I think I need to have my dog put to sleep?

[Milosmum19]

I know this is the wrong place , but please I need some advice and I’m expecting a call from the vet .

My 8 year old staffie has had seizures for the last 3 years . They have gradually become medication resistant and I was warned the combination of the two lots of pills he’s on now is pretty much his last hope And I needed to prepare myself . He’s suffered multiple health problems over the years, but he is the loyalist, loveliest , kindest, softest dog imaginable and I’ve spent thousands keeping him healthy (he’s classed as uninsurable) .
However the medication has only been controlling the seizures to fortnightly, each getting worse in strength and the time it takes him to come round and to return to himself.
This mornings started around 4 woken up by his screams I went downstairs to him. Usually my company calms him, he just needs me to sit and talk calmly , stroke him and he’s fine . I’ve noticed with previous fits he is becoming more aggressive, but as long as I was alone I was able to manage him and he would calm for me .
Not today , I genuinely found myself very very scared. His whole demeanour was that of a different dog, he was using his body to try and intimidate me , forcing me in to a corner and there was no recognition whatsoever . I had to grab a bag of treats and every time he came close throw one to the other side of the room . He tried to attack my crated other dog , and this went on till 7 am when he finally seemed himself and came towards me and laid at my feet.
I know people might say leave him in a room alone , we tried that when he first started having them and it made his distress worse and he ended up seriously hurting himself .

I know this is my responsibility and I couldn’t bear him hurting someone else , but the thought of putting him to sleep breaks my heart?
Can anyone give me some advice please

So so sorry you find yourself facing this. My lovely vet reminded me that the kindest gift I could give my old boy was a loving parting in safe surroundings.

I think this decision is the last responsibility of a dog owner. All their lives we take the responsibility of feeding, walking, caring for them, and at the end we need to take the final responsibility of making the hardest decision of all at the right time. I have been there several times myself and I know how hard it is, but as we have acted for the best for our dogs all through their lives, we have to do it now too. It is very hard but it sounds like it is time to let him go.

Oh OP he is gorgeous but you are doing the right thing just so sad for you x

Hey OP. I'm so sorry you're going through this.

I've purposely not RTFT as I think the replies will make me cry. I get very upset with this sort of conversation.

Having your darling pet PTS is so, so hard. Like you I was teetering on the edge of was I giving up too soon? / prolonging her pain for my own selfish reasons of not wanting to let her go?

My girl was 17, she'd been ill for three years. But still hassled me for walks and fuss, so still enjoyed life and carried on.

She started having fits too, each one longer and taking longer to recover from. It was heartbreaking to witness as I held her until it stopped and she was back with us.

One day she had a huge fit in my arms and stopped breathing. I was so shocked that I shook her, screaming. She coughed and slowly came back round. But the spark in her eyes had gone. I knew right there she'd now had enough.

Making the call was so hard. Couldn't get the words out, the receptionist guessed. Booked it for that afternoon before I could change my mind.

We paid extra for a home visit as the surgery only had bad connotations / memories for her. Didn't want her to be stressed.

Next four hours until vet arrived, we cooked some steak and fed her that and cheese, groomed her, cuddled her and talked to her.

The vet put her to sleep in the garden she loved, while we held her and whispered into each ear a big thank you for being our dog for 10 years.

That was 10 years ago. I've two more rescue dogs now, aged 10 and 12.

I'm welling up typing this. But what I'm trying to say is that you'll know when it's time and to consider a stress free experience into the next world if you can. As much as we miss our girl, her passing and the hours leading up to it were just right, in the circumstances.

Good luck. You obviously love your dog very much. This is the hardest part of having pets.