That is such a hard question that we all have to deal with. With some of my older dogs it was very obvious due to the pain that they were in, but with our old miniature schnauzer, Lucky, we had a much harder time. Although he was both blind and deaf, he still ate, wanted to play tug, and was excited to go on short car rides. He was not in any discomfort or pain that we (or his vet) could see. When he began to develop dementia, he would get confused, and then became more timid and shy. He no longer was excited to have treats (and he had always been a piggy with treats). One day when we were on the lanai he fell into the pool, and had to be rescued. He had always known to avoid the pool (we think he could smell the chlorine), but he dearly enjoyed lying in the sun. After he fell into the pool a second time, and was no longer able to be let outside to enjoy the fresh air, he would cry by the door and scratch the sliders. He had become unhappy, scared, and did not enjoy any of the things that he had previously been able to do. Shortly after we made the difficult decision, again after talking with the vet, that it was kinder to let him go. We stayed with him, stroking his head and whispering loving words into his ears, and his passing was gentle. We miss him to this day, but know that he is romping on the other side of the rainbow bridge, happy and free. |