How do you know...

How do you know when it is time to put your dog "to sleep". Today I took Bijou to the groomers for a pre-Oma's house bath. I took her about 11:30 and got her back around 3:45. This is apparently how long it takes. I am skeptical but what do I know about dog grooming. Thank God they don't charge by the hour.

When I took her this morning she had more trouble than usual getting into the back end of the Scion. She hid from the groomer behind my legs, and then proceeded to poop the floor in fear. Ugh...she never does this.

When I picked her up she absolutely COULD NOT get in the back end. After one attempt she sat on the ground and looked sad. I finally laid the seat down and let her in the back door and hoisted her back end as she scrambled with her front paws.

Ride home was uneventful and I was chattering away at her happily about going to see her boy tomorrow night. He misses her and I know she misses him. (HD is at Oma and Papa's golfing, swimming, fishing, and learning the proper, boyscout way, to use a pocketknife.)

Once we got home she hopped out of the car, and crept up the front stairs to our yard. I was getting the blanket out of the back end when I saw her squat to pee. Her legs went out from under her and she was basically laying on the ground. Her front legs were holding the front of her up but her back legs were splayed out. She peed all over her backside, tummy, tail, and legs. So much for grooming. I hosed her off, sobbing the whole time and got her inside. My neighbors probably think I am looney tunes.

Man is she having trouble getting around. She isn't yelping or crying in pain but she can hardly get up from a laying down position. I can't wait to see what tomorrow's 2.5 hour drive does to her. UGH.

How do you know when it is time? She still gets excited to see us, she still eats and poops like a horse. She wags her tail when I talk to her but damn it, I refuse to see her suffer. How can I tell if she is suffering? Is peeing yourself suffering?

*cries* Man this stuff is hard.

She is 10 this summer...I know that is about normal for dals. We had the camel hump scare and now she has another small lump on her leg. What a hard thing to think about on a Thursday.

Help!!!

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