Letting your dog die naturally versus putting them down (clean, spaniel, stomach)
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If there's ever a time when a dog should ever be put to sleep,it's when they are diseased and/or suffering in pain and the quality of there life is dimished so that they can't physically get about and may even be depressed.
Anything other than that,and for someone to even suggest it,is both cruel,inhumane and unthinkable.
It is so important to spend time with the body afterwards. So often we are numbly escorted out of the office. It all comes as a shock and then later the grief comes in giant tsunami waves.
When human loved ones die, we get to spend time with the body. It is a normal part of the grieving process. We need time to see goodbye, hold the pet in our arms, and see that they are at peace.
I held my kitty at the vet's office when it was her time to go. It's been more than a year and my feelings are still mixed up with feeling guilty for not doing more or noticing sooner and just plain missing my good friend. My rational mind tells me that it was the right thing to do when she could no longer eat and began to grow weaker before my eyes. But my emotional side tells me there was all kinds of modern medicine to keep her going...but would that be for my benefit or hers?
She lived a good life of pampering, treats, hunting chipmunks and mice and antagonizing the dog.
I did my best.
Our dogs have given their lives to us with unconditional love and companionship. To allow them to suffer because we can't let go yet is beyond cruel. After all they have given us through out their life it is our duty to send them to the rainbow bridge with dignity and not let them linger in pain and confusion. Remember they will be waiting for you.
Each pet owner should think about this PRIOR to commiting to being a pet owner and make plans and commitments to your pet.
The last dog I had put down was done on my farm and my vet came and did it and he is buried here. I will be facing these decisions again soon with both an elderly cat and dog. They both have slowed down considerably over the last year, they were both rescues and are now in their late teens. I've already made arrangements for a neighbor to come dig a hole with his front end loader and my vet will come to put them down when the time comes.
My horse trainer gave me some really good advice that all these decisions should be made long before the time is near and have a plan in place.
Our dogs have given their lives to us with unconditional love and companionship. To allow them to suffer because we can't let go yet is beyond cruel.
I never said allow them to suffer. And in many cases, they may not be suffering as much as we think. It's just painful to watch any animal die. But their experience may be different.
We must always know a few things. Every pet is different and every owner different. Too many times everyone says to let the dog go till it does not eat or drink.
I had a GSD that ate her way through some of her worst painful times after surgery. For her to show pain, it would have had to be beyond what should be acceptable and she still would have drank or eaten.
We as humans are not like pets. We live with a vision of the future. They live with a view of the present. As we put them through massive treatments to try and extend their lives fighting cancer or some other incurable disease, they do not see that. They do not see that all this treatment or discomfort is an effort to try and restore or maintain some quality of life.
They only see that they dont feel well, that vet visits are painful or uncomfortable and that they cannot play like they want. I knew this when our GSD growled for the first time in her life when she saw the vet that had done all the examinations on her inoperable tumor two days before. Why would I want to continue to subject her to this in the hopes of extending her life when such would in reality be for me to have her around longer.
Everyone can tell you when it is right ir not right timing to put your pet to sleep or let them die naturally and in the end it should mean nothing. Only you know your pet. Only you know how they feel pain and only you know when it is time to let them go and how.
Om my last day with my labrador, where I waited too long, I had to carry a shell of an animal into the vets office after she spent two days not eating, drinking, standing and throwing up. My last times with her were spent in the back yard trying to feed water through her mouth and use droppers to put baby food in her mouth watching her suffer and beg for it to end.
On my last day with my GSD, who had been diagnosed with an inoperable malignant tumor that was already causing her discomfort and pain and bleeding where there was swelling, we had a slow walk in the park, shared her favorite snack on the couch, took a car ride together, where although she did not stand anymore to bark, she barked the best should could at people that walked by. She was still my girl. She came into the room and licked my face...she loved me and I loved her. She sat down on my lap and quietly allowed the vet to inject the medicine. She then lay her head in the crook of my arm while I whispered into her ear and sobbed onto her head. She then passed away not in ultimate suffering and pain, but surrounded by love and the growing pain going away.
