I know what I have to to...

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margaretb

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We have had Jed for 13 years, he is a beautiful collie who was dumped in the village 13 years ago this weekend. I was supposed to look after him overnight before he was taken to the rescue kennels but fell in love with him so kept him We think he may have been about 6 months at the time and had some pretty sad behavioural problems in that any room he was shut in he trashed, hence the reason for him being dumped methinks. He was as happy as a lark to be left in the garden and to sleep in the porch or by my bed.

Anyway in the time we have had him he has been a joy, no trouble asks for nothing.

Over the past 4 months his back legs have given me cause for concern; he does struggle to get up, if he is on a mat and can grip then he is fine and spends most of his days lying happily in the sunshine. However this morning he was struggling to squat to poo, usually he is very private and goes under a hedge etc, this morning he was moving all over the place. I got hold of him and am ashamed to say his back end was not a pretty sight. I suspect he is loosing control of his bowel movements.

He is happy in himself, wags his tail slowly and his eyes are not showing distress.

I have had old dogs pts, but am worried I may be making this decision too soon in this case.
 
Aaw poor lad. I have had to make this decision far too many times, the only advice I can offer is the saying I try to abide by, "better a month too soon than a day too late". Ultimately only you can decide,my thoughts are with you, its so hard.:(
 
He's a great age, I believe you can see it in their eyes when they are ready to go. Personally speaking once dogs start to become immobile and/or incontinent I do think it is kinder to give them sleep. But he is your dog, your decision.

Hugs for you x
 
We had our lab x springer PTS when similar behaviour started, she'd wee in the house constantly and had trouble getting up and down.

She was hale enough to walk to the vets, and her final walk was peppered with markies and love.

She went before it had chance to render her completely useless and break her pride and never to this day do me or my mum regret it one bit. I think a bit of pride in their passing is the last gift you can give a good friend.

ETA: I didn't do that with my own dog, Baba, blind love marred my decision making and I left it too long. Too late. He didn't really know me at the end, his eyes didn't truly see me and he was dying anyway, god forbid I should ever let love make me do that to another friend again.

Thoughts are with you x
 
Aww that's terrible, and such a hard decision to make. :( If you think it's too soon you should wait. But if he's suffering than you should do what's best, from that point it's just postponing I think...
The best of luck to you and Jed, try to get the most out of the time you have left with him and then decide what you feel is best. You shouldn't have regrets.
 
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