Getting ready to say goodbye.

Mr_Lahey

I have an Akita, she is 13 years old.

She has lived a very good life, but recently ive noticed her hearing is going. She has got a lot slower and memories of her jumping up and down when she see's me, or taking the kids for a ride on her back are long gone.
She looks old and is a shadow of her former self. I don't think she has long left, i don't expect her to see next year.

My kids are 8, 5 and 2 and they have never known life without her. She is a part of our family and when the time comes i know it will cause a huge grief.

I guess what im wondering is whether there is anything i can do for her, i really want to make the end good for her, i want to let her know how much she is loved. When the time comes what is better - That i have her put down or that i keep her at home? What do i do with her body when she dies? (she is about 50kg)

Thanks for any advice/suggestions or personal experiences.

hieveryone

Sorry I don't have a lot of answers for you, but I'm in the same predicament with my little dog, she's 15, totally stone deaf and has cataracts. I'm so worried I'll come home one day and she'll be lying there dead

Will be interested for the answers, as I think it shows the greatest love to an animal to make the end comfortable.

Wine_of_the_World

I would say to have many photographs of her taken, with your children too while she is still with you.

When the time comes, I think it would be preferable to have her put to sleep at home, many vets offer this service now.

When I had my horse pts a good few years ago I choose to have her cremated and had her ashes returned to me, so I am sure this could be an option. The vet put me in touch with the pet cremators at the time, who sorted everything out (including collecting the body). This way you could choose to sprinkle her ashes in one of her favourate places or in your garden. However I dont have any personal experience of actually making the decision, as for me the decision to put my horse to sleep was kind of made for me - there was not other option.

Tigsteroonie

I had a lovely "last" holiday with Corrie, enjoyed taking him for slow shuffling walks and basically spoilt him rotten - gave him all the treats he loved, they weren't going to do him any more harm. Then took him to the vet, and he lay on the floor in my arms while they administered the injections. He curled up as if asleep, and I left him in that pose (the vets took care of the "details").

The legend of the Rainbow Bridge really helped me too, it's sad but it made me cry and thereby helped me to grieve and then move on.

jackomdj

My heart goes out to you as we are going through the same with Chester our Harrier....link to my thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2255143

We have decided that we are not going to have any invasive medical things done, eg no operations or chemo (he has a tumour, they think it is cancerous but without testing can't be sure)

We have said we will get him put to sleep when things become too much for him, also we do not want the children to see him suffer too much (mine are 5 & 3 next month)

We will get the vets to arrange for him to be cremated. We live on a huge housing estate but have a copse beside us & have a couple of foxes close by. I would not be able to bear it if they dug up his body.

Chester is on strong pain killers at the moment, they are for his arthritus but the Vets have said they will keep all the other pain at bay. Also have said he can have antibiotics to ease any external infection when he needs it. We talked at length about what we wanted to do & the Vets (we saw several different nes at various appointments) all said they agree with our views.

HTH, I am sat here with tears in my eyes now!

Nicky x

bouncydog1

Take her to the vet - there is a lot they can do to provide older dogs with a good quality of life. Our old girl is 16 and has been on "last legs" for a few years. With proper, regular non-invasive care, watching her weight and making allowances for the fact she is slow, has problems with her joints (we have a ramp at the back door for her to get in and out), she continues to enjoy her life.

She is on regular medication and some days are better than others, but she still brings her ball to play in the evenings, enjoys a good old massage and groom and is clearly still enjoying her life. The day she can't get out of her basket is the day we will make the hearbreaking decision.

What do you do with a dog like that - IMO you have the vet come around to you so the last moments are in an environment that your dog is comfortable and stress free. I would then have the dog cremated and scatter the ashes where it enjoyed itself and holds fond memories for you all being with her - local park etc.

As for your children, you need to deal with this in the way best for you and them (possibly according to your religious beliefs).

