Comments on: Should You Put Your Dog to Sleep? A Veterinarian’s Advice http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/should-i-put-my-dog-to-sleep-pet-euthanasia/ Got goals? Need a push in the right direction? You've come to the right place! Thu, 24 May 2012 22:43:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kristin http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/should-i-put-my-dog-to-sleep-pet-euthanasia/comment-page-13/#comment-44347 Kristin Thu, 24 May 2012 20:47:48 +0000 http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/?p=2196#comment-44347 My puppy is now 18 years/3 months. Samson pre-dates my husband and 3 children coming into my life!!!! He has been the perfect dog. I'm struggling, as I see so many of you are to, to find the "time" to put him to sleep! I've prayed fervently that he would tell me he was done by dying in his sleep or just refusing to eat. Though his hearing is mostly gone, he sees fine and eats twice a day. But he can no longer lift himself to a standing position, and falls regularly because his back legs don't work well. He now poops and pees in his sleep...but still pees outside too when we get him up and out. How do you live with the guilt of deciding the time for your pet to die!!! I don't know that he has quality of life. But he obviously has the will to live with his eating/drinking. Wish someone would take the decision out of my hands. Samson will for sure be in heaven, but I don't want to "kill" him because he's an inconvience or sleeps all day! What to do! My puppy is now 18 years/3 months. Samson pre-dates my husband and 3 children coming into my life!!!! He has been the perfect dog. I’m struggling, as I see so many of you are to, to find the “time” to put him to sleep! I’ve prayed fervently that he would tell me he was done by dying in his sleep or just refusing to eat. Though his hearing is mostly gone, he sees fine and eats twice a day. But he can no longer lift himself to a standing position, and falls regularly because his back legs don’t work well. He now poops and pees in his sleep…but still pees outside too when we get him up and out. How do you live with the guilt of deciding the time for your pet to die!!! I don’t know that he has quality of life. But he obviously has the will to live with his eating/drinking. Wish someone would take the decision out of my hands. Samson will for sure be in heaven, but I don’t want to “kill” him because he’s an inconvience or sleeps all day! What to do!

]]> By: Sarah http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/should-i-put-my-dog-to-sleep-pet-euthanasia/comment-page-13/#comment-44317 Sarah Thu, 24 May 2012 05:23:49 +0000 http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/?p=2196#comment-44317 Our beloved Yorkie/Spitz is 16 years old, is deaf and almost completely blind. She has a heart murmer that the vet says is a 5 out of 5 in severity. The murmur is causing congestive heart failure and ultimately renal (kidney) failure. She has lost weight and is not able to be an active ranch dog anymore. She sleeps and coughs due to the heart failure. She passes out or has seizures if she gets excited. The renal failure causes her to drink large amounts of water and then urinate large amounts anywhere at any time. Her deafness and blindness make her very vulnerable outdoors on. She is stuck indoors unless we are there to watch her every move. My husband will not let her go. He just can't. He keeps delaying the inevitable. My poor husband has had this little dog by his side day and night for 15 years. She was so tough and sooo smart. A real true hero of a dog. One of a kind. She knows everything about us and how to run the ranch. It won't be the same without her. We tried medications. I feel that putting her down and burying her on the ranch will be our last gift to her for being so wonderful and loyal for her whole life. I am ready because she is ready. Oh dear we also have a 20 year old cat. Our beloved Yorkie/Spitz is 16 years old, is deaf and almost completely blind. She has a heart murmer that the vet says is a 5 out of 5 in severity. The murmur is causing congestive heart failure and ultimately renal (kidney) failure. She has lost weight and is not able to be an active ranch dog anymore. She sleeps and coughs due to the heart failure. She passes out or has seizures if she gets excited. The renal failure causes her to drink large amounts of water and then urinate large amounts anywhere at any time. Her deafness and blindness make her very vulnerable outdoors on. She is stuck indoors unless we are there to watch her every move.
My husband will not let her go. He just can’t. He keeps delaying the inevitable. My poor husband has had this little dog by his side day and night for 15 years. She was so tough and sooo smart. A real true hero of a dog. One of a kind. She knows everything about us and how to run the ranch. It won’t be the same without her. We tried medications. I feel that putting her down and burying her on the ranch will be our last gift to her for being so wonderful and loyal for her whole life. I am ready because she is ready.
Oh dear we also have a 20 year old cat.

