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The doghouse

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

Original poster

not being contraversial but why do we put dogs to sleep?

37 replies

AllergicToNutters · 07/03/2012 09:16

My heart aches for those dog/cat owners in this position and for the pets who have got to that point that they need to be euthanised, but why do we not let nature takes its course? I'm not suggesting we should, but I am genuinely unsure as to why we make that decision for them.

OP posts:
ChickensHaveNoLips · 07/03/2012 09:21

For me, it's to reduce suffering. Nature taking its course might take weeks of pain, deterioration, and misery. If you know your pet can't get better, if it's truly hopeless and you love your animal, then you do the responsible and kind thing, imo. Think about it, if an animal can't walk for example, it will get sores, not be able to toilet itself, maybe not eat. So nature would dictate that the animal slowly starves, or gets infections and dies. I'd much rather take that animal to the vet and have its suffering ended. But then I feel the same way about people in unimaginable pain and suffering. There is no kindness in letting any living thing suffer when there is no hope.

tabulahrasa · 07/03/2012 09:26

Because the alternative is to leave them suffering a longer drawn out death.

My last dog had cancer on his front leg, in a place where the only way to remove it would be to remove his leg. He was elderly and had arthritis in his back legs so it wasn't an option.

He was fine on painkillers for a while, but the lump was clearly tender and steadily grew. One day the skin covering it burst and it was very obviously painful, I had him pts then. If he hadn't been, I'd have been letting him continue in a lot of pain, with an open wound which wasn't going to heal over - having him pts was much kinder IMO

VivaLeBeaver · 07/03/2012 09:28

Only had to do it once with a dog suffereing heart and kidney failure. It was old and had been on tablets for years trying to minimise the symptoms. He was getting worse and I took him to the vet. The main question I wanted answered was "is he suffereing"? Vet said yes so we did it.

tabulahrasa · 07/03/2012 09:28

Till the cancer killed him or he got an infection - obviously it wasn't just about having a wound on his leg, though I did make it sound a bit like that, lol

Original poster
AllergicToNutters · 07/03/2012 09:30

it must be so hard to make that decision. I cannot imagine Sad. Like some say, it is a final act of kindness, but utterly heartbreaking Sad

OP posts:
JasperJohns · 07/03/2012 09:35

Well my 14 year old dog was doubly incontinent, she was unable to stand for more than a few seconds without keeling over, she had a terrible skin condition which didn't respond to any treatment, she was deaf, partially sighted and her neurological function had declined and she suffered from anal furunculosis.

Her life had become absolutely miserable. We could have kept her going until nature took its course, she was still eating after all. But we, and the vet, thought she was suffering and although it broke our hearts, we had her pts.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 07/03/2012 09:36

Because death can be long drawn out painful and IMO it's not fair to make them go thru the suffering. It's a hard decision to make but if the dog ( or any animal) is unable to have any quality of life then I believe it's the kindest thing to do. And another thing to of course consider is the family and how they would feel finding the dog had died at home alone and sat in a puddle of bodily fluids. Far kinder in my opinion to be able to give the dog lots of kisses cuddles tell them how much you love them and say good by while the die peace fully in your arms .

BelleEnd · 07/03/2012 09:39

Because that is what's kind. How we don't offer the same to humans is beyond my comprehension.

Thistledew · 07/03/2012 09:40

Also, are we not just taking on a function of nature that would otherwise shorten a painful end? In the wild, a sick or injured animal is likely to become prey to another creature, thereby shortening their suffering. Permitting an animal to die a long, lingering death is arguably more against nature, than following it.

Slartybartfast · 07/03/2012 09:45

because we can. becuase its kinder - we are kinder to animals than people, although we can give people pain relief. that is the most we can do.

noinspiration · 07/03/2012 09:58

When it comes to end of life, I would prefer to be a dog. When there is nothing in the future but pain and gradual decline it does seem kinder.

Original poster
AllergicToNutters · 07/03/2012 10:27

it must be the hardest thing to have to make that final decision. Everyone harps on about how difficult puppyhood is but it is only a few who have pointed out that the other end of a dog's life can be equally hard. Lot's to consider.

OP posts:
ChickensHaveNoLips · 07/03/2012 10:37

It's agony. A hoorible thing to have to agree to. Awful to have to take your beloved dog to the vet for the last time, or answer the door to let them in. Awful to hold your suffering animal and know that it's for the last time. But you do it for them, not you. You do it because it's the last act of love, and because if you do love them you put up with the grief so that they can be without pain and suffering. In my opinion, when you go in to pet ownership you should always have it straight in your head that you'll do what is best for the animal, no matter how much it hurts you. It's the price you pay for the years of love, companionship and memories.

Slartybartfast · 07/03/2012 10:42

it is awful Sad

LST · 07/03/2012 10:45

chickenshavenolips you have taken the words straight out of my mouth. Unnecessary pain is uncalled for. The dog doesn't understand why it is pain.

Ephiny · 07/03/2012 11:02

Because they can't say what they want, or would want in that situation, like a person could. So it's up to us to make the decision we think best for them.

It's not a decision I'd make lightly - but if the dog is terminally ill, in pain or distress and can't be made comfortable, then it's the kindest thing to give them a quick, peaceful end. I would have no problem with it being the same for humans in that situation, if it's what they want.

throckenholt · 07/03/2012 11:06

Because there is no point in making them suffer. When their eyes are so sad you can tell they are not getting any enjoyment out of life.

Shame we can't do the same for humans (currently watching my mum die of cancer). :(

AwkwardMary · 07/03/2012 11:11

I belive we don't off the same thing to humans as it would leave the system open to abuse. What about those people who agreed to be killed because they felt pressure? Or those who can't decide for themselves?

Lizcat · 07/03/2012 15:12

The crux of this that doctors swear to uphold life and vets swear to up hold the welfare of the animals in their care. Welfare is defined by the five freedoms number one of these is freedom from pain and distress.
It is the ultimate final loving act we can perform for our pets.

midori1999 · 07/03/2012 15:43

I agree it is about preventing pain and suffering. I have known cases where people could not bring themselves to make that decision, both with dogs and horses and the end result was a serious welfare issue IMO.

Being able to decide to have a much loved animal put to sleep is one of the biggest responsibilities of pet owning.

Scuttlebutter · 08/03/2012 00:09

It is the last, and most loving thing that any pet owner will do (in partnership with their vet, obviously). It's about the courage to think about what's best for the dog, not for the grieving owner. If a dog is in pain, has a terminal illness and their quality of life is seriously compromised, then it's the right thing to do. One of the reasons why we have built up a solid relationship with our vet practice, is that I feel able to trust them to tell us clearly that it's time for that decision.

It's also worth stating that many vets will come and do this at home - I very much hope that we can do this when the time comes for our current three. I would want their last moments to be with us, at home, in a calm and peaceful environment.

bronze · 08/03/2012 00:14

Our old dog had cancer. He went in for a third op because he was being sick all the time and was miserable and they told us that it had spread and would only get worse. We decided not to wake him up from the operation

Shit I'm crying again and this was 5 and a half years ago. It was a very bad time for us, we lost him a month after dd was born prem and she was still in scbu.

We made that decision because he was suffering and in pain and miserable and because we loved him

Ponders · 08/03/2012 00:21

I just wish it was as simple to have people put to sleep when they are suffering appalling pain & indignity

Original poster
AllergicToNutters · 08/03/2012 19:21

wow - it sounds horrid.SadSadSad I am assuming that some dogs do just pass away from natural causes though don't they?

OP posts:
bronze · 08/03/2012 20:14

Yes some just die in their sleep like people do