Time to put dog down?

I have a 12 year old Anatolian shepherd, I adopted him when he was 12. I feel it’s time to put him down soon but I’m struggling to know if I’m actually right. The last 1-2 weeks he’s been different, it seems like sundowning. It started he would get too scared to go in the back yard every 2-3 days but now it’s everyday. He gets confused and scared and barks in the house. Normally he loves going out back and doesn’t bark inside unless it’s raining. He seemed like it was getting harder for him to stand up and lay down but nothing crazy but now that seems worse too. Going up stairs today, he fell multiple times and by the time we got up them, his arms were shaking. Last night he drank three full bowls of water within a few hours when normally he’d only drink 2 throughout the whole day. Day his appetite seems normal, maybe less. He does struggles from chronic ear infections and has dental disease which he’s seen the vet for both multiple times before. It seems like he’s declining fast and I don’t want to put him down too early but also not too late

Sorry, I got him when he was 10

Aw what a beautiful old man.  I'm so sorry to hear that you are at this stage of your jouney.  Of course there is never a 'right' time to say goodbye to one of the family and because it is one of the things we have some level of control over and because it has such wide reaching effects, it is one of the things we agonse over the most when its our turn.   So first, please recognise that its difficult.  There are people who say they 'just know,' but many people dont - too many conflicting urges in our heads at this time - and it never comfortable anticipating biting a bullet. Speak to your vet.  Drinking a lot is a sign of multiple serious problems and can suggest failing kidneys or liver.  Being unable to move around without falling is diffixult.   Is there anything your vet can do about these things?  What are the choices?  If its supportive treatment ( hospitalisation / fluids vs euthanasia) how much time can you realistically expect to buy?   Its important to ask vets these questions as they may assume that you want any possible treatment if they dont perceive that you are questionning whether its the best thing for your pet. I'm sorry not to give a clear answer; there isn't one.  But I think that would be my advice;  ask your vet lots of questions, such as; what can i expect when all these tests have been done?  Is it likely to help, ultimately?   Theres a huge difference between treatment that could buy years of good quality life and treatment that will simply prolong it for a few days.   If you type 'euthanasia' and 'put to sleep' into our blogs, you will find different articles by different writers. Wishing both of you comfort and peace in the time to come.