Pet Euthanasia - Who's had to do it?
Discussion
I'm fighting back the tears even writing this, but I'm looking for peoples opinions/past experiences.
Family cat Kitty (original, I know) is coming along to 14 years old now and has been key in the family since day one.
Over the last few years he's had rough old time with his health, leaukemia being the main culprit.
He suffers from blood clots in his leg around once every 6 weeks leaving him immobilised for a few hours, in pain and limping for a day or two. (Not nice!)
I live away but within the last month since my last visit, his head seems to have gone. His quality of life seems to have gone too.
He's been limited to one room in the house(the one with the catflap) because he's started to use carpets, kitchen worktops, anywhere as a toilet.
He's always been an extremely clean cat but that's gone by the wayside now.
The bones of my problem are ,I know he could go on living for another couple of weeks/months/or knowing this cat years but his quality of life is greatly reduced.
When do you decide the time is right and fair by him?
T.
I
Family cat Kitty (original, I know) is coming along to 14 years old now and has been key in the family since day one.
Over the last few years he's had rough old time with his health, leaukemia being the main culprit.
He suffers from blood clots in his leg around once every 6 weeks leaving him immobilised for a few hours, in pain and limping for a day or two. (Not nice!)
I live away but within the last month since my last visit, his head seems to have gone. His quality of life seems to have gone too.
He's been limited to one room in the house(the one with the catflap) because he's started to use carpets, kitchen worktops, anywhere as a toilet.
He's always been an extremely clean cat but that's gone by the wayside now.
The bones of my problem are ,I know he could go on living for another couple of weeks/months/or knowing this cat years but his quality of life is greatly reduced.
When do you decide the time is right and fair by him?
T.
I
TDutchy said:
I'm fighting back the tears even writing this, but I'm looking for peoples opinions/past experiences.
Family cat Kitty (original, I know) is coming along to 14 years old now and has been key in the family since day one.
Over the last few years he's had rough old time with his health, leaukemia being the main culprit.
He suffers from blood clots in his leg around once every 6 weeks leaving him immobilised for a few hours, in pain and limping for a day or two. (Not nice!)
I live away but within the last month since my last visit, his head seems to have gone. His quality of life seems to have gone too.
He's been limited to one room in the house(the one with the catflap) because he's started to use carpets, kitchen worktops, anywhere as a toilet.
He's always been an extremely clean cat but that's gone by the wayside now.
The bones of my problem are ,I know he could go on living for another couple of weeks/months/or knowing this cat years but his quality of life is greatly reduced.
When do you decide the time is right and fair by him?
T.
I
The fact you are asking to me would say it is time Family cat Kitty (original, I know) is coming along to 14 years old now and has been key in the family since day one.
Over the last few years he's had rough old time with his health, leaukemia being the main culprit.
He suffers from blood clots in his leg around once every 6 weeks leaving him immobilised for a few hours, in pain and limping for a day or two. (Not nice!)
I live away but within the last month since my last visit, his head seems to have gone. His quality of life seems to have gone too.
He's been limited to one room in the house(the one with the catflap) because he's started to use carpets, kitchen worktops, anywhere as a toilet.
He's always been an extremely clean cat but that's gone by the wayside now.
The bones of my problem are ,I know he could go on living for another couple of weeks/months/or knowing this cat years but his quality of life is greatly reduced.
When do you decide the time is right and fair by him?
T.
I
My OH, who is a vet says the worst thing she sees is the owner pro-longing the life of an animal in an (understandably) mis-guided belief that it is the best thing to do.
He has no doubt given you many years of friendship, there comes a time when you have to do what is the hardest, but fairest thing for him.
Good luck
As above, it sounds like you've made up your mind.
It's one of the most heart breaking decisions we've had to make. We had a husky named maverick, a rescue who had been badly beaten by a previous owner, and was from a notorious puppy farm in northamptonshire. so much sadness in his eyes when we met him but so much love to give to us and our little girl husky Shadow. They fell for each other, and we're never apart. Soon though, he was limping badly, crying in pain and not wanting to get out of his crate, vet did X-rays and diagnosed horrendous hip displacia and tht he was a bad 'sample' of the breed. A month or so later, and he was getting worse and worse and starting biting anyone that went near him. A discussion with the vets, husky rescue people and shwa (welfare assc), we all agreed it was for the best. Vet had only given him 6months, and that was heavily dosed up and was never to run again.
Putting him to sleep was the best thing we did for him, rather than keep him going. And we remember him the way we should. we gave him all the happiness in the world and he loved us for it and we know he waiting for us and shadow up there in rainbow bridge.
