Post by formerlyak on May 30, 2017 14:33:36 GMT -5
I'm sorry. The thing that helped me reconcile what was happening was seeing the blood test results. My dog was 17, a rescue who was abused by her original owner, a cancer-survivor and had a heart condition. She seemed like she could overcome everything. But when we took her in on the day I thought was it, the vet did a series of blood tests just to make sure she didn't have something else going on. The blood tests revealed that she was in kidney failure - a potential side effect of her heart medicines, but without the heart meds, she would have died a few years earlier. There are a few ways to attempt to treat kidney failure in dogs, but because of her heart condition, none were an option for her. All of that helped me know that it was time. It sucked and I miss her still (she died the Monday after Thanksgiving 2015), but I know it was the right choice.
Post by liverandonions on May 30, 2017 14:54:26 GMT -5
Ditto others who said a day too soon is better than a day too late. For me with my 15 year old dog if she fell and couldn't get up, and if she lost control of her bowels. They both happened at the same time, and I didn't hesitate to make the decision. I didn't want her to suffer and those were things that made me realize it was time. I'm sure if I had waited she might have had some more good days but I never felt guilt after I did it-just peace with my decision. I hope you're able to come to peace with your decision. It's a humane way to let them go. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this.
When you *think* it might be time, it is definitely time. My parents had a couple of cats that didn't make it to the vet - and it was so obvious to me how sick they were, and I ALWAYS swore I would never do that to our pets. When our 20 year old cat got to that point last year, we were talking about it on a Sunday, but there was still a part of me that wasn't *sure*. We made a tentative appointment at the vet for that Friday. On that Thursday, which we had taken off to go to a graduation, it was so obvious that she was terribly uncomfortable. I had to call the vet to see if we could come in right away. Once we were there, as much as I loved her, I was urging the vet not to wait because I couldn't bear to see her that way anymore.
If your dog is showing pain and discomfort, that is really significant, because animals instinctively hide this. I know this is so hard. I'm sorry.
Post by Wallflower on May 30, 2017 15:13:30 GMT -5
One of the only things that has ever helped me in this situation is something my brother said (and he's the opposite of touchy-feely if ever there was one) ... The right day is the day that you can do it.
You love your dog. You want what's best for him, even when it hurts the very heart of you. So the day that you can screw up the strength is the right day.
Post by RoxMonster on May 30, 2017 15:22:15 GMT -5
I'm so sorry. This is an awful and difficult decision to make. I agree with trusting your gut. You love your dog unconditionally and want what's best for him. You know him best. Whatever decision you make will be the right one.
I'm so sorry I just want to reiterate what others have said about better a week too soon than a day too late. Let him go with some peace. And remember, it's not the same for them as it is for us. Animals don't fear death. They're not scared, we are.
He's 15 and has been going downhill recently. Just old age stuff - disoriented, tired, shaky legs, etc. He still eats, but is so thin and just seems weary.
This morning he could hardly stand and could barely walk. His left leg was just dragging, and he ended up lying in the middle of the kitchen floor breathing fast, oblivious to the chaos around him.
We called and made an appointment for this afternoon. Then my husband went home over lunch and was like "but he's doing better!" He sent me a video and yeah, he's walking okay.
I still feel pretty strongly that it's time. But now I feel bad for feeling that way. He has more bad days than good, and when he does have a good day, he ends up paying for it 10x over. I'm afraid that the longer we wait, the more instances of "oh shit, can he even get up?" we're going to have until one time he actually can't.
I don't want him to suffer to alleviate my guilt that he might still have some good days left in him, but now I feel guilty for being the one to "push" that we do this before it becomes dire.
Can you either send me some words of resolve OR some sense of you think maybe I am thinking about doing this too soon?
I'm so sorry you're going through this. We went through something similar with our dog a few years ago. We would have these glimpses of him being ok, but soon enough he'd be back in what we could tell was misery. We were debating it and second guessing it all the way through their front door. But when we set him down on the table and looked in his eyes, we knew in our hearts it was the right time. Whatever you decide, I'm sending you positive thoughts.
I'm so sorry. Our good friend is a vet and he told us when the bad days start outweighing the good and before things get really bad, that's the time. Give him a good day full of treats and love. He said it's so sad when owners come in frustrated because their dog is causing so much frustration that is beyond the dog's control, so the decision is made out of frustration instead of love.
It's a tough call. My parents did that a couple weeks ago with their 15 year old dog. She was teetering on is she/isn't she okay and going to get better? She was losing control of her bladder and bowels in the house and would get super sad. After trying several meds (there were other health issues too), the decision was made. It was so sad and so hard, but she went out with love.
I have tears in my eyes for you guys. Such a tough decision. I'm sorry you are going through it - trust your gut.
Post by RexManningDay on May 30, 2017 15:37:51 GMT -5
Thanks, everyone.
He's gone. He didn't even try to look out the window on the ride over, just lay there with his head down. The vet agreed it was time, and the actual process was very peaceful - he went to sleep with his head in my lap and eating treats. We sat outside in the yard beforehand and he ate a steak.
Jeff and I got him before we were even officially dating. 12 years ago. The house is going to feel very empty for a while.