Time to put Dax down?

[Dax]

I believe it may be time to say goodbye to my friend Dax. I don't really want to and I dread making that last appointment for her.

I am also questioning if it is time. I know everyone says when it's time you will know but I don't think it works that way.

Here is what I have noticed that makes me think it is time:
* Pain. If you touch her back she winces in discomfort
* Whining in her sleep. This is new behavior for her
* Tiredness. She lays down often during even small walks. Anythin over 25 minutes needs a break. We walk extremely slowly as it is. There are times when she heads back to the car without us.
* Excessive thirst & Urination. I suspect some minor night time incontinance even though there is a doggy door.
* Doogy door - she is having trouble coming in and out of the house thru the doggy door. Trouble getting in and out of the car (only a foot to get in/out)
* Lack of coordination.
* Massive hair loss and bald patchs. In the last two weeks, is looks like a molting sheep. She has bald patches up to 3" in diameter. The skin underneath is not raw but there is greasy flakes.

Things that make me wonder if I'm acting too soon
* Appetite. She is still interested in food.
* Desire. She still wants to come out for walks.

I know that with my Step father, the will to live was stronger than the want to live.

[shadowfacedanes]

Only you and Dax know when the right time is. Her eyes will tell you...Shelby's eyes told me it was time. The light just faded...and she died soon after.

I'm so sorry for what you are going through and what you are about to go through.

[rutylr]

Only you will know.
I still feel like that when I think of Zelda...
See now your making me cry)
Did I make the discission too soon,could I have kept her around longer,Did I let her linger longer out of greed for myself.I really didn't want to let her go.

I hate making the choice.
My thought and prayers will be with you and yours while you make this very hard choice..

[SalemWitchChild]

I think if she still has the will to get up and be apart of the group then it's not time yet.

[FairyDogMother]

Oh, I'm so sorry Dax. The symptoms you have described sounds very familiar as my sister said goodbye to her Dodger just a month ago. He had been recovering from a thyroid condition that seemed to have been masking something else.
It was the "garbage dog" when she first adopted him and his lack of food interest at all that was the final answer. Her vet sent them to another independant vet for tests and analysis who took one look at him and said "I see alot of sick dogs and this boy is very sick. I don't even know that he'd survive the testing". My sister then said her goodbyes to him.
Point is, have you discussed this most recent condition and behavior with your vet yet? If not, you may want to. My sister probably gave him another 4-5 months at a fairly reasonable cost to lounge in the creek and being loved by them all.
I will be thinking of you both and hoping for the very best for Dax. Oh my heart goes out to you both.

[CollieMom]

Just wanted to say that I'm sorry you're having to face this.
You'll know when the time is right.

[RoughCollies]

It's really hard to say when it is time. I would first talk to your vet and then make the decision. I always have thought that when I notice they are going down hill to that extreme, that is when I feel they should go. Not a few months later when they are even worse and completely miserable.

[sandvand]

I'm so sorry. I know what you mean when you say you don't "just know". My childhood dog had cancer and he lost an extreme amount of weight but he was still drinking and happy and wanted to walk etc. I wished that he would just lay down one afternoon and go, so we wouldn't have to make the choice. In the end he collapsed in the night and my parents had to take him in, it was the night after I came back from university to say goodbye. I don't really have any advise but I'm sending my thoughts your way.

[Faith]

the "formula" i've always been told to go by - chart their days over a week or a month, and see if their good days outweigh their bad days.

this is the worst part of loving these guys so much.

[dobermom]

I do know what your going through.
I know it wont be long and I will have to make the decision for Dana.

Dana still wants to be part of our pack, and still has a good appetite.

Some things I see that you see are.

-excessive drinking, she drank 2 bowls of water with in 20 minutes yesterday.
-Tiredness, she is ALWAYS sleeping
-She too sometimes has issues with the doggy door, and the car I have to lift her in.