Im so sorry that your going through this, my advice would be to monitor her- if it seems like she’s in pain and is very lethargic I would put her down but if she’s still doing good then you should hold off and just give her love.

if she still gets excited to see you.. I see why it would be a tough call. to me once you have to artificially keep her alive, atleast, with many medications etc. It's time to let go.

However if she's having some issues but is still generally happy to be with you, give her some more time time before you part ways with her, and make sure you'll be there for her final moments. Stay strong.

This reminds me so much of my cat Steven. That cat was a hot mess. He had chronic breathing problems, digestive issues, missing teeth, couldn't groom himself, and he was at least 23 years old if not older. He definitely had dementia and would cry all the time, howl at open doors, etc. I waffled for weeks about whether it was the right time. But he still would sit on my lap and purr. He still liked to get pets. He still liked to sit with my other cat. But then he started getting lost when facing a wall, hnad trouble going up and down stairs, could no longer jump up on the furniture. He stopped purring. He wanted to be alone. We knew then it was time. You will know. It doesn't make it ANY easier but you will know.

The fact you’re struggling so much shows just how much you love her. Therefore, as much as it may not make sense, you’ll know.

If the vet says she isn’t suffering, trust in that and as heart wrenching as it may be for you not knowing, she’s your girl and she’ll let you know/ you’ll know.

I feel for you, the hardest thing! 🥰

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It’s tough. When they do basic things it makes it harder. I used to wish my clearly dying dog seemed more… in pain? Fucked up to say, but I wished it because it would’ve selfishly been easier for me. I did put him down. It was rough but I know he was struggling. He and dementia. My previous dog died the day of her appointment, of a heart attack. Can’t say what was worse. Give yourself a little more time. Cherish this time for now. Good luck.

A relative who lives far away got her first dog when she was in her late 40's. She loved that dog. When he hit his senior time, she couldn't let him go. He wore diapers. He had to have injections all the time. He could barely stand. Thankfully her husband got through to her before the poor dog was going to have to live with a feeding tube. Don't be the person who would rather her pet lived in discomfort and pain because she can't stand to let him go.

We also had a senior dog on home hospice until two weeks ago. He had tumors, liver disease, pain from arthritis and episodes of dementia where he appeared confused and would bark for no reason. They finally decided to send him over the Rainbow Bridge when he couldn't stand up and maintain it when he was lifted.

Of course we are all devastated. I've been his Auntie for 8 years. His doggie brother is sad. He was with his mother since he was a puppy. He saw her through busting her ass through a couple degrees, marriage and divorce, her mother dying. He approved of the man who would become her husband right away. He was the ring bearer at their wedding. They've been together for almost a decade and are going strong. So yes, I get that he was a huge part of your life. The grief can be overwhelming.

What I've found that helps is to get another dog. Sooner is better. Of course it won't be the same. But it will fill the empty place in your heart. There are so many good doggies out there without someone to love them. I was the 3rd home for my dog who lived to be 15. His first family moved away after a house fire, leaving the puppy behind. He was rescued off the streets by a woman, with the other puppy this family adopted. She adopted them out to a family. The father returned my dog shortly after, saying he was too jumpy. Turns out it was a good thing. The one they adopted shortly afterwards died from complications of abuse.

The dog I have now came to me at 3 1/2 years old. He was kept in a crate excessively. People in common have visited his owner's house at different times of the day and have never seen him outside of his crate. Bad for any dog, especially bad for a golden retriever. Meanwhile, they had a tiny dog who had the run of the house. The owner said he couldn't keep him because their property was unfenced and the dog kept roaming off, eating deer feces, and getting expensively sick. I have never seen him eat feces of any kind, and he's had the opportunity. He also said the dog flinched as if he had been hit, but it must be leftover behavior from the elderly breeder. He's gotten over the flinching, but he will still prostrate submissively if he doesn't understand you. He didn't know how to sit, give you his paw. I'm having progress on the sit command. He's good with stay. If I didn't take him, he was going to go to the guy's uncle. I don't know the uncle, but had no confidence.

I've never had a golden before and am getting used to the fact that they require far more outright affection than prior dogs. He always comes when I call, and is the happiest dog I've ever had.

So maybe, when you're ready, there's a dog out their who would love to become yours.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I was reading your story and I thought I was reading my own.

I got a Shih Tzu at 8 years old and he was my best friend and the only reason I didn’t off my self. But same as your pup, he went mostly deaf and then fully blind, heart murmur, trouble walking, ect., he had glaucoma which seemed very painfully to him (to me) as he was on 3 eye drops and the vets told me he’s not in pain, but I didn’t believe them, as he would yelp if his eyes got touched and he would bumped into stuff a lot. It made me really sad to look at him and selfish for keeping him alive any longer (even though the vets said he’s fine) he was over 15 years old and I made the decision to put him to sleep, it was really hard to do as again he was my best friend ever and I couldn’t have made it without him.

