When is it time to put your dog down?

ApeXaviour

I have an ancient springer spaniel, turned 14 in september. Personality wise she's sprite like a pup. When we have her out on walks she'll run and run and run. Always seems comfortable and lively apart from the odd kidney infection. She's had bad hips, been almost completely incontinant and deaf for a couple years now. We've managed to tolerate and pretty much get used to this, even though our living room often smells like a toilet (thank god for wooden floors, mops, disinfectant and febreeze).

But very very recently her hips have gotten that much worse that if she sits or falls down she can't get back up to a standing position without help. She ends up barking at us to pick her up. It's actually quite comical sometimes, except when this coincides with her incontinance. We rang the vet (who consistently tries to hone reality onto us by reminding us that she's ancient) who's prescribing us some strong anti-inflammatories. He mentioned something about it coming close to "decision time".

She's not ill per-say at all. I can't really see putting her down unless it was out of mercy, like if she was in pain or something. Talking to different relations though, they seem to shoot their dogs quite young once they've outlived their use!
This is really quite upsetting for me as she's part of the family and her personality is as always. I don't really know what I'm asking, I'd just like to hear other peoples views. They might make me feel better or face up to reality

mike65

Our family went through this with a Red Setter years ago, she was about the same age with bad hips and general gradual loss of phsyical ability. Our pet started to get a cancerous growth on her nose which was the moment of truth and we had her put to sleep.

There is no ideal time but think of it like this - your pet is the one in pain (even though you might not realise it bad hips are painful) not you and keeping them alive is usually done for 'selfish' reasons rather than whats in the animals best interests. A good owner will know the time has arrived.

Mike.

DonkeyStyle \o/

Same thing (except for the incontinance) happened to my old dog (also 14)... his hind-leg joints were in really bad shape, watching him struggle to stand up, and failing, really sad to see... I think at the time he was vomiting a lot aswell.
He looked to be suffering.
After a visit to the vets, and a few days of observation, the decision was made (not by me) to put him to sleep.

He mentioned something about it coming close to "decision time".

It's a very real possibility that whoever is in charge of paying for all these medical bills might decide it would be better to end it sooner rather than later... as was the case with my dog.
The vet is right though, 14 is very very old... hard to know how much longer the dog would live even with the medication.
It's terribly sad to lose a long-time family pet. (feeling a bit melancholy even writing this)

I'm not going to suggest anything either way, just sharing my own experience.

Dilly

My boyfriends family recently went thorugh the very same thing. An old gent of a labrador with very bad hips. He was not able to support his back legs for very long. Apart from that he was in great health (for a 14 year old).

The decision was finally made to put him to sleep because he was falling very often and was starting to appear to be miserable along with hurting himself when he fell occasionally.

Obviously this is a serious decision and not to be taken lightly. While it is very important to listen to the advice of your vet, I would consider it more important ot pay attention to your doggy. You've had this dog for long enough to be able to read his/her attitudes and emotions so you are best placed to be able to tell when your friend is losing quality of life.

I have gone though this very difficult decision myself and been party to the decision being made in other cases and I know how tough it can be. I hope that you won't find it too difficult and that you will know when the right time is.

Best of luck,

Dilly

junkyard

I had the same problem a few years ago. I put the dog on medication as long as I could but as I could see her quality of life deteriorating I had to make the decision to get her put to sleep, it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do and still feel very sad about it but it was in her best interest. What kind of people take their pet dogs out and shoot them? Why don't they take them to the vet and get them put to sleep, surely its not that expensive. This kind of carry-on really makes my blood boil, man-kind is just so cruel.:mad:

Nala

I think the time to put an animal down is when there is no longer any light at the end of the tunnel. All animals suffer sometimes. But when there is no hope of them recovering, when they are only going to continue suffering and deteriorating further, in my mind, even though it is hard for us, for their sake that is the time to put them down.

It is a very, very hard decision to make, but knowing that you are doing the right thing will make it that bit easier. My cat was attacked by a dog and was severely injured. She had a couple of complications after the surgery but the vet thought she still had a good chance of pulling through. Unfortunately two weeks after the dog attacked her she took a turn during the night and died. It took two hours and she suffered, (unfortunately they don't always die in their sleep) and it broke my heart to lose her, but for her sake, I was happy that her suffering was finally over.

