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Putting dog to sleep

(36 Posts)
25Avalon Mon 28-Oct-19 17:33:42

I am so sad, I just keep crying. I have made the agonising decision to have my dear 13 and a half year old yellow lab put to sleep. She has been such a lovely dog, always wanting to please, would never steal food, wouldn't climb on the furniture and even opened doors with her nose rather than scratching.
About 2 months ago she started developing small lumps on top of her head, shoulders and sides and legs. These gradually get bigger and ulcerate. She has had needle aspiration and tumour biopsy which they are having to run extra tests on to discover what it is. She now has a large lump above her anus which keeps bleeding and causing her a lot of discomfort. The vet thinks it is histiosarcoma.
She doesn't want to play with her toys and there are somethings she no longer wants to eat, and spends most of the time either lying comatose or being very restless. She has the odd bright moment. I am not keen on steroids which aren't going to cure and would upset her if she wee-ed indoors or wanted to steal food. I have seen a holistic vet but I think things have moved too far for that to work I don't want to see her suffer so feel euthanasia is the best option at home next Friday.
Why them am I plagued with doubts when I know this is the right thing to do? My husband can't understand why I am upset when "this is the only thing to do." My grown up 2 dds are very understanding. I just want to cry all the more.

Fairviewtenby51 Mon 16-Mar-20 15:27:58

I.m sure you.know in your heart that it's the right time. My dear old dog Pongo had his last visit to our vets last October. It broke my heart but my vet said Pongo had kept on going just to please me.
I know it was the right time but I m still grieving.

CocoPops Sun 03-Nov-19 02:37:24

Look after yourself. poppy poppy poppy

boodymum67 Sat 02-Nov-19 14:58:48

Of course you cry all the time and why not! This furry friend has given you so much love and loyalty over the years and is a trusted member of the family.

So many of us pet owners are forced to make that horrible decision, which makes us feel like murderers.

If only our beloved pets would just go to sleep by themselves and toddle off over the bridge to doggy or pussy cat heaven. But sadly that happens so rarely.

You are doing the right thing, as horrendous as it feels.

I`ve had to do the same myself, a few times...and I have such good memories of my best pals.

Take care love. xxxx

Labaik Sat 02-Nov-19 12:41:28

At least you know 100% that you did the right thing. The emptiness when they leave us is awful because they have been a constant presence in our homes. flowers x

Oopsminty Sat 02-Nov-19 12:09:15

25Avalon. I know exactly how you feel. It is heart breaking. Gut wrenching.

You made the right decision.

We are so lucky to have the unconditional love from our dogs. They bring such joy. The only problem is they just don't live long enough

newnanny Sat 02-Nov-19 12:06:33

It is so sad and you feel uncertain because you love your dog and don't want to be without her. You are making the choice to stop her suffering. Your head knows it is right but your heart is heavy as it does not want to lose her. Give her a lovely last meal that she will enjoy and get vet to come to her. After our cat was put down at 17 years old we made a montage of photos and put in a nice frame and hung in hall and we buried him in the border in our back garden which was his favourite sunny spot to lie and sun himself in the garden.

25Avalon Sat 02-Nov-19 11:55:14

Thank you Loislovesstevie and everyone else. It was the right thing to do as the test results came back that she had aggressive tumours and would have died a very painful death if we had not had her put to sleep. She was stoical and tried so hard to stay with us to the extent she hid so much of any pain. I feel relief that she is no longer suffering but the grief at missing her is enormous.

Loislovesstewie Sat 02-Nov-19 05:25:49

I just wanted to say that I am thinking of you .flowers

jura2 Thu 31-Oct-19 18:02:44

heart goes out to you- but if you can afford it- get the vet to come to your home and hold the dog in his/her favourite place to avoid any stress <3

Tedber Thu 31-Oct-19 18:00:21

Feel it so much for you. Hard decision to make. Most of us on here will have had to make that hard choice. All I can say is you have given her the best of times and now you are doing what is best for HER.

I have experienced it with several animals. Never gets any easier. In fact my amazing mum died in January and I cried buckets and then my beautiful cat became ill in April and I had to make the decision to say goodbye to him. I cried even more (if that is possible!) I wrote on here and got a lot of support.

It is never easy but prolonging her life would only hurt her more.

Just be prepared to grieve as you do for anyone you have loved unconditionally for so long.

My thoughts are with you tonight xxxxx

Yehbutnobut Mon 28-Oct-19 22:47:41

You owe it to your dog to do the ‘right thing’ but it is so hard. I sat on a chair in the consultation room and held my dog in my arms while our lovely vet crouched beside us and injected him.

He slipped away peacefully, and being cuddle.

SalsaQueen Mon 28-Oct-19 22:21:44

How sad. You are doing the kindest thing for your lovely dog. She's old, in a lot of discomfort (probably pain too), doesn't feel well enough to eat or play.

You have to do what is right for your dog. Euthanasia IS right, in this case. You'll miss her, of course, but you've given her a loving home, a good life, and you must now carry on being kind and loving by helping her to go.

Best wishes x

Fennel Mon 28-Oct-19 20:39:09

ps she was 15, a good age for a bc.

