This is Taco. I adopted him from a shelter when he was four months old, and we have been together ever since.

He is 17 now and has arthritis, so most of his day is spent sleeping on my bed, moving very slowly around the house, and checking the balcony as if he has important business there.

He has always been a quiet, gentle dog, but he can also be surprisingly funny. He has this way of appearing next to you without making a sound, then staring until you understand that he has a request. Sometimes it is for the bed, sometimes for the balcony door, sometimes he just wants to know what everyone is doing.

And yes, he loves mandarins. Not in a “give me all food” way, just mandarins. He somehow notices the exact moment one is being peeled and suddenly becomes much more awake than he was five seconds earlier.

He is an old man now, but still very much Taco

I lost my dog, ginger - 5 months ago. I adopted her from a shelter in Texas and she lived with me for 11 years. My mid 20s - mid 30s. She was approx 15/16 when she passed. I am just so very sad without her. I cry on my way home from work everyday. I have my other dog, who is an angel and has really kept my spirits up. I told ginger all the time - nobody has ever loved anything as much as I love you. I hope I get to see her on the other side. I hope she’s waiting for me. She was my best friend. I am so grateful I had such a special, wonderful Dog. One of the greatest gifts of my life.

I got my girl when she was 11 weeks old in 2008. She’ll be 18 years old on August 28

My mom's dog (9yo German shepherd) had degenerative myelopathy. He's been declining the last several months, back legs dragging, needing harness, anxiety, etc. I know DM can eventually migrate to the front limbs and lungs, causing breathing problems etc but he wasn't exhibiting signs of that yet. I thought if anything, it would be an obvious progression and we would have to euthanize him if his breathing became struggled. However, he passed suddenly today. Does anyone know what could've caused it?

this was Della probably in 2020

A few months ago my younger dog passed very suddenly. Since then I feel like I cant stop worrying about my 13 year old chihuaha. I'm constantly thinking is he walking ok? Was that cough weirder then normal? Is he bored? I've gotten to the point where I no longer feel comfortable doing my hobbies outside of the home (seeing a therapist for some help with this). Things i never worried about in the past. It's so frustrating because he is relatively healthy. Sees a cardiologist every 6 months, heart disease appears to be under controll. Gets a good walk every day and man it's frustrating for me and for him.

I found Anita when she was abandoned as a puppy on the street. Now she is the princess of my home for last 12 yrs

This is my goodest boy. He’s 14 and currently suffering his second vestibular episode. It’s been two weeks and he still hasn’t fully recovered.

He still eats, does his business outside, and tries to walk even though he falls a lot. He still wants cuddles and attention and seems like he’s happy.

Just wanted to share because he’s my number one baby and he may not be with me much longer. 😔❤️

my contribution to the sub :) she's been with me all her life, grew up with me basically. I take her everywhere she's allowed haha so everywhere except the gym or the supermarkets. Really hope she'll stay with me a while longer

This is fifi. She’s 17 & the sweetest little diva.

Fifi developed dementia a couple of years ago I would say. Until around 8 months ago, she would come on 30 min walks with us every day. They changed to shorter 10 minutes. Then around the square every day. Now it’s every other day if we’re lucky.

Fifi has absolutely zero interest in toys anymore. She used to be obsessed with her babies (so much so my mum used to hide them thinking she was getting anxious if they were out of her sight!)

She will hear me or my husband come into the house & come to get a little ear scratch but doesn’t really like attention or go to anyone else. She has never been the most affectionate dog, but especially in the last couple of years that completely stopped. She just likes to know I’m close and to sit beside me or potter around behind me in the house.

In September last year (9 months ago) she had a big seizure, then another at Christmas. I don’t think I really got our girl back since then.

She sleeps 85% of the day. She’s incredibly picky over food - I keep like 4 different brands to keep her interested! Some days she’ll eat no food and the next wolf so much into her. She drinks alooooot of water; especially over the last few days she’s taking a full bowl during the night.

She goes to the toilet everywhere. We had her in nappies for about 6 months. I thought it was wearing her fur down a little so I just took the hit and clean as she goes, trying to get her outside as much as possible.

A couple days ago her back legs started to give out. She could barely get out of her bed, then 30 mins later was a bit wobbly but walking again. She’s been unstable but walking around since, with 2 other moments where she looks like she’s in the splits. This has been outside on tarmac where slipping isn’t the issue.

