When to put down your dog?

[Wyatt Burp]

I mentioned our dog before here but now it's getting pretty close for him to walk the green mile. We've put three dogs down in the last twenty years but this time it's different. The bad news: over sized gall bladder bigger than the vet ever seen that puts pressure on his wind pipe so he hacks for a long time trying to breath after the slightest exertion. only 3 legs totally work, and bad vision. the good news: when he's NOT hacking he's still in a great mood and loves to play. He can still chase the cat in spite of that bum leg.
We don't want him to suffer, but we just can't tell if he's still OK enough to hang on a while. He still has a lot of spirit but groans constantly from constant pain from all that internal pressure and that's the reason why we are thinking it's almost time. We think when he loses his appetite it would be the signal it's time, but he still has one. We are only thinking of him, not how we feel. Lots of folks here have gone through this. What did you do when it was touch and go like this? We are sad for the little dude, but not all despondent, excepting the reality of all this.

 

[Arik]

Me personally....I would first exhaust all other options. Medicine, surgery....if possible. If neither are possible AND the dog is still happy go lucky with energy and enthusiasm and appetite I'd let him be. It not bothering him enough to severely affect his quality of life.

That being said, this is what I would do based on your explanation of his issues. Only you truly know your dog and what he's like and how he normally behaves

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[Ranger17]

I'm with Arik on this, and been through those decisions a couple time in the past as well (always tough).

For us, as long as we can do what we can AND our dog still has a decent quality of life we keep on enjoying as much time together as we can. And when the time comes that the dog is suffering too much, then we let them go.

 

[mtgianni]

When it begins to affect the quality of life. I would rather put down a dog that was not miserable but hurting enough constantly to show it. My last one was put down because she couldn't pee, had tumors that would not be reduced medically and you knew she was both embarrassed and hurting from uremic poisoning. Vet said an operation was 50-50 and at her age might extend her life 6 months and might not. It was tough but the right thing to do.

 

[Jimmyjones]

I don't envy your situation, been there too many times.
Mine have let me know when it was time. The last few, I've had a vet come to the house. I was in the same position last year at this time.

I truly believe you'll know when it's time.

 

[steamloco76]

We had to make the final decision for Lexxa Marie, our 14 or so year old Chow-Springer mix last spring. She was a very proud old girl suffering from severe nerve damage in her hind legs due to Lyme Disease, deafness and arthritis. She had great trouble standing for about a year. We used a lift harness to help her. Finally, she started to drink less and less water because she didn't want to go out to urinate more than once or twice per day.

One day, Lexxa gave my wife "the look" while my wife was holding her up as best she could, so our old girl could pee. The look said "I've had enough." She was embarrassed and tired. So, we took here to the vet the next day- she knew exactly what was going on too. Never whined, never tried to get away. She went quietly, with dignity, her head in my hands with my wife stroking her back.

 

[Kanewpadle]

You'll know when it's time.

Our little dog had a few problems before we put her down. We gave her a pain reliever prescribed by the vet which seemed to work for a couple months. Then she really slowed down not wanting to eat on a regular basis or leave her bed. We knew it was time. A week later she was gone.

Feel for ya buddy. Cute little guy he is.

 

[PatriotX]

So sorry to hear about your friend and family member; these are more than pets.


I've had a tough run lately, losing three cats and one dog over the last half-year.


I'm a believer in better a day too early, than a day too late.

 

[amazingflapjack]

Proverbs 3: 5-6 is what we apply. Simple, but not easy.

 

[phantomcycle]

As long as quality of life can be maintained I'll let my dog live with me but I'm not going to let them suffer from pain or a disabling function
My last dog to go was a blue tic hound she came to me to be petted and died in my arms up to that point I gave her a aspirin every day so her arthritis would allow her to get up she could walk down stairs but needed help coming up stairs
When my dog is suffering so am I I feel their pain and I will not allow that to happen to my best friend

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[federali]

Painful Decision

We had our beloved golden retriever, Rubin, euthanized seven years ago and it was an exceedingly painful decision. I grieved more for my dog than I did for my parents, and I loved my parents.