Fennel Mon 28-Oct-19 20:38:27

We had our little sweetheart 'put to sleep' in Feb last year. A border collie, she was stone deaf and had dementia, plus we were moving back to UK from France.
I agree it would be best done at home. Ours was at the Vet's and there was extra fear from other big dogs present. It was stressful for her, she seemed to sense she was there for something not nice, but the actual procedure was calm and not stressful.
First the vet gave her an injection which slowly made her relax and 'go to sleep'. She lay down eventually, then another injection which stopped her heart -I 'm in tears just thinking of it. Bless her.
They're only given to us for a short time and the amount of love they bring compensates a bit.

Doodle Mon 28-Oct-19 20:22:12

So sorry for you. Like many I know what you are going through. At home is by far the best as your dog will not be anxious. Just know you are doing the right thing out of love. What more can anyone ask.

Labaik Mon 28-Oct-19 20:13:33

I,personally, wouldn't use any holistic medicine at this point. Could you speak to your vet, explain that you feel her condition is and what is his/her opinion on waiting for the test results. Sometimes results do come through quicker than expected. Might a short course of steroids make her feel better in the short term, in which case it would be worth risking her having the odd accident and, if she did try to steal some food at least it would mean that she was feeling better.

Oldbat1 Mon 28-Oct-19 19:41:31

It is so heartbreaking saying goodbye to our family dogs. Dogs are stoical and will do their best to carry on for our sake. We’ve said goodbye to many (we foster poorly and/or oldies for local shelter) and it doesn’t get any easier. Your lovely dog knows how much she is loved. If possible we always have to vet come to the house and the end has always been very peaceful. Grief takes time and I think it is human nature to worry if it was too early or too late. Be kind to yourself.

Iam64 Mon 28-Oct-19 19:36:11

It's the last loving thing you can do for your dog, to help her leave this life with comfort, lying safely in your arms as you tell her how much you love her.
I had to do this with my six year old dog earlier this year. I did feel my heart was broken and I wept a river but, he was very ill indeed, dying from an inoperable tumour . I remembered what a friend said to me years ago when we talked discussed our very old dog, " better a day too soon than a day too late" was the wise advice.
As others have said, ask your vet to come to your home. It's so much better for the dog and for you to say goodbye to each other in your own home.
How much we love our dogs x

Buffybee Mon 28-Oct-19 19:21:43

It's heartbreaking for you to have to let your dear old girl go but I think that you know it is time.
As people have mentioned, ask the vet to come to the house.
It's only natural that you will cry and feel devastated but you are doing the best thing for your precious girl.
Be brave! I'll be thinking of you on Friday!

25Avalon Mon 28-Oct-19 18:59:19

Thank you everyone for your kind comments even though they have me in even more tears. Bluebelle you are so brave. 14 years ago this November my son died of Duchenne Muscular Dystropy after being given the wrong drugs and 2 horrific weeks of ups and downs in hospital. I think maybe this makes me more susceptible to emotion at this time of year.
Whitewavemark2 I hear what you say. FlexibleFriend my head is telling me I am right but my heart dithers especially when she has her perky moments.
Should I wait till the test results come back which could take another week? Should I try my complimentary vet's herbal remedy? Should I hope when I can only be putting off the evil day? I think I have made the right decision but I need to convince myself. I don't want to see her get really bad and suffer.
It will be at home on Friday and I shall cry.

MawB Mon 28-Oct-19 18:56:59

To fall asleep in the arms of the person you love best in the world is a privilege not granted to many of us humans
Done it 4 times and at home was the kindest and gentlest flowers

Labaik Mon 28-Oct-19 18:46:26

Vets can't really tell you whether to put your pet down or not [unless it's obviously in a great deal of pain]. But what we have said in the past [and, unfortunately, I've lost many pets over the years ] is, 'if it was your dog/cat etc what would you do?' It doesn't actually cost a great deal to have a vet come to your home and it's by far the kindest thing you can do when the time comes. I know it's heartbreaking but I assume the lump near her anus would need an operation and, at her age it would be a nasty thing to put her through. As other people have said, we do understand what you're going through. Hugs flowers.

grannysyb Mon 28-Oct-19 18:30:56

I'm so sorry you are going through this. My DH is a retired vet. He always says putting them to sleep is the last kind thing you can do for them. He put our lovely dogs and cat to sleep at home, is it possible for your vet to do this.

FlexibleFriend Mon 28-Oct-19 18:24:09

You know it's the right thing to do even though it's the last thing on earth you want to do. She's a good age for a Labrador so even a miracle cure would only delay the inevitable. Sadly dogs have a limited life span and it falls to us to make the decision to never allow them to suffer. Remember better a day too soon than a minute too late. Be kind to yourself it's a decision you have to make with your head and not your heart.

Loislovesstewie Mon 28-Oct-19 18:18:13

I have so much sympathy for you. Please remember that she knows that you love her and only want her to be free of pain and discomfort. She will go to sleep and know nothing else; if you hold her she will feel your love.

Don't be hard on yourself. You are doing the best for your much loved canine companion.