Agonising decision - hugs needed, please

[doglover]

I posted a week or so ago about our senile, incontinent dog - knowing that his time was probably close. We've been keeping him going and he's generally ok in spirits. However, we're going on holiday on 6th August and I'm desperately worried that he'll not be here on our return. Our 2 dogs are staying with friends and it seems such a big 'ask' to expect them to cope with all his health ailments and possible demise. Our vet is completely fab - she's supportive of our dilemma - but wants us to be aware of our other dog's feelings, too. She's suggested that if we do decide to have him pts then it should be this week to give Maggie time to adjust to his absence before leaving her to go away. God, what an awful dilemma. Any views welcome - I fully understand that there are no easy answers.

Just over 3 years ago, we left our seemingly healthy 14 year old dog with relatives while we went abroad for 2 weeks. At the end of our first week, we received a text to say he was seriously ill, he'd suffered multiple organ failure. The vet advised pts but we refused as we hadn't got to say goodbye and it was hard to accept as he was fine 7 days earlier. Our dog was being kept alive with tablets but he couldn't be walked due to his weak heart. He could hardly breathe due to fluid on the lungs and our poor relatives were watching him 24 hours a day just to make him comfortable.
When we realised how poorly he was, we gave permission to pts and never got to see him again

You have the chance to be with your dog at the end (if you want to), you also have the chance to prevent him suffering and it also takes away the pressure from your dog sitters.

It will be hard but it really does sound like the kindest thing to do.

Had my poor 15 yr old collie pts with similar problems to yours a few years ago, I now have a four year old dog with terminal cancer, he's doing ok at the moment but I've talked to my vet alot, she's lovely and I've known her for years, she gave me the advice that a dog doesn't worry whether it lives for 2mths or 2 yrs as long as its not miserable, I've also been advised that its better to let them go a few days too soon, than a few days too late, this is the advice we'll be taking with my dog, I hope this might help your decision. Its a horrible time for you, you have my sympathy.

(oh no LittleB i remember your thread about you dog being sent to a specialist. so sorry to hear its terminal)

Thanks chick, although he had his lump removed it was one of the worst types of cancer, and had already spread to lymph nodes and caused stomach ulcers, they gave him 3mths to live about 1.5mths ago, hes doing ok though, has lost muscle, but still got good appetite and can enjoy shorter walks, lots of medication but still enjoying life.

Appointment tomorrow at 3pm. We'll give Harley all we can tonight and tomorrow. Our gorgeous, gorgeous boy.

Thinking of you. Not much else I can say, except to send a few unMNhugs.

{{hugs}}

Thinking of you.

Oh this is so sad.

FWIW I think you are doing the right thing. If you did wait until after your holiday you might only have a couple of days with him and he would have spent a few of those beforehand without you.

I hope it all goes peacefully tomorrow.

Thinking of you and sending hugs to you and gorgeous Harley. x

I'm thinking of you, sending you {{hugs}}.

sending you huge big hugs :( will be thinking of you and Harley tomorrow

Thank you, everyone. Can't stop crying but don't want Harley to sense my pain. xx

I feel your pain. It is the hardest thing to do. ((hugs))

Sending hugs. This will be the hardest and bravest thing you could do. The only constructive suggestion I can make is to email everyone who knew him soon after you let him go. I found this helped me as I didn't then have to deal with telling people individually and also we had so many messages saying what a great dog he had been. Will be thinking of you. X

DL - I'm sorry, it's so hard. We did the same for our beloved spaniel a few years ago, she'd had one eye out after an infection and the other started going and didn't respond to treatment = she was 18 - and had her pts at home a few days before we went away. We felt that being in a different environment although she'd been there lots of times, when she couldn't see properly and was in pain wasn't fair. It's horrible at the time, but you are doing the right thing by Harley and he won't be in pain or distress any more.

Thanks to you all. We're off to vets in half an hour. Harley and I are cuddled together on sofa, sharing a packet of biscuits. It's a lovely peaceful time which I'm tremendously grateful for. xxxx

. So sorry to hear this. My old boy is similar- 16 yo, incontinent and senile, but seems pretty happy at the moment, although I know deep down the time can't be far off. my heart goes out to you and I hope it goes well for you this afternoon x

Oh doglover, my heart is breaking for you. Hope it all goes as well as possible. You are in my thoughts.

Thinking of you xx

Oh doglover I am so very very sorry.
I hope I can be as brave as you when I face this decision. I have a 7yr old collie and a 12 year old mutt . I love them both but mutt-girl is the dog of my heart.
Sobbing.

So Sorry.

((hugs))

Big hugs to you all

So sorry to hear about Harley but pleased for him that he went without pain. Huge hugs to you all.