You need to weigh the dog's remaining quality of life and if suffering is the better part of its existence, then perhaps it is time.
At this point, I don't think there's a right or wrong decision and no matter what you do, you'll be second-guessing yourself, as we did.

 

[hsmith9491]

He will let you know when it's time.

 

[Toyman]

Went through this last week. We have a brother and sister Yorkshire terriers and in December vet found Duchess had a tumor under her left front and another in her belly. We gave her pain meds and she slowly quit eating then could hardly walk. Took her to vet on Monday last week. The rest of the week was tuff for my wife and I but we did the right thing her quality of life was gone and she was suffering.

 

[Jessie]

There is no easy answer to give. Definitely, no suffering should happen. Your suffering in this is secondary to theirs. It's the price we bear for being their friend and care giver.
A second opinion from another vet may not be out of order. You never know, and the cost should be secondary, too.
It's too bad that they can't voice their needs, again, that's our responsibility.
I hesitated with my last one for a few days because I just wasn't sure.
That was partly for my benefit because the vet told us we could bring her in that same day she gave us the news that things wouldn't get better.
We just weren't ready and our girl was doing alright then.
After a
Couple of days, we decided and did what had to be done and I have to say, it hurts to even type this.
My thoughts and prayers for all of you and His will be done.

 

[vonn]

Tough decision you will have to make and I do not envy you but I think you will know when it is time. All of mine have let me know when the time came. My vet gave them a comfortable spot and they were gone in what seemed a painless manner. Letting them suffer was not an option. I still remember them all and miss them.

 

[dusty3030]

Worst day of my life and I haven't been able to get a dog since.
Chocolate lab I had for 14 years, his name was Dusty.
Doc Rountree cried with me when he put him down, but what assured me then was when he told me they have dignity and I certainly respected his. His hips had given smack out, he couldn't get up to go and started peeing himself. He had the most ashamed look and wouldn't look you in the eye. He was putting himself in pain not to disappoint us, I couldn't let him do that.

 

[e3mrk]

I have had to have a couple of Pets put down and it's not a easy decision to make but you have to think of the animal and how it's feeling. The darn things are one of the family.

 

[phantomcycle]

It's very hard for a pet owner to put his pet down due to our guilty feelings that we have just killed a friend that's the hardest part for me even tho I know it's best for my best friend I still feel very guilty about having this power of life or death and it causes me many sleepless nights

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[hoosierone]

My boxer let me know. He was in severe pain from arthritis and could not tolerate the meds. His last few days he was unable to get up without help. It was one of the toughest things I've ever done. I held him in my arms as the vet did his thing. For quite a while after I would just burst out crying. Have a great wife who helped with hugs. Didn't get another dog because I am not prepared to go through that again.

 

[Jessie]

I too, have thought I wouldn't go through it again but realize that not adopting another one later, may deprive one from a good life and loving home.
The good years make up for the terrible day.
I wish it got easier.

 

[Maddog 521]

My SIL is going through the same thing you are. Her 13yo King Charles Spaniel is not well. He's taking meds, special food, fluid on his heart and just today the Vet found a tumor in his lungs. That dog was all she had when her husband fought Leukemia twice and lost the second bout. She knows the outcome but as of right now she's a mess. Hopefully at the end it will be fast and easy on her.

 

[Tyrod]

Dogs are very stoic and can appear to be happy & healthy while experiencing pain. By the time they begin to show pain they prolly have been in pain for some time. The decision of when to put down a dog has more to do with our pain over seeing a loved one suffer than to do with the degree of real pain they're experiencing. Just food for thought!

 

[GKC]

I had to put my 14 year old dachshund down three years ago, and I'm still not over it.

