My heart goes out to you, Beth, and to Nala.

Last summer, we had to have our 13-year-old Siberian Husky put to sleep. She was nearly blind and deaf and had arthritis so severe that one day she hopped off of our back deck and then couldn't straighten out her hind legs. The vet x-rayed her and she really had no joint space left in either of her hips. I know that it was her time, but it was still an awful thing to decide.

Sometime after that, I read an article about making that decision. I don't recall where I found it or I'd attach the link, but it explained that dogs don't understand that they can take medicine and feel better, they just understand pushing on through so that's what they do. It also said that dogs aren't afraid of death - they don't know what it is. So I guess if a dog is no longer "pushing through," he doesn't want to go on, and he won't hate or resent you for putting him out of his misery- or not.

I hope that doesn't sound too matter-of-fact. It was a good article and I know I'm not doing it justice.--

You and Nala have had a lot of good years together. She loves you for that I'm sure. And I hope she gets to feeling better. I don't know your dog, and they're all different, but maybe the appetite loss is temporary.

Deb