I'm so sorry for you Twigs. Your dog has reached a good old age in your care and I am sure you will know when the time is right and do the right thing for her.

Thanks for all your kind messages. In tears at the moment, its not looking very good, her breathing is quite laboured and she keeps making an awful noise from the back of her throat (she started making that sound in the car yesterday on the journeys to and from the vets). Shes always been a bit wheezy but nothing like this.
She was sick AGAIN this afternoon and brought up all her dinner from this morning. The vet gave me pills to settle her tummy which I am supposed to give her half an hour before feeding, but how can I feed her if shes going to be sick?
Shes been walking around in circles again, very restless (the vivitonin is supposed to help this). I think I will just give her the vivitonin tonight but no food.
We are both feel devastated, can't bear the thought of losing her, but we will see how she is tomorrow morning.
If we have to call the vet to have her PTS, they will come to house won't they? I'm certainly not putting her through another car journey.

Yes they will come to your house, although it does cost more.
Tawney had her final stroke on Bristol Temple Meads station when we were travelling home from a weekend at OH's. I rang him at work and he came straight out with a mate and they took us to the vets and that is where she left me. I have her ashes. Station staff very upset as they were used to seeing us on a regular basis, even the train staff knew her.
i'm sorry to say to you that I know that noise and the breathing and please think of her and her suffering.

I am so desperately sorry for you and your lovely oldie Lily. I really hope she stabilizes on the medication. I can feel your desperation from your posts and feel so helpless. ((((hugs)))) from me and my two to you and Lily. You'll know when she has lost the will to fight this. Make the most of the time you have now with her.

Yes your mum is right, sometimes they will tell us it is time, several of mine have,

I will never forget the day before Joe went to the Bridge, h loved to be in a crate, on this day he screamed as he got out, I picked him up and thought, it is time. It seemed that Joe was shouting at me, "Not yet, it isn't my time", I put him down and said OK. The following evening he raced up and down the stairs, 5 minutes later he collapsed, I picked him up and rushed him to the vet, he was nearly gone so we helped it along.

With Ellie she had no intention of going anywhere but in her bed at home, even my vets said that they couldn't give up on her because she wouldn't let them. Several weeks later she died in her sleep on her bed, the way she wanted to go.

Make the most of your time together and develop as many happy memories as you can to add to those you already have. Only you know your dog so ignore what others say if they try to tell you it is time.

Twigs, I am sending her Reiki, hopefully it will make her feel more comfortable, when it is her time it will also help her pass over. If you want I can send you Reiki to help you cope.

HUGS

My heart goes out to you Twigs, I am so sorry for what you and Lily are going through and my heart is breaking for you both
Lily has had a lovely life with you and she is a wonderful age and I know how distressing this must be for you but you will know when the time is right and you will let her go with love and kindness and dignity.

This brings back too many awful memories of my cavalier, Ben who I had to have pts in 2000.It was very traumatic because they couldn't find a vein in either leg and in the end they had to take him out the back. I don't remember what they had to do to him and I am so glad of that but I remember thinking "Ben, please just go, please just die". It was more then 8 years before I would even consider getting another dog as I knew I couldn't put myself through that again.

When he was alive, if I had to leave him at my mums (his grandmas) even though he loved to visit them, when I got back he would lean his head on my leg and hook his outside front leg around my leg and whimper as if to say "I've missed you mum and I'm so glad you're back".

When he was laid on the vets table as they were trying to find a vein for the 4th time, although he was almost out of it, he reached out and hooked his little leg around my arm that was resting on the table in front of him as if to tell me it was ok and not to worry because soon he would be free from pain. I nearly drowned him in my tears.

Now I have 2 little dogs and as I'm looking at them snuggled up in their bed tears are streaming down my face and I am beginning to wonder what on earth I have done in getting them because I know that I am going to eventually lose them and put myself through this again and I don't think I can cope with that.

What a lovely thing to do and what an angel you are. Now you have set me off again and I'm sobbing my heart out. I truly hope it works for all of them.

Just wanted to send ((((((hugs)))))) to you and Lily.

Our Boots had a stroke (she already had cancer), it look her sight and her ability to stand up properly and walk - she staggered and kept walking in the walls before sinking down again. Boots loved going for walks more than anything else in life, even food, so we knew she wouldn't want to live like that so with heavy-hearts, we signed the necessary forms. We have her ashes in the Welsh Dresser (well, she was Welsh!).

Oh this is so sad. All I can say is that having read through it is obvious that you are giving Lily every chance but know that if there is no improvement in the next day or so you may have to face every dog owner's nightmare. I do so hope that she picks up, but if she doesn't then yes.........the vet will come out to your house; we have always done this for our animals because it saves so much stress and is what they deserve.

Huge cuddles for you.