Taking our dog to the vets tomorrow
Discussion
How do you tell when the times right to finally lay a dog to rest
Our 10 year old king charles seems to be fading fast.we visited the vets on monday and were given some pills that the dogshould have responded to fairly quickly,but so far he hasn't. We have another appointment tomorrow am.
He has an enlargd heart which is now preventimg him doing much exercise and he no longer runs to great people,cant get on laps and had a bad cough after exercise.When he's quiet and just walking around the house he seems fine tail still wags
Im now absolutly (sp) dreading the day,it may be tomorrow if the vet says theres nothing else he can do
im praying that wont happen as i dont think im ready to let our dear Musky go yet
But it really hitting me hard knowing that that day can't be to far of as a couple of months ago he was pulling at the lead for walkies
so im summary hes like and old man, not in any pain as far as i can tell as when hes been ill before the tail stops wagging,is this a genuine sign our am i misguided
I've never felt so bad
Our 10 year old king charles seems to be fading fast.we visited the vets on monday and were given some pills that the dogshould have responded to fairly quickly,but so far he hasn't. We have another appointment tomorrow am.
He has an enlargd heart which is now preventimg him doing much exercise and he no longer runs to great people,cant get on laps and had a bad cough after exercise.When he's quiet and just walking around the house he seems fine tail still wags
Im now absolutly (sp) dreading the day,it may be tomorrow if the vet says theres nothing else he can do
im praying that wont happen as i dont think im ready to let our dear Musky go yet But it really hitting me hard knowing that that day can't be to far of as a couple of months ago he was pulling at the lead for walkies
so im summary hes like and old man, not in any pain as far as i can tell as when hes been ill before the tail stops wagging,is this a genuine sign our am i misguided
I've never felt so bad
Sometimes, putting the dog to sleep is simply the most humaine option.
I had one of my dogs put down. Thing is, he was deteriorating rather quickly - was deaf and blind; incontinent; couldn't walk far; would always fall down and hit things; generally wasting away.
At this stage, I just said "enough is enough" and had him put to sleep.
It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do, but it was the right thing. Forcing him to go on and continue to live would be purely selfish on my part.
I had one of my dogs put down. Thing is, he was deteriorating rather quickly - was deaf and blind; incontinent; couldn't walk far; would always fall down and hit things; generally wasting away.
At this stage, I just said "enough is enough" and had him put to sleep.
It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do, but it was the right thing. Forcing him to go on and continue to live would be purely selfish on my part.
Ah, bless. I'm welling up just reading that
I've got everything crossed for ya, and your little mate. Hopefuly a few different pills we see him perk up a bit. If he's wondering around the place wagging his tail, he still might be happy enough....just getting old. You can sit on the floor with him!
Best of luck, I genuinely hope the little fella is around for a few more years.
Cheers.
I've got everything crossed for ya, and your little mate. Hopefuly a few different pills we see him perk up a bit. If he's wondering around the place wagging his tail, he still might be happy enough....just getting old. You can sit on the floor with him!
Best of luck, I genuinely hope the little fella is around for a few more years.
Cheers.
I came home to find an empty house & no dog!
Only to find out that whilst i was out our 17yr old doggy had suffered a brain hemerage & was clinging onto life until somebody had come home. I regret not being able to say goodbye to him, so spend as much time with yours as you can & show him all the love in the world.
Only to find out that whilst i was out our 17yr old doggy had suffered a brain hemerage & was clinging onto life until somebody had come home. I regret not being able to say goodbye to him, so spend as much time with yours as you can & show him all the love in the world.
That's really tough, but it all depends on what specifically is wrong and how the condition responds to treatment. CKCs do suffer from poor hearts as a breed, but there is often more than one line of attack in therapy, so don't lose heart just yet. If you are given no option by your vet then it may be then only option is to put your pet to sleep, but don't be afraid to ask if referral to a specialist is an option as they can sometimes work wonders. I wish I knew more details of what your own vet has diagnosed but they are the experts on the spot, and you have to listen to them, but don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to get all the details clear in your mind. If you have the information you can choose which path you take. It may be that you have a horrible choice to make as your friend can't live a life without discomfort....maybe not. Hope it turns out better than you think.
Thevet said:
That's really tough, but it all depends on what specifically is wrong and how the condition responds to treatment. CKCs do suffer from poor hearts as a breed, but there is often more than one line of attack in therapy, so don't lose heart just yet. If you are given no option by your vet then it may be then only option is to put your pet to sleep, but don't be afraid to ask if referral to a specialist is an option as they can sometimes work wonders. I wish I knew more details of what your own vet has diagnosed but they are the experts on the spot, and you have to listen to them, but don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to get all the details clear in your mind. If you have the information you can choose which path you take. It may be that you have a horrible choice to make as your friend can't live a life without discomfort....maybe not. Hope it turns out better than you think.