(and I've a rather large lump in my throat now do better stop typing)
The choice can only ever be yours, but whatever you do, remember them for their happy times
It's one of the most heart breaking decisions we've had to make. We had a husky named maverick, a rescue who had been badly beaten by a previous owner, and was from a notorious puppy farm in northamptonshire. so much sadness in his eyes when we met him but so much love to give to us and our little girl husky Shadow. They fell for each other, and we're never apart. Soon though, he was limping badly, crying in pain and not wanting to get out of his crate, vet did X-rays and diagnosed horrendous hip displacia and tht he was a bad 'sample' of the breed. A month or so later, and he was getting worse and worse and starting biting anyone that went near him. A discussion with the vets, husky rescue people and shwa (welfare assc), we all agreed it was for the best. Vet had only given him 6months, and that was heavily dosed up and was never to run again.
Putting him to sleep was the best thing we did for him, rather than keep him going. And we remember him the way we should. we gave him all the happiness in the world and he loved us for it and we know he waiting for us and shadow up there in rainbow bridge.
(and I've a rather large lump in my throat now do better stop typing)
The choice can only ever be yours, but whatever you do, remember them for their happy times
We as a family made a decision earlier that we would put him out of his misery tomorrow.
That last sentence makes me feel like an absolute
but in our opinion it's best for him.
I've decided i should to be there in the room with him when the deed is done, however i've no doubt i'm going to be a blubbering absolute mess!
Thanks all for the kind advice, it gave me the advice i think i was looking for.
stthebed.
T.
That last sentence makes me feel like an absolute
but in our opinion it's best for him.I've decided i should to be there in the room with him when the deed is done, however i've no doubt i'm going to be a blubbering absolute mess!
Thanks all for the kind advice, it gave me the advice i think i was looking for.
s
tthebed.T.
We had 2 dogs that went within a year of each other.
One was a Maltese/ shi-tsu cross the other a beagle.
One had an inoperable growth on his spine which put him in pain going to the toilet. Otherwise he was fit as a fiddle.
Knowing that the trip to the vets would be his last was the most awful thing.
The beagle suffered a stroke a while after and was unable to walk properly which caused her alot of distress.
The vet confirmed what we feared and we said goodbye, he then put her to sleep.
Not nice to have to make the decisions, but you must not be selfish, it is all about the quality of the pets life, not how old they are or how attached you are to them.
One was a Maltese/ shi-tsu cross the other a beagle.
One had an inoperable growth on his spine which put him in pain going to the toilet. Otherwise he was fit as a fiddle.
Knowing that the trip to the vets would be his last was the most awful thing.
The beagle suffered a stroke a while after and was unable to walk properly which caused her alot of distress.
The vet confirmed what we feared and we said goodbye, he then put her to sleep.
Not nice to have to make the decisions, but you must not be selfish, it is all about the quality of the pets life, not how old they are or how attached you are to them.
I agreed to not allow one of my cats to come around from an Op when it was discovered she had advanced throat cancer. Not being able to say goodbye properly was horrible and I took the call at work in front of a load of customers. I fell to pieces at that point.
I had to do it again several years ago for another cat who I'd had from a very young kitten. I still question whether I did right by her but she had a condition whereby it could have been slowed down with a daily tablet or just let it take its course. I chose the latter as she never liked being given tablets and I wanted to make her final months good without daily stress. When the time came it came very suddenly and as I say, I still question whether I timed it right.
It's the final act of love we can do for our pets. (Hugs) to you and your family.
I had to do it again several years ago for another cat who I'd had from a very young kitten. I still question whether I did right by her but she had a condition whereby it could have been slowed down with a daily tablet or just let it take its course. I chose the latter as she never liked being given tablets and I wanted to make her final months good without daily stress. When the time came it came very suddenly and as I say, I still question whether I timed it right.
It's the final act of love we can do for our pets. (Hugs) to you and your family.
We had to do it in September for our cat Harley, I adored him and it broke my heart having to do it, but he had really started to suffer as he had recently been diagnosed with Diabetes (which we were treating), then we had to go away on Honeymoon and he only got worse at the cattery, having kidney failure and moping because he missed us, we got a few more days with him when we returned, but he'd gone downhill so much and clearly wasn't enjoying life.
One of the hardest things I've had to do and it's choking me up having to write this. I still miss him every day, but we've adopted another young cat and just picked up a rescue kitten, who don't replace Harley in any way, but do fill that missing void.
