Euthanasia Is it obvious when it is time to put a pet down?

[+ purplekow]

At one time, I had seven dogs, all rescues. One by one, they seemed to find their way to me and were welcomed into the pack. Five of those animals have died. All died of natural causes, all died peaceful either at home or at the vet. I have never had to make the decision to put a dog down. I now have a dog, Fred, that is 15 years old, and at one time was a robust 95 pounds. About 5 months ago he was diagnosed with a cancer on his leg and I was advised he had little more than a month, at most, to live. The vets said that he had already outlived his life expectancy for this size dog, although I have read of sled dogs in Alaska living to 18-20. Now 5 months later, with the help of some pain medication, he seems not much worse for the wear. At 15, he has slowed down, and he is limping but not much different than he has been since this started in December. I am in the medical field, so I should be in better touch with this, but I am wondering, do you really know when it is time to euthanize a pet. My guy is still eating, everything in sight and when he does not do too much he seems very content though he pants pretty easily with mild to moderate exertion. He still makes his walk, but doesn't seem to want to mark every tree as he used to do. He interacts with the other two dogs much as he had in the past. Today I came home to find blood all over the house, frightening, but there was no blood on him or the other dogs and there was only a small gash on his tongue. I guess he could have bit his tongue during a seizure, he has never had one before, or merely cut it on a rough edged bone.

So the question is: Will it be obvious or will I just have to decide? It is not obvious now and I must say, I would rather not decide.

 

P.S. No one needs me to remind me that dogs are not people.

[+ Charlie]

I have always been lucky enough to have vets who knew my pets well, and I trusted their judgment on when it was time to put a dog or cat to sleep. It's usually pretty obvious when the animal is in distress, and it's cruel to keep them going for your sake rather than for theirs. Yes, it is very painful to do, and you will probably second guess yourself after it's done, but it really is an act of love. Try to stay with the dog and hold him while he gets the shot, if you can bear to do it, so he feels secure in his last moments (my partner gets too upset to be there, so I have always had to do it alone, and they are the saddest memories of my life).

[Guest PWIT]

PK, maybe the article at below link will help with the decision.

 

http://vetmedicine.about.com/c/ht/00/08/How_Know_Time_Euthanize0966283392.htm

[seattlebottom]

I had to euthanize one of my cats in January. The decision was mostly taken out of my hands as her mammary cancer had spread to her brain and her body was slowly shutting down due to a lack of oxygen getting into her system.

 

I have a limited experience with death. When my mother was in her final stages of her cancer she was put under hospice care although she continued to live with us. The hospice gave us some literature about what to look for so we would know when the time for her passing was near.

 

Physical Signs: body is usually cool to the touch, lots of time spent sleeping, person appears confused, incontinence, congestion, restlessness, urine decrease, decrease in eating and drinking, irregular breathing.

[MichiganMan]

I had the two greatests black labs the one could ever wish for....brother and sister that I named Bonnie and Clyde. Both I had put to sleep because of cancer. If you are a true dog lover, trust me, you'll KNOW when it is time. Google a story called "A dogs plea"....have some hankies ready....

[OneFinger]

I, too, have rescued dogs from the shelters and understand how attached you can become to them. In most cases, it has been obvious to me when it is time have them put down. A previous response by PWIT has a wonderful link to a site that asks the pertinent questions and can help you in making a decision.

 

Unfortunately, I didn't have that link while I was going through weeks of indecision for my dog, Brady. He was a shepard mix that had seizures. At first, his seizures were mild and only occurred about once a month. The meds helped but only for a while. Within a few months the seizures came more frequent and severe.

 

In hindsight, I should have had him put down about 4-6 weeks sooner than I did because his quality of life wasn't that good. He was spending more time on IV drugs and the seizures were starting to affect his "personality" and eyesight. Plus, he couldn't control his bladder or bowels during the seizure and that was a real mess.

 

In short, I wasn't willing to face the reality of the situation. But, had used PWIT's link, I would have known when the time was right.

 

Hope your guy isn't starting in with seizures because that's an emotional roller coaster that's very difficult.

 

Good luck and follow your instincts.

[TxAlphaDog]

purplekow,

 

Tears are streaming down my face uncontrollably as I write this, my heart torn and wracked with grief. I had always imagined that my beloved dogs would grow old with me, and when the time comes, they would die peacefully in their sleep, quietly and calmly. None of my dogs went that way, and the decisions to euthanize them were absolutely the most heartwrenching decisions I've ever had to make.

