Thanks Kathy and Hitt, this is the hardest situation I've had to deal with as far as my pets' end of life situations. Foremost, he's the best dog I ever had and I've had mostly all good ones. I've never had one as committed to being the perfect companion. Even in his disabled state, he's had only one accident in the house and that was not his fault.
Secondly, he isn't truly sick. It's easy when they are suffering and you can see them suffering. He's just deteriorating, much like mom. In fact, I think listening to her constant, "I wish I would die" isn't helping me with my decision on T Bear. He had a really restless night Wednesday night and was having terrible balance problems during the day yesterday, plus watching him run into things isn't easy. That's what prompted me to call the vet.
Today, I took the other two out then checked if he had to go. He had to think about it a bit, then later I heard him going up the two steps out of the living room. I got my shoes on and followed him. He found the water dish and I snapped the leash on him. He was pretty much back to normal and only had minor issues with negotiating his way outside with my lead.
So today I don't know about next week. I do know I want to talk to the vet and understand how she'd want to handle it. As I've heard before and read in books, you'll know when it's time. Yesterday I though I knew. Today I'm not sure.
On an even sadder note, I was on FB the other night and a girl that I used to shoot pool with wrote about losing a friend so I started reading through the comments. It turns out he was my friend also, one of my teammates where we lost in the regional championship that would have given me a second trip to Vegas for Nationals.
The fellow was 40 something. He hung himself. I don't know what was going on other than his wife and family walked out on him in December. Not only did his wife and stepson move out, but his daughter went with them. I know he had a serious drug problem when he was in his twenties, he got shot making a drug buy in Philly, but that had been a long while ago as far as I know. I do know he drank pretty heavy but always appeared to be a happy drinker, never saw him get nasty but you never know behind closed doors. It hasn't been a particularly happy week.
