How do you know?
 

My little dog is 17 and having a bad night. He has bad days and then usually snaps out of it and has several good days, but each time it seems a little worse and he doesn't come back as strong. We have him on a special Kidney dog food, and blood pressure meds and diuretics. I know the time is soon. But how the hell do you know when it's time? There's a fine line between doing it too soon and waiting too long cuz you just don't want to let them go and be without them. I don't know what to do.

Re: How do you know?
 

I'm not real sure. I'm worried about my dog. He's a long haired, white German Shepard. He's 12 years old human years I believe. He's in so much pain because of his hips. I feel bad for him, but he's a part of the family. We've had him since he was 2 months old. :(

My dog's 17 too, he's a cocker spaniel... he's blind, deaf, has an impacted tooth and a cancerous tumor on his chin... but he can still run.

And 12 years old human years? Do you mean 12 years old dog years? One dog year equals 7 human years.

He's 17 which would be 119 if the 7 dog years = 1 human year theorey is correct.

And I do mean human years. He's 84 in dog years.

Its not a theory, it's a fact. But yeah, that's very old.

Considering the amount of dogs that must live to nearly 120 and comparing this to the amount of humans achieving same, I think it might be time to have a rethink and change the dog years equivalent to 6 per human 1.

:cool:

ask the vet, because they do a check and stuff, and give you a logical reason.

I know that's good advice, I'm just afraid of going to the vet and coming home alone. Shit now I'm bawling my stupid head off. I know the time is real close, but I just wish I could make the little guy healthy again.

Make him a happy dog as best you can, do lots of stuff with him that makes you guys happy, because it'll pay off when the time comes.