My Poor Dog - Right Thing

You are making a smart, if heartbreaking decision. My aunt put down her beloved doberman when the dog started snapping at children. Nobody got bitten, but the dog was unhappy, was no longer able to get up and down the stairs and hid under the table all the time. She was in pain and her pain made her irritable. It was far kinder to say, "I'm sorry, old girl. But you won't suffer anymore." I am sorry you have to make this call. I've been there myself and it's hard. But sometimes it's in the end the kindest thing you can do. I have only regretted waiting and allowing the animal to be in more pain because of my indecision. I have not regretted letting go so the pet no longer suffers.

Big hugs. Remember the good times.

Oh my heart goes out to you. Those who have dogs know what a tuff decision you've had to make. Dogs love unconditionally, and honestly I think that letting him go, is one of the most un-selfish loving things you can do to repay him for all of his loyalty, love, and friendship over the years. Life should be about quality not quantity (At times I wish we could be as merciful to humans as we are to animals)
Just remember the memories of your dog will last forever. I know it's so hard to say goodbye, but it is the right thing! (I also recommend reading the Rainbow Bridge). Best wishes, and deepest sympathy!

You are...this was us last February...same thing with hips, pain, accidents in the house... It IS SO HARD. We were blessed with 12 years of life with our dog and it still makes me sad because I miss him, they become a part of your family. Hugs to you and blessing for a peaceful transition for your beloved pet.
Godspeed.

Tomorrow will be the right thing. I was there 2 years ago. The only thing I regret is not bringing ours home. Hubby doesn't like death and didn't want to deal with burial, so we left the dog with the vet. My kids took it very hard. We got a special rock and buried his tags under it, but it still isnt the same.

The one thing I did do was take care of the vet bill before the appt. They charged us $75 for the appt. and said we'll just bill you so you don't have to deal with that now. I said, no. Please let me deal with it now, before we go in, so that I don't get a reminder in the mail a week later.

I just went through this with my little 20-year-old dog. She was a huge part of our lives.

You are doing the right thing. It is hard, yes, but please know that you are ending his suffering and frustration -- and most certainly doing the right thing.

Hugs to you. I'm sure you will feel better after tomorrow, but it's hard thinking about it the day before. I know how hard this is.

I'm so sorry to hear! No, he's not "just an animal". He is/has been part of your family for 10 years. Your feelings are totally justified and understandable. You ARE doing the right thing. Read the Rainbow Bridge, it may help you to feel better. Thinking of you and sending strength!!

http://petloss.com/rainbowbridge.htm

I'm so sorry.
I know it's hard.
He's not enjoying life anymore.
His body is failing him, he's miserable and keeping him alive would only prolong his misery.
You gave him the best life possible and he's been a wonderful pet - a member of the family.
Think of it as setting him free from his suffering.
Of course you are going to miss him.
I'm sorry for your loss.
You are doing the right thing.

Lucky, you are absolutely doing the right thing for your dog. When an animal is failing, we have to ask ourselves who we are really prolonging it's life for? If they have diminished quality of life, more bad days than good, decreased appetite, then you know they are suffering. If it's not characteristic of your dog to bite people, then that is a clear sign he's in pain. The humane thing to do is to put him down. Take comfort that you took great care of him, and did the right thing by him. (((hugs)))

Oh no! Lucky, I am so sorry about your poochie! It's just an AWFUL thing to have to go through.

Here's some responses I got from the wonderful MMP ladies when I went through the same thing.

http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/16108853612318490625
http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/2819143741871357953

Thinking about you.

:(

When animals or even babies and small children are un pain they often inflict pain on others to be able to communicate that since they cants speak or don't have the words to say so. Think of how much pain your sweet loved one is in and no one ever wants a loved ones time to come. But I know u do not want to have your dog hurting either. I am so so sorry and pray that fond memories help heal your heart.
J.

So so hard when you have to make this decision. Your dog is more than "just" a dog. He's a friend and a member of your family. Of course you are sad. But you are doing the right thing. Your dog is suffering and there isn't a cure to make this better. Believe me, putting him down will give you more comfort than not, and watching him suffer. Relieving the pain that he's in is the last good thing that you can do for him.

Sending you a hug, mama~

Logic has no real bearing at this point. You used the logic to make the best decision for your family and now you are dealing with the emotional reality. As demonstrated by all of these posts it is a normal part of owning pets. With our second dog I told the emergency vet this is the worst part of pet ownership. The vet agreed wholeheartedly. It is the price we as owners pay for all those years of unconditional love and laughter (plus those annoyances). Get through tomorrow knowing you are doing the right thing. We miss our dogs we had to put down. We still talk about them and laugh about the funny memories we have of them. I posted in one of Theresa's links below about our Pug-sicle and maybe that can add a little humor to what is otherwise a sad occassion. Many well wishes and good luck on this journey.

I am so sorry for your imminent loss.

I had to put my rott down when he was 13 years old. I had had him longer than any of my grandchildren! It was so devastingly sad and hard. But I knew I was doing the right thing. He had suffered with hip dsyplasia for a long time and got to the point where he literally could not walk. The last couple of days of his life were spent laying on his bed, pooping and peeing on himself because he could not get up!

We had our dog cremated and we keep his ashes in a prominent place. We still love that dog!

As hard as it is, you know that you are doing the right thing. You love him enough to give him comfort and to look past your own desire to keep him with you. He's teling you that he's in pain with the biting. He's telling you that he can't function as he has with the pooping. You can see his physical deterioration, and you know that he's not going to improve.

I recently had to let my sweet dog go, too. The one thing that might help you to know is that the days leading up to the inevitable decision were far harder than the days afterwards knowing that her pain was gone. I loved her immeasurably, but sadly, this is one of the hard parts of being a responsible pet owner. Best wishes to you!

Oh Lucky, I am so sorry . . . I don't have any advice but just wanted you to know that I was thinking of you and your sweet boy.

Oh Lucky, we went through this several years ago with our Corgi, Fergie. She had hip dysplasia. She was so unhappy, in pain, having accidents and dragging her backend all over because she couldn't walk. She and I had a love/hate relationship but it was my lap she wanted in the end. I held her, told her want a wonderful member of the family she was and what a great "mom" she was to "our" babies.

Our current Corgi, Bella, has been diagnosed with DM (degenerative myopothy (sp)). I am in the process of ordering her a butt cart! (Wheelchair for dogs). I am not ready to make "the" decision! She isn't in pain, she is still eating and not having accidents. I just can't do it right now. I think if I get the cart she will be mobil and happy again.

You and your family are in my thoughts and hugs to all. You are a wonderful and responible pet owner.

I am so sorry you have to go through this. It has got to be one of the hardest things to go through. I still cry over my doggies. I sat with them until the very end and looked into their big beautiful brown eyes and told them that everything was going to be ok. But, in the end, you are doing the right thing. You are thinking of him and putting him out of his misery.
Sending hugs your way!

so sorry, that is sad

*HUGS* You are doing the right thing.

I think you are doing the right thing. Sounds like your dog is not all there anymore and probably in pain. I am in the same boat deciding whether our 13 year old dalmation is to that point too.

We've had to do this twice and have come to the conclusion that if your dog is in pain and not happy, that is the justification for putting him/her down. It was so hard to do esp for our GSH who left us so young just as yours - he had another GSH-related condition that took him when he was about 8. Remember what you did for this dog, giving him a loving home and great family who loved him well. Now he is in heaven running around on great legs and having a great time with all our past pups!