Rabies

We were in the same situation with one of our St Bernards a few years ago. She was about 12-13. Hips went, got a growth or two which was removed, senile. Got to a stage where she was a painkillers for a calf :eek:
Got the vet to put her down when my little brothers and sisters were in school. The vet cried because she knew the dog from a pup.

Gazza22

I'm actually going through near enough the same situation at the moment. My boxer dog is nearly 11 years old. Great family pet.

Though in the last two weeks, he got severe artritis and rheumatism and is on very strong medication at the moment. He is having alot of trouble walking and needs to be now carried up steps ect. He can only take a few steps at a time and then must take a rest.

It's really sad watching this and it seems that his condition is deteriorating by the day. We got the strongest medication possible yesterday for him and it's all down to this medication now if he gets better or not. I really hope it does as it would really hurt to part with him.

It's a terrible thing, but if your pet is obviously living an uncomfortable life then it is decision time. Just put yourself in the dog's shoes and decide would you like to be living this way?

Enii

I would consider the quality of life that the dog is experiencing. If he can't do the things that he most liked to do than maybe it is time to put him down or if he seems to be in pain. We put our dog down a few weeks ago. She survived Cancer twice but got in to a bad way and the vet said there was nothing else that he could do and that it was time to let her go. The vet was brilliant, very professional but very understanding also, he made it a lot easier for the whole family.

Tabitharose

Nala wrote:

I think the time to put an animal down is when there is no longer any light at the end of the tunnel. All animals suffer sometimes. But when there is no hope of them recovering, when they are only going to continue suffering and deteriorating further, in my mind, even though it is hard for us, for their sake that is the time to put them down.

totally agree. good luck with your hard decision.

aare

Oh dear,

Few years ago I offered "Hospice Care" to an old Springer called Prinny...

Reason being he'd gone totally blind and disorientated from a "dog stroke", which is actually kidney related, and while his home was pokey and cluttered, here there was plenty of space between things to bump into, and loads of space outside, with no walls or traffic, to walk round in circles in (which is all he could do cos of the stroke).

He'd been deaf for years, but I got more out of it than he did as I was pretty ill at the time (thus home all day) and his attitude to his blindness and disorientation seemed to be "Oh, this makes life more interesting and challenging" as he learned to crabwalk around using his nose like a white stick (unless you moved stuff, after a couple of days he NEVER walked into anything hard or unexpectedly, he just felt his way around).

I'll NEVER forgive the person who put him down without consulting me (they were home from away, and he was brought home for a visit) because he was still having the time of his life and in no pain whatsoever as long as he had space...it wasn't time...

Friend of mind used to have responsibility for deciding when dogs were put down for illness or old age in a pound.

They were pretty good at homing oldies...when all they need is an "hospice" that's not as hard as you might think, because among the people who know how wonderful these old guys can be, the turnover is high, and there is often room for one more.

Unless there was pain, the way she would judge if it was "time", even with a place waiting, is if the poor ould dogs back legs gave out, to the extent they couldn't stand unaided any more.

I don't think she has long to go, I hope she'll last over Christmas, but even if it isn't time yet, it's close.

Trust me, you know your own dog, you will know...

...and if she doesn't make it over Christmas, just remember that there are sadder things in the world than a warm, peaceful death from old age surrounded by love.

Dilly

Oh, aare, what a sad, sad story...my mum went through something similar a year or so ago when she was taking care of a dog (previously a rescue dog and I promise you have never met any creature on this planet that was wso grateful to be alive, despite the horrors he had been through) who was old-ish and had some minor health issues when the decision to have him put to sleep was made one day when she wasn't there.

I really feel for you that you too had to experience the loss of what sounds like a really great - and brave! - dog.

