I have always thought that when an animal becomes sick, old, diseased, and is in pain, senile or unable to manage that the kind thing to do would be to euthanize it.
However, it seems that I am in the minority with that opinion.
Our good dog of 15 years is now senile, is anxious and barks, has poor vision and little hearing. He barks almost constantly, cannot remember where he is or where we are. He is a sad old mess.
I have been advocating putting him to sleep.
Others in the family see me as advocating family murder.
I thought that was odd, until I discovered that acquaintances have approached the family members with NURSING HOME options for the pets that one can no longer care for. At a price.
that none of them can afford.
As the primary care taker of this animal I see that continuing his life is causing him undue suffering. I am also frustrated at the limitations on my life. I suppose I am selfish.
I now know people who have animals with joint replacements, insulin, cardiac meds and other complicated measures. I find it surprising. Perhaps I am just too old?
There was a time where the decision to put down a beloved animal was considered an act of courage. I thought it was a part of the process of maturation and acceptance of life's limitations.
Now I am faced with people telling me that the dog deserves to live out all of his natural life in whatever condition it presents.
Am I so out of touch? Is animal euthanasia no longer a decision?
It is a dog
This is, of course, most often not an easy decision to make. It helps to keep in mind the fact that animals, including pets, are less “interested” in living a long life than they are in living comfortably; that is, not living in pain or infirmity.
As the person or people who adopted this family member; it’s up to you to decide when the pup’s quality of life is gone much like when it’s time for us to go in into Hospice for end of life care and pain relief. We can do for our pets what we can’t do for our human loved ones.
You will know when it’s time. At least that has been my experience too many times.
I think if the animal is suffering through the day in any way, it’s time to say goodbye.
I understand how important pets are, but I’ve got to say, people are getting into very unhealthy emotional territory these days. Animals are being put on the same plane as people. When I hear someone say losing a pet is like losing a family member, it makes me cringe. As if losing a dog to a hit and run would be the same as losing a child? Come on - losing a pet is like losing a pet. It’s very sad and you move on and get over it. Losing a child or a close family member is something else.
My line is when they can't control their natural functions - but if your dog has lost its mind... well.
A lot of this advice could apply to Democrats in the Congress.
We decided after it was obvious our dog could no longer function with a decent amount of happiness to put him down...
We made the appointment and he died in his sleep that night...
Dogs have a sixth sense....
Make that appointment and put the good boy to rest...
So, I take it that slaughtering for Asian food use is off the table?
I don’t see a concern with allowing the dog to die on its own, with what care you can reasonably give it, or, yes, a bullet or lethal injection is possible, too.
I would find a New Puppy,
Introduce it to the
Old Dog,
Then put him down.
Life goes on.
It’s a very tough situation and a very heartbreaking decision. But people don’t understand the responsibility that you as a human being have towards that animal. And I know that it’s extremely difficult to determine when the time is but it is cruel and selfish in my opinion to permit a dog to suffer when that dog has no understanding of why it is suffering.
And another thing people don’t realize is that very often the dog will know that it’s time to go. I know this from personal experience and they will give you signals indicating that if you know the animal well and understand those signals.
Sadly this is the other side of the coin of the joy of having a loving animal. You have that responsibility to take care of that animal and to not let it suffer unnecessarily. My personal opinion is that most people who keep an animal past the point where that animal has no quality of life at all are not being humanitarian I think they are just being selfish and don’t realize it.
I also have had to put my dogs to sleep. One was a quick decision within 5 hours. Others because of old age. The critter is your friend, your buddy, etc. and when the time comes you just know. I would never let my critters go longer then necessary.
Maybe be a dog, but he also a deeply loved member of the family. That is why the decision to put to sleep or not is so difficult.
Sounds like your beloved pet is no longer living life, enjoying your company, no longer living as a dog nor as a member of your family.
Sadly, the decision in your case is clear, no matter how much it hurts to put to sleep this loving member of the family, it is time.
My prayers on the way.
By the way, the wife and I found comfort envisioning the Rainbow Bridge: https://www.rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm
My family has always had cats. A few died naturally at home but the majority reached a point where they were in misery that we couldn’t assuage. At that point we had them euthanized. If your dog’s anxiety is the biggest problem I would try to find a way to medicate it. But if you’ve tried that, then it is time.
You might decide to go on a trip & leave the dog with one of the family members adamantly against euthanizing. I think they’d change their outlook. At least they wouldn’t be second guessing your opinion.
I brought him to the Vet. Any decision except having move on would've only brought misery to him, and perhaps a situation where he couldn't get emergency care when he'd need it.
My advice....you and your canine companion know when it's time. Don't prolong the inevitable and irreversible. Thoughts are with you as you make this difficult decision.
