I apologize in advance, if this should be in a blog.
But I really needed as much input as possible, because I really don't know what to do.

My pekingese George is 15yrs old.
He has: Cataracts, heart murmur, rotten teeth, a bad hind leg with a patella that pops out of place (knee joint), arthritis, and "possibly" an enlarged heart. I say 'possibly' because for his breed, he is longer and taller than any standard peke. I bought him because the breeders were going to put him down for being oversized when he was a puppy. A 'healthy' peke should top at 10lbs. He's 18lbs SKINNY. Even the vet says he could put a pound or two on. (I know what overweight is, I don't say he's not because he's mine, he's not because he simply ISN'T) His heart is larger than it should be for his breed, but they don't know if he was born that way because as per the vet, he is the "lumberjack of his breed", or if this is a recent development due to possible heart disease. Without further testing (that would require knocking him out) they can't tell.

He is still very bubbly in personality. Loves everyone and is enthusiastic about visitors and getting belly rubs and cuddling with Momma (me). He still givees the cat grief if he goes near his dinner and tries to chase him.
He's never been a complaining sort of dog, doesn't even whine to go out. I have to remember to put him out for his 'business'. Very calm, laid back, always been very very quiet for a dog. Particularly for a small dog. His personality is more like a big dog, in his calmness.

Stairs have always given him a problem, and he goes down 3-legged, leaning against the wall on the way down so that he doesn't have to use his hind left leg. This has been his habit since we moved here 5yrs ago.

Our house has two flights of stairs about 15 steps each.

Last summer he was very ill, if anyone recalls from my blog. This past winter has been especially hard on him and his arthritis. I had thought with spring, we'd see him having some relief.
But, it seems that every night at bedtime, I have to carry him down to his bed, and during the day, he sleeps far more than usual, and follows me only 20% of the time, versus his former 100%

I don't know what to do, because of his uncomplaining personality.
I have scheduled an appointment for the vet for a checkup.
But...I can never trust vets.

I don't know if I should just leave things as they are until he does complain (if he ever does) and chalk up his problems with typical age, and work around them like we do for our elder family members with arthritis.... or if I should make the decision for him............

He's not a complainer, and that's my biggest problem. I don't know if he's suffering.
It seems it's mostly the stairs that trouble him, which I can work around... I DON'T mind carrying him from floor to floor, but because he doesn't complain....

I don't know what to do. And it's breaking my heart. I don't want him to suffer. But I don't want to end his life needlessly if he still has some quality left, which it seems to be... but....
Lastly, my biggest fear is that while I'm out, he'll have a fall on the stairs........

George shaved for summer months




George's winter coat and reindeer antlers at xmas.

Oh he's adorable!
I think you will know if he really was in pain.
I had the same problem with my old cat.
She had what the vet called a 'brain episode'. She was paralysed for a while and i had to wash and clean up for her and feed her etc...... but she was still purring and wasn't in any pain and i couldn't bring myself to have her put down as she wasn't in any pain.
I did get someone from the spiritualist church to lay their hands on her. People though i was mad but a couple of hours later she could actually walk-amazing.
Unfortunately she died 3 months later but she was spoilt rotten for her last 3 months!

Couldn't you get stair gates to put on the stairs and at least you wouldn't have to worry about him falling.

I'd just leave him be for now as he seems fine and not in any pain.

I have 5 & 7yr old girls.... gates would pose a problem for them unfortunately.
Sorry for your cat :-( and thanks for listening.

Awww he is so cute bless.

Is he still eating and drinking as normal? sz if I missed this.

We had a 24yr old corgi/jackrussle cross, she was blind,smelly breath general signs of ageing for about 3yrs befor we had her put down.
We came home one day to find her unable to walk and saw then it was 'time'.
Vet said it was nothing to do with her back legs but she had Altzimers and he could treat it but it would take months of repeated visits to the vets.I couldn't put her through that so I made the kindest decison.

It's heatbreaking and we still talk about her and have a pic of her on the wall...our pets are a huge part of our family but sometimes it's kinder to let go.

I feel for you...very tough decision

Sorry Victoria, you are right it should be a blog - we cannot bend the rules for some and not others - we would get shot!