]]> By: Elaine http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/should-i-put-my-dog-to-sleep-pet-euthanasia/comment-page-13/#comment-44104 Elaine Sun, 20 May 2012 16:39:18 +0000 http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/?p=2196#comment-44104 We have a Bichon named Jon Benet, sounds weird I know.. We bought the puppy for our daughter for Christmas in 1996 and she was not named so when we saw the news of Jon Benet Ramsey's death my 6 year old daughter named her Jon Benet. Funny thing is we found out later that Jon Benet had a Bichon dog as well..Getting to the heart of the story is that J.B. is now 16 years old in human years so that makes her between 77 to 80 in doggie years. We love her so much, but she is almost totally deaf and really hard to see, she sleeps most of every day. However when she goes out to potty she runs around. She comes back inside all excited and runs through the house and sometimes runs into things and hits herself really hard. It is those times I just want to sit down and cry my eyes out.. Her dental condition is bad, but she does eat ok. I am just torn and I know at her age she is probably in some pain, just don't know for sure. When she starts to walk it is like she has to warm up before her back legs start working well. She gets groomed once a month and she really enjoys feeling pretty and seems to get a little spunk at those times. However for the most part she is just sleeping the remainder of her life away (22) hours a day...She poops when she is walking through the house and she does not even realize it. We just go behind and pick it up..Am I being selfish keeping her on this earth this way??? It is just really hard to put her down. We have a Bichon named Jon Benet, sounds weird I know.. We bought the puppy for our daughter for Christmas in 1996 and she was not named so when we saw the news of Jon Benet Ramsey’s death my 6 year old daughter named her Jon Benet. Funny thing is we found out later that Jon Benet had a Bichon dog as well..Getting to the heart of the story is that J.B. is now 16 years old in human years so that makes her between 77 to 80 in doggie years. We love her so much, but she is almost totally deaf and really hard to see, she sleeps most of every day. However when she goes out to potty she runs around. She comes back inside all excited and runs through the house and sometimes runs into things and hits herself really hard. It is those times I just want to sit down and cry my eyes out.. Her dental condition is bad, but she does eat ok. I am just torn and I know at her age she is probably in some pain, just don’t know for sure. When she starts to walk it is like she has to warm up before her back legs start working well. She gets groomed once a month and she really enjoys feeling pretty and seems to get a little spunk at those times. However for the most part she is just sleeping the remainder of her life away (22) hours a day…She poops when she is walking through the house and she does not even realize it. We just go behind and pick it up..Am I being selfish keeping her on this earth this way??? It is just really hard to put her down.

