Never easy friend. Big ol' manly hugs to you and yours.

Wishing you solace.

I am afraid I am going to have to make the same call within weeks. Dog is nearing 15 and is trim but not a small dog, going downhill fast.

My oldest 2 boxers are getting close. I have one that has a leg that constantly shakes, and the other has hip issues. Both are going grey pretty quickly. We've made them as comfortable as they can possibly be, and they seem happier that way.

The youngest boxer, 3 years old now, should be around for many more years...

I had to put mine down a couple of weeks ago. He was a very smart dog in his day and was a real people dog. He went everywhere with me but my wife was his mommy and he would follow her everywhere she went.
He went down hill very quickly towards the end and my only regret was that I waited a bit longer than I should have.

My wife and I have the same regret. She had been declining slowly over the past 3 months, and we knew the day was coming in the near future.

The last day and a half of her life was such a rapid decline that we didn't see it coming.

We're racked with guilt that we waited too long, and we wished we could have avoided that last night and the first half of the day Friday that she suffered.

Sorry to hear that, Paul. I went through the same exact thing a couple months ago.

Very sorry to hear that. The time is coming soon for me as well. My dog was diagnosed with cancer about a month ago and I'm trying everything to keep him comfortable. He's OK now but I know it's just a matter of time.

Until then, I'm trying to spend lots of quality time with him but I have the house call vet info out on the table in plain sight when the need arises.

My condolences. Our two girls have a very special place in our home. I will have a beer later today in Peewee's honor.

Sorry for your loss.

I’m sure that Peewee had the best possible friends in you and your family.

Animals are sent to redeem us.
PeeWee is better now and will live in your heart forever.
No matter how many I have put down and will put down yet, there's always more room in the heart for grief.

I am sorry for your loss.

Paul, please don't let yourself or your wife carry guilt over this. It is COMPLETELY obvious that you took great care of Pee Wee. There's no possible way that you can know everything you need to know to make the right call in such a situation. You both did your best and I'm sure that he loved you all.

You've made it clear that you and your family felt lucky to have had him among you. That means that he would have not been so loving toward you all had he not felt the love and care given him. It's a two way street and it's clear that you and your family received from him what you gave him. Both parties were fortunate.

I offer my very best wishes to you and your family while dealing with it. You did Pee Wee proud.

Take care

I felt a little bit bad about having to put my dog down but it was like he wasn't my dog anymore and hadn't been for a long time, it was like he was not really even here anymore. He seemed to be OK for the most part but he slept most of the time and only got up to eat or go outside. All that was fine and it wasn't until I saw that he was really going down quicky that I had to decide.

I'd rather loose a dog than a family member. I can always get a new dog some day. I will never have another brother or mother.

Paul,
Sorry to hear.
I have had pet dogs since I was a young child.
We currently have 2.
In my study I have pictures of all my dogs ~ past & present!
It was hard to track down pics of the one I had as a young child but I did.
Best remember your pets for all the good times you spent with them !
My thoughts are with you in your time of grief.

Condolences. It's a hard thing to do I know.

- Peter.