My dog is dying should I let DD see him

[THK]

DD is 7 and although mature for her age I worry what to do for the best.
The family dog is at the dog hospital and has cancer. Being old and with diabetes he is too sick for a tumor operation.We have been advised putting him to sleep this week would be the kindest option.
I prefer to include DD by letting her visit him the day before he is put to sleep. DH disagrees and says we should just tell her he died in the night to avoid the stress knowing we had to put the dog to sleep may cause. She loves the dog dearly.
What would you do?

"DH disagrees and says we should just tell her he died in the night to avoid the stress knowing we had to put the dog to sleep may cause. She loves the dog dearly.'

Let her say good bye to the dog, it will help the grieving process. When I was your child's age, my dog went into the vets, and after a few days, my parents told me that he had died. You can't imagine the outrage and grief I felt at not being allowed to say good bye to him, I cried far more than if I had been given the chance to understand why it was better for him to go.

I agree that is not the best idea to go to the vets. let her say good bye and then let her wait in reception on her own (or even with someone!) perhaps what I would do would be to take her to say good bye and then go home. Obviously, one of the adults can return later to stay with the dog while he is falling "asleep".

how sadsorry about your dog

we had to have our dog pts when ds1 was about 6-7. we told him she was going to go live on a farm. i dont know why we decided to tell him that, i wish now we had of just told him the truth to start with, he hasnt forgotten she went away and has always wanted to go visit her.
So i realise your dp says tell her your dog passed in their sleep, but it may end upcoming out and its just easier to tell the truth to start with.

the dog we had when i was about 13 ws very ill and i actually saw my Dad taking her to the vets to be put to sleep. I didnt know thats where they were going and remember waving madly to the car . When my Mum told me where they had went i was distraught and would have done anything to be able to see her one last time to give her a kiss and a cuddle so sorry for your s

Go with the truth.

Children are more accepting of death than we adults think if explained to them in simple terms.

My cat got run down by a car outside our home and my father decided not to tell me, rather pretend that the cat ran away from home. When I found out, I put a flower at the spot to say the goodbye I was denied, and despised my father for being a coward than dealing with the emotional fallout of telling me.

Welling up reading these stories

When our labrador died, about 11 years ago now, he was 13, and had to have an operation, so my granddad took him to the vet. The vet, while there, decided poor Ben wouldn't survive the procedure, and my granddad made the decision to have him put down.

I was very upset, as obviously, I thought he'd be coming back again after the operation. I think I was about 9 at the time, maybe a couple of years younger, I'm not so sure. I did feel like I didn't get the chance to say goodbye, but I understand the decision had to be made for his benefit.

Around that age, I also saw a lady, while we were at the vet's, slide onto the floor and cuddle her dog, after it'd been put down, in that final phase, it was a very sad thing to see as a child, but that woman loved her dog so much, she wanted the dog to know she was there right to the end, and when Ben was put down, it gave me some comfort that there was a family member there with him at the end.

Tell your DD the truth, and let her make the decision as to what she wants to do.

My mum told me, aged 12ish, when we were on the way to school that our family fog was going to be put down that day. So I had no chance to say goodbye.

I was gutted and found it v hard to deal with at the time - I knew he was old and ill, but had no proper chance to say goodbye.

Perhaps give her the choice? I know she's younger, but she will have the opportunity if she wants it then.

so sorry about your dog.
very sad reading this thread as a dog owner i know i most likely have this to come at some point.

DD adores our dog. But i would tell her the truth. I dont see how i couldnt. Id probably say something along the lies of kormachameleon.

I know that i wont be in any fit state to lie or brush over it and it will help dd to understand why im so upset too.

again, really really sorry for you