]]> By: Kris http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/should-i-put-my-dog-to-sleep-pet-euthanasia/comment-page-13/#comment-44094 Kris Sun, 20 May 2012 14:57:12 +0000 http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/?p=2196#comment-44094 Hello, As I read your responses I am sitting listening to my springer/dalmation mix sit at the back door and cry. She is wanting to get outside with my lab/chow mix. Gabi (the lab) has been in our family since she was old enough to leave her mother. Sadie(the springer) was rescued from the side of a back road about 3 and a half years ago. When we brought her home she submitted to the lab. However, recently she has been attacking the lab and we can no longer leave them in the same room together. Our lab suffers from pain in her back legs and she has recentlt started lossing patchs of hair, leaving behind white patches of flaky skin.We have tried the various meds for her pain and her skin and nothing is working. I know that in the wild the other pack members kill the leader when they can no longer function. Gabi has trouble getting up, she no longer plays like she used to and she didn't eat last night.She is 10 and a half. We have had her in the house all week and she doesn't really like it as she is normally an indoor/outdoor dog. We have a huge fenced in yard with large dog houses that we let the dogs stay in when we are not home.She still loves attention and wages her tail weakly but I am wondering if putting her to sleep would be more merciful than what we are doing. The dogs whimper for the other since we have separated them permanently. If we do put them together the srpinger attacks and Gabi submits. Is this a sign that she is ready to go? We love our dogs very much and it is hurting all of us to see this take place. Any advice would be great. I have talked to trainers, vets etc. but we still can't decide. Thanks Hello, As I read your responses I am sitting listening to my springer/dalmation mix sit at the back door and cry. She is wanting to get outside with my lab/chow mix. Gabi (the lab) has been in our family since she was old enough to leave her mother. Sadie(the springer) was rescued from the side of a back road about 3 and a half years ago. When we brought her home she submitted to the lab. However, recently she has been attacking the lab and we can no longer leave them in the same room together. Our lab suffers from pain in her back legs and she has recentlt started lossing patchs of hair, leaving behind white patches of flaky skin.We have tried the various meds for her pain and her skin and nothing is working. I know that in the wild the other pack members kill the leader when they can no longer function. Gabi has trouble getting up, she no longer plays like she used to and she didn’t eat last night.She is 10 and a half. We have had her in the house all week and she doesn’t really like it as she is normally an indoor/outdoor dog. We have a huge fenced in yard with large dog houses that we let the dogs stay in when we are not home.She still loves attention and wages her tail weakly but I am wondering if putting her to sleep would be more merciful than what we are doing. The dogs whimper for the other since we have separated them permanently. If we do put them together the srpinger attacks and Gabi submits. Is this a sign that she is ready to go? We love our dogs very much and it is hurting all of us to see this take place. Any advice would be great. I have talked to trainers, vets etc. but we still can’t decide. Thanks

]]> By: michael http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/should-i-put-my-dog-to-sleep-pet-euthanasia/comment-page-13/#comment-44021 michael Sat, 19 May 2012 16:10:20 +0000 http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/?p=2196#comment-44021 Im in bits, absolute bits. Megan my GSP has been by my side for 16 and half years. She has had the best life ever possible for a dog i feel, but now as i write this she is lay on her bed at my feet not a happy dog. She sleeps most of the day and her one back leg has now overnight given up on her. When she walks she drags her foot which needs constant care as the claw is wearing down i have to carry her to the grass so she can go to toilet, sometimes she has accidents in her bed overnight i feel so distressed to see her like this. I know she isnt happy and cries quite abit, i know now that i should take her to the vets so she can pass over but i hate the thought of not ever seeing her again. This is the worst feeling in the world....why cant they live forever. I love you MEG XX Im in bits, absolute bits. Megan my GSP has been by my side for 16 and half years. She has had the best life ever possible for a dog i feel, but now as i write this she is lay on her bed at my feet not a happy dog. She sleeps most of the day and her one back leg has now overnight given up on her. When she walks she drags her foot which needs constant care as the claw is wearing down i have to carry her to the grass so she can go to toilet, sometimes she has accidents in her bed overnight i feel so distressed to see her like this. I know she isnt happy and cries quite abit, i know now that i should take her to the vets so she can pass over but i hate the thought of not ever seeing her again. This is the worst feeling in the world….why cant they live forever. I love you MEG XX