 

I believe that we are not "owners" of our dogs, but are stewards, guardians, or companions during their lives with us. As such, we should have their best interests in mind, and base our decision as to when to euthanize them not on whether we are ready to let them go, but when life becomes too painful and unbearable for them, when their quality of life becomes unacceptably low. So, purplekow, I am not going to tell you that dogs are not people, for I strongly feel that our dogs are part of our families.

 

Before the first time I had to euthanize one of my dogs, I had always wondered that if I had to make the decision to euthanize, how will I know? Will my dogs tell me, and how? Will they want to keep living to be with me despite being in some discomfort, and how will they tell me? As others have responded, you will know when it is time, you will sense it, you will feel it.

 

I'm crying now because your post brought back extremely strong remembrances of the last time I had to make that painful decision. It was about a year ago, in February, when I was sent on assignment to South Africa on 2 days notice. Usually when I am on a project in the US, I take my dogs with me, allowing me to feel like I have my family with me always. On my international assignments, I cannot bring them - the logistics, the quarantines and local laws make it impossibly difficult, so I could bring my dogs with me to South Africa.

 

At that time I had two dogs, Wan-Pee ("mischeivous"), 15 1/2 years old, and Bao-Bei ("precious treasure", also "baby" as a term of endearment) who was 3 years old. During the last year of Wan-Pee's life, it was apparent to me that he was declinely. His movements were stiff, and he had back problems, his hearing was not very good, and at times he had difficulty getting around. I was starting to think that it might be time, but I wanted him to be part of the decision.

 

He had good days and some bad days, and at times when it seemed like he was in some pain or had difficulty moving, I'd ask him how he was feeling: "Wan-Pee, do you feel hurt-hurt? Do you want to go? It's OK, Wan-Pee, it's OK to let go. It's OK if life hurts too much, and you want to go. Wan-Pee's a good boy, daddy loves you so much, and want you around forever, but I understand if you don't want to fight anymore. Just let daddy know, OK?"

 

Each time he would look intently into my eyes, with a very tender expression, looking into my eyes for what seemed like a very long time. Then he would turn away, take a few very firm steps with what seemed like renewed energy and vigor, then turn and look at me again as if to say,"I can still move, I want to stay". Looking back, this was probably wishful thinking on my part. He still had a vigorous appetite, and in fact, he would eat his food AND Bao-Bei's food. I decided that as long as he had a healthy appetite and can still get around on his own, I wasn't going to end his life.

 

There were a few times when I had to go out of town for a week at at time, so I took him to his vet for boarding in order for him to be provided the best medical care in case he needed it. According to the vet, he would hold up well for 4-5 days, then start to decline. He wouldn't want to eat, he wouldn't want to stand up, but when I came back from my trip and went to pick him up, he would perk up considerably and happily walk out with me from the vet's office.

 

Wan-Pee was in some ways a needy dog, constantly wanting me affection, and it seemed like he had some abandonment issues. Wan-Pee came into my life when he was a little over a year old, so I wondered if he was left alone for long periods of time when he was a little puppy. So I'm thinking that he feels that I've abandoned him if he's at the vets for a few days and he doesn't see me. When I come get him, he seems to feel happy again that his daddy has come back for him.

 

This happened 3 -4 times, and each time, his decline was deeper and deeper, and each time I brought him home, he seems to have more and more difficulty moving around, but he still had that voracious appetite. I'd ask the vet about Wan-Pee's health each time when I picked him up, and the vet would say that he's having some difficulty moving, but otherwise seems to be in good health. He did remark on how much more perky Wan-Pee seemed when I picked him up, but he did warn me that he didn't know how long this would continue. I knew that it was almost time.

 

The next thing I knew, I was sent to South Africa for a month. I didn't have a good feeling about it because I then knew that Wan-Pee's days on earth were almost done. When I took Wan-Pee to the vet, as he was being led to the boarding kennels, he stopped and turned to look at me again, looking very tired and sad. I went over to him and gave him a big hug and rubbed his head, telling him that he was a very good boy, and that daddy would be back soon. That was the last time that I ever saw Wan-Pee.

 

After 8 days away, I got a call from my friend Nancy who was the emergency contact for me. She said that the vet wanted to talk to me immediately. Instant dread. I called the vet, who told me that Wan-Pee wasn't doing well. He wouldn't get up, he wouldn't eat. Wan-Pee was concious, just looking at the people around him, but he just won't move, even if proded. It was time. I sobbed uncontrollably, knowing that it was time, and I couldn't rush back to be with him. It takes 30 hours to get from Austin to Johannesburg, so it would not be possible for me to get back in time. I think that, between fits of sobbing, I told the vet to go ahead. Tne vet said that Wan-Pee was a great dog, one of the most loyal and lovable dogs he's ever seen. I was inconsolable, and couldn't talk anymore. The vet said he would take care of everything and that Wan-Pee would go with dignity and peace.

