Posted on 12/06/2010 4:16:26 PM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
Don’t let him suffer, he trusts you to do the right thing.
It will be hard, but he will love you to the end, and beyond.
I had a cat we had to put down a few years ago. We weren't sure what it was, but something caused her to waste away. We finally made the heartbreaking decision to put her to sleep. My wife went to the vet while I stayed with our (then just two) kids. I had to explain to them that "Kits" wasn't going to be around anymore. I kissed them goodnight, then went into the living room and bawled like a baby.
A couple days later, the vets office actually sent us a special sympathy card. I thought it an utterly classy gesture. (We haven't had a pet since but they'll be getting my business should we need to.)
I'm getting misty-eyed remembering. I know it's hard, FRiend, but it's best to end the suffering if that is the only option you have.
I had a cat we had to put down a few years ago. We weren't sure what it was, but something caused her to waste away. We finally made the heartbreaking decision to put her to sleep. My wife went to the vet while I stayed with our (then just two) kids. I had to explain to them that "Kits" wasn't going to be around anymore. I kissed them goodnight, then went into the living room and bawled like a baby.
A couple days later, the vets office actually sent us a special sympathy card. I thought it an utterly classy gesture. (We haven't had a pet since but they'll be getting my business should we need to.)
I'm getting misty-eyed remembering. I know it's hard, FRiend, but it's best to end the suffering if that is the only option you have.
Thanks for the link to that post!
I just had to do the unthinkable - It broke my heart but my reasoning was - she wasn’t having any fun anymore and I was just delaying it for my benefit, not hers.
Give Wally his dignity and comfort - remember the love and good times.
Our dog, a Pom, died of the same thing in October. He was 14. We used the same medicines and it helped but it’s only temporary. My sympathies. Our dog died of a heart attack. It’s painful to let an old friend go but it was expected. You’ll have to make your own decision but if the dog is suffering it’s best to let him go.
These wonderful creatures are a facet of God’s grace to us. As we receive them, they enrich our lives, teach us truths of love and loyalty and devotion, and draw us closer to their Master and ours.
Sometimes, in our human selfishness, we want to cling to them when their work with us is done, and their time to return to the One who sent them is at hand. It’s never easy to let them go, but remember “...the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children” (Romans 8:21).
They’re coming with us.
There’s a point where you’re prolonging misery for your loved pet - not life. That’s when you need to let go. Make sure you take her to a vet who will let you hold her while they put her under... it’ll be better for both of you. You’re in my prayers, Kent... this is not an easy time.
We had our 15.5 year old Siamese/Calico mix Patches put to sleep the day before Halloween. At that point she was in kidney failure, had stopped eating, and was almost unable to walk. My husband (who claims not to be a cat person) was almost more upset than I was, and she was ‘my’ cat.
We explained to the kids what was happening, let them say their goodbyes, and then dh and I took her to a clinic that our vet refers to on the weekends and anytime she is not open. They were waiting for us and immediately ushered us into a room where they explained what would happen. The vet came in and administered the anesthetic, and Patches fought for a second at the shock, but within a minute or two she was in a sleep-like state and I just sat there and held her—she was the most relaxed I had seen her in ages.
The final shot did her in within a minute to minute and a half. The vet tech was nice enough to help my husband get some ice packs and pack her in a box (he was leaving the next day to start a new job in Ohio, and was stopping at his parents’ home in Indiana, where she would be buried). The whole experience, while incredibly difficult, was made so much easier by the staff at the clinic—from the nice man at the front desk to the vet tech to the vet herself.
Within a couple of weeks, we not only received a sympathy card from the vet’s office who put Patches to sleep but from our regular vet (all the office staff signed it). Patches was buried on Halloween in a nice sunny spot (just as she liked) on my in-laws’ 14 acres in southern Indiana. My father-in-law had a beautiful marker made so that we know where she is when we go to visit. I wanted her buried there since I knew we were leaving Arkansas for good in the near future and as cheesy as it sounds, we didn’t want to leave her behind. She was our first ‘baby’ before the first of four children arrived a few years later.
Later that Saturday, our other cat (our daughter’s Siamese mix named Gracie) walked all around the house looking for Patches, especially in our room where Patches spent most of her time in her final days. She was meowing pitifully. They weren’t exactly best buddies, but she seemed to be mourning anyway. Since then, Gracie has kind of stepped up to help comfort us (especially me), being more affectionate and sleeping in bed with me from time to time.
Signed, Mom to four 2-legged kids, 2 lab/lab mixes, and a Siamese ‘mutt’.
p.s. My in-laws have a 13 y.o. black lab named Cali who is starting to decline some—I dread the day when her time comes. It will hurt my father-in-law especially.