One of the hardest things I've had to do and it's choking me up having to write this. I still miss him every day, but we've adopted another young cat and just picked up a rescue kitten, who don't replace Harley in any way, but do fill that missing void.
Really sorry for your situation, ive been through it twice now, it's horrific.
http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/lastbatt.htm
http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/lastbatt.htm
Edited by Juicetin1 on Wednesday 21st December 11:04
I've had to do it, and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done.
My cat was 10 years old, left to me by my fiancée. He was about a year old when my fiancée passed away. You cannot imagine how much this cat meant to me. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with PKD. Common in Persians.
I kept him going for about a year after diagnoses, with regular visits to the vet for fluids etc.. It was probably selfish of me, but I just didn't want to lose him. When he was gone, I realised how much I had suffered too, with the constant worrying about him.
When I saw him jump down from a lounge chair and saw that he didn't have enough strength in his legs upon landing, I knew it was time.
My cat was 10 years old, left to me by my fiancée. He was about a year old when my fiancée passed away. You cannot imagine how much this cat meant to me. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with PKD. Common in Persians.
I kept him going for about a year after diagnoses, with regular visits to the vet for fluids etc.. It was probably selfish of me, but I just didn't want to lose him. When he was gone, I realised how much I had suffered too, with the constant worrying about him.
When I saw him jump down from a lounge chair and saw that he didn't have enough strength in his legs upon landing, I knew it was time.
had to do this with my last dog. Mia the GSD. She was 15 and despite having an "eventful" life she was still going strong at this age. Saturday evening we were out playing football wit her chasing the ball around as normal. Sunday morning she got up from her bed to go out to the loo and just collapsed in the hallway. Vet came out and it turns out Mia had a stroke. Nothing on her left side was working. We gave her a few hours to see if anything would come back but there was no improvement so the vet came back and did the deed after we had been able to say bye. Me, my Mum and Dad stood and watched while the vet injected her. That really set me off as Mia yelped when the vet put the needle in but less than a min later she was gone.
Monday morning I had my A-level Biology exam. Brill.
Mia was my aunts dog that we took on when my aunt died so we only had he for a few years.
Now I have my own dog that I have raised and trained myself and have such a stronger bond with I know I am going to be a wreck when the time comes. I won't let her suffer though.
Monday morning I had my A-level Biology exam. Brill.
Mia was my aunts dog that we took on when my aunt died so we only had he for a few years.
Now I have my own dog that I have raised and trained myself and have such a stronger bond with I know I am going to be a wreck when the time comes. I won't let her suffer though.
On Sunday night one of our rats had a stroke. Straight off to the emergency vets where we really didn't have an option but to euthanase there and then.
Today got the call from the vets to say that our oldest dog has got lymphoma and probably won't make it to christmas. I think we'll hang on for a day or two to see if she is still eating (she wolfed down her chicken and rice with a wagging tail this morning) and enjoying short walks (trotted by my side with a wagging tail and head held high this morning). As soon as she looks to be suffering then we'll make the necessary call. I can't stand the thought of her suffering.
You have my sympathies. I've been through this a few times and it never gets easier. Just need to hold on to the joy that they have brought us, and the fact that we have always done whatever we can for them.
Today got the call from the vets to say that our oldest dog has got lymphoma and probably won't make it to christmas. I think we'll hang on for a day or two to see if she is still eating (she wolfed down her chicken and rice with a wagging tail this morning) and enjoying short walks (trotted by my side with a wagging tail and head held high this morning). As soon as she looks to be suffering then we'll make the necessary call. I can't stand the thought of her suffering.
You have my sympathies. I've been through this a few times and it never gets easier. Just need to hold on to the joy that they have brought us, and the fact that we have always done whatever we can for them.
Hard to do but we have had the vet come out four times now. Felt better to get it done at home rather than get it upset in a box for the last trip to the vet but you know the animal and should know when the time is right (wrong?). They are good (the vet), came out and puss (all four) were comfortable not really aware of what was going on and it was over quick.
Just home from the vets, he's at peace now.
It was extremely quick and I had him in my hands as he went very calmly, couldn't have happened any better.
Thanks for all the advice and kind words, it really has helped.
Best wishes to those with ill pets at the moment, it's an extremely unpleasant process but you'll know when the times right.
T.
It was extremely quick and I had him in my hands as he went very calmly, couldn't have happened any better.
Thanks for all the advice and kind words, it really has helped.
Best wishes to those with ill pets at the moment, it's an extremely unpleasant process but you'll know when the times right.
T.
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