Just had dog PTS :(

WolfSong2000

don't know why I'm posting this...just need to get it out, as at the moment it all seems a bit like a bad dream .

I am staying at my parents house in England for a few days after a trip to Bosnia, before I head back to my place in Scotland. My parents still have two of the dogs I grew up with, the eldest, a retriever called Oscar, being almost 16 (our other dog is his son who's now 13).

Anyhow, Oscar's been ill for a while - having a lot of pain in one of his back legs, etc, and this morning my mother woke me up in tears, saying that she'd been up all night with him, that the painkillers weren't working any more (he is on such a high dose already, that any more would have caused an overdose) and that she'd called the vet to have him PTS.

Anyhow, got downstairs and he was lying in the lounge with my mother stroking him and our other dog apparently totally oblivious to what was going on and trying to be a clown in an attempt to cheer us up. My mother commented that Oscar had finally calmed down, and he did look ready to die...it's hard to explain .

Anyhow, vet turned up, and Oscar panicked momentarily, as if he knew what was coming and it had suddenly become real. The vet administered the euthatal (drug) to put him to sleep, but he fought it, and as such, it took much longer than it should have done for him to die (minutes, rather than seconds), which wasn't pleasant to watch.

With all the other dogs we've had PTS, I've hidden myself away as I couldn't bear to watch, but as we've had Oscar for so long (he came to live with us when I was 8, I'm now 24), I felt I owed it to him to be there with him at the end .

It all still seems like a bad dream that I want to wake up from, and the realisation is hitting home that we only have one dog left, and he himself is old (13). I'm not in a position to have dogs where I live in Scotland, and my one consolation was that I could come back to my parents and visit "my boys", but I don't know how much longer our last dog (called Chance) will be around...it hasn't sunk in with him yes, and when it does it will hit him hard as he's never known a life without his dad about, and he's not used to being on his own, ever.

Anyhow, sorry for the rant...just needed to get it out there.

toby_puppy

Hello Wolfsong, I got choked up just reading that. Please don't apologise for "ranting" as you put it, that's what forums are for, to share with other likeminded people who know what you're going through.

I have a dog of six myself and he has severe hip dysplasia, so it's always on the back of your mind how long you have with them.

I know it must have been stressful to watch your boy initially struggle, but a lot of dogs would automatically shy away, he wouldn't have known anything was about to happen. He would have sensed you were there with him as he fell asleep, which is a lovely brave thing you did.

Please try not to worry too much about "how long" Chance has left. Of course, it's going to be a big adjustment for him but dogs grieve just like us, and he will adapt. Just try to keep things as "normal" as possible whilst you go through this heartbreaking time, ie. walks and playing and relaxing together.

There are lots of websites if you google Rainbow Bridge poems or similar, which have verses and poems which I found comforting to read when I lost my black labrador.

Most of all, keep talking and don't bottle it up - plenty of us feel your pain x

puppypants

Just wanted to send you a ((HUG)). I know your pain as I had to say goodbye to my three oldies, (14, 14 and 11) within 2 years and it was heartbreaking. I can still blub at the thought 4 years on, but it does get easier and you start to remember the good times you had with your faithful furry friends..
Keep strong and enjoy as much as you can with Chance, he still needs you.

Rosie xx

WolfSong2000

Thanks guys...we've now buried him, and I had to watch as it really "hit home" with our other dog, Chance. Also rang my father to tell him, as he's abroad (due to fly back today). He left a message later saying that when I'd called he'd been in the middle of a major presentation .

My mother just went to bed after we buried him and hasn't emerged...Oscar worshipped the ground she walked on, and she felt the same about him, so for her it was like losing a child.

I am leaving tomorrow for Scotland, and wont be back until Christmas, but am worrying that we may lose our last dog before then, as he also has health problems...also little stupid things like the fact his favorite spot in the house is our sofa, and whenever I'm at home I arrange the cushions for him, which he loves (utterly, utterly spoiled dog, I know!), but no one else does it for him. It's pathetic, I know.

toby_puppy

Just popped back to check for any updates. I suppose there are no right or wrong ways of getting through this, just got to be kind to yourself and take it day by day.

I was just thinking maybe in a few days when you've had to go back, perhaps have a look on amazon, there are some good books on there for dealing with pet loss and grief. Perhaps you could post one to your mum and dad in between seeing them again at Christmas. It may help your mum and dad talk about Oscar a bit more as the weeks go by and help them on the healing process.

Perhaps you could enclose a little soft toy for Chance with the book, it sounds like you are very close to your parents and it's nice that you can pull together as a family even though you've got to do it at a distance.

I also bought my friend a rose to plant in the garden which is from a company called world of roses. the rose is called unconditional love and part of sale price goes to pets as therapy. just thought that might be another little thing you could do together, plant a rose in his memory. my friend says when it bloomed it reminded her of happy times with her dog. I think it was under £10 and a good way of having something tangible there.

Thinking of you x

toby_puppy

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

he loves (utterly, utterly spoiled dog, I know!), but no one else does it for him. It's pathetic, I know.[/QUOTE]

It's definitely not pathetic, just be kind to yourself. I am guilty of spoiling my dog too, nothing to feel silly about.

loulou123

Big hugs too you.

When i had my last beloved dog PTS, he also struggled during the proccedure, as he was very long haired they needed to shave his leg 1st and the tranquillser to relax him had no effect, it took 3 of us to hold him still so i know how your feeling.

You did the best thing for your dog - try and remember that if you can. And as for spoiling your other dog - theres nothing silly about that at all, merlin was spoilt for the whole 11 years of his live! In his last few weeks i'd eat tesco value beans on toast so he could have chicken breasts!

Take care.

chris_n_tj

I am so sorry for your loss, remember you have have the the most beautiful final thing for your beloved friend. xx


Rainbow Bridge
[SIZE=+1]Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
[/SIZE]

WolfSong2000

jostenning - thank you for the roses idea. Have just gone and bought some. It's a great idea as the dog is buried in the back garden next to another one called Spot we had PTS a few months ago (who was at least 18). Spot's buried under his favorite tree in the garden, and Oscar's now close by. It really seemed to sink in with our remaining dog when we buried Oscar and he's been very subdued this evening...herefused to go out for a walk, which is unheard of, and although he's now deaf, was constantly looking up, expecting to see his dad (Oscar) come through the door...was very sad .

lovelyjubbly

Hi WolfSong2000
really sorry to hear about your dog, I know just what you meant when you said he 'looked ready to die' I had a cat years ago that was really ill and one day, when he had just been through a really bad night, he looked at me as if to say 'for god sake help me' which is what I think your dog was doing. You did absolutely the right thing, even though it hurts so much to do it. He is pain free now.
lots of hugs
X

WolfSong2000

It was my mother's decision to have him put down...he was very much "her" dog. She woke me up first thing to say she'd called the vet as she'd been up all night with him and the painkillers weren't working. When I came down he was calm, but he did have this "I've had enough" look, which was really, really sad to see . After my mother buried him, she asked me whether she'd made the right decision. Of course I said yes, but I guess you always wonder - could he have recovered and had a few more good days? He'd already beaten the odds, as he damaged his cruciate ligament when he was a year old, and the vet told us he'd be crippled with arthritis by the time he was 3. The arthritis didn't kick in in the end until he was about 8, and was manageable up until fairly recently.