He was actually my mother's dog, and he was 9 when she passed. She asked me to find him a good home, and I brought him home with me after her funeral intending to do just that, but he decided he was home. I've never really been a dog person (my wife has always had a Chihuahua as her dog, which I maintain isn't really a dog) but he converted me. He became my constant companion, followed me everywhere, and wanted nothing more than to be by my side. He was the happiest, goofiest dog I'd ever seen. Then, when he was 14, he suddenly went deaf and blind, almost overnight. This happy-go-lucky little guy became a miserable, terrified little dog. He used to love to ride in the car with me, but now it scared him. The vet said there was nothing that could be done. Then he started coughing, and the vet said his trachea was collapsing, so I decided that it was time.

We made an appointment to have him put to sleep, and on that day when we arrived at the vet's office, my wife turned to me and asked what day it was. I told her it was December 20th, and she said, "It's your mother's birthday." It was as if she was calling him to be with her.

I still miss him to this day, and I just hope that I am reunited with him and my mother some day. I don't know if I'll ever have another dog...I don't think there is one that could love me as much as he did.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Over 35 years we have put down 13 family pets. When Ruthie and I cannot sleep at night knowing that they are truly suffering, then it's time.

I've said this before: I, my brother and my dad before us, on the way to the vet's, would stop at a McDonald's and drop a few Big Macs or Filets-o-Fish in the floorboard and let them gorge if they can.

The memory of trying to indulge them at the end, silly it may sound, brings us a small measure of selfish comfort.

There are many members here that know your heartache and we all pray for comfort.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...I don't know if it's just Basset Hounds...but we have had several that told us when they were close...they ask to go out...and they won't come back in...they find a nice spot and wait...first one that did it I carried back in...he immediately asked to go back out and returned to the same spot under a tree...he's buried in that spot...

 

[rwsmith]

That is a tricky one...

If he still enjoys some 'quality of life', I don't think he needs to be put down. But when they have that pleading, yet apologetic look in their eyes because they can't be like you want them to be and you can't do anything to help them, then it's time. But you have to be ready.

Stopping eating is a physical sign.

One of our cat's meowed at me one day, he was old and it was so full of pain, I could tell and I decided right there.

Most of our pets have made the decision easier.

Our wonderful Heidi, poor thing, was broken down as to have no quality of life, but my wife couldn't bring herself to accept it. She looked at me like she wanted me to help her and that broke my heart. After that I decided that everybody else will just have to deal with their feelings, because I wasn't going put off that decision any more.

You have our sincere sympathies.

 

[Ballistic147]

You will know when the time comes. My wife and I have had to put 5 dogs down over the last 25 years and I've cried like a baby over each one. Right now our oldest dog Luke is 15 years old and in the early stages of heart failure. The vet has him on blood pressure medicine and he is doing good but we already know he won't be with us much longer. There's no way on earth I will let my best buddy suffer and when the time comes I will not hesitate to have it done. With all of our dogs I have been very strong and held up well strictly for them until their last breath. Our vet is a really good person and he has cried with me every time.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Thank God for dogs! We let them see sides of us nobody else are prone to see. They likewise, give us their all. Got home about an hour and a half ago, took mine for a ride, took him for an unleashed walk on private property, and he comes to see me about every ten minutes with something to play. Laying beside my feet in front of a fan right now, he's finally happy Dad's home.

All I can say is he is my fourth of that breed. They just don't live long enough. Spend all the quality time when you can with your best friend, and love them while they're here. I even love 'em when they're gone. I know this one will age and have to go one day: dread thinking about it.

We all live with pain and suffering, don't we? Thankfully, we have meds and doctors. Do all you can for him. What is his name?

 

[grcoffman104]

Me personally....I would first exhaust all other options. Medicine, surgery....if possible. If neither are possible AND the dog is still happy go lucky with energy and enthusiasm and appetite I'd let him be. It not bothering him enough to severely affect his quality of life.

That being said, this is what I would do based on your explanation of his issues. Only you truly know your dog and what he's like and how he normally behaves

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It's better in these cases to be a little early than a little late.

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[Arik]

It's better in these cases to be a little early than a little late.

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Agreed. Which is why I said it's ultimately up to him since he knows his dog. If that issue only comes up when the dog runs around and runs out of breath then, in my opinion, he's fine. We all get older and can't do things we once did. Doesn't mean we are at the end

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