I have a golden retriever, and he is truly the best dog on the face of the earth.  He has been a faithful friend to me, my wife and my four kids.  

He will be fifteen next month.

The bad:
The last few months, he has really gone downhill.  He has trouble getting up now.  We have to pick up his hind quarters if he is laying on the hardwood floors ( which is what we have throughout our downstairs)  The only time he can get up is if he is on one of the oriental rugs or on his bed.  We tried the little boots on his paws for more traction, but it didn't help.  After he is up he can walk around the house ok, but will fall sometimes.    My wife stays at home and is able to pick his rear end up.  This last week, has started barking when he is in a room alone and wants to get up.  He also has starting peeing on accident once a day or so.  

The good:
He never appears to be in any pain.  He loves being petted and is as friendly as ever.  He will lay his head in your lap for hours if you sit in the floor with him while watching TV.  I guess you could say his mind is still great and active, but his old body is just wore out.

Now,we don't mind looking after him, but when is it time to call it quits?  He is on no sort of medicine, but he certainly isn't getting any younger or healthier.

It would be so much easier to know putting him down is the right thing if he was terminally ill and in pain, but he's not.

Thanks in advance for advice and how you have dealt with the same thing.



D@mn, if he didn't just come up to me and lick my hand while typing this.

My Collie had a problem getting up from hard floors for two years. He never got upset about though so we got some welcome mat type things and put a blanket on top of it so he could get up, you know something grippy. He would still walk about the yard and bark at birds and it looked like he was having fun. So we let it be.

Put him down last year when he finally couldnt get up anymore. You'll know is best thing I can say. You'll know better than anyone on an internet forum or even the vet.

I would just help him along and let nature take its course.  If he is in no real pain and still lucid just let him be.  Talk to your vet about some medicine you can give him.  Aspirine may help him but I am not a vet.  Do not put him to sleep.  Good luck and I hope your dog feels better.

You could try a dog bed so he can get some traction. Might buy him some time and comfort. But I'm sorry to say that, well, you know.

It's always hard, yet we keep doing it.

If you want to keep him around, get some throw rugs for the hard wood floors. As long as he is eating and not in pain, don't put him down. You made a pact with him when you brought him home. I hope you live up to your end. It appears he has.

Quoted: He will be fifteen next month.

Fifteen is a damn good run for any dog.

Good luck in your decision.

A dog is a dog, and a cat is a cat.


When the animal loses his dignity and is so much pain that he is so incapacitated that he can not be what he is, it's time.

The SEC was put down when he coulden't be a cat any more. He had lost his dignity as an animal. It was time, and he and Mrs Pic both knew it.


FWIW, I slept on the floor the last couple of months that the SEC was alive.

From your description of the way things are, not yet.


But be prepared, it'll happen quickly. One day you will wake up and you will know that it is time.

My opinion only, if He's not in pain and you can help him go out and get up you need to take care of your friend as long as he's not hurting I would carry him up and down stairs if need be.

He needs you now to help him a little.
He has devouted his life to being your pal.

Quoted: A dog is a dog, and a cat is a cat. When the animal loses his dignity and is so much pain that he is so incapacitated that he can not be what he is, it's time. The SEC was put down when he coulden't be a cat any more. He had lost his dignity as an animal. It was time, and he and Mrs Pic both knew it. FWIW, I slept on the floor the last couple of months that the SEC was alive. From your description of the way things are, not yet. But be prepared, it'll happen quickly. One day you will wake up and you will know that it is time.

Agree a dog is a dog.  And that God gave us dominion over animals for us to be responsible with them and certainly not careless.  

It is dang hard to know when the time is right.  

I appreciate the kind words and I imagine my agony over this confirms it isn't the right time.  Sometimes just saying things out loud (or typing them ) can make stuff clearer.

I'm not a vet, but my wife is.  If you have questions, feel free to email me, and I'll relay them (I don't use PM).  Best of luck either way!


(BTW, are you certain that he is not actually in pain?  If unsure, contact your vet regarding some form of pain management.  Some older-school vets don't know about/believe in this, but something as simple as a pill can make dramatic improvements in your dogs (and maybe consequently your) quality of life.  A number of different treatments are available - some are chewables, are some pills, and some are injections.  These made a huge difference for one of our dogs.)

I cant imagine!!! My dog is my best friend period!! Good Luck. I hope thing get better for you and your friend.

I had the same situation with my first and only dog. He was 16. I had been with him since I was 4. He got so bad that he couldn't get up. He would pee and crap on himself because he couldn't make it outside anymore. We had to bathe him and mop the floors every day. He was almost blind. My parents couldn't fathom the thought of putting him down. I ended up doing it myself one afternoon while everyone was out. It was harder on me, but I told everyone else that he just died. I still miss that dog.