Posted on 12/06/2010 4:16:26 PM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
The enalapril and other diuretics combined with a cough suppressant should make him comfortable and minimize the symptoms. If he’s wagging his tail and happy to see you, eating and enjoying life, let him live it with you, that’s what he lives for and all that he knows. An enlarged heart can be managed, and that is what you’re doing.
I had a 14 1/2 year old Chocolate Lab who was on enalapril for an enlarged heart, it just happes with age with Labs and many larger breeds. He also had cancer and was being treated for that. He was happy as a clam, loving life and having a great time for an old guy, right up to his very last day. He torsioned, volvulus. I loved him so, and will always miss him.
I’ll confess, I didn’t read all of the posts. But I’ll tell you as someone who has had two dogs euthanized, do right by your friend.
We had to have one put down because of persistent and chronic hip problems, and one who just got old.
If he’s suffering and his quality of life is miserable with no hope of improving, take care of him. I ain’t gonna lie and say it’s easy. No way. I cried like a girl when our first two were put down.
But, as I was at the vet with them, all I could do was focus on the good times with them and what a pleasant life they had lived.
I can’t bear to think of what I’ll do when it comes time for our current friend.
all of us who have been through this understand and are not doubt crying.
You have received some good ideas here. Do know that no matter how much you intellectually KNOW you did the right thing, yous emotional side/soul/spirt will always question
One thought is just to pray for God to take him gently when the time is right...
Much love. Never easy & the holidays always make it worse
sorry- i’ll never forget that call.... amongst other things the guy talked about his aging dog named Sampson and how he would look at Sampson and they new it would be okay...
sadly a week later our little 14YO copper passed...
My friend, I am so sorry you have to go through this and so honored that you asked me for advice. I haven’t had to make this decision before, but after years owning dogs and cats I know some of this pain.
My wife advises that you go ahead with treatment and see how it goes. When I pointed out that there was a risk of stroking out in the near future, she said that is not such a bad way to go.
Though she’s a wise woman, I mostly disagree. I’ve seen the horror shows that heart attacks and strokes are in humans, and wouldn’t want my pet to go through it, uncomprehending. From here (more on that later) it seems to me that the chances he will suffer are far greater than the chances that you will have peaceful time together. From here, it seems to me that you should euthanize earlier than later.
However, that’s me from over a thousand miles away, not having even met this dog, much less owned and loved him for two years. One thing you should do is depend on your intuition, which is a gift from God. If you keep your mind equally open to both euthanasia and treatment, you will know when the time comes (if it comes) because you know Wally so well. But if in doubt, save him suffering. Also, pray specifically for wisdom in this situation, every day. Wally and God will help you know. I’ll pray for wisdom for you, too.
Pet your bathound on the head for me. Prayers up that you, the missus and Wally are comforted.
Prayers
OOPS!
two year=since he was two weeks old.
Typing fingers got ahead of the little gray cells.
I’m so sorry to hear about your dog. We lost our first Golden Retriever, Terra, after 15 and a half years. She was declining and needed to be help to her feet every morning. One morning she just couldn’t get to her feet and her eyes were sort of blank. She had a look on her face that seemed to say, “I don’t understand why I can’t control my legs any more.”
We called the vet, and he came to the house. In the mean time, my husband and a friend started digging her grave in a shady spot in the yard where she liked to rest. The Vet arrived, and we carried her on her favorite blanket to the edge of the grave. My husband stroked her head and talked to her while the vet gave her an injection, and she just went to sleep. Then we lowered her into her grave, and I went into the house and ordered a marker for her while the men filled in the hole. I just bawled like a baby, as did my husband.
I have grandchildren who always pick flowers for her grave when they visit. They never knew her because she died before they were born. But, Terra always gets little bouquets when they come. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 1998.
I have not time nor energy to read every reply here, briefly, might I suggest a question to ask yourself?
“If it comes down to beloved Wally being in a life-threatening episode of choking when there’s no one there, would you cope with coming home later and finding that he passed away while alone?”
And my comment: If you take beloved Wally to the vet and have him put to sleep, he will have your reassuring presence, your final words of love and appreciation and your farewells to be his final experience in this life.
I offer you my empathy,
Joya
It may be ‘time’ but I advise you not to do it until you’re sure your baby is suffering.
My husband decided to do it for our old Lab who could hardly walk but he went into a depression for two years, feeling that he’d done it too soon and that Stewart could have lived a little longer if he’d been willing to deal with it.
He couldn’t have dealt with it, but because of his experience, I would advise you to wait until you’re sure.
What a cold and thoughtless response to someone who is having a difficult time.
And YOU know whether dogs have souls and no matter what your beliefs are...THIS is the thread to put that here?
this is not a thread about religious philosophies about animals.
Sad situation....Had to put my Ozzy cat down due to diabetes problems, he was 17 years and 4 months...
I'm very sorry, friend. I send you Isaiah 61:3.
The real reason is because God is not mocked. Don't be a fool.
Oh Kent, I’m so very very sorry to read this. I’ve had to face what you are facing now, only for different medical purposes.
It was THE toughest choice I’ve made, but in my heart, I knew it was the best. You see, the ultimate love for me, for my Heidi...was to NOT see her suffer.
She was rapidly going downhill...and watching the seizures begin, even though she was treated for that, the arthritis making it nearly impossible for her to move...it just wasn’t fair of me to keep her alive, FOR MY WANTING HER.
She walked over to me, best she could one day, put her precious face into mine and cried. Kent, she’d never done that before. NEVER.
I knew at that moment, it was time to release her from the pain.
I pray that you can put yourself in her .... paws .... and ask yourself what you’d want for yourself if the tables were turned.
I stayed with her, at the vet, till the end. Tough tough times...but I KNEW I did what was right for Heidi.
Then I went right out and got another dog.
Actually...I felt like I was cheating on her because while she was still alive I started looking...I was SO pathetic, if she was in the room as I was online, I’d turn my body so she couldn’t see the monitor. Good. Grief.
Anyway, as God had it worked out for me....our puppy was *this* close to being born when Heidi was put down. So...I had a couple of months to mourn the one, while looking forward to the next.
As HARD as THIS will be for you to understand right now....THIS DOG NOW....she and I are closer than Heidi and I were.
anyway. There’s the long version of what should’ve been a short answer.
Pray. Watch your dog. Your dog’s “telling you”....trust me.
I’m sorry you’re both going thru this....I really really am....
Dear Kent (my hubby is a Kent too),
I hope you were not offended by any side conversation taking place on this thread about your beloved pet.
I sincerely feel for your plight, and pray you will have God’s blessed peace.
Kimberly
I’ve been in both places. The ones I “put to sleep” I have regretted. I’ve had several dogs with such heart problems, and the Lord took them quietly, and in their own homes, surrounded by those who loved them.
The decision is one only you can make. Prayers for you, your family and Wally.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2641325/posts
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.