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We have an old lab - not sure how old, we got her from Lab Rescue. The vet thinks maybe 11 or 12 but... who knows.
We've been wondering for the last few months how we'll know when it's time to say good bye. She's old, obviously, sleeps almost all the time and is having some real problems with her hips. They give out when she's walking (we have tile floors) and she often has trouble standing up, sometimes can't make it without me physically lifting her.
She's also started pooping in the house, has been for six months. The other day she didn't even try to make to her feet, let alone go outside.
My measure of end-of-life decisions for pets has revolved around the perceived quality of life. With Zoe it's hard to tell, if she was a human she'd be the original stoic. Never seemed very happy, nor overly sad. I'm pretty sure she's half deaf. The kids love her to.... er, well, you know. How does one decide these things?!
I guess I should call the vet but that makes me feel like an unloving owner for some reason. Ugh.
We've been wondering for the last few months how we'll know when it's time to say good bye. She's old, obviously, sleeps almost all the time and is having some real problems with her hips. They give out when she's walking (we have tile floors) and she often has trouble standing up, sometimes can't make it without me physically lifting her.
She's also started pooping in the house, has been for six months. The other day she didn't even try to make to her feet, let alone go outside.
My measure of end-of-life decisions for pets has revolved around the perceived quality of life. With Zoe it's hard to tell, if she was a human she'd be the original stoic. Never seemed very happy, nor overly sad. I'm pretty sure she's half deaf. The kids love her to.... er, well, you know. How does one decide these things?!
I guess I should call the vet but that makes me feel like an unloving owner for some reason. Ugh.