Your story is giving me chills and making me cry! What a fabulous vet you have there.

this seems to be the kindest advice. But you need to know in your heart if it is the best thing.

17 years is such a long time and there are so many happy memories and it must be so hard to let go.

I shall pray for you and your sweet baby Merlin.

I would be like you, afraid and scared to let go.

thank you i have wonderful vet's and it has made me cry for shellie and her guy i know only to well as do so many here on yt what a hard and painful thing we face when are furbabies are in trouble

I feel so bad for you, that was a very heartfelt post and i felt you hurt..

I have been there a few times.. I loved them all so so much.. I would ache from crying so much..but when I lost a 5 year old.. It gave me a new meaning to when it is time when they are old and have lived the greatest life.. I think how sad it is to lose them at a young age..I lost pooh at 5 years old, that was over 4 years now.. he never leaves my thoughts.. I swear he is with me all the time anyway. But a year ago, it was really bad for me.. I had to put his mother down.. he quality of life was just unbearable to watch.. and when I lost her.. i had really lost pooh over again.. they were so much the same yorkies..
everyone is different.. but it is never a sin to get a new yorkie.. I always did, for not matter what none would replace a beloved pet I had lost.. but it sure kept me busy and my mind occupied.. and to me.. it showed how I was so honored to have had them in my life and with losing them, I needed another one to love..
I layed in bed when pooh died, I could not eat, cried till it hurt.. and wanted to die with him.. and I hade them all cremated.. so I tell my hubby.. if I go first he must have them in with me.. he said if I can get all the urns in with you by then I will be lucky..

hugs to you in this time of grief and sorrow and such a hard decision to make.. I was to take sassie.. just cried so much.. by the time I went the second time.. I did it, was with her right to the end..most of us know the loss this is to us...

anne

I've been thru this recently with my cats. My vet told me that my decision would be "an act of love". I was devastated but I knew what was right for me and my babies. I wish you the best in whatever decision you make. Just look into your heart and you will find your answer. Prayers and hugs to you and Merlin.

MY heart broke all over again reading your post. It brings back memories of the day I had to let my sweet Ginger (Cairn Terrier) go. She was 16 years old. It was the hardest thing I have ever done and I cried for months over her. But I got thru it and she KNEW I loved her right up until the end as she tried to kiss me as I was holding her. Now I can think of her and remember all of the things she did that made me laugh and made me happy. All I can say is you will know when it is time.. I did NOT want to let her go at all, but as soon as I saw she was in pain I knew I had to let her go. Bless you and your baby
Hugs
Sonya

I am so sorry you are hurting right now.
 

I am so sorry you are hurting. I am sending you these links simply because I do not know when you will do this. I, Unfortunately had to make this decision 3 times and all 3 times I was not prepared. I wish I would have found these sites when I needed them. If only someone could have prepared me... Each person deals with things differently so for me when I needed the advice that no one could give me. I was scared and very hurt and I really didn't want to make the decision nor did I know what to even think as each day went by.

This is something you have to do when you feel you are ready. You will know by looking in the eyes of your pup who loves you so much.

I will share with you a little of my Mom's story just last year...

Mom had to put her (our Mindy) to sleep last November. Mindy had stopped eating for 10 days (I hate to even say that) I live out of state so I only knew what Mom was telling me. This was my dog when I was 15... I brought her home one day and BEGGED Mom to let us keep her. As I got older I worked 3 jobs and I wanted to move out on my own. About 7 yrs later I bought my own home. I decided to leave Mindy with my Mom. It made sense... Mom was always home with her. I still saw Mindy all the time. but her and Mom were sure attached.

I moved out of state 5 yrs ago and Mindy now was approaching 19 yrs old. I knew Mom should have put Mindy down and that she waited entirely too long. But- Mom knew when it was right. Mom was in denial saying she wasn't eating and her stomach didn't feel good and that she would come around. Well 11 days later... Mindy still isn't eating. I said Mom I think it's time... and she yelled at me. She said- you don't see the way she looks in my eyes. Those big brown eyes of hers!!

I was just angry in a way and so worried that my Mindy was suffering and it was really hard because I couldn't see her.

On the 11th day w/o eating Mindy started showing signs of being in incruiating pain when she would have a bowel movement. Mom would clean her and try to keep her comfortable. Mindy would sleep a lot and at times she was hard to wake up.

Mom would tell me that she just wanted to find Mindy the next morning or come home to her one day so that she wouldn't have to make the dreadful decision. However, Mindy progressed and was showing quite a bit of discomfort. The Vet told her that Mindy may NOT pass away a peaceful death and that my Mom may not want to witness this and that it would make things worse.