Thanks he has an enlarged heart and a stomach condition est something and strange but true a bit of vertigo, but thats not a real problem atm but it is scary when he has a turnIs it too late in life for a specialist to make any real difference
lucy was a rescue dog, cross breed who came into our lives 15 years ago. she lived happily with us until four weeks ago today. she had succumbed to a particularly nasty infection very quickly. given that a major op would only have partially eased her suffering, i felt i had to let her go. i held her and re-assured her until she was at rest. i was in bits for days predictably for me as for a big lad i get emotional easily. i feel for you and whatever happens it will work out in the end, i promise you. lucy had grown up with my two boys who are now 24 and 28 she was more than a dog to us; a true member of the family. i personally dont know yet about getting another dog, although if we do it wil be another rescue case. good luck with whatever happens, i was reassured by peoples reaction to our loss. i found many people who understood the hurt and were supportive.
Edited by v64paul on Tuesday 12th August 19:51
Same happened to our Cav last year - she'd had heart problems for about a year, but the vet kept her going by changing her tablets each time she seemed a bot worse. But the day came when she collapsed, still conscious but difficulty breathing - we rushed her to the vet but her heart had enlarged to the point it was pressing on her windpipe and she had difficulty breathing so we had to do the "kind" deed. Mrs ALC and our grown-up sons cried for days - and say they won't have another dog because it's too painful at the end.
Hopefully your little dog hasn't got so bad yet that they can't keep him going a while longer - a change of medication might help as in our case. Give him lots of hugs this evening just in case - chin up.
Hopefully your little dog hasn't got so bad yet that they can't keep him going a while longer - a change of medication might help as in our case. Give him lots of hugs this evening just in case - chin up.
Dogs main fun activities are walking and eating. When they no longer want to do both then it's time to go I reckon.
We had a bedlington terrier with heart failure like yours she was always willing to go for a walk and eat her dinner so we kept her going for a long time. One night she suddenly started panting, went all limp then died after a few hours...it's not nice at all.
In some ways it would have been much kinder to have her euthanased prior to this but it's a very difficult decision.
Just know that if you leave the dog to it there is no way heart failure can be fixed, so he will die in the near future unfortunately.
We had a bedlington terrier with heart failure like yours she was always willing to go for a walk and eat her dinner so we kept her going for a long time. One night she suddenly started panting, went all limp then died after a few hours...it's not nice at all.
In some ways it would have been much kinder to have her euthanased prior to this but it's a very difficult decision.
Just know that if you leave the dog to it there is no way heart failure can be fixed, so he will die in the near future unfortunately.
Edited by dave_s13 on Tuesday 12th August 20:35
We lost our staffi cross Harry in May 04. It was very painful when we were told he had prostate cancer. The vet said she could put him on a course of treatment to prolong his life, but knowing that it wasn't something that could be treated we chose there and then to put him to sleep as we didn't want him to suffer any more.
It was heartbreaking for us both, especially as he was a relatively young dog. We were in bits, but because we had another dog who needed a companion we made the decision to get another dog very quickly. It was the best decision we made as it enabled us to concentrate ourselves on a new puppy.
We still miss Harry and he isn't far from us, as we have him in a little wooden casket in a special place.
It was heartbreaking for us both, especially as he was a relatively young dog. We were in bits, but because we had another dog who needed a companion we made the decision to get another dog very quickly. It was the best decision we made as it enabled us to concentrate ourselves on a new puppy.
We still miss Harry and he isn't far from us, as we have him in a little wooden casket in a special place.
Oh, such a hard choice. I do NOT envy you one bit.
Added:
{
My wifes first dog had this problem and done nothing but cough day and night and in the end the poor little mite could barely sit up and become weaker and weaker due to the constant heart problem
}
There is a picture of george when he was about 18+ years old in my profile.
He lost the use of his back legs and we thought the day had come but no! He kept going for another couple of years until his front legs went and that was it.
Sat for ages in the vet talking to him and the most awful thing was he licked my face as much to say 'yup, its ok I understand'.
Sad, sad day.
We have now got another Cavalier (Sonny) and while they are NEVER a replacement but they do take the pain away.
Also with Caviler King Charles it seems very, very quiet at night without all that snoring
Which is what he is doing now under the desk.
Good luck.
Added:
{
My wifes first dog had this problem and done nothing but cough day and night and in the end the poor little mite could barely sit up and become weaker and weaker due to the constant heart problem
}
There is a picture of george when he was about 18+ years old in my profile.
