When to put dog to sleep ? Updated.

jayII

MrsE wrote: »

Ted (my cat) died suddenly a couple of years ago aged nearly 8. I'm glad now he didn't suffer & had a quick end:(

I think you & VSG will know when the time is right:(

I'm sorry about your cat, but you're right, it is the best way for them to go.

I think I'll take her for another chat with the vet in a couple of weeks when her prescription is due to be renewed, she can't have a different anti-inflammatory due to a sensitive stomach, but there may be other pain medication she can have.

If not, then I think she is very close to the end.

EmptyPockets

This thread is breaking my heart

I wish we didn't have to see our furry friends suffer and we didn't have to make these decisions.

Every individual case is different of course, and I think another in-depth discussion with your vet is the best thing to do. I've never been faced with this yet, I can't offer any advice but didn't want to 'read and run'.

My heart goes out to you and I hope you find comfort, when the decision needs to be made, that you are doing the best thing you can for your dog.

jayII

Thanks. I never thought we'd be faced with it, I expected her to just die when she got old, or at least to be of an age when it would be a more obvious decision.

She's just very unlucky to have such bad arthritis at such a young age. We bought carefully (checked for hip dysplasia), have looked after her carefully, but she has always had a thing about literally throwing herself on the ground to roll, and I think she is paying the price now.

elsien

I think she'll let you know when she's had enough - she might be in pain but still finding it bearable. (Thinking of my ninety year old gran who's got pain meds coming out of her ears and is housebound but is still chirpy and full of life.) I know it's different because people can tell you and dogs can't, but I think you can still tell when animals lose all interest in life.
She may have given up on walks, but still be keeping an interest in life through other things that you do with her. I do sympathise - it always feels like one of those damned if you do and damned if you don't situations.

jayII

elsien wrote: »

I think she'll let you know when she's had enough - she might be in pain but still finding it bearable. (Thinking of my ninety year old gran who's got pain meds coming out of her ears and is housebound but is still chirpy and full of life.) I know it's different because people can tell you and dogs can't, but I think you can still tell when animals lose all interest in life.
She may have given up on walks, but still be keeping an interest in life through other things that you do with her. I do sympathise - it always feels like one of those damned if you do and damned if you don't situations.

Thanks, that rings very true. I think I'm probably over-intellectualising things. She still loves lots of things, including baths, short spells of playing with toys, and being lifted up to cuddle on a sofa. She also isn't crying, even when she looks really stiff, forst thing in the morning.

She's always had a very high pain threshold too, and was never a big walkies dog--people are much more the centre of her world, so we can probably hang onto her for a while longer. I'll chat to the vet too, to see if he can give her any more relief from her stiffness.

Thanks all. :A

elsien

I think we all sometimes look at what our dogs used to do and see the losses rather than look at where they are now, and sometimes the comparison does make us miss the things that they do still enjoy. I also have a dog with a high pain threshold, although in her case I think it's more the "where there's no sense, there's no feeling" thing!

Have you tried heat pads or hot water bottles for the stiffness? Previous mutt used to seize up when she was lying down due to her arthritis. We found that holding a hot water to the hip used to help to get her moving when she just couldn't get started. It's only a temporary measure, but we could see her leaning into the heat and really appreciating it.

jayII

elsien wrote: »

I think we all sometimes look at what our dogs used to do and see the losses rather than look at where they are now, and sometimes the comparison does make us miss the things that they do still enjoy. I also have a dog with a high pain threshold, although in her case I think it's more the "where there's no sense, there's no feeling" thing!

Have you tried heat pads or hot water bottles for the stiffness? Previous mutt used to seize up when she was lying down due to her arthritis. We found that holding a hot water to the hip used to help to get her moving when she just couldn't get started. It's only a temporary measure, but we could see her leaning into the heat and really appreciating it.

I've bought her a specialist high-density eggbox foam bed, which helps quite a bit, but I've been looking at other options too. She can still get up alone, but limps quite a bit at first.

I'll bear the hot water bottles in mind, thanks. I've also been looking at heated beds, but I'd worry about her dehydrating in the night (her water bowl is next to her, but you never know).

She's a very bright dog, so some of her behaviour is definitely 'I wanna be up on the sofa', or wanting a carry, LOL.

Meadows

verysillyguy06 wrote: »

How is it possible to make that decision? Our well loved family pet is getting old rather quickly. She refuses to go for walks and very often falls, her legs give way, when even out for a small time. Not sure her quality of life is very good. She has been given medicine for her old age aches and pains and the vet has been involved. Any one having had to make this decision who can give some pointers? And then if you had to make that decision, how much does it costs?

:sad: I think it is quite easy to make the decision. You love your dog, you don't want to see them suffer. This is the last act of kindness you can do for your dog.
We had to have our dog put down over ten years ago, it was sad to lose him but it was not a hard choice to make when you know your dog does not have quality of life.

Our dogs back legs collapsed, he got to the stage where he could barely walk and then messed himself and was not even aware he had done it. That was not the dog we had loved for all those years.
I was out walking with him one day and just about got him home as he kept collapsing (too big to carry home and had to prop him up to get him home). I realised then what would have to happen, my husband was in denial, but after a week of not wanting to move and the mess he finally came to realise what we had to do.

It is all very quick and the dog knows nothing.

Obviously as it was a long while ago I can not comment on cost.

Paradigm

EmptyPockets wrote: »

I wish we didn't have to see our furry friends suffer and we didn't have to make these decisions.

Me too yet we always come back for more & each time is as heartbreaking as the last!

You would think we'd learn but we don't... Why?

elsien wrote: »

I think she'll let you know when she's had enough -

Just to echo elsien, you'll know when it's time!

zaksmum

It's one of the hardest decisions you'll ever have to make.

My dog was nearly 13 but still bouncy and full of life. He very suddenly stopped eating and from then went downhill very rapidly. My vet found nothing wrong but at a vet teaching facility they found he had cancer all over his body.

They offered to try to remove the tumours - one had ruptured - but said he might have only a couple of months at most if he survived the op.

I knew then I had to let him go. It broke my heart but at least saved him from any more pain and suffering.

And I think that when you can see that there's no quality of life for him anymore, you have to put him first and just be there with him for that last cuddle as he goes...the last kindness you can give him.