when to call it a day with our beloved pooch ?

rosieben

So sorry to hear your sad news tankgirl, not much to say that will comfort you but you have 13 years of memories and you will always have those.

sandy2_2

Such sad news, but when the time comes all of us have to be brave enough to do that last kindness for our beloved pets

hugs to everyone

carmenrose

Tankgirl1, I also lost my darling dog yesterday. I wasn't strong enough to take her to the vets so he came out to the house. I held her in my arms and it was all quite peaceful. When she had gone he laid her on a blanket and she just looked like a sleeping baby.

Saying goodbye for the last time was heartbreaking because she was so special to me but I know it was best for her because she was an old lady and her health was failing rapidly.

I know exactly how you are feeling today. We can only wait for time to make things a bit easier.

Take care all and hugs to everyone who has lost a dear friend.

rosieben

Carmen Rose, so sorry to hear of your loss. sending thoughts your way

fitzmum

We are sadly having the same problem with our Jack Russell, Hollie.

She is 14 and it turns out has a breast tumour - it has grown dramatically larger over the past 3 weeks. Vet says we can operate but cannot guarantee she will pull though due to her age. She is very arthritic, wees uncontrollably from time to time and also shows signs of kidney trouble as she goes through phases of drinking copious amounts of water.

She spends long periods sleeping & prefers to lie in her basket out of the way of the children. She's also started refusing walks and that really is unlike her.

However, she will still eat a bit (prefers our food!) and will try & chase/bark after a cat if it dares to enter the garden.

How do we know when the time is right? There are days that she looks so miserable and hobbles around but then sometimes she looks brighter and seems very interested in when I open the fridge door!!

Its very difficult to know....the vet said that the desicion is ours but I would feel terrrible if we put her to sleep and she wasn't ready.

Any advice??

sandy2_2

Believe me you WILL know when you have to do the last act of kindness for Hollie

shykins

i think thats true.. something just changes and u know its time

they stop reacting to u they arent really interested etc etc all the stuff thats been said in this thread already

hugss i know how u feel

boldaslove

hi, first of all would like to say i'm sorry to anyone who's lost a pet recently.

secondly i hope what i say next will help the people on this thread coming to terms with the fact their pets are getting old and slowing down. it is about euthanesia so please don't read if it'll distress you.

we had to have our lovely old boy, a border collie rescue called shep, a really grand gentle giant, put to sleep in february. while other situations with our previous pets have made us take snap decisions due to illness, this was particularly tough. i'd known in my heart for the last few months of his life that he was going downhill, i could just see it in his face, my other dog sensed something too as she stopped being the crazy younger dog around him and acted quite subdued and concerned. we found out he had cancer, although this wasn't a surprise to me it was distressing as although he'd slowed right down and was sleeping a lot, he still enjoyed his walks and his food, and he still wagged his tail, greeted people at the door, he still shoved his face into people's laps and followed us around every room in the house, as always! ultimately though, because of our previous experience, we knew that his wellbeing and quality of life came first, before our feelings, and we knew the cancer was big, aggressive and couldn't be treated or operated on, so he was going to get bad, fast.
we did umm and ahh about it for a day or so, and then phoned the vet. the hardest thing was waiting those 4 days, knowing these were his last days with us. we tried soooo hard not to get upset around him, i'd burst into tears and he'd wander over all concerned! we gave him lots of love, food and cuddles. on the morning of the vet visit we sat on the living room floor with him and wrapped him up in a blanket. he was sooooooo tired, he hadn't been getting up much for the last few days and you could just see how weary he was. he was so pale and floppy. i knew then we'd made the right decision. i'll never forget sitting at the window and watching the van pull up. he left us wrapped up in his blanket, all peaceful, we let our other dog sit in with us and she knew what was happening, and then we took her out when they removed him.
straight after the vet left we gave izzy a biscuit and she ran straight over to shep's bed and buried it there... makes me cry every time i think of that!
after a while we grew to appreciate what we'd done for him. he was a rescue and had had a really hard life before he came to us. i'm not sure anybody would've taken him on if we hadn't.
i guess what i'm trying to say that although it is heartbreaking to be teetering on this decision, you will know when the time is right, when your pet no longer enjoys simple things in life like walks and food i think it's around that time you have to say goodbye. in time the memories of companionship and love will by far outweigh the grief, although i know it never quite goes away.
at the end of the day it's what's best for the pet, i look at it from their point of view. being in the arms of someone they love and drifting off to sleep is, in my opinion, far better than enduring endless injections, medications and the side effects and loss of their quality of life, plus the actual illness, probably resulting in making a snap decision and rushing to the vets which is, believe me, extremely upsetting for everyone involved.

my heart goes out to anyone in this situation, i get upset thinking about my collie getting old, and about all the pets i've owned. but in the end you will be proud that you've given them a warm and loving home and nothing will ever take that away.

fitzmum

Well...the time has come - Hollie needs to go to the vet tomorrow. It seems the cancer has spread - she's vomiting, breathing heavily, not eating much and is moping around looking very sorry for herself. She's really lost her spark this weekend and its pitiful to see. Not interested in going out, can't lie down and seems like she doesn't know what to do with herself.

Its very sad & very painful but my husband and I agree that her time has come and she must not suffer any longer.

This weekend has seen me come to the conclusion that yes, you do know when the time is right. I feel so sorry for her and she looks so miserable. I keep telling myself its for the best but she'll be very missed.

Hugs to everyone in the same boat. Its horrible.

sandy2_2

Sorry to read your latest post but you must be brave when you take her to the vet hug and comfort her to make HER last moments with you the best you can. It is a awful time for you but it's one of the responsibilities we take on when having pets and loving them. Big hug and kiss for you and Hollie

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
and pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done
For this last battle can`t be won.
You will be sad,I understand
but don`t let grief then stay your hand,
for on this day,more than all the rest,
Our love and friendship stand the test.
We`ve had so many happy years,
what is to come will hold no fears.
Now is the time,please let me go
you would not want me to suffer so.

So take me where my needs they`ll tend,
Only stay with me until the end.
Please hold me close and talk to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
We`ve been so close over all these years,
Don`t let your heart hold any tears.
From pain and suffering I`ve been saved,
and now my tail its last has waved
Please do not grieve it should you
Who must decide this thing to do.
I know in time that you will see
It is the greatest kindness you do for me.