When do you know -- Pet Dog End of Life?

[SSL]

Just make sure you have a good vet, I have had vets try and talk me Ito all kinds of procedures and surgeries that I knew weren't going to prolong their life. I had one that had me over a barrel with my yellow lab that was 15, because my wife and daughter were there. My dog got a tumor at the base of her tail the bigger than a golf ball in less than a weeks time, vet says its cancer (witch I knew) but she said it was a good cancer... we treat it all the time... we just need to amputate her tail. I asked her to be up front with me what's the chances.... she said oh 80% +, we have great results all the time. I seen the assistant get a look on here face likes couldn't believe the vet just said that. Bottom line $2400 surgery, $400 dollars in visits, my dog had to were a cone for two weeks, couldn't play with her buddy, my chocolate lab. Then I get up one morning and she cant use her back legs at all, I know it's the cancer. I take her back to the vet and they she tells me its the cancer and there is some other things she wants to try. She left the room and I told the tech no way in hell. The tech told me don't let her do it... she should have been put down two weeks ago. The the vet want $550 to put her down... I told her you can do that on you.... I just payed over $3000 on something you knew was BS. So many of the small veterinary practices are being bought by a few big companies across the US it hard to find a good one. I say when the quality of the your pets life is gone it's time to help them pass with their dignity. They give us their whole life it's the least we can do.

I had a vet tell me you have had to put down more than your share of pets and it seems like you take it so well. I told him I learned from a young age when you get a dog as a pup you need to prepare yourself then that you are going to out live him and probably have to put him down. I told my wife and daughter that when we bought are lab pups. I told them its about the pets quality of life and too many people get selfish, al be it they may not realize it, but they keep their pets too long before putting them down.

Sorry to hear of your problems, but it proves what I said about trusting a vet. My vet practice is all women, extraordinarily well trained and uses common sense on evaluating the situation. I trust them completely to do what is right for both owner and pet.

 

[NoQuarter]

Our vet told us it's time when they're not doing the things they loved to do.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Our last Dachund was 17 when she developed dementia. It was tough having to put her down.
Here is our latest two. They will probably outlive us.

 

[ORjeff]

I've buried 3 dogs. Two died naturally but suddenly and dramatically with no apparent illness and one I had to put down (at home) after the tumor on his neck was huge and getting bigger every day. It's no fun no matter how it goes down. Hopefully this helps...

 

[WesG260]

My Mom's Vet' ... uh, well, she wasn't really a B' ....;-)

He'd put God knows how many animals to sleep. 'Euthanol' ? Told my Mom, based on the years of what he'd done and seen...

He was saving a dose for himself ...

Losing our cats will be traumatic ...

If only we all had the option...

Mom called me one day, could I come by the house and dig a hole for my sister's Standard Poodle... what a beautiful and fun dog ... my tears made digging the hole a bit easier ... but not enough to wrap her in her blanket and put her in the hole.

Sister: 'Could you have made a more perfect hole?

'Did she deserve anything less?'

 

[WesG260]

I'm pretty sure losing our cats is gonna be the end of me. I only hope we go to the sane place so I can pet them for all of eternity.

 

[Fast14riot]

The only downside to living with pets is they don't live as long as us.

To your dog, you are an immortal. They have grown, lived and aged, yet you have barely changed. With great reverence our dogs will always remember their entire life with us. But we only get them for a little while. Sometimes I envy dogs.

 

[WesG260]

The bigger the dog, the less the change, they don't generally live as long as the smaller ones.

Better for us, or them?

Burying the Poodle, or putting the Doberman in the back of the station wagon, with me there with her, rubbing her ears...

They're not pets ... they're FAMILY ...

 

[WesG260]

As for the cats, these little Bastg'rs run my life. .. and I couldn't be happier...

 

[ELR LVR]

Ya, I know, but...if I want to be in the house????

I dont want people in my house either
but it depends more on how much they shed or eat

 

[ELR LVR]

Just make sure you have a good vet, I have had vets try and talk me Ito all kinds of procedures and surgeries that I knew weren't going to prolong their life. I had one that had me over a barrel with my yellow lab that was 15, because my wife and daughter were there. My dog got a tumor at the base of her tail the bigger than a golf ball in less than a weeks time, vet says its cancer (witch I knew) but she said it was a good cancer... we treat it all the time... we just need to amputate her tail. I asked her to be up front with me what's the chances.... she said oh 80% +, we have great results all the time. I seen the assistant get a look on here face likes couldn't believe the vet just said that. Bottom line $2400 surgery, $400 dollars in visits, my dog had to were a cone for two weeks, couldn't play with her buddy, my chocolate lab. Then I get up one morning and she cant use her back legs at all, I know it's the cancer. I take her back to the vet and they she tells me its the cancer and there is some other things she wants to try. She left the room and I told the tech no way in hell. The tech told me don't let her do it... she should have been put down two weeks ago. The the vet want $550 to put her down... I told her you can do that on you.... I just payed over $3000 on something you knew was BS. So many of the small veterinary practices are being bought by a few big companies across the US it hard to find a good one. I say when the quality of the your pets life is gone it's time to help them pass with their dignity. They give us their whole life it's the least we can do.