Again, in the end, no one can or should tell you what is right for you. Every pet is different. Every owner is different. And in the end, no one can heal your heart when it is over, only you can
My pit, Dakota had Cushings Disease and severe arthritis. She lived to the ripe age of 10 years which is a long life span for a purebred pit. We did everything possible for her up to her getting a shot each week to help with the arthritis. The vet had told us this was the last thing she could do for her since we had tried various medications that only worked so long. It got costly but she was given every chance as we wanted her to have.
One morning she could not get up; I helped her by lifting her hind quarters which she would then get her back legs going. That particular day she could not even stand; she laid there and I saw the "look" in her eyes which told me she had given up and could go on no longer. Any animal lover would be able to recognize the look they get. It broke my heart but we took her to the vet to have her put to sleep. We stayed right there; I talked to her, hugged her, told her how I loved her and kissed her head and when she was gone, I cried my heart out. That was several years ago. No, I will not let my animals suffer; as painful as it is, I will take them to the vet to end their life in peace and without pain.
Enough typing since I am now tearing up; how I miss her and all my others that have passed on.
Well, would you rather die in your bed with those you love around you, or would you like to die on a stainless steel table in a vet's office with a bunch of barking dogs in the background?
In the case of severe pain and suffering I would let the vet help my pet out of the world.
Well, would you rather die in your bed with those you love around you, or would you like to die on a stainless steel table in a vet's office with a bunch of barking dogs in the background?
In the case of severe pain and suffering I would let the vet help my pet out of the world.
I agree. While I think that euthanasia is overused, there are instances in which it is more humane to euth: when the animal's quality of life is so low that it really is the best alternative. In fact, I think that people and their--especially the terminally ill--should also have the option.
Your post got me to thinking... do vets make euth house calls?
We must always know a few things. Every pet is different and every owner different. Too many times everyone says to let the dog go till it does not eat or drink.
I had a GSD that ate her way through some of her worst painful times after surgery. For her to show pain, it would have had to be beyond what should be acceptable and she still would have drank or eaten.
We as humans are not like pets. We live with a vision of the future. They live with a view of the present. As we put them through massive treatments to try and extend their lives fighting cancer or some other incurable disease, they do not see that. They do not see that all this treatment or discomfort is an effort to try and restore or maintain some quality of life.
They only see that they dont feel well, that vet visits are painful or uncomfortable and that they cannot play like they want. I knew this when our GSD growled for the first time in her life when she saw the vet that had done all the examinations on her inoperable tumor two days before. Why would I want to continue to subject her to this in the hopes of extending her life when such would in reality be for me to have her around longer.
Everyone can tell you when it is right ir not right timing to put your pet to sleep or let them die naturally and in the end it should mean nothing. Only you know your pet. Only you know how they feel pain and only you know when it is time to let them go and how.
Om my last day with my labrador, where I waited too long, I had to carry a shell of an animal into the vets office after she spent two days not eating, drinking, standing and throwing up. My last times with her were spent in the back yard trying to feed water through her mouth and use droppers to put baby food in her mouth watching her suffer and beg for it to end.
On my last day with my GSD, who had been diagnosed with an inoperable malignant tumor that was already causing her discomfort and pain and bleeding where there was swelling, we had a slow walk in the park, shared her favorite snack on the couch, took a car ride together, where although she did not stand anymore to bark, she barked the best should could at people that walked by. She was still my girl. She came into the room and licked my face...she loved me and I loved her. She sat down on my lap and quietly allowed the vet to inject the medicine. She then lay her head in the crook of my arm while I whispered into her ear and sobbed onto her head. She then passed away not in ultimate suffering and pain, but surrounded by love and the growing pain going away.
Again, in the end, no one can or should tell you what is right for you. Every pet is different. Every owner is different. And in the end, no one can heal your heart when it is over, only you can
I couldn't even have read your post a few months ago, and even now it brings misted eyes. Now, with my 7 month old pug buddy sleeping on my lap, life is full with the anticipation of years of companionship to come. A year ago it was another story. Two dogs lost to cancer, and just months apart.
I tell myself that when time comes, I won't wait too long to do what I need to do. But I've already done that twice in years past. It's so hard but ultimately you do your duty as guardian of your companion. These are deep, and raw, and private matters that are worked out as they unfold.....In recognizing those times when I should have made that final veterinary appointment sooner, I have to forgive my self a wee bit. I really tried to do my best.
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