When to Say Goodbye to a Beloved Pet

Our beloved dog, Ginger, went in for surgery recently to remove some mast cell tumors that had formed since the New Year.  She had this surgery a few years ago and did very well with the recovery (recurrence of the tumors is common).  However, at this point she is 16 1/2 and I have to wonder if it was really worth it, both financially and for her comfort, to undergo full anesthesia and surgery for something that isn't life-threatening.

For such an elderly lady, Ginger has been in relatively good health.  Sure, she is completely incontinent and has ruined all of the wood floors in our house (we had to remove all of the area rugs).  We suspect she has had a couple minor strokes, which resulted in short-term balance problems and temporary lameness on the left side.  She has also lost a lot of her hearing and has vision loss.  Using the standard calculation of 7 dog years per human year, she is over 115, so these types of things are to be expected.

But really, most people who meet her can't imagine she is so advanced in age.  One gentlemen in the neighborhood, after asking how old she was, replied with "16 Months?" Umm, she may still think she is a puppy, but her body is beginning to tell us otherwise.

It's never easy to see a loved one age.  I know I'll miss her like crazy when she's gone, but I do hope that during these last few years she isn't suffering.  That's the problem with non-speaking family members (pets and kids alike); you never know how they really feel!  I trust though, that when Ginger's time comes, she will find a way to let me know.  I just wish she could have spared my wood floors in the process.

Original DC Metro Moms Blog post

De in D.C. can also be found talking about her family and posting recipes at her personal blog, A Spiced Life.