We have had a dog for 9 years now and he has had one hell of a life. He has been more places and seen more things around this country than most people see in a lifetime. He's been to the top of Pike's Peak multiple times, hiking through the rocky mountains, to the sand dunes in NM, hiking in the NM desert, ... the list goes on and on.

He is epileptic and has seizures. He's been on phenobarbitol for years and the seizures are pretty much under control now...finally!

However, his back legs are failing him. We have taken him to the vet numerous times because he has a hard time walking. He eventually gets better, but not all the way better.

Hell, I even built him a ramp on our back deck so that he can get in and out of the house to go to the restroom without having someone carry him into the yard.

The past six months he has been great! He was like a brand new dog! Then this past weekend he hurt his back again somehow...pretty bad. This time he has maybe 5% function in his back legs. He's on steroids and will probably get better in the next few weeks.

I've never had to put a pet down before. He's pulled through so many times before we are always hopefull that his strength will pull him through again.

If he was in nature as a wild dog, he would have been gone a long time ago.

My question is...how do you know when it is time to put a pet to sleep? While he may not be in pain, when does the quality of his life play a role? We've been thinking about this for quite some time now, knowing that it will happens sooner than later...and it is a really tough decision to have to make.

Where is the line in the sand that defines whether he should live or die?

This is a very very difficult topic. I have never had to put a pet down and never really had pets growing up so I have not had to go through this situation. Although my wife and I have two dogs now they are still young and have many years ahead of them, this is something I too will have to deal with as time marches on.

My feelings at this point would be to really monitor the animal and what he is showing in terms of emotions. You have been around him long enough that you know how he shows emotions and can tell when something is not right. If he still is chipper and excited about being alive and not in pain I would give him the chance to recover.

If he looks depressed or you can just tell that this is not the quality of life this dog needs then it may be time to let go. Its always a difficult decision because sometime I think our personal feelings can cloud the view of "whats best for the dog". Take the situation and put it in your shoes, if you were in his condition what would you tell your family to do with you.

Hopefully this post makes sense. It seems a little bit of a ramble to me but its hard to put my thoughts in to words right now about this.

I just had to do that on Friday... Nearly 13 years old. His organs were failing, could not walk well and was no longer eating. We found out about the organ issues and the vet had given him maybe a week. We made his time happy and at 16 days had to make the choice. It was really difficult, but in the end it was for the best. A friend gave me this poem... I don't really know the origins, but it is good.

IF IT SHOULD BE

If it should be that I grow weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this last battle cannot be won.

You will be sad, I understand.
Don’t let your grief then stay your hand.
For this day, more than all the rest,
Your love for me must stand the test.

We’ve had so many happy years.
What is to come can hold no fears.
You’d not want me to suffer so;
The time has come — please let me go.

Take me where my need they’ll tend,
And please stay with me till the end.
Hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time that you will see
The kindness that you did for me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I’ve been saved.

Please do not grieve — it must be you
Who had this painful thing to do.
We’ve been so close, we two, these years;
Don’t let your heart hold back its tears.

Sorry to hear this. I always ache for the animals. I have had to put down two of my own dogs and two cats. It is hard and there is no way of getting around it. We fortunately have a vet as a friend and she comes to the house to do it so they were in their home with their fellow family members and laying in their beddies. Both Labradors we lost to cancer, one was expected and she lasted three years after we removed one of her front legs and her lymp nodes. She still walked with us and I made a life jacket to hold her up so she could swim. It finally spread and we knew when the tail stopped wagging and the appetite was lost, our vet came that night, no holding back. Our second was the toughest, he went from a 9 year old healthy Lab to cancer in his lungs within three weeks and we had to put him down suddenly, he was not as stoic as the first so we knew he was hurting. We now have a lonely chocolate lab who will most likely never have a companion due to the children but when she goes, I am getting two yellow labs.

Thanks AMAM for the poem. That was great!

Looks like we have delayed the inevitable for awhile now. He is making improvements, but still not back to 100% or even 75% for that matter. He is getting better slowly... only time will tell I guess.

Thanks again everyone!

We had to put Buddy down last week. He had a very good life and was a very good dog. If you would like to read my tribute to him, please click below:
http://dadthing.com/2008/07/10/rip-buddy/

Sorry Jared. It will take some time but life goes on.

It's time to make that decision in our household too. Our cat Portnoy has declined rapidly over the past few weeks. Feline leukemia has ravaged his body and he is now but a shell of his former self.

It's heartbreaking to watch. Our 14 year old is in total denial.

My poor pooch is 17 and still hanging in there. He was having a problem with his hind legs, in part due to arthritis in his lower spine coupled with mild hip displaysia. On my sister's recommendation, I bought him Nutro-Max with glucosamine and chondroitin (I'm sure I've spelled both of those wrong). Within two weeks he was able to control his legs again, and hasn't collapsed since. In fact, he even darts across the yard and bounds up the steps like he did five years ago.

If you have a pet with arthritis, I recommend looking into the Nutro-Max food and the treats they make (I found it at PetSmart). I thought this was the end for my dog, but this food gave him the strength to rally. It costs more, but what a huge difference...