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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to get dog put to sleep.

98 replies

YourAWizzard · 30/09/2019 17:05

Basically, I have a pet dog who is almost 12 years old. Max has been a family members pet but has been with me for 6 months. He has not been properly cared for previously, not up to date with vets or walked/ fed appropriately.

Anyway, he has been with me for 6 months, and upon taking him the vet, there is a lot of treatment he needs. Firstly, the expense is just too much for me. But, also due to his age and health needs, I just feel it’s too much. The vet wants to operate to remove an eye, he has arthritis so cannot walk much, he has IBS so his poos are really runny. He needs an ultrasound on his tummy to investigate what’s going on as his tummy is very hard and bloated. He often ‘fits’ and his tongue turns blue until he comes out of it. I really want to do right by him but I feel so bad to consider putting him to sleep even though it was offered by his vet due to all of the care he needs.

What would you do? How do you know what’s for the best?

OP posts:

sdb1hcs · 30/09/2019 21:03

Vets do home visits for pts.

I think you've already made your choice, OP. The vet already suggested it, you said. I know it's sad, but I believe you share the good and bad times with your pets. It is a pity you didn't get a little longer together, though.

Ohmygod123 · 30/09/2019 21:04

Try putting him on a raw food diet or if you can't handle the raw meat.. Then a diet of plain cooked chicken, rice and veg and see if that stops the IBS. It's slightly more expensive but usually kibble and canned food cause issues when dogs have allergies. My dog had problems with hives and runny bum, changed to raw food and he was good as new.
There are vets out there that will do a payment plan. Or maybe you can start a just giving page?

Itallt0omuch · 30/09/2019 21:08

I agree with everything that ThatLibraryMiss said.

countrygirl99 · 30/09/2019 21:09

With an animal that is suffering PTS is the ultimate act of love

Itallt0omuch · 30/09/2019 21:09

Ohmygod123

How will a raw diet help the dog's eye problem, arthritis and fitting?

yorkshirecountrylass · 30/09/2019 21:15

Hugs OP, not an easy decision but you are certainly not doing him a disservice by PTS. An operation to remove an eye will require a general anaesthetic which is risky in an older dog before you even consider the recovery. He has bowel issues - are these confirmed IBS that he's had all his life (or at least most of it?) or something more recent which may suggest something is causing it? Same goes for the fitting, and the hardening around his abdomen. Give him some extra hugs and cuddles, spoil him rotten and then let him go knowing what love is. Better a month too soon than a day too late. I speak from experience having done both.

frugalkitty · 30/09/2019 21:29

When I had to take one of our cats to be PTS the lovely vet said to me, it's always better to take them one day too early than one day too late. You sound like a lovely owner OP, you'll know when the time is right

CareBlair · 30/09/2019 21:39

I am a huge animal lover and if it was unfortunately the happiest/best option for him I think YANBU, however I don't think you can make that decision without knowing what his life will be like living with his illnesses, trying other avenues if they are available and what treatments there are, what the cause of his illness les could be etc. My mum cared for a rescue dog who was blind and diabetic and she was loving and happy until the end of her life, and charities did help with medical care so that is worth looking into as others have suggested.

So I would take vets opinion and more info on what is wrong/treatment available.

I know it is expensive and if it were your pet i think definitely YABU but it is not a case of you choosing to have a dog so that makes it hard, I still agree though that you have accepted the responsibility and with that becomes a financial responsibility. Have you tried asking the original owner/family members for help too?

Drogosnextwife · 30/09/2019 21:40

God people can be so ridiculous sometimes. This poor dog is having a shit life (due to ailments, not you OP. You sound as though you are doing as much as you can) the dog has no idea he is being PTS, it's much kinder than putting the poor old dog through the trauma of surgery, recovery (if he does recover) scans, possible blood tests, not to mention the op will have to spend a fortune, and for what another year or 2 for the dog to live? OP have the poor dog PTS and end its suffering.

pinkstripeycat · 30/09/2019 21:54

He doesn’t sound like he has much quality of life. Maybe seek a second vets opinion at another surgery as it seems a bit odd this vet is happy to investigate the dogs ailments when he is so old

