How do you know when it's time to euthanize your dog?

When you are keeping her alive for your needs and not hers. That is, when you can see she is in too much pain. If your dog is not eating or drinking, she is telling you she is ready. It is a terribly sad decision; I am sorry you are going through this.

If you can’t afford to get her medical care, then euthanasia is probably the kindest choice, Thirteen is not that old for a toy poodle, but something is clearly causing her pain.

When she asks you to.
And you will know when that is.

I’m sorry you are going through this and the illness of a beloved pet can be devastating.

Truthfully though, I hate these kinds of questions. They really bother me because it’s very clear your poor dog is suffering (disorientation? racing heart? not eating?) and these are all very serious. I’m not sure how you could delay treatment at this point. It sounds like you and your mom are upset – then why not get your dog to the vet immediately, even if payment is an issue? The vet can provide the best answer for what needs to be done, and in this instance can suggest a payment plan or Care Credit of some sort. Think about how you may feel to know her suffering was prolonged needlessly and/or maybe there was an answer for a fix – like maybe she has a stomach blockage or is dehydrated.

I know you’re probably scared and freaked out, but think about how your poor dog feels. At this point, her needs have to come first.

(I’m really not trying to be harsh but your dog is clearly telling you she needs help)

You just know…and so does your pet…as @anartist stated.

@janbb Has a beautifully put answer. And @syz speaks the truth.

By the way, it costs money to euthanize your pet. I completely agree with @figbash. Your dog needs to go to the vet (either way).

This is so heartbreaking and I am so sorry. I was pretty sure our bichon was dying since she was hiding all day and not eating or drinking. We seriously thought we’d have to euthanize her but we took her to the vet instead after days of feeling frantic and depressed. It cost us over a thousand bucks cash and she got well following surgery. Then, after a week or so, she got sick again and the vet told us he’d re=do her surgery for almost nothing. I was so depressed and worried ; more so than when family members died. But we took her back . He did the surgery over again but kept her for four days and it cost us another grand. This was over six months ago and words can’t express how happy I am we coughed up all that money. But, then, she is only seven. I feel for you; I am really sorry. I agree with @figbash; she needs to go to the vet either way.

We had to part with our dog when she developed tumors and was too old to recover. It was a mutual agreement between us and the vet who had treated her since she was six weeks old. It was very sad.

Wanted to thank everyone for the answers. I decided to go ahead and do it – the vet let me hold her and look in her eyes through the procedure. She looked peaceful, almost relieved. She’s been my best friend since I was 13 years old.

Sending a hug. I had to do it with my dog too and felt the same sense of peace from him.

So sorry to hear about your dog, @eferrara. I had to have my 12 year old lab-cross euthanased last year, she basically had heart failure and became increasingly ill over the space of just a week. The vet gave her some drugs but warned that it would only give her a couple more weeks at best. On that last afternoon she rested her chin on my knee, looked up at me, her tail wagging weakly, and I just knew that she was saying “Help me!” That broke my heart and I knew at that moment, what had to be done. A couple more weeks with the drugs, would just have been prolonging her suffering for my selfishness.

@eferrara: I am so, so sorry. It’s hard to explain the special relationships we have with our pets because they’re so unique. I hope you are doing okay and are soon able to reflect on all of the positive memories. In the end, you did the right thing for her and I hope you feel that in your heart. Choosing to put a pet to sleep when they are truly suffering can be the biggest act of love you can offer.

Did the vet say what was wrong with her at all or why she had declined?

When people and animals are fixing to die, they stop eating and drinking. Another sad clue—just like the old cliche—does she turn her face to the wall? Does she seek to be out of the light, out of signt, away from company, and perhaps literally, turn her face to the wall?

Then she is telling you something and if you love her, you should hear. You don’t actually have to “euthanize” her anymore than loving children euthanize their parents when they agree with the doctor that perhaps a little more medication for pain is needed.

I have watched two loved pets die—one at home on my bed and one at the vet’s under sedation. The transition from life to death in both cases was almost seamless. Everything just quietly shut down. I didn’t even know when it happened.

As a fellow animal lover, I know it is hard to let go. Your dog is in distress by the list of symptoms she is demonstrating. Put yourself in her ‘paws’. Would she, your loving, faithful, companion/friend, want you to be suffering? My prayers go out to you. Hobo, Tigger and Pockets will welcome her ‘home’.