He will let you know when its time. I have had to put to sleep my moms favorite horse (about 10 years after my mom passed away) the German Shep that followed her all around (7 years after mom passed) a few cats and another german shep when I was younger. The ones that hit me the hardest have been the horse and the shep because they were sorta a last connection to mom. Now me and the wife have a 2 yr old shep that loves to play and run, can sometime be a pain in the butt, but is also very loving.

It is always hard for that decision because the animal has been a part of your lives for a long time, and pets are always considerd a family member (when I got our shep, I told my dad it was his granddaughter since he was bugging us for a grandchild) All of the amimals in my life had let us know when it was time. As long as he is getting around with no pain, I say let him enjoy the remaining time he has left.

 

It's sounds so easy to say that 'they will tell you when it's time".... but it's the hardest thing to hear. It's the hardest thing to do. You will think and wonder and think some more till it drives you crazy. And the only relief you'll get is right after you do it. I know.... for I have a graveyard filled with pieces of my heart that is merely the size of a pea now because of it. As far as his condition.... I had a deaf and blind dog that got along fine.... just try not to rearrange anything. I've had dogs with cancer too, and sometimes operating on them made it worse (depending on the kind it was). Just try to listen to you buddy. He'll tell you when it hurts and he'll show you when he's had enough. Just try not to be blinded by your own pain too see it. My heart is with you, my friend.

 

When I had to put down our boxer/lab/coonhound mix dog, it was one of the hardest things ever.
But she was in pain. Her kidneys were failing and we tried medications and diet, but there was nothing to stop the progression. Finally, I could see the look in her eyes asking me to help her.
For most of her life, I couldn't change my clothes or even get upstairs when I came home from work without first taking her outside to catch the frisbee. In the end, she would hardly move and she just looked at me with those sad, sad eyes. She never liked the vet very much, but she didn't make a fuss of any kind when we had to go.
I am getting a little worked up just thinking about it after 6 years.......

The companionship and bond between a human and a pet is an incredible experience. It doesn't come without a price, though. I could barely see to drive her home from the vet to be buried in our back yard.

I can only repeat what others have said. Dogs have a way of letting you know when to go. You have cared for him all his life with quality food and attention. This too is part of the responsibility of owning a pet. He is counting on you to know what to do, just like he counted on you to take care of his other needs.

In a way you are lucky, believe it or not. I found it to be much more painful when our 2 year old Jack Russel terrier escaped the fenced yard and got killed by a car. We had only a fraction of the time together that we should have and I miss her more than I do any of the other dogs we had that shared a long and busy life with us.

Edit- I just reread your post before throwing some rep your way for so eloquently stating you situation. The key here is that he is still enjoying his life. You'll know when he is not. That is when it will be time.

 

We had a great English Setter for several years. He developed cancer and had three operations. The vet did all he could, but told me they could do no more. I was in a Catch-22 situation; I didn't want him to suffer, but I didn't want to put him down too early. As I explained my thoughts to my vet, he also told me " He will let you know when it is time." I really doubted him. Buck got pretty weak and on Christmas night he could not get up. He never messed in the house, but now could not control himself. I put him on his favorite bed on the floor and slept on the couch next to him all night. I picked him up and took him out the next morning and he had great difficulty standing. I picked him up again and brought him back in to his bed. He looked at me with the saddest eyes I had ever seen as if to say " Help me......do something." At that moment I knew what the vet said was true......he told me he was ready. I called the vet, and took him on his final ride. I held him as he passed away. It is true; they will tell you when it is time. And in his memory when I joined FTE my name has been in his honor.............

 

My black lab had cancer, and was in too much pain when I finally had him put to sleep.
He was like a HUGE part of the family.

As long as he was still able to eat, and seemed happy I kept him.
When he was in some pain, I got pain killers from my vet, and fed them to him 4 times per day.
When the pain got bad, and he could barely eat ws the time I knew for him, he needed to go to sleep.
For me I wanted him alive, but its not humane to have him suffer, just so I had him around.

When he is too sick and in pain to enjoy life, thats the time.
If he is relativley pain free and happy, enjoy the time you have left with him.

 

I just read all of these posts.

It’s amazing how we all get attached to our animals.

They are our unconditional friends, companions and even protectors.

 

Ive got a good friend who has sacrificed a lot in the name of a career,it has been job/money first,having a life second...... he is also exceptionally cheap,so for him, female companionship is a rarity..........some have suggested he get for his next pet a sheep,since they can provide all the benefits that other pets do,plus provide a "different" kind of companionship.

 

I have had a few dogs, and all were great.
But my Lab was my best friend for many years.
He was the dog that just literally was perfect....And he was loyal beyond belief.
I still miss him everyday.....And have dreams sometimes that he is in, they are great dreams for sure!

 

You know it!, If you had to sleep on the sidewalk in 20deg. weather in front of a warm house with a open doggie door, a lab will just curl up on the sidewalk next to you. Labs have real loyalty to their owners that just wont quit.

 

Hey, folks!.....Joe went to the vet today, vet says the same things you guys have said. He is happy and strong, heart and lungs are sounding good, hips too (a real problem in Labs) his vision and hearing are "age deteriorated" and the tumor seems to have stalled in growth and says removing is too traumatic for a old dog like him....His only advise was," let him be, as long as he is happy and pain free, and put him on a diet he weighs 131lbs!"...... So thanks, for all the heartfelt replies!, really helps to hear from other dog lovers who have been here as well..........I am going to rep everyone who answered if I can!

 

it sounds like you had already figured things out anyway,but sometimes it helps to get other perspectives, to confirm.
Ya never know,with a few Lb.s less weight,the old dog might gain a little energy,too.

 

Not to sound too selfish, but, and I am speaking only for myself here, talking about my own experience and shedding a few tears is sort of cleansing, so as glas as I am that our stories help you out, they also continue to help us as we go through life... Glad the prognosis was good and it is always good to talk to another dog lover!

 

We had a yellow lab for 12 years.Got him as a rescue . His arthritis in his hips got so bad after hundreds of bucks to try and help he couldnt stand to pee and this quickly became painful to him. It was a sad day to take him to the vet one last time. Yellow labs are the most loving people dogs I know of. Good news that your pup will still be around for some time.