re: Old dog. At what point you say good bye?

Had to make that hard decision back in April. I realized it when I thought about how much time and effort I was spending taking care of my Precious. She was a lab mix and the first pup the wife and I had together.

I realized I was keeping her alive for me. She was suffering. I had to all but carry her 70-80 pound self down the steps outside. Had to basically feed her separately from the others because she had special food as well as supplements we had to add to it. Sometimes I had to feed her where ever she was lying down. When she started snapping and biting at us I knew she was hurting and struggling. Towards the end she actually made it easier (if there is such a thing) to let her go and say good-bye. I always preferred just to let them go, in fact she was the first I've ever personally put down. Dad put down my Golden when I was in college due to his siezures...but I totally understood that one. It's rough, no doubt.

For me the rationale was simple: Am I keeping the friend around for me or are they still enjoying life? If you find yourself answering yes to the first question, maybe it's time. If the answer is yes to the second, then it's not time yet.