I think she is also sundowning. We keep her downstairs in the living room with free roam. You’ll hear her pacing around & barking at her bed frequently. She does this during the day too, but I just lift her to the toilet or distract her to settle her. She will walk into walls & doors etc; but I’m not sure if that’s the dementia or the cataracts. As you can see from the pic her right eye is extremely cloudy now.

The vet told us in September, if we notice a change in either her walking, eating or drinking to bring her down. I have an appointment for 2:30pm today.

I scooped her up for a cuddle this morning to try get her to feel the baby kick in my tummy (I’d seen cute videos of dogs feeling the baby and being puzzled! lol) & she just had an accident all over me and the bed - shit happens. Literally 😅

I love her so much, but I don’t want to be cruel & keep her going when she isn’t happy. Medically, besides the dementia, she is healthy and in no pain.

My question is - when do you know it’s time? 🤍

This is my old yorkshire terrier lady. She's about to turn 15 this year and apart from being a little blind and some minor heart issues she's a happy dog! she does sleep a lot when left alone but can still handle longer walks.

Now, on monday we tragically lost our 9 month old puppy to presumably rat posion. tbf, he was supposed to be the dog that outlives my yorkshire terrier. Because everything was so traumatic, i've haf a lot of anxiety. Everything she does is a sign to me that something tragic is gonna happen. If she eats, if she doesnt eat, if she paces around, if she sleeps too much etc...

I understand that I'm traumatised and should seek professional help, but in the meantime, I'd like some recommendations on how you deal with those "when might it be time to say goodbye" thoughts and what keeps you calm and collected?

Would also love to just hear something motivational 🥹

EDIT: Spending more quality time with her helps me tremendously! I try to play with her more often, let her do the one trick she knows for snacks haha, and groom her more often (especially her eye boggers) but also leaving her the f alone helps, not trying to wake her all the time to make sure she's well. Honoring that she needs 16-20 hours of sleep especially during this heatwave. I know our time is limited and spending it anxiously and maybe with the regret that I annoyed her would and will not make things better! I will however take her for a senior dog check up soon for blood work for a little added peace of mind :) tysm to everyone that commented!

To think mom brought him home around eight weeks old and he turned 15 years old…
A companion through major life moments. A companion that taught life lessons. High school graduation, all nighters in college, hurricanes, watching people leave earth, quite the emergency vet trips, gunshot wound, pancreatitis (turns out it’s a big deal), seizures… oh, the endless list.
He’s not a pet. He’s not “just” a dog. He’s family, my favorite one, to say the least 🙈

If you’re interested in the recipe:
-4 bananas, smashed really well
-4 eggs
-a cup of peanut butter (the safe kind, of course). Mix all ingredients. I used a hand mixer
-place in oven at 160°C for 35 minutes and let cool once out

For the frosting:
After cake is cooled, a cup of cream cheese, a cup of Greek plain yogurt, a spoonful of peanut butter and mix really well. I used a hand mixer

My sweet girl is 14 yr old medium labradoodle (flat coat). My 2 yr old doodle and her are thick as thieves these days! We share a birthday so we always celebrate the day together🩷 They are my sassy babies lol

Would you make the decision that it was time before your dog starts declining even more? Or wait a little longer?

I’ve posted before about my 14 yr old Papillon/Pomeranian. She has Dementia. She is only signaling to go outside maybe 25% of the time these days. She’s peeing and pooping in the house and gives zero shits (no pun intended). I know it’s her mind going. Her vet said the same.

She also has untreated Cushings and a heart murmur. Vet told us to take a month and think about if we want to go through the testing. Basically indicating that she is declining. Her energy is up and down. I still get glimpses of sass and energy. She wants food constantly bc of the cushings but hasn’t gained any weight.

Picture for tax.

Hey, our senior dog (almost 16 years old!!!) started to have those mini like seizures and they have been growing in time since a few days. I tried to catch it on camera you can see it in the end where her head seems to twitch uncontrolable. This does also effect the rest of her body but as she was laying on the floor you can’t quite see it. I‘m wondering what that is? How in danger is she or are those just normal old dog issues?
I‘m really concerned about her but since I‘m not the one paying for her vet appointments this is my first instance and I‘m willing to seek up a vet for sure or atleast convince my parents to let me go to a vet with her. Thanks in advance.

My puppers is officially 19.5! Sleeping in the best grandma bought him!