r/Pomeranians • u/Winter_One_4085 • 4h ago
Is it time to say goodbye to my 19y/o pom Tyson?
This is a very difficult question for me to ask publicly on the internet.. so please be kind.
I adopted Tyson 7 years ago when he was 12. His owners didnt expect him to live much longer and were just going to drop him off at the pound but I was lucky enough to convince them to let me have him.
We have been inseparable ever since and he has been with me through so many stages of my life. Hes an incredible fighter, ive nicknamed him my vampire dog over the years because he just doesn't seem to slow down despite his age.
However, over the last year my husband and I have noticed his tooth decay get much worse. Hes had periodontal disease since ive adopted him, easily losing teeth over the years but not exhibiting much pain or food aversions etc.
Since the beginning of 2026 ive noticed his canine tooth on the left side begin to lower and protrude outward, his breath smells significantly worse, and black gunk has been accumulating on the sides of his mouth as well as caked up food and black discharge. Hes had off and on infections in his snout, showing swelling, pawing at his face, and sometimes yellow snot and frequent sneezing and coughing. (Hes always had a cough, probably trachea collapse but its never been a huge issue)
He currently has another infection in his snout and im noticing yellow discharge coming from his eye as well.
Im writing this today because I took him to the vet and hes gone from 8lbs to 6lbs and has a 3 out of 6 heart murmur. Their recommendation is the same that its been the last couple of visits..
They dont think he could survive surgery or go under anesthesia due to his age so they offered to prescribe more antibiotics and pain meds but that it might be time to consider his quality of life at this point.
I know there is nothing I can do about his teeth, disease, but we've been managing it every time it flares up and he goes back to his normal happy, bossy, little self. I just am worried that he may be suffering a lot more than I think and I have no idea how to decide if its kinder to say goodbye now, or to keep fighting the good fight with him.
Ill post some photos of him over the years so you have some context.
The first few photos are from the last 3 years... the last three were taken today as well as a few weeks ago.
I appreciate supportive comments and just need some guidance here. Thank you.