Sometimes it's very hard to know when to let an old dog go, so I decided I needed an objective professional opinion on 15 1/2 year old Jay who is no longer able to get up unaided.

Vet Andy explained the way he looks at it.  "I see a dog as a three legged stool: they should be eating and drinking well, alert and able to get about.  If one of those "legs" gives way then the stool is no longer viable."  He hauled Jay to her feet and she stood there, unmoving, the picture of misery.  (To be fair, like many old dogs she tends to carry her head low, hang-dog style).  Looking at her, Andy's face said it all: one of the stool's legs had clearly gone from the equation.  I suggested Jay follow me outside where she ambled around the garden, sniffing at Andy's car, and clearly quite content.  Andy's face changed.  I asked him what he would do if she were his dog and he said, unhesitatingly, "I would let her alone.  Yes, the muscle tone has gone but she is obviously enjoying life.  She'll tell you when she isn't."  So Jay lives to see another day...

The other day I was reading in the paper about a harness that can help disabled or elderly dogs walk.  It straps together dog and owner, shifting some of the weight pressing on the animal's back legs on to the human.  Adjustable buckles alter how much weight the two legged can bear and they can even shift the balance from left to right if one of the dog's legs is weaker than the other.  The harnesss, called Dogaid, was invented by Vikram Jashapara when his Newfoundland had to have a leg amputated and is now recommended by some vets and the £150 cost covered by some pet insurance policies.

I can see its use for temporarily disabled dogs but with the elderly?  Perhaps we should think of vet Andy's useful analogy....