oh no I think our old lady is leaving us :(

[MsIngaFewmarbles]

Our 13yo dalmatian is going to the vets tonight with DH almost certainly going to PTS. She is going blind due to cataracts, a bit deaf and really struggling with arthritis. She has to be lifted out of her basket to go out for a pee and her food. I know its part of being a responsible dog owner to nit let her go on when she's in pain but I cant bear it. She came to me with DH 6 years ago and he has had her since she was a tiny puppy.

I know realistically that her quality of life is poor now, even with all the meds and that we are doing the right thing but my god it hurts. DH is in pieces, he says it feels worse than when his GPs died when he was a child. Thank you for reading and if you have any advice on how to handle this with our DCs that would be great. We have already told rhe older ones that she is very poorly :( :( :(

I'm so sorry to hear about your girl. I'm afraid I have no first-hand experience to draw from to offer advice about how to approach with your DCs but losing a pet is often the first way that children learn about death. By making sure that her death is as painless and peaceful as possible, that at least is a positive message to your children. Don't forget also that thanks to you all, she lived a very long and happy life and she will leave lots and lots of happy memories. It's not every pet (and even fewer humans!) who are lucky enough to have a great life and a great death.
Good luck and be reassured that you are doing the very best by your pet.

OP, I am so sorry to read this.

One option you may wish to think about is having her PTS at home. We did this with our elderly girl earlier this year, and it was beautifully peaceful, very private and I couldn't have wished for a better death for her. By doing this, you can allow all the family members to say goodbye in a very peaceful and private way, both before and after she has gone.

You may also wish to think about afterwards - whether to have a cremation or a burial, and maybe a memorial. Perhaps the DC would like to make a nice scrapbook of photos, certificates, vaccination cards, etc to remember her by? How about a lovely frame for her collar and tag, with a nice photo enclosed?

Also v important not to stop talking about her, and to make sure plenty of pics etc around of her.

Wishing you all the best. It will be difficult and very painful for all of you.

OP our lab was pts at home last week.

We are all still in bits so you have my every sympathy.

I would certainly agree with the Scuttle who suggested having the vet come out to you. Our dig loved going to the vets but being at home was more peaceful and private for all of us.

I was very honest with the DC aged 8 and 3. That Ddog was inn a lot of pain and despite all the medicines we had given it was still hurting him and he couldn't do all the fun things he liked to do and it wasn't fair anymore. It was really hard.

DS2 took it ok, and gave him a kiss goodbye and was quite happy with the idea that ddog was in the sky playing with the angels. Altho this week he has been asking when will he come home. :( Really hard...

DS1 was in bits. He insisted ddog was burried at home. It took my DH and BIL 5 hours to dig a deep enough large labrador sized hole. We wrapped him up in DS's duvet - we had all had a goodbye sleepover the night before and he had slept with ds, he was still in the same spot when the vet came so we thought it was a nice idea he had something of DS's with him. Ds wrote him a letter and put photos in with him. We burried him and then planted a special flower on top- a clematis jury's yellow- the exact same colour as him, and DS1 wrote on a perfectly round white boulder as a headstone. It seemed to help him a lot.

We all miss him terribly. I cry several times a day.

I just keep telling myself that now it is only me hurting, not him. You and your dog are both so lucky to have had that time together.

Principality, I am so sorry :(

We had discussed doing it at home but DH doesn't feel he can hold it together for the DC and I'm not sure I could either :( Also we rent our home so we couldn't bury her here. DS (3) has a cuddly dalmatian that is his special 'love' which also has the same name as our girl, he is going to be so confused, the older DC are giving her lots of hugs when she is at home.

A scrapbook is a great idea, I will definitely do that. If she is cremated, oh god sobbing now, can we scatter her ashes?

Op, I'm so sorry for you all

No real helpful advice, just wanted to say I am thinking of you, it's such a hard thing for you all, I'm sure whatever you decide to do your old girl will feel the love you all have for her x

I am so sorry. (((HUG))) Just posted about my girl on Principality's thread.

It's a a year today since my girl died. She had been poorly and died at home with me holding her. Heart-breaking. Everyone, me, DH and DCs were in pieces, but I'm so glad she went with all of us with her, knowing how much we all loved her.

It's so, so, so hard, and so desperately upsetting. No point in consoling you, because I know I can't.

Lots of love to you all. xxx

Thank you xx

Just waiting for DH to get home from work so he can go to the vets, I'm going to try and get the neighbours to have the DC so I can go with him. I think she knows something is happening, she keeps staring at me and nudging my hand :(

Thinking of you, Inga and family.

Vet has given her a hefty anabolic steroid injection. It if works it will mean much less disvomfort and more mobility for her. It should start working within a day if its going to. A big sigh of relief and a prayer for our girl.

Vet was pretty clear this is the last resort though. If it doesn't help we are back where we were.