 

Of course, I was crying my eyes out and was thinking that Wan-Pee gave up. He gave up fighting because he thought he daddy was not coming back to take him home, that I had abandoned him. I felt incredibly guilty and broken-hearted, and I was howling and screaming and shrieking in the hotel room. I wanted to hold Wan-Pee is my arms, I want to stroke his head and tell him that it was OK, it's time to let go, and be with him until his very last breath. This was not to be.

 

My friend Nancy called and I managed to sob out to her my conversation with the vet, and crying intensely when I told her that Wan-Pee was all by himself and they were about to euthanize him. Nancy then did an incredibly act of kindness that I will never, ever forget. She asked if I wanted her to be with Wan-Pee, to hold him and caress him while the vet gave him the injection. I said, yes, yes, yes please go to be with him, and please call the vet right now to tell them that you are coming.

 

After she got to the vet, she called me again. She asked if I wanted to talk to Wan-Pee one last time. Yes, please! She told me when the cellphone was on Wan-Pee's ear. I told him that it's me, it's daddy. I didn't abandon him, that I had to go away for a while for work, and I was coming back to take him home. I told him what a good boy he's been all his life, that I loved him very much, more than anything else in the world, and that he's a very good dog. I told him how sorry I was that I was not there for him to hold him.

 

At that point I couldn't hold it anymore and burst into tears. Nancy must have heard the crying, and talked to me again. She asked if I wanted to sing to Wan-Pee. How did she know that I sang to my dogs all the time? I had special songs for each of my dogs, songs that I had made up for each dog. I sang all the Wan-Pee songs to him, I cooed to him, I told him that it was OK, and over and over again how much I loved him. I couldn't go on anymore and burst into heart-wrenching wailing again.

 

Nancy came back on the phone and told me that Wan-Pee was panting and having some difficulty breathing, his body was tense, but when I started talking to him, his ears perked up a little, he seemed to relax, his breathing becoming steady and calm, as if he recognized my voice and heard what I was saying. I couldn't talk anymore, I was beyond being able to form words with my mouth. I just cried and cried, like a parent losing his child. Well, that's exactly what it was.

 

After a few minutes, Nancy talked again. It was done. It was very calm and peaceful, she said, Wan-Pee's breathing was relaxed and quiet, and it slowed until it finally stopped. She told me to hang in there, and that she'll take care of everything, that Wan-Pee's ashes will be waiting for me when I got home.

 

I am so thankful that I had her as a friend. She allowed me to talk to Wan-Pee one last time, to tell him what a good boy he is, to let him know how much I love him, to sing to him, to coo to him. She let me know Wan-Pee's responses to my voice, and she let me feel connected to Wan-Pee one last time. Nancy is more than a friend, she is an angel.

 

I can't write anymore, I can't see the screen now through my tears. I'm sorry for this lengthy story, but it just all came out as I wrote this response. Forgive a broken-hearted old man, please. ;(

[pierrot]

I agree with the others that you will probably know when it is time. My dog could no longer stand up reliably when I decided to put her down. She was old and very weak, often confused, and possibly in pain, but definitely distressed when she would fall and couldn't get up.

So I guess look for those kinds of signs that indicate the dog is no longer functional and basically miserable.

I wouldn't think the blood you found is a sign of that yet, maybe you should figure out what it was first.

Good luck. Dogs are divine beings in my book. They've saved many a human life and we owe them big.

[Rick Munroe]

>So, purplekow, I am not going to tell you

>that dogs are not people, for I strongly feel that our dogs

>are part of our families.

 

I was going to say the same thing. My best friend from the age of 5 until 18 (when Derek replaced him...hmmm, I went from a dog to a pig) was my black Lab.

 

>I can't write anymore, I can't see the screen now through my

>tears. I'm sorry for this lengthy story, but it just all

>came out as I wrote this response. Forgive a broken-hearted

>old man, please. ;(

 

Don't apologize. That was a very honest and raw story, and I appreciated your sharing it. I had a similar experience, because my parents had to put our dog to sleep while I was away at school and I really regretted not getting the chance to say goodbye.

[+ purplekow]

I am very glad that you had that kind of relationship with your animal and hope that your other memories are much happier than the ones you shared with us.

