering too much. You must weigh up any pain and discomfort against any enjoyment the dog has, perhaps a small walk, perhaps the company of you the owner or another pet in the family, perhaps playing with a dog toy a little or just enjoying food and treats, these are all plus points. You are the owner, you are with the dog all the time and obviously care for your pet a lot so you must be the one to make the decision when the time comes, so listen to advice but do not let any one push you one way or another.
My experience is that caring owners like yourself just wake up one morning, take a look at the state of your dog and say enough is enough, on that day trust your instincts and on that day give your vet a call, you will not be wrong.
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