We explained to our young daughter (then 4) when her great gran died, that gg had gone to a party in the sky where she would be young again and having a party every day and would join other people like great grandpa and papa etc - at gg's funeral dd waved and called to gg to enjoy her party! We didn't say gg had gone to sleep because we understand that this can make young children afraid to sleep at night in case they don't wake up. You could do a similar thing, reminding your children that their dog is now pain free and doing what it has enjoyed.

Hope this helps and hope your girl has a few more years with you - sometimes they surprise you!

lisawood78

bouncyd!!!, what a wonderful post.

Sagz_2

I'm in a similar position to you Mr Lahey, my old dog is nearing the end of his days, in fact I'm surprised to still have him.

In my opinion all we can do is ensure they don't suffer any pain or discomfort and show them they are loved. Mine is slipped extra titbits when the other dogs aren't looking and given extra cuddles... and I try not to cry over him too much as he gets all soggy!

I've had the privilage to share my life with many dogs, 2 have died suddenly at home and the others have been PTS at the Vets. All my dogs were happy to travel and didn't mind the Vets so were not stressed by the visit, they were cuddled and had me whispering in their ears as they drifted off.

I agree with taking lots of photos and videos, you can never have too many, although I still am not able to look at any of my Agnes who was PTS over a year ago I know I have them and will enjoy the memories one day.

I think planning is the best, talk to your Vet and the family about what you want for your dog. Where will she be put down, do you want the Vet to take care of her body or will you bury her. If the Vet, then do you want her ashes returned or not.

My plans are all made, right down to the last meal..... Spare Ribs!
Norb's ALL TIME fave:D

Fire_Fox

Mr_Lahey wrote: »

I
I guess what im wondering is whether there is anything i can do for her, i really want to make the end good for her, i want to let her know how much she is loved. When the time comes what is better - That i have her put down or that i keep her at home? What do i do with her body when she dies? (she is about 50kg)

Thanks for any advice/suggestions or personal experiences.

Sorry to read of your dog having age catch up with her: do pop to the vet and see if he has any suggestions to perk her up! Many vets will come to your home to PTS when the time comes, I personally think PTS is the last loving act you can do for your pet.

hethmar

Its so awful when they get to this stage, you seem to be mourning for them before they have gone. I can only think you spoil her rotten and give her as many cuddles as you can.

I know this is my thoughts, but I could never take a dog to be pts at the vet. Its hellish enough sitting with them waiting for the vet to come to your home to put them to sleep but I cannot even imagine how I would feel driving to the vet, taking my beloved dog into a waiting room where he may fear the smells and the noises rather than laying in his own bed or on the sofa at his home while he drifts off. And then having to leave them there - oh god, no I couldnt do it.

Our dogs have all been buried in our garden, each one has a brass placque on a garden wall here. I dont know if it were wise as it will be hard to leave them - but we will take the placques if we ever move.

olias

Before there is too much sypathy directed to the OP, the following is from his post about the police:

'So im driving on the way to work this morning and i get pulled by the police who are doing a random check in the area on vehicles.
They do the usual checks, tax, MOT, Insurance etc and all fine, im not known to the police and my car is in pristine condition - Except for the tread on one tyre being 0.3mm below the limit, get this; 2mm over 3/4 width. So were talking only just over the limit by the thickness of a pube.

£60 fine and three points thank you very much.

Now before anyone comes and says "bald tyre you deserved it etc" just hear me out.

Ive been driving 10 years and never so much had a problem, no points, no fines nothing. Ive never done anything criminal in my life and yet a tiny problem and im fined and have my licence endorsed. '

And this is from his post on how he deals with horses on the road:

'It is not possible to despise horse riders more than i do. I live out in the country side and the roads are riddled with them.
It was only last week i had a 13 year old doing hand signals telling me to slow down or whatever. '

'i just tear !!!! past them close and fast.'

'Im telling you mate, I drive the same route every day and when they see me coming they get out of the way, because if they don't they are getting an Audi A4 within an inch of them at 60mph.'

It's all very well talking about the love of your animal and your children, but to then talk about behaving in your (poorly maintained) car in a criminally reckless manner endangering other peoples pets and children, well, I'll let others judge you on your comments.

Olias