We had to have our 12 year old German Shepherd put to sleep this morning

When I came home yesterday afternoon, she usually greets me, tail wagging. Yesterday she sat, didn't even bark when I opened the door and when she tried to stand up, her back legs gave way and she sat back down again.

She ate her dinner OK but when we went upstairs to bed, she was like a little old lady going up the steps. Her bed is on the opposite side of our bed and she has to jump onto our bed to get to her bed (we have a small bedroom and the air-cooler is in the way). She tried to jump up on the bed and couldn't. My husband had to help her up and she yelped - obviously in pain so he took her to the vet. The vet could feel a tumour in her bowel about the size of a grapefruit, so after discussing possible treatment with the vet, in view of her advanced years my husband took the decision to put her to sleep. We had already discussed the possibility last night and I know we took the right decision. Doesn't make it any easier though - we've lost a much loved member of our family. The house feels so empty without her. Even the cats are very subdued

We love every one of our fur and scales family and it hurts so much when something like this happens