The thought of an “Old Folks Home” for pets is cruel beyond belief. They won’t know why they are being taken to a strange place. They won’t have any idea why their family, their “pack” has rejected them.
As for when to put them down, I’m struggling with one of those myself. Ralphie is 16 years old. He can’t get up the stairs any more, and frequently misses the pee pads around him. He also has a bad cough that is moderately controlled by medication.
But HE still wants to live. As long as he does, I’ll do what I can.
A couple of years ago, I had another dog, Jacob, who had gotten old and infirm. He did what he could do for as long as he could. One day, he looked at me with a look that told me he was done. He had been an outside dog, living in a fenced area (with an inside heated area in the winter). I picked him up, carried him inside, and laid him down on a soft doggie bed. Every chance I got, I petted him and told him what a good dog he had been. He stayed there about a day and a half before he quietly died.
They’ll tell you when it’s time.
Here is my criteria:
If he is very aggressive. A biter who attacks others, especially children.
If he has become incontinent. Pisses and poos everywhere without regard.
If he is in chronic pain. Can’t eat on his own or the dog is unable to follow you around the house, so he just cries when you leave the room.
Any of these are signs he should be put down. The pet does not have a pack of coyotes to do the job. So you have to be the humane coyote and put him out of his misery. Nature would have surely done the job.
By the way, don’t do any vet operation that is not sure to work. And to work quickly. Dogs do not like and simply don’t understand surgery. They think they are being attacked by their own family. So don’t even think of life increasing or exploratory surgery. You are just torturing your pet.
People own dogs and keep them as pets. Is a dog any different than a pig, or a sheep, or a cow, or a horse, et.al. that are considered food? Consider the life span of the cow when you eat veal. In Asia our dogs would be considered food. Rabbits in Europe are food. A dog year is 7 of ours. 15 yrs = 105 in our years. That dog had a great life. Putting him/her down in his current condition is doing him a favor. How would you feel having all those problems at 105 and being dependent on your family? I’d be in my garage with the car engine on.
Our cattle dog at 16 had tumors throughout his body. But for awhile he could still go outside, eat and drink a little and respond to our petting. Then one day he started screaming in pain. My guess is that a tumor had blocked his GI track. It was horrible. Mr. Mercat wanted to wait but it was too horrible. So we took him to our vet. I felt the life go out of him. I still miss him. Our cat went from being fine to having something go wrong with his spine. Evidently this often happens to older cats. Again, I was with him. We now have a 15 year old dachshund. He’s blind, a bit senile, has to have his bed close to us at all times. When we’re gone he howls. But he still enjoys his one mile walk and his food. Just waiting. If he can go outside and is not in serious pain he’s got a home with us. Then he can join the other pets in our back pasture
My wife and I love dogs. We rescue and foster them continually and often foster dogs that we decide to share our home with permanently. They become family members who give their love and loyalty unconditionally. We have always tried to stagger our dogss in age so that when an older one must be let go we have others to care for rather than an empty home.
Recently, cancer took three of our loving companions in an 18 month period. It took a toll on both of us and it showed. I found great comfort in this message a friend sent -
Jim, me and the Lord have this "agreement" ... or at least I like to think we do. It goes like this: When my time comes, just send my boys over the green hills of Heaven for me. Send 'em running and tell them to come get me.
When I see them, I'll know it's my time. I will be so happy to see them and I'll come willingly. I won't try and hang on anymore. I've missed them all that much. I can still see their faces in the forefront of my mind as if they're still here with me. I've missed them all so much that when I think about them, I just become a blubbering messy blob. I know some of you will think "what? You're the biggest hard-ass I know!" and maybe that's true towards people, but towards dogs? They're my soft spot.
I know you get this when I say it: they're all unique and special in their own way. They're like a critical piece of a puzzle that's our lives. They "complete" us in some way that other people cannot. It's a special bond. There's nothing (and I mean NOTHING) that replaces that bond. Not even another dog. That's why we remember each one of them so fondly. It's why I still cry on the days that all my former companions passed from this life, and why I look forward to seeing them all again someday.
I actually got in an argument with a friend over this. He said Dogs won't be in heaven, neither will cats or any of our other pets. I looked at my friend and asked him how our loving Father in Heaven would deny us the very unconditional love he placed into our canine companions in Heaven? What kind of loving Father would do that?
Not the God I know and love, that's for sure.
So, Father send 'em over the green hills of Heaven when my time comes. And let us rejoice in each others company and play for awhile before we approach the gates of heaven together.
My 11 year old yellow lab is going blind, can hardly walk, and falls down the stairs when going out to do her business.
I still don’t know when (the day), but I know - soon.