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I think this may be it for my 13 year old boxer. It all started last October and she has been getting worse, a little better, worse, a little better ever since. Last night I came downstairs and she followed. She went out. And then when I went back upstairs she didn't follow. She's alive, breathing (a little deeper than usual but nothing alarming), but she won't get up. And she won't take her meds wrapped in turkey. I got her up on all 4's and she could barely move her back legs. Maybe she will just need a shot of steriods. Maybe this is it. I don't know. TTMU is at work and when he gets home he will carry her to the truck so I can take her to the vet. If it's her time to go it won't be surprising. She is OLD and has had hip and neurological issues since October. I don't want to ask for mojo to make her ok so she will come home and live another 13 years. I just don't want to see her suffer. Even if that means losing her.

Sending love to you and your pup TCD.

Sending mojo, TCD. ((((hugs))))

Sending SI doggie Mojo!!

Mojo for you, the pup, and Ttmu.

Sending love and hugs.

Sending Puppy mojo....

Just call the dog a cat because she has 9 lives. Though I think she might be on the last one by now! She would not move this morning! I didn't know if this was a neurological thing or an arthritis thing or being a 13 year old boxer who has lived way past what she should thing. It wasn't neurological and it just seems like it was her arthritis. She got a steroid shot (she is already on prednisone, tramadol, glucosamine and chondroitin, and proin which is for incontinence) and he gave me more tramadol to up her dosage. He said we may have to increase her prednisone. When she is fine she's fine. Days like this morning make me think that this is it. I don't want to put her down until I know that there won't be any or very few good days left. She just wants to give me more grey hairs to make up for what the kids missed.

(((TCD))))
I went through the good and bad days thing with my Golden. He too had the neurological degeneration, and some days he would get up and almost act like he could play, and others we would have to carry him outside, and help hold him so he could potty.

This went on for about 6 months. We were preparing to take him for his final visit to McDonalds and the vet in the next 48 hours and he simply went to sleep in his bed one night, and didn't wake up. He is the only dog I have had pass away at home, and I admit I felt guilty for perhaps making him suffer longer than necessary, but I have to believe he wanted to be at home with his doggie sister, and his complete people family.

It sounds like your girl is getting close too, and I hope you enjoy every day you get to spend with her from this point.

(((and strength)))

I just wanted to chime in my support and empathy for this situation. Lots of grey hairs on my head, for similar reasons ...

Knowing when is the right time is the most difficult thing to try to determine, I believe ... it is a heavy weight, to carry the responsibility of these four-legged creatures who depend upon us for their everything.

I, too, have a 13-year-old (-ish) dog with neurological degeneration issues. I recently had to accept the fact that she can no longer go up and down the stairs unassisted (which she did numerous times a day just a few months ago), and get her a special harness to help her. She absolutely refuses to be much distance away from me when I am home, and sleeps at the foot of my bed ... which is of course upstairs. This is hardly a burden for me physically - it is much heavier upon my heart, watching the hands of time at work on her condition.

Tushnurse ... I have to admit, "outloud", that in some ways I pray that this is what happens for me. That she passes peacefully on her own. I think that is the only way to avoid the doubt as to whether it was the right time. That said, admitting that feels selfish, too ... because I would never want her to suffer. I struggle with this particular swarm of ideas quite a bit.

But, what I also hope is that you, TTCD, as well as myself, that we can push those thoughts aside and cherish every day we have. Every minute of every day. They are all a gift ... and as one who works in animal rescue, I will also say that you loving your dog the way that you do, and providing for them in their senior years the way that you do and have, makes your dog a very lucky one indeed. The envy of many, many dogs ... trust me, I know about what I speak.

All dogs go to Heaven ... and the people who love them and are there when they need us the most, well ... they go there, too, I think.

Thank you everyone. Since Saturday she has bounced back pretty well. Her hips and back legs are stiff and both back paws will knuckle. She also had some very loose stool the last two days. Luckily she went to the kitchen on the tile to explode. She has to go down a few stairs to go out front and back which she is handling well. And she will go upstairs again. Even though I don't want her to (but she is attached to me). If she is coming down the stairs inside, I will make sure I go down in front of her so I can catch her if she loses her footing. She does have the neurological degeneration that seems to be handled by the prednisone. I've been thinking about acupuncture for the arthritis. I compare this to my father. About 8 years ago he had his hip replaced. He was in horrible pain before that and medication was not helping. He was utterly miserable. After he had his hip replaced and retired a few years after, he and my mom moved to Southern California. The weather there helps him be pretty much pain free. If he stayed here he would have been like my dog. Would I put my dad to sleep because of his pain? Would I do that to my dog? Unfortunately I can't send my dog to retire in sunny California!

TTCD - I started my dog on acupuncture about 6 months ago ... and before that, I was a total skeptic. Now, a complete convert and total believer ... it is uncanny what a difference it makes for her!

Glad things are going better ...