As for your friend, they sound like a great person of whom there are sadly too few. If only more people would realise the joy of sharing their life with an older pet

Sad stories indeed from all on a Christmas eve...

junkyard

That really is a sad story alright, it would be the last thing I would consider doing unless the dog had no quality of life. On a happier note, not long ago I was looking for a home for an old stray dog and was struggling to get any response. I would have taken the dog myself but I have a dog and I'm at work myself all day. Any way the story goes that this dog used to accompany his owner to work everyday in a premises not far from my garage and would wait for his owner during the day and go home with him in the evening.About four years ago his owner died suddenly and the dog was left to fend for himself. I used to see the dog around but assumed that he belonged to someone. A year or so later a canteen opened up across the road from my garage and the dog would spend most of his days lying down outside. Sometime later the canteen closed down and yet their loyal nonpaying customer would spend his day outside waiting for some scraps. I asked around and got the details of his plight. I started feeding him and at first he was very standoffish but would eat the food, 2 cans in one go! I tried to get him into the car to take him to the vet but he wasn't having any of it. I decided to treat him for worms and fleas as he seemed to be very scratchy. I started asking around to see if anyone would take him on and no one seemed interested, I also posted pictures on this thread but again no luck. Then out of the blue, a lady who I mentioned the dog rang me with a phone number to ring, someone might be interested in the dog. Fortunately at this stage the dog was on very friendly terms with us in the garage and would spend his day asleep or following us around the garage, which I didn't mind, but I always had the fear in the back of my mind that someone might drive over him. I rang the number and spoke with a retired American gentleman who, after I pleaded the dogs case, decided to come and have a look at the dog. The morning of the viewing we decided it might not be such a good idea to feed the dog until our perspective owner had a look at him and it worked a treat, the dog did every trick in the book , sat when he was told, gave both paws and generally looked cute, our dog had a new owner. Dog was picked up the following morning after an appointment was made with a local dog groomer. I met dog and owner about two weeks later and it looked like a match made in heaven, I've never seen a dog and owner so happy. It really is worth the effort to try and re home a stray when you can see how happy dog and owner can be. I love a happy ending and no doubt there will be others, I've already re homed three other strays and I think its definitely worth the effort.

Gazza22

Gazza22 wrote:

I'm actually going through near enough the same situation at the moment. My boxer dog is nearly 11 years old. Great family pet.

Though in the last two weeks, he got severe artritis and rheumatism and is on very strong medication at the moment. He is having alot of trouble walking and needs to be now carried up steps ect. He can only take a few steps at a time and then must take a rest.

It's really sad watching this and it seems that his condition is deteriorating by the day. We got the strongest medication possible yesterday for him and it's all down to this medication now if he gets better or not. I really hope it does as it would really hurt to part with him.

It's a terrible thing, but if your pet is obviously living an uncomfortable life then it is decision time. Just put yourself in the dog's shoes and decide would you like to be living this way?

Just an update on this, sadly he's gotten a lot worse over the last day or so and we have to get the poor guy put down today

Dilly

I'm so sorry to hear that Gazza. I really hope that you and your family will be alright through this.

My heart goes out to you

Gazza22

Thanks dilly

seamus

We had to put our little dog down yesterday. We're all gutted.

She was a little Corgi/Jack Russell crossbreed who was always full of energy, but a very nervous dog (hated people leaving the house, etc). We got her 10.5 years ago from the DSPCA when she was 11 months old. About 6 months ago she collapsed and wasn't able to move for a couple of minutes, before getting up, visibly shaken.

This didn't happen again until a month later. From there it started to happen more frequently. One vet (a country vet) diagnosed epilepsy and prescribed some medication. The medication made her incontinent and confused, so we took her off it again, and she was OK. So we took her to a vet in Dublin, who diagnosed heart disease and fluid on the lungs. He gave us some medication for her heart and a diuretic for the fluid. The diuretic cleared up her lungs, but she continued to collapse whenever she became excited - she was having little heart attacks. By October, we could no longer take her for walks. She was much less lively and sleeping a lot more.
About two weeks ago, my mum took her to a lovely young female vet in Blessington who gave her a new stronger medication, and the dog perked up, she seemed to be in flying form.

