Joined
·
1,315 Posts
At 17+ years old , I fear I will be facing this again all too soon with Chumlee. Makes me sick to my stomach and weepy just to type the words.
My last dog Sophie was 15+ years old and had been diagnosed with oral cancer. I know she also had a bit of dementia going on. We made a decision that when we saw that her enjoyment of life had obviously diminished, that would be the day.
I saw a couple of family dogs allowed to linger too long until I felt they had lost their dignity and I swore I would NEVER do that to any dog of mine.
We woke up in the morning and she seemed "off". Within a couple of hours we knew. She didn't grumble at the cat as she did every day. She had absolutely no use for the cat but she never hurt her. On this morning, Sophie allowed the cat to rub her head on her face and then the cat even groomed Sophie a little bit! Next she wouldn't let me out of her sight. She stared at me constantly and kept following me around although she looked so tired. As the final test I offered her some cheese, She never, never refused cheese. But that morning she wouldn't touch it. I made the call and we let her go later that day after spoiling her and loving on her to her last moment on Earth. Strangely, the cat followed her to the Rainbow Bridge a mere 10 days later.
I sometimes second-guessed myself and wondered if I should have decided sooner but honestly Sophie seemed quite happy and content until that day. That's the criteria I use. If life is more of a struggle than a joy for my dog, then it's probably time.
I'm praying that I will be brave when Chumlee's day comes in the likely not-too-distant future.
My last dog Sophie was 15+ years old and had been diagnosed with oral cancer. I know she also had a bit of dementia going on. We made a decision that when we saw that her enjoyment of life had obviously diminished, that would be the day.
I saw a couple of family dogs allowed to linger too long until I felt they had lost their dignity and I swore I would NEVER do that to any dog of mine.
We woke up in the morning and she seemed "off". Within a couple of hours we knew. She didn't grumble at the cat as she did every day. She had absolutely no use for the cat but she never hurt her. On this morning, Sophie allowed the cat to rub her head on her face and then the cat even groomed Sophie a little bit! Next she wouldn't let me out of her sight. She stared at me constantly and kept following me around although she looked so tired. As the final test I offered her some cheese, She never, never refused cheese. But that morning she wouldn't touch it. I made the call and we let her go later that day after spoiling her and loving on her to her last moment on Earth. Strangely, the cat followed her to the Rainbow Bridge a mere 10 days later.
I sometimes second-guessed myself and wondered if I should have decided sooner but honestly Sophie seemed quite happy and content until that day. That's the criteria I use. If life is more of a struggle than a joy for my dog, then it's probably time.
I'm praying that I will be brave when Chumlee's day comes in the likely not-too-distant future.
