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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

The doghouse

When to put dog to sleep

27 replies

Lushmetender · 24/10/2017 20:09

My dog is 10.5 years old, cocker spaniel. Vet told us he thinks its kidney failure. He is really sick and been told to prepare for the worse. His blood tests have improved a little on the drip but he is very ill. A slight improvement from this morning to this evening but still not able to pick himself up or to lift his head for long (slight wag of the tail when he saw us but not himself). The vet seems very much of opinion that we should let him go. We've left it another night to see if we can bring him home. But I want to be 100% sure it's the right decision but clearly don't want him to suffer if he has no quality of life. Any thoughts?

OP posts:

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Santawontbelong · 24/10/2017 20:11

Isn't the saying better a day early than a day late?

BiteyShark · 24/10/2017 20:28

Sorry OP, it does sound like it's the time but they mean so much to us it's very hard. for you.

shakeyourcaboose · 24/10/2017 20:30

Very very sad but I agree with Santas advice. Am so sorry.

SummatFishyEre · 24/10/2017 20:30

The saying is better a week too early than a day too late. What are your dogs realistic chances of recovery? Will bringing him home cause him pain? To be honest if the vet was recommending I put him down I'd assume it was for a good reason
for you op it's such a tough decision to have to make

shakeyourcaboose · 24/10/2017 20:31

Very very sad but I agree with Santas advice. Am so sorry.

monkeywithacowface · 24/10/2017 20:31

I think it's time to let him go as hard as it is

SecretNutellaFix · 24/10/2017 20:34

I think it's time.

When my old girl had cancer and she was in her final days, she would relax when she saw us, but it was so much effort for her to raise her head or thump her tail. She had no quality of life and was in pain.

mineofuselessinformation · 24/10/2017 20:39

When they're not enjoying life anymore, it's time to let them go.
Our pets are so lucky that we can make that last kind choice for them.

MyGirlDaisy · 24/10/2017 20:44

I really feel for you because it's a difficult call, especially if they rally a bit. My mum had to let her dog go a couple of years ago, (greyhound) she had bone cancer -we thought it was time but she improved for a day or two but then stopped eating and we just took one look at her and knew. It was a very quick and peaceful end and of course we were heartbroken but it was the right thing to do. If your vet is of the opinion it's time to say goodbye then I would be guided by that, I also agree with what Santa says about a day too early, so sorry for you though.

Lushmetender · 24/10/2017 21:37

I do understand all you are saying and we will not prolong the agony. I just want to ensure we are making the right decision. To put it into context a week ago he was a happy dog apart from a sore paw. Took him to vets last wed who treated him symptomatically and sent him home with antibiotics and painkiller. He perked up and was eating again and only went downhill on Sunday so we waited till Monday but they admitted him. He just hasn't made any improvement that would give him old quality of life but it all seems so clinical doing it at the vets. The vet said there was improvement but only a short term solution. Primed the kids today and just want to see if any improvement in the morning. If not then it will be tomorrow- but if I can bring hi home to do it I'd prefer that. Very hard! 😭

OP posts:

SummatFishyEre · 24/10/2017 22:57

If you can have him moved home without causing him any pain (according to the vet) and get the vet to do it there then I would, if it will help your family. If it will cause the dog any pain or distress I would let him slip away at the vets

Muse84 · 25/10/2017 03:15

Hi I'm really sorry to hear that you're going through this. I'm a vet and while I don't know the specifics of your dog's case, i just wanted to give my opinion that you would almost certainly be doing the right thing. Kidney failure can appear to happen really suddenly (as you described), and it makes the dog (or cat) feel really awful unless constantly medicated - it causes nausea many amongst other things which really impacts immediate quality of life. I know your decision will be in your dog's very best interests, as hard as it may be. My thoughts are with you

olliegarchy99 · 25/10/2017 06:30

Do have him at home when he is PTS - he will slip away with you all there and that will be the last thing he will see. It breaks your heart but it is what is best for him.
I am still grieving for doing the right thing for my lovely lurcher who was PTS 12 weeks ago . He knew I was there as I stroked him but could not help him get out of his pain.

