Every dog owner says you know when its time for your dog to be PTS? How do you know? Is it a gut feeling? Its just my Westie is quite ill and I don't think its time but am I wrong? Its my first dog of my own. Hes a rescue westie who I've had for 6 years.

http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/101236.html

Have a look at this thread that Lea started, that might be some help to you until others post on here. :-)

LMAO at Terry!!! I had just gone and found that thread to link to!!!!!
http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/101236.html
Lea :)

Having been through this with much loved companions many, many times I've found that I have to make myself think only of the dog and not how much I will miss them. Everyone has their own views but for me animals are luckier than people in that they never have to suffer. I would never for instance have one of my dogs legs amputated, or operate for an internal cancer or put them through chemotherapy. For me the right time is a combination of things. You have to think about what the next few weeks holds for your dog - is there any chance it's going to get better, and get better in a reasonable period of time. Is your dog enjoying life - is it still playing, fetching the morning paper - whatever your dog loves doing. Dogs can be amazingly stoic and can continue to eat even when in pain - only you know your dog best, and only you will know if it is enjoying life. I have often heard people saying about their much loved friends, oh they were crying last night and there was nothing I could do - they're on the max painkillers but they're still eating, still coming for a cuddle. For me I'd rather let them go a week too soon than a day too late.

I've recently had to have my old dog PTS. His quality of life was quickly going down hill and he had several problems.
I asked the vet if he thought I was doing the right thing as I wanted to make sure my desicion to have him PTS was 100% for the dog and not to make it easy for me so I didn't have to watch him get worse - the vet said if I thought I would only be watching him suffer/get worse then having him PTS was in the dogs best interest anyway.
I had already decided that at his age (14 & half years) I would not put him through any tests to find out what was wrong with him (possible kidney/liver failiure or tumor or several things all together), the vet said he would not want too anyway he thought it wouldn't be fair on my dog as any treatment would maybe mask the symptoms for a little while but not give him any quality of life back.

I broke my heart making that appointment with the vet and I cried my eyes out all the way there. I came back with a sad heart, an empty collar, but the feeling I had freed my dog from an old body that had just become a hinderence to him.

It was so peacefull, allthough I'm still very upset about loosing him, I'm glad I never waited anylonger. Keeping him going for longer would have been for me and not him.

I'm so sorry you have this awful decision to make.

Yes, I remember reading that original thread, and thinking how exactly RIGHT it was.

K