 

Well as it turns out, the blood was from Fred's nose. He had another bleed after eating a very big meal and then with a hearty sneeze, blood was everywhere. I was able to get the bleeding stopped. That was yesterday. Today I came home and no blood. Fred didn't greet me at the door with the other two dogs. None of them barked. I came into the house and out to the back a found Fred sitting in the backyard. He had some trouble getting up and standing and for the first time, he really looked put upon by the disease. I wanted to do what was best for him and so, I walked him out the car. When I did this three weeks ago, when he looked bad, he pulled me by the leash out toward his favorite walk. This time, he stayed by the car and put his nose in. He was noticeably weaker from the short walk from the house to the car. I had to help him in the car and he lay down on the back seat. I drove him to the vet and he was barely able to walk a few steps to the front door. The people at the vet's were very kind and the end was very peaceful for both of us. I guess he did let me know, but I still wish I could have given him a bit more time. But Fred, was like some escorts, muscular, beautiful with piercing black eyes, but a clockwatcher. Time was up and he wasn't going to stay any longer.

 

Fred was a chow-Newfoundland mix. Black hair with now at 15 scant gray with a great bushy mane and black eyes and a muscular physique.

He lived in the streets for at least 2 years and eventually found his way to my yard. He lived in my neighborhood for 5 months, eluding capture but coming close enough to take food from your hand, until a neighbor said he was vicious and the ASPCA came. He was deemed unadoptable, but after some string pulling, a letter from the Mayor and a few other jumped through hoops, he lived for 13 years with me. At 15, he was still regal; a gentle giant, a great companion. I miss his basso bark of greeting already. If cloning were a real option, I would take a dozen more just like him.

 

I have never seen a purplekow;

I never hope to see one;

I can tell you anyhow;

I'd rather see than be one

Help there is a purplekow in my mirror

[+ Charlie]

I'm glad you both understood when it was time. I know how hard it is to let go of a companion you love. Unfortunately, it's not over yet--expect to be blindsided by sudden moments of grief for some time to come.

[Bart]

Dear purplekow:

First my deepest sympathies. You knew the moment, that was the important thing.

 

I faced the same thing nearly 4 years ago with my running mate. I too knew the end was near and went for comfort for him. Same thing he could not run with me for the last couple of those years. He too would have his days of youthful exhuberance. They actually diagnosed him with cancer as puppy and said maybe a year, he lived 12 good for 100lb yellow lab. Like yours it was the legs that gave out and when he could not stand up I knew that was it and off to the vet we went.

 

I had already put two dogs down earlier in my life, but this was by far the hardest. My yellow lab was my constant companion. I have a teenage son who plays sports so for now I have decided not to get another dog because I believe in giving a dog good exercise and human contact and if I am gone a lot I do not think that is fair to the pet.

I am also still not sure I want to invest my emotions in another dog either.

 

Good luck on those lonely moments when you remember your friend.

[TxAlphaDog]

my deepest condolences, purplekow. Your Fred sounds like a great loving companion, I grieve for your tremendous loss. Doesn't it seem like your home is a bit empty and quiet now?

 

[+ purplekow]

Thanks to all that offered comfort.

And as Bob Barker would say spay and neuter your pets.

 

I have never seen a purplekow;

I never hope to see one;

I can tell you anyhow;

I'd rather see than be one

 

Help there is a purplekow in my mirror

[Guest zipperzone]

RE: HELP

 

>Physical Signs: body is usually cool to the touch, lots of

>time spent sleeping, person appears confused, incontinence,

>congestion, restlessness, urine decrease, decrease in eating

>and drinking, irregular breathing.

 

Oh my God - guess it's time to put-down RockHard. He displays all of the above symptoms and his seizures are occuring with even greater regularity. Where is Dr. Kevorkian when you need him

[Guest PWIT]

RE: HELP

 

>Oh my God - guess it's time to put-down RockHard. He displays

>all of the above symptoms and his seizures are occuring with

>even greater regularity.

 

Hmmm.....putting 2 and 2 together....we now know you have been seeing RH on the side. All this playful chatter between you two is just for show! :+

[MichiganMan]

To Dog Owners Everywhere: A Dog's Plea

Treat me kindly, my beloved friend for no heart in all this world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

 

Do not break my spirit with a stick for though I should lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.

 

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail, when your footsteps fall upon my waiting ear.

 

Please take me inside when it is cold and wet for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements.

 

I ask no greater glory than to have the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

 

Keep my pan filled with water for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.

 

Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, wiliing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger.

 

And my friend, when I am old and no longer enjoy good health and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going, I am not having fun.

 

Please see that my trusting life is taken gently.

 

I shall leave this earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.