Off-Topic: Putting a Pet Down

[CYEATHAWK]

Oh that terrifies me too, especially as someone who lives alone. The emptiness... the emptiness is going to be brutal.

This is my little old guy

He gave you and you him 11 great years. When the time comes look at it that way.

Vet has said our dog will probably not make it past winter. About the same age as yours. My wife and girls say they are prepared. I know better, but I tell them what I just said above.

I grew up rural........seen more than my share of animals not making it.

There is nothing than can be said only that time really does heal. And when it's that time.......go find another little guy and never forget the original little guy.

 

[isufbcurt]

I honestly try not to think about having to do this. My wife and I will be very devastated when it's time .

 

[madguy30]

Not in this situation yet, hopefully won’t be for several more years. But, the gf and I have promised each other that when the days come for our 2 that we will both be in the room and be there till the very end. You are your dogs entire world, and one of the worst things you can do is leave them in their final moments. Make sure you do that, and you will give your dog everything it needs.

And now, I need to go wipe the tears from my eyes.

Was just gonna post something similar as I just saw an article about this...it's absolutely important for them to be with their most important part of their life.

 

[BryceC]

It doesn’t make me it easier but when my wife and I’s first dog needed put down she told me she might never be able to get another dog.

We brought his leftover food to the ARL the next week and she was ready to be back in. Really sucks in the moment for sure.

 

[KnappShack]

Hardest ******* decision even when it's the right one.

******* ******* hard.

 

[CyCrazy]

It sucks, I have had to put 2 dogs down, the last one I couldn't and made the wife do it. Bawled like a baby, still have her ashes. I xpect within a year or 2 my Bulldog we need to be put down, she was a rescue off the streets she has a lot of issues, it will crush my daughters.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

When they cease enjoying their day and being a pet, it is time. As a kid and adult, I have been thru 4 times. It never gets easier. I have wonderful memories, and as someone said, it will take time. I still hear them when I get up or come home.

 

[ISUAgronomist]

Not in this situation yet, hopefully won’t be for several more years. But, the gf and I have promised each other that when the days come for our 2 that we will both be in the room and be there till the very end. You are your dogs entire world, and one of the worst things you can do is leave them in their final moments. Make sure you do that, and you will give your dog everything it needs.

And now, I need to go wipe the tears from my eyes.

Not only for your companion but it's not fair to make the veterinarian shoulder that moment of grief for the owners.

 

[ISUTex]

So, I have to put my beloved Dog Shiloh down on Tuesday. He's a diabetic, has pancreatitis, going blind in one eye, and has a smallish to medium sized growth under an armpit. He had a fatty lump a few years ago but this one has me more concerned.

He's still a happy Dog. He still loves his walks and he adores me. Which is what makes hard. I lost my mom last year. I'm an introvert so I struggle meeting new people and making new friends. And I don't have a ton of friends. At least in person in town.

He'd be 11 in the spring so he's not a Spring chicken.

And I want him to go before he gets really sick. I don't want him to suffer too much. I just... I feel like... I'm murdering him. And that if I'm wrong and he would have had a lot more time with me than what have I done?

The vet didn't even really ask because we've been flirting with being at this stage before. They've thought he was close to here for a while now. Maybe since April. I've tried to drag it out up until now and also, its becoming harder to afford paying for the two, sometimes three prescriptions and prescription food and IDK that he's have a quality of life.

I know he loves me. I know I love him. I know hes a happy Dog. I Know I wish I could win the lottery and find a way to make him 5 years younger. I know I wish I could snap my fingers and undo any number of things but that as we all know is not life.

I guess my questions is - and I know its different for everyone - how do you reconcile the faith, love and trust in a pet's eyes and not have it feel like you're betraying them? I want to say I"m not, because I'm trying to keep his interest at heart and let him go while he can still enjoy his walkies, enjoy his car rides and his appetite and occasionally, although more and more rarely play or chew on a bone. I 'm struggling with it.

I want to be selfish. I want to say, hell no, I'm not letting go. But I also want to do right by him and I'm struggling to square those two things

I say as long as he's still acting happy let him live. As soon as that stops, call the vet and go in. Most clinics will let you come in on short notice. Spend as much time with him as you can. When he's at the vet just pet him and reassure him until he's gone.

 

[cyputz]

We had to put our little Westie down a few years back. Man it was HARD!
Hold them in your normal embrace as they inject your dog. Your pet had provided so many years of unconditional love. Now it is your turn to provide your pet with the warm comforting loving embrace he/she needs as her life expires. Tears in my eyes as a complete this.
It’s like when your sick and the dog will hang around you because she knows your sick. Well it’s your turn, your pet will 100% know

 

[Gonzo]

Dealing with similar situation right now. 15 year old lab/retriever mix that basically can't get up on his own anymore and is having incontinence issues. If we help him up he can walk a little bit, but he simply won't be carried and won't use a ramp and he is really struggling to get up and down the deck stairs. He is still eating which is the only thing keeping him going. It's time but wife and kids are not ready yet. It sucks, especially around the holidays.