He lost the use of his back legs and we thought the day had come but no! He kept going for another couple of years until his front legs went and that was it.
Sat for ages in the vet talking to him and the most awful thing was he licked my face as much to say 'yup, its ok I understand'.
Sad, sad day.
We have now got another Cavalier (Sonny) and while they are NEVER a replacement but they do take the pain away.
Also with Caviler King Charles it seems very, very quiet at night without all that snoring
Which is what he is doing now under the desk.
Good luck.
Edited by Morningside on Tuesday 12th August 20:41
AS another poster said, when a dog stops doing what a dog does then it's time to say goodbye.
My Hamish was 16 in Sept 07 when he went. He had just a week of being really ill before the vet suggested it might be the kindest thing to let him go.
He had a slow hearta rate which he'd had medication for over 5 years. He started suffering with kidney failure and his heart didn't help at all. Once he wouldn't eat or walk(or even stand) then I knew it was time.
I stayed with him until the end and cried my eyes out for a few days but it was the best for him. I've now got Bert and Ernie to keep me busy. 9 month old Cairn dogs that we got at 11 weeks old. They are not Hamish but I love them just as much.
Good luck and try other options unless the vet thinks it's not fair to your mutt.
My Hamish was 16 in Sept 07 when he went. He had just a week of being really ill before the vet suggested it might be the kindest thing to let him go.
He had a slow hearta rate which he'd had medication for over 5 years. He started suffering with kidney failure and his heart didn't help at all. Once he wouldn't eat or walk(or even stand) then I knew it was time.
I stayed with him until the end and cried my eyes out for a few days but it was the best for him. I've now got Bert and Ernie to keep me busy. 9 month old Cairn dogs that we got at 11 weeks old. They are not Hamish but I love them just as much.
Good luck and try other options unless the vet thinks it's not fair to your mutt.
Fingers crossed for you that things aren't as bad as you fear.
This is a poem that has often been quoted on a dog forum, it has given comfort to many people in your situation.
May I Go Now?
by Susan A. Jackson
May I Go? May I go now?
Do you think the time is right?
May I say good-bye to pain-filled days
and endless lonely nights?
I’ve lived my life and done my best,
an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond
and set my spirit free?
I didn’t want to go at first,
I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now
to a warm and loving light.
I want to go. I really do.
It’s difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can
to live just one more day,
To give you time to care for me
and share your love and fears.
I know you’re sad and so afraid,
because I see your tears.
I’ll not be far, I promise that,
and hope you’ll always know
that my spirit will be close to you,
wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me.
You know I love you too.
That’s why it’s hard to say good-bye
and end this life with you.
So hold me now, just one more time
and let me hear you say,
because you care so much for me,
you’ll let me go today.
This is a poem that has often been quoted on a dog forum, it has given comfort to many people in your situation.
May I Go Now?
by Susan A. Jackson
May I Go? May I go now?
Do you think the time is right?
May I say good-bye to pain-filled days
and endless lonely nights?
I’ve lived my life and done my best,
an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond
and set my spirit free?
I didn’t want to go at first,
I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now
to a warm and loving light.
I want to go. I really do.
It’s difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can
to live just one more day,
To give you time to care for me
and share your love and fears.
I know you’re sad and so afraid,
because I see your tears.
I’ll not be far, I promise that,
and hope you’ll always know
that my spirit will be close to you,
wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me.
You know I love you too.
That’s why it’s hard to say good-bye
and end this life with you.
So hold me now, just one more time
and let me hear you say,
because you care so much for me,
you’ll let me go today.
dave_s13 said:
Err ^^^ feck off with the poems.....no room for namby pamby $hit like that on here.
Having your dog sick and die on you is very sad but writing (or posting) cr@p like that is even sadder!
No it's not!Having your dog sick and die on you is very sad but writing (or posting) cr@p like that is even sadder!
When I had to lose my best friend and make that decision to let him go poems people sent me made me cry but also made me realise that you can get through and believe you have done the right thing.
I lived with my Dobe until he was 15, a grand old age for a Dobe, but I still was in pieces when I had to call the vet in. He died in my arms and I have never been more upset. Should I let him go for his sake or should I keep him another night for my selfishness, I obviously let him go. Worst day of my life, he trusted me but the "light" had gone out of his eyes.
Rest in peace Saxon, Mummy loves you ;-)
That's sad.
The only thing I can say is that if you know the dog, you'll know when it's time. The vet will give you his/her opinion too. If he's still wagging his tail he's still happy, but if he's having turns a lot then maybe the best thing to do is to let him go. My parents had to do the same thing to my dog when I was overseas. Never got to say goodbye and it still bothers me 9 years later.
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