I had a vet tell me you have had to put down more than your share of pets and it seems like you take it so well. I told him I learned from a young age when you get a dog as a pup you need to prepare yourself then that you are going to out live him and probably have to put him down. I told my wife and daughter that when we bought are lab pups. I told them its about the pets quality of life and too many people get selfish, al be it they may not realize it, but they keep their pets too long before putting them down.

The price they charge to put a dog down, keeps me away from vets for the most part unless its an emergency
I have it in me, if I'm gonna make the decision to end my dogs life,
I should be able to do it myself
---
yes it's a difficult thing to do but, how do I word this ???
Similarly to how I dont think it's right to make it a cops responsibility to protect me, by using his own life as a shield. If we want protection we should be able to do that job ourselves without forcing someone else into that position.
I dont feel I should put someone else in that position - just so I can get out of it
---
Anyway, thats just a personal choice, I totally understand using the vet for that

 

[bluesako]

this is gyhll my border terrier she,s 17 1/2 now but she,s active and a joy i had a terrier i was given as a pup in 1970 he was 21 when he passed in 1991 bs

 

[Jr solocam]

I'm pretty sure losing our cats is gonna be the end of me. I only hope we go to the sane place so I can pet them for all of eternity.

I have two 16 year old cats and I love the Tom so much. That's gonna be tough.

 

[Jr solocam]

Thank you all for your support. My life has been connected to my German shepherd for a long time. Not gonna lie. Will be a Son of a bitch.

 

[kindabitey]

I just went through this recently with my Mainois. She was having a lot of mobility issues on top of going blind. She had a tumor come up in her ear within about 30 days.
After a tremendous amount of thought and consulting with a couple different vets that knew her, I decided
on what was best for her and really sucked for me.
At the end of the day, I'm grateful for the 9 years I had with her. I can't put into words the experience of having a 24/7 shadow the went to work, the range, and pretty much everywhere with me.

 

[bsekf]

Airedales, so tough you don't realize it is time. Weight loss, appetite loss, when they don't know the carpet from the grass, mini strokes that terrify them. It is better to be a week early, than a week late! Really tough when the Vet and the techs are crying too. It was months before I quit hearing Buster bark in the night. We have the ashes of Buster and Bud and a place for Jim. They'll go with us. Gotta go hug Jim! Remember, their whole world is you!

 

[jpjulian]

I hate these discussions, but we've all had to have them. It hurts.... Bad. Every. Damn. Time. I believe that quality of life must not be sacrificed by quantity of life. You'll know and hopefully have the strength to understand when has arrived. It's hard because it hurts so bad.

 

[Jr solocam]

As Infrequent Shooter suggested an in home visit is the best if you really love your dog. At a vets office they sense the other animals stress and are not comfortable as they would be at home in his own bed. Call and speak to the vet that you would use and they will offer the best advice and walk you thru the process. This will greatly enable you to know when to make your decision and even more so you will know that you made the right decision at the right time and not second guess yourself that you let your friend down.
My girlfriend is a vet and has helped me with two of these.
They don't get any easier but I know I did the right thing at the right time.

I agree. Good advise.

 

[Jr solocam]

I dont know what those ailments are
but I recently discovered that dogs can also get Gout
I had no idea Allopurinol was also prescribed for dogs
---
Just saying, maybe get a confirmed second opinion
---
I have had Gout and the proper meds eliminate it, but without the meds you literally wanna die
Hopefully you can improve your pets life in some way
it's hard since they are so much a part of our life and family
but, we have to understand, life has its cycle

My dad had gout before he died. It was a MFer. It sucked.

 

[Jr solocam]

My Mom's Vet' ... uh, well, she wasn't really a B' ....;-)

He'd put God knows how many animals to sleep. 'Euthanol' ? Told my Mom, based on the years of what he'd done and seen...

He was saving a dose for himself ...

Losing our cats will be traumatic ...

If only we all had the option...

Mom called me one day, could I come by the house and dig a hole for my sister's Standard Poodle... what a beautiful and fun dog ... my tears made digging the hole a bit easier ... but not enough to wrap her in her blanket and put her in the hole.

Sister: 'Could you have made a more perfect hole?

'Did she deserve anything less?'

Good lord that made me cry.