Hi all! I'm hoping to get in contact with other animal lovers facing the same thing I am. I have six rescued dogs. All of them are older dogs, the youngest is five years old. Four of the six dogs have serious health problems ranging from severe arthritis to congestive heart failure. I know I probably won't have much longer with some of them, and they've all had really good lives since I adopted them. (They are TERRIBLY spoiled!!) But I just can't imagine THAT DAY.

I'm most concerned about my little precious girl, Kiara Dawn. She's a Border Collie who'll be 9 years old this spring. She has been through so much. Her thyroid doesn't work, she has arthritis in her back legs and she's had a cancerous tumor removed from her mammary glands. The vet said she's doing okay for what she's been through but I worry that she's in pain and I don't realize it. She has her good days, when she acts like everything is fine. And then she has her bad days, when she doesn't get off the bed except once to go to the bathroom. I've made a ramp up to the bed to make it easier on her, but she has trouble getting outside. Sometimes the boys (all my other dogs) knock her down while she's trying to get outside. I've started making her go last so they won't do this, but I worry so much about her - even in the house. Over Christmas, she was doing very poorly. I didn't expect her to survive to the New Year. But I couldn't make that decision to put her down when I didn't know if she was ready. I'm glad I didn't because she's really perked up since then, but I know it's just a matter of time. I guess what I'd really like to know from others who have had to make that decision is what do you look for? The vet said when she can't eat or go outside at all and talked alot about the "quality of life" but I can't seem to logically decide when that should be. Sometimes she just seems like a grand old lady who's slowing down. Any advice I could get from others who have been there with older pets would help me immensely. Thanks!

people have their own stories and advice, i will start by showing you some articles to read. welcome to the site

http://lightning-strike.com/forum/index.ph...php?act=SF&f=11

Hi Kiara's Mom,
I am so sorry you are having to think about this. I believe it is one of the most difficult decisions any of us will ever have to make. I will answer on a more personal level later, but for now, I ask that you please go into Death and Dying Support Forum. At the top of that section, you will see another section entitled "Support Resources and Articles." There are some good articles about this there. Also, I strongly suggest you read the old posts in Death and Dying and elsewhere on this site. You will note that many of the posts have "titles" such as "I just want her back;" " . . . feeling so guilty," etc. Please, please read and read and read all of the posts on this subject, PLEASE.

While you know you will miss your child so very much and can't bear the thought of being without her, you cannot really know just how much you will miss her until she is really gone from this earth and from your arms. Pray a lot, read/research a lot, and talk to Kiara about it all too. There is an article in one of the sections I've mentioned that discusses animals thoughts on euthanasia.

You are in my prayers and so is your baby and all your other little ones.
Marcia

Hi Terri, The vet told me I would know when it was time. I did not understand what made him be so sure. I asked him to tell me how I would know. He said we know our pets better than anyone else and we would just know. He could not explain it.

Well after my precious Snookie kept getting so sick and recovering I saw a difference the last time. She became to ill to eat and could not hold her water down. Snookies wonderful eyes that were always so full of love had a look that told me she was ready to go.

I can't explain it myself but I just knew when she was ready. It was like looking into her soul and seeing the desire to be set free. At the same time her eyes told me she did not want to leave me but she was to ill to fight anymore. So I just knew.
Ann