]]> By: Christine Carrig http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/should-i-put-my-dog-to-sleep-pet-euthanasia/comment-page-13/#comment-43980 Christine Carrig Fri, 18 May 2012 23:36:50 +0000 http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/?p=2196#comment-43980 Hi everyone, I am reading, with great sadness, and a lot of tears, your stories. We had to put down our darling Boxer, Lily, last year, as she had become paralysed and couldn't walk. Of course I cried for months, and still cry,but in the end, and this is the part I want you to all read, it's out of our OWN SELFISHNESS that we keep our dogs alive when they should be euthanased. It's kinder to put them to sleep than to let them suffer. If a dog can't walk properly, can't run around and enjoy life (even if it IS wagging its tail) then it's time to say goodbye, for YOUR DOG'S SAKE. So, if you truly love your furry babies, and I know you do, then PLEASE. I am begging you, be kind to them and let them go. Letting them go is the best gift you could give them, even if it does upset you. You will get over the grief eventually, and that's not to say you'll ever forget your babies. I am always adopting dogs - special needs dogs, unwanted dogs, strays etc. and I love them all equally, but I know now that when the time comes, I will do the right thing by THEM. Just because your dog "smiles and you and wags its tail" is no reason to prolong their poor quality of life, after all, as I said before, that's just to keep YOU happy. I wish you all well, and my heart goes out to you, as I shed tears reading all your stories. Chris from Australia ps: one way of overcoming your grief is to adopt another doggie (or cat) that needs your love. it helps! Hi everyone, I am reading, with great sadness, and a lot of tears, your stories. We had to put down our darling Boxer, Lily, last year, as she had become paralysed and couldn’t walk.
Of course I cried for months, and still cry,but in the end, and this is the part I want you to all read, it’s out of our OWN SELFISHNESS that we keep our dogs alive when they should be euthanased. It’s kinder to put them to sleep than to let them suffer. If a dog can’t walk properly, can’t run around and enjoy life (even if it IS wagging its tail) then it’s time to say goodbye, for YOUR DOG’S SAKE. So, if you truly love your furry babies, and I know you do, then PLEASE. I am begging you, be kind to them and let them go. Letting them go is the best gift you could give them, even if it does upset you. You will get over the grief eventually, and that’s not to say you’ll ever forget your babies. I am always adopting dogs – special needs dogs, unwanted dogs, strays etc. and I love them all equally, but I know now that when the time comes, I will do the right thing by THEM. Just because your dog “smiles and you and wags its tail” is no reason to prolong their poor quality of life, after all, as I said before, that’s just to keep YOU happy.
I wish you all well, and my heart goes out to you, as I shed tears reading all your stories.
Chris from Australia
ps: one way of overcoming your grief is to adopt another doggie (or cat) that needs your love. it helps!

]]> By: Suzanne http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/should-i-put-my-dog-to-sleep-pet-euthanasia/comment-page-13/#comment-43708 Suzanne Sun, 13 May 2012 19:23:54 +0000 http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/?p=2196#comment-43708 Brian, Your chihuahua sound like he has IVDD, intervertebral disk disease. Put him on crate rest right away and go to the website called dodgerslist.com and read about thise terrible disease. Brian,

Your chihuahua sound like he has IVDD, intervertebral disk disease. Put him on crate rest right away and go to the website called dodgerslist.com and read about thise terrible disease.

]]> By: Jim A http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/should-i-put-my-dog-to-sleep-pet-euthanasia/comment-page-13/#comment-43601 Jim A Fri, 11 May 2012 16:36:42 +0000 http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/?p=2196#comment-43601 Kannan...I am living your same nightmare.. We put our loving Fox Terrier down Mar 6..Not a single day has went by that I haven't cried from guilt, thinking she might have made it a few more days..And like you..2 months have went by and I don't think I will ever get over it. She was the most loved family member I have ever had... (13 1/2 years)..YES including humans!.. Thanks and I am sharing your hurt.... Jim A. Kannan…I am living your same nightmare..

We put our loving Fox Terrier down Mar 6..Not a single day has went by that I haven’t cried from guilt, thinking she might have made it a few more days..And like you..2 months have went by and I don’t think I will ever get over it.

She was the most loved family member I have ever had… (13 1/2 years)..YES including humans!..

Thanks and I am sharing your hurt….

Jim A.