Jocasta2018 · 30/09/2019 21:54

In my experience, vets don't suggest PTS on a whim. If the vet is talking about it rather than lots of treatments then I'd follow his advice.
If you go the PTS route, make sure you're with him. Vets always say that the pets, especially dogs, spend their last moments looking for their owners. He might've only been with you for six months but give him a loving farewell.

coastergirl · 30/09/2019 22:22

I would put him to sleep at this stage. It's about quality of life. I totally get how hard it is. I had to make this decision about my 9 year old rabbit recently. It was awful. I possibly should have done it sooner. But there came a day when I just had to. It broke my heart, but it really helped me that the vet said I'd done the right thing. Love to you.

Aprillygirl · 30/09/2019 22:33

What breed is Max OP? I ask because 12 is quite a good age for a large breed dog anyway, and I think with all his ailments it really would be better for him to be put to sleep. He's already been through an upheaval recently and I think a peaceful death would be far kinder than putting him through several operations/procedures that you can ill afford and may make no difference to his quality of life anyway. Whatever you decide, make sure you continue to spoil that sweet boy with as much love as you can, and know that you have done your very best by him

Oysterbabe · 30/09/2019 22:35

I'd PTS.

thesnapandfartisinfallible · 30/09/2019 22:36

Even without the ultrasound I wouldn't put a dog of that age through surgery. I think PTS would be the kinder option to be honest.

Jamalammer · 02/10/2019 10:01

We just went through the same thing with our 12 year old much loved dog. Hardest decision we ever had to make, but ultimately for the best. Our vet said it was better to do it now before he deteriorated even more and his quality of life went even worse. Massive sympathies to you for the decision ahead.

calmalamadown · 02/10/2019 10:40

To rephrase. Should I put down an old dog with a myriad of medical conditions that's suffering.

Yes. In your shoes I would.

calmalamadown · 02/10/2019 10:44

As the saying goes, better a day too soon than a day too late.

Blueoasis · 02/10/2019 11:31

Christ the posters on the first page saying that yabu are stupid, don't listen to them op. I'm not even sure why you needed to clarify his problems, its bloody obvious the poor dog is suffering.

He probably has cancer in his stomach. He can't walk. He has fits. He's half blind. So what these people want you to do is remove an eye under GA, then put him under again for an ultrasound. Then put him on medication to clear the cancer or yet another GA for an operation to remove the mass. Then you're possibly left with a half blind dog that still can't walk, still has fits, and still has cancer because that won't go away. And that's if he doesn't die on the table.

Yanbu op. Put him to sleep. The people who say to keep him alive are ridiculous and have literally no idea what they are talking about. This is how poor animals suffer.

krustykittens · 02/10/2019 11:57

I would also PTS, OP. I don't think it is fair to put an elderly animal through so many invasive procedures and still have poor quality of life at the end of it. That's if he even survives the procedures. It is heartbreaking when it is not a cut and dry question. if it was, you wouldn't be asking on here. I recently had to get one of our pets put down. I KNEW it was her time but kept trying to talk myself round. When I called the vet to come and check on her and confirm it, I even said, "I'm probably over-reacting but could you come and see?" I desperately wanted my vet to laugh at me and say, "Here's some pills, she will run about for a few years yet." I was devastated to be told I was right and so guilty when it turned out she had deteriorated even more than I realised. No decent vet will advise PTS if it not the best thing for their patient, I am so sorry.

EvenPhilip · 02/10/2019 12:35

@Blueoasis the first page posters, the animal lovers
Yeh right

EleanorReally · 02/10/2019 12:40

the vet suggested it,
it might be kinder op

Oliversmumsarmy · 02/10/2019 12:44

I think a lot of his ailments are treatable with pills and diet but the fits and stomach might be something more sinister.

We had a cat who had the hard stomach and diarrhoea and it turned out she needed a change of diet rather than anything else.

Also did have a dog who couldn’t eat dried food it made her so ill.

I would want to investigate exactly what was wrong rather then make my decision

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