How do you know when it’s time if they’re still happy?
My soul dog, a labrador cross, is 13. He is part of my heart living outside my body, and he is dying. I don’t know how to survive this.
He’s on weekly ketamine now for arthritis pain. Gabapentin, paracetamol and codeine as well. His stomach doesn’t tolerate NSAIDs.
He has severe muscle wasting on his back legs. He’s losing muscle on the front legs too. I can see all his ribs, his legs are like wee twigs. He’s been having overnight toilet accidents for about a year, and he eats it if I don’t get there fast enough.
He needs lifted up a lot now. Falls over/gets stuck a few times a day. He can walk a little bit but has a buggy for walks (which he loves). Has to be carried pretty regularly, over any steps etc.
But… he’s still going out his little walks, eating and drinking, toileting, asking for treats or his ball to chew. He seems happy on his little adventures but he pays for them later with exhaustion and pain. When do you know it’s time if you think your dog *isnt* going to tell you? I’ve booked him in for June 3rd - but I don’t know if it’s too early, I’m just terrified of it being too late and him going off his legs completely, being terrified and having to do it in the vet office instead of at home. I don’t want him to suffer and he is in pain despite all the meds, plus his back legs barely even work now.
What do I do? When is the right time? I can’t stop crying, I feel like I’m failing him. Please help me, I really can’t do this alone.