I have a 13yr old 165 lb lab/shephard/rottie mix. He was diagnosed with Cushings in November. Recently he has abcessed that gush blood randomly... which of course he constantly licks. He wimpers when I try to clean them with peroxide and neosporin. He always pants/short shallow breathing except early in the morning when he is in the deepest of sleep... I like to lay in bed and listen to him. He still perks his ears at the talk of a walk and even though his walk is very stiff he still plays with the other dogs... My friends say I should put him down while he is still a happy dog and not to wait too long... When do I know that he is ready? I am really struggling with this!

I am so sorry to hear about your dog. I know how difficult it is to deal with the thought of losing a dog. I think you should consult with your vet and try to determine if he is in constant pain or not. I don't think it's right to let the poor thing continue to suffer for the sake of you not wanting to let go. However, if he is content and his discomfort can be controlled with some pain meds, then I don't see any reason to have to put him down. I would limit his physical activity though as you wouldn't want his abscesses to start bleeding or to stress his already decrepid bones. Just keeping him comfortable and happy (i.e. lots of pets and scratches and slow strolls in a quiet park if he's up to it). Your vet should be able to get a pretty good idea of how he feels on an average day. I hope everything works out and your doggie has some more time left in him to spend with you.

This is the toughest decision a dog owner ever makes. My philosophy is ''Does the dog still enjoy life?''. Breakfast is still a big deal for my to be 14 next month Lab Aster. She enjoys catching a tennis ball. She love her walks and swims. I know her old joints hurt and her ears bother her a lot. She is almost deaf. I am old enough now I hurt, but have not acted on the news that Dr. Jack Kevorkien is out of jail. You have to decide if he is still enjoying life. One factor in the last dog I put to sleep was that not only was he in pain, but he had outlived everybody he knew and loved. I could have found a new home for him, but it is hard for older dogs to bond to new people.

it resll is tough to know when to do this no matter what it is going to break your heart my big shepard had been badly treated by her prevoius owner a blow to the head caused massive neurological damage including her head caving in this in turn caused fits and eventually durin a course of treatment she couldn't walk unaided. If I had knowne this was going to happen I would never have started the treatment and put her down while she still had her dignity I feel rotten I piut her through it all for the sake of one more week. I know you are being unitentionally selfish as I was but if you thionk that the end is near let her d=go peacefully my thoughts are with you god bless

This would be a good discussion to have with your vet, whom better to guide you in knowing the pain that your dog may be going through. It is a hard decision, but sometimes the most humane thing to do is go ahead under the advice of your vet and have him put the dog to sleep if he is beginning to suffer, which it sounds like he is. I had to have a dog put down that I had had for 12 years and she developed a large tumor type growth in the body cavity area and the vet said it would be about $600. To $850. To try, TRY, and make her well. And that she would never be the same and that all though he would gladly perform the operation, he recommended putting her to sleep. So I told him to put her to sleep, built a coffin, and buried her in the back yard. And even though I felt bad at the time, I realized that if the vet was going to pass up on $600 to $850 to try and fix her, that he must be right in suggesting it was time to put her to sleep. The reason I kept saying TRY was because he said there was no guarantees. And that she would never be quite the same again.