After that phone conversation my Mom had with the Vet- each day Mindy grew worse. It was right then and there that Mom said she just had to do it. Mindy gave her the look in her eyes that she didn't want to fight this no more. Mom loved Mindy so much she did this for her. Mom still misses Mindy and I do to. I hated not being able to see her again, although I was home last June for my Grandma's funeral and I just knew that that would be my last time to see Mindy alive. It is going to feel really weird when I go home in a few months and Mindy is not there. :-( Mom said that she never would have imagined losing her Mother and Mindy all in 6 mos.

Mom did send me pics she had taken a few days before she put Mindy to rest. She looked very tired.

When my Mom made that dreadful decision she was alone and all my herself. That makes me hurt even more for her. My Sister was working and my Mom woke up one morning and she said that she knew Mindy was now suffering a lot and that she needed to do this. I wish I could have been there for Mom, there to hold her together.

Mindy would look at her with those big brown eyes and Mom said that she just couldn't do it. But one morning Mindy totally was telling her that she didn't want to fight anymore. Mom looked deep into her eyes and Mindy was telling her that she loved her and that it was time to let her go to heaven. Mom strongly feels that she made the right decision for Mindy to end her suffering. However she still misses her immensely.

Stay strong and you will be ok. I am sorry once again that you are hurting and having to go through this right now. It is never an easy thing to do. You will grieve and that is perfectly normal. I will promise you this, You will remember all the specials times your pup gave you and you will hold these memories very close in your heart forever. You will celebrate the life of your pup the same way you remember a loved one that has passed.

I hope you are not upset with me for sending the links. I am just trying to help you. I know the pain you are feeling and when you don't know the answers... it helps if someone guides you. So that is my only reason for sending them. You will make this decision when you feel you know in your heart it's time. Until then love him, and hug him and keep whispering to him that you love him so very much.

Sending you lots of hugs.

Pet Loss Support Page: Euthanasia - The Most Painful Decision
Euthansia...how will I know when it's time?

Also- I recently found this on line....Maybe your vet could do this for you if you decided it was something you could do.

Vitality Pet Care Treating Aging Patients

My heart goes out to you. This is the hardest decision we ever have to make for our babies. You will now when he has had enough. I just lost a puppy to congenital kidney failure and she was so sick and after a few days of the terrible breath odor and barely moving and not eating, we knew it was time. One thing I have found is when they stop eating it usually is a sign that they no longer want to fight. You are in my prayers.

taken from the link:

As the time approaches, making arrangements for their departure can make the transition easier and more peaceful. If you choose to assist your pet in crossing over have your veterinarian give a sedative and allow your pet to fall asleep in your arms or by your side. The last thing they will remember is a peaceful moment with you. During this time quiet your mind and reflect on all the happy memories of your lives together. Your pet will sense your state of mind….share the joy of your lives one last time. Once your pet is asleep, the euthanasia can be completed with you present or you may step out of the room. I have often found that, for some clients, the last moments stay with them forever. Those last moments are yours to design. In the moment of their passing celebrate their lives, as that is how they would wish it to be.

Hi Shellie,

I am so sorry your heart is broken! Merlin knows you love him and what a lucky little guy to have a Mommy like you! I will say a prayer for you and for little Merlin.

Reading this post... tears are running down my face. These babies mean so much to all of us and we do everything in our power to make them happy and keep them safe. Unfortunately, at the end, the only way to make them happy and safe is an excruciating decision that we have to make. Even though you are in pain, you have to alleviate his. I hope you will reflect on all that Merlin has meant to you in his long life and have the strength to put him in peace. All the best, Nanci and Brooke

I'm so sorry that your going though such a painful time. Reading your touching story made me sob. Please know that the YT family is here for you and we are all sending you one big giant YT GROUP HUG! :)

My first Yorkie was 10 when I had to put him down. I was keeping him alive for me and not him. You could tell in his eyes he was tired and ready to go. It was the worse thing I have ever done in my life at the time. Now I look back and it was the best thing for him He is happy,playing with no pain now.

Sometimes you have to love them enough to let them be at peace.

When I lost Jinny I was praying that all I want was for her to have peace and pain free. a few minutes later the phone rang she had passed away.

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I know how hard it is... I was just reading one of the links and I found this very profound:

A far more dangerous form of selfishness is to prolong a pet's suffering simply to postpone one's own.

Whatever you decide, I hope you find peace in knowing you did all you could for him and hopefully, some joy for being blessed for having him in your life.