Hi all,

I have a 15 and half year old English Cocker Spaniel who is now getting old
and tired. During her life she has had little in the way of health problems
but over the last two years in particular has slowed down to a point where
she spends the majority of her time sleeping and only wanders as far as the
back garden. She now poo's and wee's in the house which we have learned to
cope with (Vax is very useful!) and will walk around in circles and not be
so interested in contact and been with us. Due to the leaking if is often
necessary to bath her once a day to avoid her smelling too much, we intend
to replace all the carpet once she is no longer with us.

We can no longer leave her with friends/neighbors for the day and it would
now be difficult for us to take her away in the caravan so this year we have
made no plans to go anywhere as we need to stay with her.

I will be devastated when she finally goes, she is my first and only dog and
has been a real friend to me and I will find it so difficult if I have to
make a decision at some point to have her put down.

I guess what I am asking here is am I doing the right thing at the moment, I
do not know what her quality of life is and I suppose I just want to think
its ok and let things carry on for now. It's easy for me to get emotional
over this and a number of years ago I found this poem which I have kept the
link to that brings tears to my eyes every time I look at it
http://www.la-spca.org/pet_loss/comfort/last_battle.htm

I happen to be a 43 year old bloke with a wife and two young children but
when my dog is finally put to rest it is going to be very difficult.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Paul