My old girl(18 in December) went off her legs Sunday evening.Rushed to vets Monday ,he put her on Rymadyl and next day a bit of improvement she was trying to get up herself but I have to carry her outside to toilet her(which I dont mind ).Then today one of her front legs is vey limp and started to swell so off to vets again.Her bones in that leg have started to crumble so the vet wanted to put her to sleep there and then.I,ve asked for a few more days as her eyes are still bright and she is eating like a horse.The question is how much longer can I let her go on like this.I,m devastated.I,m also feeling so guilty as I have a litter due any day now and cant believe I,m having to contemplate having her put to sleep at the same time as planning the arrival of babies.

Hi, I think this might answer you :-
http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/101236.html
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Lea
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i'm going to jump in at the deep end here and say i think deep down you already now the answer to your question.
I always think better a week to soon then a day to late.
whatever you chose my thoughts are with you.
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I'm so sorry. Is there any hope that she'll be able to get back on her legs at all? Is the struggling to rise distressing her?

My old vet believed that it's "better a week too early than a day too late".  Because you love her, whatever you decide you're going to feel guilty. You're going to hate me for saying this, but are you keeping her going for her benefit or yours?

She,s not distressed at all.I am helping her then carrying her outside which she is ok with me doing this,but she still has a spark in her eyes and she is almost ravenous tonight so I am spoiling her with her favourite things.

It's the most awful thing we have to do for our beloved friends, but also the best thing we can do for them. I've never known a vet to suggest pts unless it is time, it's always the last resort for them too. I'd imagine if her bones are crumbling (due to cancer or arthritis or whatever) then she will be in a great deal of pain. Dogs can be so stoical and the survival instinct is so strong that eating isn't necessarily a measure of quality of life.

Be strong, our thoughts are with you {hug}

I agree with the others she is loosing all dignity now, and I echo how stoic dogs can be.

My Lexi had a raging ear infection (first AB's hadn't sorted out) but she was just a bit quiet, when I took her to vet and eh examined it she was screaming in pain and it took several weeks to clear it up including flushing under GA.

Regarding the upcoming litter if the upcoming litter are her descendants then you are never loosing her but getting parts of her back.

I'm so sorry to read about your girl :( 

There is never a good time for us to say goodbye but there is a better time for them - and, sadly, it seems your girl has reached that point.  I know too well how difficult it is to let them go especially when we look into their eyes and see a glimmer of their youthful sparkle but her body is weak and tired and her dignity compromised.

Better that you relieve her now than wait until she goes further downhill.

Blessings & hugs,
Teri

> I,m having to contemplate having her put to sleep at the same time as planning the arrival of babies

This is making you feel guilty is it?
Don't....

A tough time thoughts are with you

Such a difficult decision. I do feel for you. You mustn't let her leave you with any regrets on your part. Would you regret not taking her and letting her struggle on when you knew she wanted to go. Would you look back and think, 'I should have....'.  Its always a difficult one, particularly when they are still eating. You have to look at her quality of life. Whether you think she wakes up happy to be alive or whether time is a burden to her.

Only you can really answer these questions but it seems to me you are already half way towards the answer. You are in agony of doubt, which is a torment I know. Maybe you will feel beter having made a decision, a weight will have been lifted somewhat.

I am so sorry to read your post, knowing that it is the hardest decision you have to make.  Please do not feel guilty about any decision you make.  I never believed when people would say "when it is time, you just know" but you do. 
Sometimes the hardest things, are also the kindest. 

My thoughts and prayers are with you.  ((((((((hugs))))))))

I am so sorry to hear your heartbreaking dilemma.  It is so true that you and your girl will know when the time has come.  Sadly it is the hardest but bravest thing to let them go, and no one else can tell you because no one else knows your beloved dog like you do.  The hardest thing is coming to terms with losing her, no matter what age they are it is still devastating.

Sending you hugs and will be thinking of you and your precious girl.

I am sat here crying reading your post, as this happened to us too.... so I know just how you are feeling.
Our 12 year old boy went off his legs and we had to carry him out to go into the garden this particular morning. His eyes were bright, he woofed for a biscuit and was generally quite happy. We were also due to drive 5 hours to see a litter of puppies out of our other dog that day.
I kept looking at him and wondering what to do...
I cried and cried, spoke to his co-owner who supported me and assured me that I knew what had to be done. I took him to the vets willing him to jump out of the car and we would go home, but he couldn't..... My vet is the loveliest person and one look at her face told me what she thought...
It was so hard to make the decision, but it was the last thing I could do for him... He had given so much to me, and he deserved to go with dignity and with me there right beside him..
Whatever you decide to do, my thoughts are with you... Just remember though, they may only be with us for a relatively short time, but they leave us with a lifetime of memories...

(((Hugs))) Gabrielle xx

I'm so sorry.

> She,s not distressed at all.I am helping her then carrying her outside which she is ok with me doing this

We'll go to great lengths to make our dogs life better but we do find it hard to accept that sometimes letting them go is the best thing we can do for them.

I had to have my oldie PTS last september so I know how you are feeling right now, but you have to try to take a step back from your emotional attatchement.

Allthough your oldie is fine for you to help her about, is she perfectly happy with not being able to get up and amble around on her own steam whenever she feels like it? (I am not trying to have a go at you atall here, just asking, as only you know your dog and how she is coping).

When our oldies are pottering around, somehow finding the strength to wag thier tails for us still, its all to easy to try to see past thier failing bodies and hope that we can have just one more day with them, but the very best thing we can do is to let them go peacefully, with dignity and without pain.

I wish you strength to make the descision that I think you already know you have to do and please give your oldie a tender, loving, hug from us all she's had a lovely long life and with your help can have a peacefull passing.

Hugs for you and gentle ones to for 'the old girl'.
This is just the most awful time for you, but take courage from these posts and know we have all been there and do know what you are going through.
You will do the right thing for her.............

Karen

I had to have a week old puppy put to sleep last week, she had been through a very difficult birth and as she was born not breathing and the vet managed to get her going I felt I needed to do my best for her.  She hadnt really been gaining weight and was not doing all the things her litter sister was but me who was letting my heart rule my head just wanted to try. 

Last Friday I made the decision that it was not fair on her to carry on and took her to the vets to let her rest in peace.

It was and is a very difficult decision to make but you will know when the time is right. 

I am very sorry.

It's a tough call and I know what you are going through been there myself, a few years ago I had to make the decision to let my girl go and she was only six. The vet said there was nothing else he could do.

Kindest thing is to let her go with dignity, it will hurt like hell but as a dog owner you have to take the good times and the bad hand. Don't feel guilty, you've given her a great life and got her to a great age.

Sending hugs Karen xx