Lucisky · 25/10/2017 08:45

My old Yorkie went from being okay to a state of collapse very quickly. I went to see her and she was in a similar state to your dog. I had her pts, and it was very quick as she already had a line in. To see a previously active dog prostate with pain was terrible, and I just couldn't see her suffer any more. I would have had her done at home, but she was in no condition for a car ride.
It is probably time op.

olliegarchy99 · 25/10/2017 09:15

lucy - I agree if a car journey is out of the question so long as you are there and he knows you are, is what is important regardless of the location. My first lurcher was PTS at the vets as she went downhill very fast and the diagnosis was bad so there was no option but to do it there (a car ride home would have been too much for her).

Lushmetender · 25/10/2017 11:54

Well the dog was PTS at the vets this
Morning. He still had a waggy tail for me and my 9 year old son wanted to see him one last time. We have another dog the same age so it's strange going from two to one. It is very sad.🐶 Supposed to be working but hard to concentrate

OP posts:

BiteyShark · 25/10/2017 12:00

So sorry OP, you did the best thing for him right up to the end

olliegarchy99 · 25/10/2017 12:01

so sorry - it will hurt for a long time but it is the kindest thing to do for our beloved dogs.

AnUtterIdiot · 25/10/2017 14:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StandardPoodle · 25/10/2017 18:15

I am so sorry.
It takes a lot of courage to make the decision to have a dog PTS but from what you say it was entirely the right decision.
It is so hard isn't it.

Argeles · 25/10/2017 18:32

I’m so sorry to hear of your news.

I am of the opinion that whilst this country refuses to euthanise people, I would refuse to euthanise any pet of mine. Even if they changed that law, I don’t think I would euthanise a pet.

I hate the attitude in this country that we are expected to euthanise our beloved animals, yet if it was your ‘dear old Auntie Joan’ suffering from the same illness, everything would be done to keep her alive - no matter how much pain she was in.

Do not be coerced into anything by your Vet - your dog is your pet, and you should make all the decisions and not be made to feel guilty.

God forbid I was in the same position as you, I would keep him at home with me, and allow him to ‘pass’ when it is his time. My family and I have done this with pets in the past, and it’s what I think I’d always do.

I wish you all the best in this dreadfully dark time

BiteyShark · 25/10/2017 18:40

Argeles read the thread before commenting.

OP you did the best thing for him and he is no longer in pain.

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olliegarchy99 · 25/10/2017 18:46

Argeles - that is fine in theory but it would be cruel to keep a dog alive who is obviously in pain because he/she will 'pass' in their own time
I think vets will do everything they can but my 14 year old lurcher collapsed at home, in pain, trying to get out and biting his tongue so I called the vet who said she could see if there was any treatment but she felt it was unlikely to help. We all feel a since of guilt about having our dogs PTS but it is really kinder for them when the quality of life is so diminished.

SummatFishyEre · 25/10/2017 18:48

God forbid I was in the same position as you, I would keep him at home with me, and allow him to ‘pass’ when it is his time. My family and I have done this with pets in the past, and it’s what I think I’d always do.

That is horrendously cruel and I really hope you don't have any pets

OK you did the right thing for your poor dog for you

Oops4 · 25/10/2017 19:07

Argeles perhaps you should take the time to read the thread before commenting.

You can't make that comparison, people understand what is happening, dogs don't. We don't euthanise people but we do withdraw treatment when it is futile and "allow" them to die. Which can be awful. Why you would choose to watch an animal suffer when they have no comprehension of what is happening rather then let them go peacefully is beyond me. It's a very selfish attitude to have. If you believe in allowing them to pass at their own time I'm assuming you wouldn't opt for life prolonging treatments either?

I'm really sorry for you loss OP

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