I have a Shar pei who was 12 in March I have had her since she was 8 weeks but I am wondering now if its time to let her go, She is still eating and drinking and manages to get out to the toilet she does sometimes have little accidents at night but not all the time, well thats the good bits now for the bad, her eyesight has almost completly gone, and also her hearing, and she no longer comes to me to be stroked or cuddled, she sleeps for 99%of the day and the rest of the time she just stands still looking into space. I have to keep her out the way alot now because she seems very stressed when my children are about as she cant see where they are or whats going on, the children know that they must leave her alone and not bother her. Just over a year ago my oldest daughter got a puppy ( a little terrier not another shar pei) and the arrival of her seemed to work miracles for a while, my shar pei started to play and be almost puppy like again!! but now she is not interested. She was seen by the vet a couple of months ago for treatment of ear mites and he didnt suggest that we have her put to sleep, which i was pleased about but several of my friends and family have told me that maybe I should, sorry for the essay, but I just dont know if what life she has is of good enough quality, and would really like some honest opinions on this, If only she could speak to me!!

Only you can decide this.  You know your girl best.  Has she got the quality of life you want for her?  Does she still go for a wander on the lead with you?  I know with my old x-breed who was quite deaf and almost blind, he still liked to go for a walk, though couldn't be let off the lead because he couldn't hear me call or see hand signals.
Good luck with whatever you decide,
Sarah.

Just to add that in my experience vets will never suggest putting a dog to sleep, they may be thinking it, but owners are there for them to make their pet better and they do sometimes (again ime) take this too far. You and your family are the only people who can decide if she has  a good quality of life. For me quality of life for a dog means being able to eat and drink and not to be in pain...but also to get some enjoyment out of life, be that going for a wander or watching the birds in the garden or getting a cuddle - something that you think they enjoy. Again, for me personally, if my dogs had nothing it enjoyed doing in life then that would be the time.

It's an awful position to be in and I do sympathise having been in that position many times. It's every dog owners wish that their beloved pet will simply pass away in it's sleep but it's never happened to me. I would say that your animal doesn't know it's being pts so better a week early than a day late.

I was so sorry to read your post, you must feel so sad :( 
As you are asking the question you must feel that the time is near, although I think if I were you I would speak to the vet first just for their opinion on her quality of life.

Having said that, you know your girl better than anyone, and only you will know when it is time, and even then you will doubt yourself and wonder whether or not you have done the right thing.  It is the last kindness or gesture of love we can give to our dogs, to put an end to their suffering, but is also one of the hardest and painful decisions you will have to make for her.  I think someone said on here a while ago that if your dog loses their appetite, their desire to go for a walk or doesn't want affection then their quality of life is not good, and it is best to make the decision a little too early than a little too late.

I really feel for you as it is an awful time, but I'm sure you will make the right decision for your girl.  I think most of us on this forum know exactly what you are going through and how you are feeling, unfortunatley there is no easy answer or anything I can say that will help make it easier for you.

> only you will know when it is time, and even then you will doubt yourself and wonder whether or not you have done the right thing

I would echo that, but would just like to add some advice that was given to me:
"better a week to soon, than a day too late"
Quality of life is more important that length of life.

I had a dog that went blind and deaf nearly all at the same time, she just couldn't cope she would throw herself onto the floor.  When it got to the point that she would throw herself onto the floor and not move when she ws just going out for her morning wee I knew that it was the right time for her to go.  Your dog sounds like it still has days when it's enjoying itself mine got to a point where she wasn't enjoying life at all.

You will know when the right time has arrived.

I really feel for you, we had to make the decission several years ago to have our first dog pts. She had liver problems and was nearly 11 which was a good age for the breed. The vets told us to think about getting a new pup the year before(there way of preparing us i think) which we did and like your baby brought her back to life and gave her another year with us. You know when the time is right. Our girl would struggle to move but still tried to greet you and wag her stump. We knew then that we were keeping her going for us. Bless her.
Im going through it again at the moment with our cat. Hes 17 and recently gone blind in one eye, his back end has got lower so old age is creeping up. Hes still out and about and eating, purring and loving the attention but theres that nagging feeling in my head/heart telling me time is passing fast.

Thinking of you at this difficult time

I am so sorry for what you are going through.  It is such a hard thing, struggling whether or not it is time or not.  They say "you'll know when that is" but until the day came with Joy, I never believed it.  The morning she was PTS, we woke up, looked at Joy and we just knew.  We had been struggling for a year with whether or not it was time or not, and whether or not we were doing it because we were being selfish.

Sometimes, the kindest things are often the hardest.  I am not saying that you should say goodbye to your dog.  But you need to look down inside yourself, and honestly answer the questions you have.  Having your baby PTS will be very hard, and it will take a lot out of you.  But is it what the dog would want?  Has the quality of life faded to a point where your dog is unhappy? 

Take care, while making the decision.  It is never an easy one.  But it is only one you can make. 

((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))

Taz was around that age, wasn't going blind or deaf but did slow down a great deal and would just lay down where he could see us. We would ask him if he wanted to go for a walk and he would get up and go to the door then just stand there and turn around and go lay down. After awhile he didn't want to get up at all but did enjoy the hugs and pets. Then about 2 weeks or so of this he went off his food for about 3 days he wasn't eating and I was getting worried- made him our food which I think he only ate to please me, then after work that day I went and purchased a pile of canned dog food cause I knew he would eat that. He had not even a can, and that night he cried to us- so we thought he had to go out cause he had an accident but when he got up he had trouble with his back legs, made it to the back porch and layed down. We held his head and stroked him the entire time and he passed on. We knew it was coming and Iam happy he was able to pass away on his own with us around, it was almost like he waited. Yes he was not the dog he use to be but he was getting old.... Even with my bostons if I can let them pass on their own naturally I will...

To pts or not is a decision only you can make  (((hugs)))

just wanted to say whatever you choose i will be thinking of you.

(((((((((hugs))))))))))))