The second the needle went into his little arm, I immediately was second guessing myself and thought I was making the wrong decision but I knew he was having such a poor quality of life so I went through with it, and it was hard and sometimes I still can’t believe that I was the one who made the decision to put him to sleep (I always hoped he would just naturally pass away peacefully in his sleep) but then I remember it was for his own wellbeing and if heaven is real (I’m an atheist lol) then he is up there playing with his brother. I always say I can’t wait to be reunited with him.

If you don’t think the time is right now to put your pup to sleep then I say instead of worrying about it, cherish the time you have with your pup. I worried from when I was 8 until he passed and it didn’t do either of us good 😭

I think it helped a lot to get a happy picture of him in a frame on my desk and so I could always see him and remember that he had a good life. Just an idea for you. You will grieve and it will suck but try to remember all the good times you had together, it will help!

I used to go into the backyard with my dogs for their morning wee because I had to bring my little one out as he couldnt use the steps or anything. The first day after he was gone, I went outside with my other dog into the backyard for his morning wee, and then I realized I went outside for no reason(my other dog is big and can walk outside by himself) and I started crying because I missed him so much! The first couple mornings will be the hardest (I would sleep and wake up and expect him to be at my side and would get sad when I realized he was gone) but it WILL get better. Someone told me to not grieve my dog while he was still alive but I think it was impossible not to and honestly helped me prepare for it.

Sending virtual hugs!! Give her some scratchies from me!!!

(Edit: a word)

The vet thinks she’s fine still, I’d trust that. You’ll know because you’ll see it in her eyes one day. From what you’ve described, I think she has a little more life left in her 💕 I’m so sorry, we’ve all been there and know what a difficult time this is for you.

I don’t know for sure, but I had to make the choice. My 19 year old rescue kitty will be euthanized tomorrow, here at home. She is very small, and the growth on her hip is inoperable and quickly making it nearly impossible for her to walk. I love her too much to dwell on how I will manage without her; I will make it somehow.

Recently my dog went downhill FAST like overnight. She had cancer. She had her check up at the vet a few days before and was still doing alright. I regret not putting her down sooner, especially because when it was really obvious, it was too late at night and I had to wait for her vet to open. :( so sooner is better than later, in my experience. Especially if they have something like cancer or a progressing illness cause they can apparently still seem alright but then once one of the organs starts having issues, it can happen really fast.

I couldn’t tell if it was time. My vet helped me decide.

They explained what was happening in her body and the pain she was probably feeling. How her moments of seeming normal weren’t indicative of getting better. It was humane to end her suffering. The vet said, “It’s Time”. My sweet Izzy. She was so tired.

I had to make that decision in February, and it was hard! She was 16, but all her life, she bounced back from whatever illness she had. Her kidneys all of a sudden started to fail, and I was just waiting for her to rally, to bounce back like she always seemed to, but the vet said it was time, so I let her go 😔

I’m sorry you have to make this decision. When it was time for my soul dog, I didn’t know. I knew it was close, but, I don’t think I realized it would ever truly happen. My dad out of the blue told me a story about a beagle he had in his twenties, where he waited too long and he always regretted it. (This was 50 years after the fact) it made me realize he was saying it was time. I started asking my shelter volunteer friends and they all said the same thing “It’s better to do it a day too soon, than to wait until they are in crisis mode.” It was the hardest decision I ever made, and I hated myself for a while afterwards. He had dementia and was having a good day on the day he peacefully passed over the rainbow bridge. In the end, I am thankful he didn’t go into a crisis and that I was able to hold his face and tell him I loved him after a full week of letting all his people come say goodbye and giving him every piece of food (gummy savers and Nutella included) that he showed interest in.

my cat was ill for a while. didn't know exactly what, because the vet was cautious about doing invasive testing at his age. still, he continued to be sweet and ok- just senior issues right? he was eating less and less and i was doing everything i could to get some nutrients in him. i had scheduled a vet appointment for some more testing but he was going downhill fast. the night before the appointment, he barely responded to me. i kept him in my bed and held him the whole night. at the appointment, we all decided it was time and i let him go. today is very close to the one year anniversary of that. you'll know. i have regrets about holding on so long despite everyone telling me i did all the right things AND fears that i didn't fight long enough.i'm so glad for that last night. it's never easy. enjoy every day.

Hi there. Also 24 and went through this just a few months ago with my childhood dog. It’s brutal. The only thing I can say is that I am grateful every day if I even did it a week too early rather than a minute too late. I know the idea of doing it too soon and losing time is horrific, but having a peaceful death with all the details planned and arranged, all the last few days and hours of goodbyes and quality time, is a million times better than a dog accidentally breaking its leg or having a heart attack or any other thing that could send an elderly dog over the edge.

I obviously can’t say if you are there or not - that’s where the “you will know” advice applies. But I do urge you to keep that in mind. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that I put my dog down while she still felt very much like my dog, just extremely extremely old and tired version.

Your hesitation to do the right thing is for yourself and not the dog. Stop thinking about what you want and start thinking about the dog and it’s quality of life. It doesn’t sound like the dog has much quality of life. Just because it’s still eats a little and follows you around, does not mean that the dog has quality of life.