This is exactly where we were at with our lab. Struggled just to stand up. Would be walking and poop would literally be falling out of her and she had no idea. She could barely hear. Whenever I took her to the vet I had to lift her into the car. It was no kind of life. Very very tough.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Oh that terrifies me too, especially as someone who lives alone. The emptiness... the emptiness is going to be brutal.

This is my little old guy

I’m so sorry you have to go through this and I’m so happy that you will be there for them. Many pet owners can’t be there at the end and from friends that are vets that is the absolute worst.

Take this time now and make a plan, see if a vet can come to your house when it’s time, if not that’s ok just keep your vet informed. It might happen suddenly but you seem very in tune with your pup and if things start to turn where he can’t move/exist without pain or struggling then it’s time.

The other thing is that when you time with Shiloh is at its end you can do a lot of things to keep his memory alive. Spend some time with the pups that need some love at an animal shelter. Go on the same walks and keep him in your thoughts. Maybe one day when youre ready you may have the opportunity of rescuing another pup in need.

And remember before everything else, you are not alone.

 

[SplitIdentity]

We had a vet come to us so that our girl could be in her home when she went. It was incredibly difficult. When the vet bent over to help lift her in her blanket, she (vet) ripped off a huge fart, and blamed it on our deceased (within seconds) pup. “Oh thanks for that girl”. Honestly as unprofessional as it was to blame our dead dog, it made it a little more tolerable for a few seconds.

Our daughter, who has just started talking, woke up the other morning and waved at a picture of our girl and said “hi puppy!” With the biggest smile. That broke me and we went through this two years ago.

Dogs are family. It’s a gift that we can help them end their suffering. They deserve that.

 

[AuH2O]

That's what I keep saying. And FWIW - it probably makes me sound crazy but when I ask him if he's feeling okay or usually I'll ask "Shiloh are you sick" and he will lean forward and give me a nose bop. I know that wouldn't stand up in court but thats one of the ways we communicate is I'll ask him a question and he bops me.

So... doesn't mean I'm right. But I do think ultimately, it's time. My mom thought it was time last July. But I just - I don't have kids. Maybe will, maybe won't one day.

So Shiloh's the closest thing I have. And I just, I'm a having a hard time with this decision. And I know he's happy because he knows I love him and he loves me. I just... hate that they get older so fast.

The fact that you are struggling with doing what you know is the right thing for him says all you need to know.

We should all be so lucky to be reaching the end of the line and get to call it a day with someone looking out for us like you are for your dog.

 

[MuskieCy]

My father was a full time practicing veterinarian for 57 years.

My earliest memory is having a c-sectioned puppy placed on the towel in my hands when I was 4 years old.

Euthanasia was something I grew up with. When it was with a family member and, especially, a life long patient, he cried with the other family members. In other situations, he saved the dog from being taken out back and shot.

Love your family,....especially the furry ones who have no favorites and unconditionally love every other family member always.

 

[mynameisjonas]

if your dog is still happy maybe think about delaying it. I think that’s what I would do, but tough to say unless I’m in your situation.

 

[danvillecyclone]

We had a decision to make of our Golden Retriever. Congestive Heart Failure.

Had a very nice talk with the hometown vet.

I couldn’t do it and she was behind me 100%. He was still plugging away. Very happy as usual and just got slower. Problem was he was not even 9 yet. Great diet. Plenty of exercise. Just genetics I guess. Vet gave me a bunch of different meds and had to drain fluid once. She said maybe two weeks.

It was about 10 days and He died at our farm in his sleep.

So many factors play a role in this decision.

His disposition never changed. So why should mine?

Glad we didn’t have him put down.

 

[peteypie]

Not only for your companion but it's not fair to make the veterinarian shoulder that moment of grief for the owners.

No offense, but the vet has done this a thousand times and it's not thier dog, he is not grieving.

To all thier own, and reading this thread, im probably in the minority. But with kids and everything I thought it was just best they didn't know about it until after it was done. I dropped her off and let them know later. Still sad, but we all knew what had to be done.

I was there with my dad at the end, but this is just a pet we're talking about, no need for others to suffer more than just knowing they are gone.

Just my opinion. Obviously different from others in this thread.

 

[CascadeClone]

OP: two comments. First, do it once your dog is no longer happy. Dont ler him suffer, but if he is happy now, let him be happy as long as he can, until he isnt anymore.
Second, living w the bad feels. Thats the price you pay, to keep him from suffering. It IS hard. But thats your job as his owner. You have to nut up and take that pain, to keep him out of pain.

Great quote- "grief is the price we pay for love". QE2.

And im sorry about your dog. Its never easy, and it shouldnt be.

 

[CascadeClone]

Not only for your companion but it's not fair to make the veterinarian shoulder that moment of grief for the owners.

This times a billion. Gf is a vet tech, and the worst thing they have to do is euthanize a pet and the owner cant or wont be there. The poor animal is lonely and scared and probably hurting, and it makes it harder on the vet, the techs, and the animal. Its a high suicide rate among vets and techs already.

Holidays they do a lot of euthanasias, because people find their pets inconvenient w travel, family coming, etc. People are the worst.