Senior dog parent wondered when it was time to say final goodbye — then one night, her pet’s walk gave her the hardest answer

A pet parent was highly concerned about her elderly dog and turned to the internet for help. Marissa, who goes by @momentswithmarissa on TikTok, opened up about the gradual changes in her beloved pet’s behavior and physical condition. She was worried about her dog and took her to the vet, only to return home with more confusion about whether it was time for her pet to go. Marissa wiped away her tears as she explained the shifts she’d recently observed in her 14-year-old furry friend, whose walk indicated a heartbreaking truth. 

In the clip, Marissa held her elderly dog, Winnie, close to her heart and spoke about her dog's declining state with teary eyes. At 14.5 years old, Winnie had started showing signs of ageing, and the senior dog parent had simply failed to face the idea of letting her go forever. “About a year ago, Winnie started walking with a really weird gait where her front feet walk faster than her back feet,” she recalled. Naturally, Marissa feared her pet was in pain and rushed to the vet clinic. There, the experts examined Winnie thoroughly, moving all her limbs and neck in search of the issue.

Winnie was not “wincing” or resisting any movement that might indicate pain. “They were saying it’s something neurological,” Marissa explained. Though the elderly dog did not suffer pain, her walk kept getting worse, and she did not get zoomies anymore, the owner said. The furry pal, once an active walker, was visibly weak and physically compromised. Marissa disclosed that Winnie was struggling to even hold herself up. “She is sitting down more often, laying down more often.” Holding back tears, the woman claimed her dog refrained from sitting down on the grass before, but that had changed now.

“Doggy dementia” could be a possible diagnosis. Another set of lab tests also failed to diagnose any illness Winnie might be suffering from. She turned the camera towards her poor pet, who quietly sat near the couch with her head bowed down. Marissa noted that the canine is still eating, going to the bathroom, and doing normal things, but with less energy and joy. All the pet owner wanted to figure out was if it was time to make the “hard decision” and help Winnie cross the rainbow bridge before it was too late. She asked other senior pet owners for opinions so she could make an informed decision about her dog’s euthanasia. 

The post was liked by 15,700 people while several more chipped in with thoughtful insights and personal opinions. @lizandderby wrote, “Someone said, ‘Think of her 4 favorite things to do and when they can’t do 3 of them, it’s time.” While @makeyourownmems noted, “When you feel you’re keeping them around for you and not for them.” A fellow animal care professional, @girlofmychoosin, penned, “It looks like the time is now. I’m sorry.” They hinted at Winnie’s declining state to suggest the same, drawing from their expertise in the field. 

You can follow @momentswithmarissa for more updates.