[nagdu] major dilemma

[Julie J]

bernadetta,

Gentle hugs to you.  I can see from your words how difficult this is for 
you.

What I have done with all my dogs, guides and pets, is to make a list of the 
things that are most important to them.  I list things unique to that dog 
that really make them happy, things that they live for.  My first guide it 
was things like sniffing in the yard, meeting people especially children, 
sleeping on the couch, interest in the trash, howling at sirens etc.  When 
the dog starts to lose physical ability due to age or illness I look at that 
list long and hard.  I have to decide if the dog's quality of life  has 
diminished to the point where she is suffering.  I should have let my first 
guide go before I did.  she was in a lot of pain and I was in denial because 
she was stoic about her pain.  She couldn't do many of the things she could 
when she was healthy, but I refused to acknowledge her suffering because it 
was emotionally painful.

No matter what you decide it will be hard.  I'm sorry, there just aren't any 
easy answers.  I hope TSE will help with the surgery and that it is 
successful.

All my best to you,
Julie