But on Christmas Eve it all took a turn for the worst. She suddenly had trouble standing at all, and was spending most of her time lying in bed, staring into space. When she did stand, she walked extremely slowly, and her back shivered and shook. She stopped eating.
We all arrived in my parent's house for Christmas Day and Stephen's Day, and apart from a small amount of ham on Xmas day, she didn't eat anything that was offered to her, which is a million miles from the fatso she used to be. She spent most of her time lying on her side in bed, unable to sleep, and only getting up briefly and slowly to take a small drink of water and go to the toilet.

So on Tuesday evening we made the decision to have her put down yesterday. We brought her up to same vet in Blessington who checked her over for an hour. The vet confirmed that the dog was slowly drowning due to fluid in her lungs, and her heart was no longer providing sufficient circulation. This explained the shortness of breath and her lack of energy. Anything she could do would require a few days in the surgery, which would only serve to distress the dog (she hated being away from my parents) in what was inevitably her final week. If we did nothing, it would continue until the dog was gasping for air, her lungs full of fluid. That would be no way to live. So she was put down. Easily the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with.

Gazza22

Sorry to hear about that Seamus. It really is upsetting when you have the dog so long as in your case. I also have my dog since he was maybe 4/5 months old and he's now nearly 11...

I've an appointment with the vet at 2:30, it's really gonna kill me hving to do this ...Think i'll log off now and spend a bit of time with the guy

seamus

My condolences Gazza

mike65

seamus wrote:

If we did nothing, it would continue until the dog was gasping for air, her lungs full of fluid. That would be no way to live. So she was put down. Easily the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with.

On that last point its a pity we are'nt more humane about humans in a comparable situation....

My condolences to both you Seamus and Gazza22.

Mike.

Nala

Really sorry to hear about that Gazza but you've done the kindest thing you could have. There can't be many things harder than deciding to end an animal's life but there can't be many things nicer than dying a peaceful, painless death in a warm room surrounded by people who love you.

When my cat died, it was very sudden and circumstances meant she died naturally. It was awful, it took two hours and she was in so much pain.
When it was over I was actually relieved because I'd seen how much she suffered and now she wasn't suffering anymore, she was finally at peace.
Though it nearly killed me to see her in so much pain. I'd had her since she was born, she died in my room with myself and my mother, the two people she loved the most, stroking her and telling her what a great girl she was.

aare

Ah...

I told you you would know when the time was right...

At least you had one last great Christmas full of love to say goodbye...

And you too Seamus...

If you want to meet a particularly charming corgi/jrt/gsd (very black and tan so maybe) cross rescue pup of 6 months who was dumped with an eye infection (now better) on Christmas eve let me know by PM...cos I don't think I am very far from you, and she is now taking applications for new people (she is gorgeous, very good, and full of fun). But only you know whether it is too soon or not, don't worry, this little one is safe either way, I am only mentioning her because she may be a similar type.

So sorry...

junkyard

My condolences too Seamus and Gazza22.:(

seamus

Thanks guys.

aare - thanks for the offer. But the dog lived with my parents, and they don't want another dog for the moment. Though I suspect they will eventually. The circumstances of our house where I live (nobody here for upto 24 hours at a time) mean that it wouldn't be right to have a dog.

aare

That's grand Seamus, it was just such a coincidence, (being a similar type) I thought I'd better offer in case.

Hope you are all feeling more cheerful soon.

My name is Mud

Just thought I'd post. My sypathies with all who lost a pet.

We had our 12 year old aslation put to sleep this afternoon. She had suddenly collapsed last night and x-rays revealead a large tumour of her spleen (its known to happen to alsations, as it happened to one of ours before).

Our vet of 20 years was very good. Alsations dont really live beyond 13-14, so we felt she had a good life. Operating on her was too risky for her, and may have left her in pain. Our last alsation who had this problem died shortly after the same procedure. This was the best option for Danni we all felt.

My brother stayed with her until the last breath and had her in his arms.

RIP Danni

heggie

ApeXaviour, the exact same thing happend one of my dogs, trouble getting up etc, eventually we had to put him down, as there was no chance of him getting better, 14 is a good age tho if its a big dog, which this seems to be a common problem with

LovelyHurling

In that situation letting her go is the kindest thing you can do as your last act as her master. Sorry for your loss...