]]> By: Kannan http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/should-i-put-my-dog-to-sleep-pet-euthanasia/comment-page-13/#comment-43581 Kannan Fri, 11 May 2012 07:53:40 +0000 http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/?p=2196#comment-43581 We had a German Shepherd called Tuffy. She was the darling of my home and the housing society we lived in. She was friendly with all the children around. She was about 15 1/2 years old. For the last one month she had problem in walking and started falling. She developed anal infection too and it was not curing. For the last 10 days she became immobile as her hind legs got paralysed. She was urinating and defecating at home. Her hind legs were getting swollen every day. The vet told us that her heart is not pumping enough. Though the doctor had advised us to put her to sleep, we could not make up our mind for almost 3 to 4 weeks as still she was full of life and responding to us and still there was brilliance in her face and she was eating well too. Finally, we fixed up the date for 6th May 2012 and gave her all the food she loved, spoked to her and we all took photographs with her and then took her to the vet. There she started shivering and it gave us a feeling that she was not still ready to give up. But, still we happened to put her to sleep and since then we all lost our sleep. Everyone at home is in tears and there is a huge sense of guilt, as it appears to us that she wanted to live a few more days. My daughter was very close to her and she had been taking care of her so dearly. Today is my daughter's birth day and she still cries. I wonder whether we would be able to recover fully as we might carry this feeling of guilt throughout. We had a German Shepherd called Tuffy. She was the darling of my home and the housing society we lived in. She was friendly with all the children around. She was about 15 1/2 years old. For the last one month she had problem in walking and started falling. She developed anal infection too and it was not curing. For the last 10 days she became immobile as her hind legs got paralysed. She was urinating and defecating at home. Her hind legs were getting swollen every day. The vet told us that her heart is not pumping enough. Though the doctor had advised us to put her to sleep, we could not make up our mind for almost 3 to 4 weeks as still she was full of life and responding to us and still there was brilliance in her face and she was eating well too. Finally, we fixed up the date for 6th May 2012 and gave her all the food she loved, spoked to her and we all took photographs with her and then took her to the vet. There she started shivering and it gave us a feeling that she was not still ready to give up. But, still we happened to put her to sleep and since then we all lost our sleep. Everyone at home is in tears and there is a huge sense of guilt, as it appears to us that she wanted to live a few more days. My daughter was very close to her and she had been taking care of her so dearly. Today is my daughter’s birth day and she still cries. I wonder whether we would be able to recover fully as we might carry this feeling of guilt throughout.

]]> By: Lee cairns http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/should-i-put-my-dog-to-sleep-pet-euthanasia/comment-page-13/#comment-43509 Lee cairns Wed, 09 May 2012 21:39:40 +0000 http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/?p=2196#comment-43509 It's Been a little over 24hrs since we had to have our 15yr old boxer dog "BEAU" put to sleep! We had Him since he was just 6 weeks old and he was everything to us! beaus health declined in in the last 12 months. His hearing went, he had tumors in his eyes, his back legs were going, he had a large lump on his bum, his hair was falling out due to advanced kidney failure. He also had dementia which made him bark all of the time and his kidney failure was making him wee all over the place including in his bed!! We are struggling to come to terms with the loss. Our 3 children have grown up with him. I had to be strong and take him! The worst part was that I couldn't handle being there with him so I left him with the vet which is killing me for doing this. I feel totally guilty about it. I feel as though he is still here! We loved him so much and will miss him. It’s Been a little over 24hrs since we had to have our
15yr old boxer dog “BEAU” put to sleep! We had
Him since he was just 6 weeks old and he was everything to us! beaus health declined in in the last 12 months. His hearing went, he had tumors in his eyes, his back legs were going, he had a large lump on his bum, his hair was falling out due to advanced kidney failure. He also had dementia which made him bark all of the time and his kidney failure was making him wee all over the place including in his bed!! We are struggling to come to terms with the loss. Our 3 children have grown up with him. I had to be strong and take him! The worst part was that I couldn’t handle being there with him so I left him with the vet which is killing me for doing this. I feel totally guilty about it. I feel as though he is still here! We loved him so much and will miss him.

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