You don’t have to make a decision tonight. Spend some time with him, see how he responds to the meds, and follow his lead. He’s a beautiful boy, I’m so sorry you both have to go through this.
I had a co worker with a small dog, that had that trouble. She spent thousands of dollars and kept the dog alive til the last day...
I had a dog of mine euthanised. I had it done because she was suffering. S U F F E R I N G.
My mother in law let her suffering dog go for a while and it was the saddest thing I ever saw. It had a heart problem, but instead of shortness of breath and too slow heartbeat, it’s heart would speed up, and the dog would walk continually around in the house whining, crying. It was S U F F E R I N G.
Only you can make the decision on what to do. For me, she was a dog I loved dearly. But I couldn’t see her needlessly suffering.
If it tears at your heart, give it a little while to make a decision. Whatever you decide, will hurt. To watch your pet suffer, will hurt you. To have her gently put down, will hurt you too.
My prayers for you and your beloved.
P.S. in the instances I refer to, the outcome was inevitable...there weren’t any surgeries etc, that could help..
I think this is the hardest thing to deal with, other than losing a child. We had to 6 years ago with our black lab. Char had breast cancer and when it reoccurred after the 2nd surgery the vet told us there was no more he could take out. We still waited, probably too long, her incision wouldn’t heal and she couldn’t get outside without help. When we decided we had to do the right thing, the whole family slept on the living room floor surrounding her all night. We all cried for days afterwards, and still writing this 6 years later, tears are in my eyes, even though we have 3 dogs now.
I’m literally typing this through tears. We had three Dobermans over the course of 20 years that had cardiomyopathy. It’s evidently common in that breed.
The hardest thing was “letting go”. Our vets were beyond compassionate especially when I asked them what they would do in that situation. We’re here for you, FRiend. Please hug Wally for me.....
Kent,
Sorry that you and your friend have reached this point in the road. I know the feeling and you have to step outside your self and look at your friend in a rational detached mindset. If he is suffering or no longer able to enjoy life then you have to give him relief. If he is comfortable and still has pleasure in doing things with you then continue with medication and hope for the best. I’ve put two of my own down and it was the hardest thing I ever did. The only comfort for me was knowing that they were no longer suffering and relieved of their pain (both had inoperable tumors). You will always have the joyous memories of your time together and when the time is right you can find a new friend. The new friends never replace the old ones, but they do bring new joys and memories that you will find just as precious as the ones you have now.AWB
When the glimmer leaves the baby’s eyes he is telling you to let him go. We have done this twice. You will never forget your puppy and there will always be an ache, but we must do right by them and hold them close as they slip away and wake up at the Bridge where they are happy, healthy and safe forever.
Both are in a better place now. They gave us 14 wonderful years.
Finding a vet to come to your home is so much easier on you AND your pet, IMO.
God Bless....
I too have recently had to release a good friend from this mortal coil. Mr.Pollux was only 7 years old, but had several issues that made his continuing living more painful than pleasant, so we made that sad trip to the vet.
I would see if the meds help, but if the symptoms aren’t relieved after a few weeks, it is time to think about his final journey.
Damn, why is the screen getting all blurry? It happens every time I think of Pollux...
We took him to the LSU Veterinary Center in BR and he was put on sildenafil citrate (VIAGRA) which REALLY helped with his lung functions. He was new dog for a number of months. As he again got worse, we added a cocktail of vitamins (some mentioned above by another poster) and this helped as well.
He finally would have fainting spells when he got excited and we kept an oxygen tank handy to get him through those periods.
He lived for one wonderful year after he was diagnosed with the heart problems and we cherished every additional moment we had with him as he did to.
Finally, he had three episodes in one day and was listless. We laid down with him and he would occasionally raise his head to look up and check if we were still there. Rather than wait for the end, I finally suggested we go out for ice cream. We took Willy and the oxygen tank and went to the drive through. He had another spell in the car on the way back but recovered.
After we brought him home, I took him outside to urinate. He couldn't urinate so I knew his kidneys were failing. While we were outside, he started barking at a squirrel and the excitement caused him to again pass out and I wasn't able to revive him that time.
Willy taught me how precious life is to every living creature and that it takes a lot courage and will power sometimes to not give up. In the end he succumbed but Willy fought the good fight and left a lasting impression on us humans lucky enough to have know him.
If there isn't life after death, it would be a terrible waste of life. I hope when my time comes, I have half the courage of Willy.
God saw fit to bring another wonderful dog into our lives about one year after Willy died. It was an amazing set of coincidences that brought him to us and he even has the same birthday as Willy.
His name is Harley! Hang in there ...
Pinging the expert.
Does your dog still seem to be enjoying life? If not, can its pain be relieved with medication? Those are the big questions.
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