Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Think the old girl hasn't got long :(

27 replies

poachedeggs · 02/10/2013 21:54

I've had her for almost ten years. Over the years she's stolen vast quantities of chocolate, countless sandwiches, several cakes, a couple of chicken carcasses and a bag of dried peas. She's gone missing a fair few times too, mostly found outside the chip shop but occasionally hunting in the woods until she's so tired she lies down under a bush until we come and find her. She loves the beach, and my mum, and best of all kites. She hates hedgehogs and the neighbour's cat. Her favourite location is on the sofa, on her back, hairy legs akimbo. She has ears like fireworks.

I don't know when is time but it's not long. It's going to be really hard. Why do we do it to ourselves? :(

OP posts:

blurryeyegirl · 02/10/2013 22:05

I'm sorry for you poached. I lost my lovely old girl after 13 years together and a long road after she had been badly treated for the first 3 years of her life and left in a rescue centre.

All I can say is, when the time came for me to have her pts, i was relieved. I had let her go as far as I could, and it simply wasn't fair to let her die in pain, so I helped her. I was terribly sad, but my lovely dog with her lust for life, and everyone in it had gone a few weeks before.

Take great comfort from the life you gave her. I now have another hound. He will never replace my lovely first dog, but he is a welcome distraction, and I'd forgotten how much fun young dogs bring to a house :)

Original poster

poachedeggs · 03/10/2013 07:16

Thanks, and sorry to hear about your dog. They make themselves part of your life, don't they? We have another dog, who's also old but much fitter. He acts like a bloody puppy!

She's still not good this morning. Not responding to treatment and pretty down in the dumps. I think tonight will be the night. She can have chorizo for breakfast.

OP posts:

throckenholt · 03/10/2013 07:19

Sorry you are at this stage. But don't forget the good 10 years you have had together. Don't let that get swamped by the sadness at the end. We all know pets are not forever - but they enhance ours lives while they are here, and give us good memories.

You know when it is time - you look in their eyes and know they have had enough.

Original poster

poachedeggs · 03/10/2013 07:36

You're right, throcken. She's not getting much out of life as she is. :(

OP posts:

throckenholt · 03/10/2013 07:46

My rule of thumb - as long as they are not in a lot of pain and can still get around as much as they want to - then leave them. Once they start struggling to do what they want, or even more give up wanting to do their favourite things, then time to call it a day.

I have been lucky both times I had to make this choice - it became very obvious over a day or two that it was time.

Give yourself space to grieve - I was amazed how much I cried.

Original poster

poachedeggs · 03/10/2013 08:02

She's just miserable. I'm a vet, so unfortunately I deal with this situation lots. Doesn't make it any easier, especially when the main problem is that she's given up. She can still do everything when encouraged but she doesn't really want to, so it's enough now.

DH and I went to bed and cried last night, it would have been a pathetic sight.

OP posts:

kerstina · 03/10/2013 08:33

I just read your post and it is so full of love for your dog it has had me in tears and I hardly ever cry like that. Your dog was so lucky to have you and has had a brilliant life.
It also struck a chord as we have just put a deposit on a puppy and I can see the future we will be devastated when we get to that point (although I could go first!) but yes why do we do it to ourselves.

Scuttlebutter · 03/10/2013 09:27

Poached, just wanted to say how sorry I am to read this.

Giving our dogs a good death is the last act of love we can perform for them, but it's very, very hard.

Sending best wishes. xx

basildonbond · 03/10/2013 09:31

so sorry to read this - it sounds like she's had a brilliant life so far - I hope the next few days aren't too hard for you

topbannana · 03/10/2013 16:24

poached :(
As you deal with it all the time I would imagine it maybe makes it even harder in a way
Good luck for tonight :(

TooOldForGlitter · 03/10/2013 16:51

Sorry to hear this Hope you get through it

Original poster

poachedeggs · 03/10/2013 23:07

She's gone. I'm on her sofa. I've never been able to do that without huge brown eyes boring into me, willing me to move. Or a bundle of too-long spindly legs clambering all over the top of me.

She's buried under a tree in her favourite place. It was a better day, she was brighter, ate a bit, even stole her pal's dinner like the old days. And when my friend came to do the deed she got up off the sofa to greet her :( But I feel strangely better that her last day was a good one. She was only going to get worse so it feels good that she had a bit of pleasure at the end.

Going to be tough breaking this to the DC tomorrow. :(

OP posts:

topbannana · 04/10/2013 08:46

poached

Tiredemma · 04/10/2013 08:51

Bless you Poached.

reading this in tears. You know from your work that you have done the absolute right thing. Your old girl is around you wherever you go- I am sure of that.

Awks · 04/10/2013 10:57

I am so sorry. Much love x x x

1MitchellMum · 04/10/2013 11:07

So sorry ... never easy :( RIP X

Original poster

poachedeggs · 04/10/2013 18:52

Thank you. The DC took it quite well and we've got a busy weekend planned. It's just going to hurt for a while. Her wee friend is confused, but getting better walks, so he's too tired to fret much.

I just want to stroke her silky ears again and feel her big slimy nose prodding my elbow. She was a sofa ornament for the last couple of years, mostly sleeping, but she was always up for a cuddle. Such a special dog, someone somewhere missed out on a gem. I was so lucky to have been able to enjoy her.

OP posts:

greensmoothiegoddess · 05/10/2013 21:17

Aww poached. I have just been through this with my old boy. 'The Doghouse' gave me much comfort and folks were so lovely and supportive on here. It helps to know you are not alone.

Thinking of you.

EvenBetter · 06/10/2013 16:18

I'm sorry for your loss. We lost our superstar lady in September after a dazzling 14 years.
We do it because its worth it. I'd take this horror ten times over if I could have her back and do it all again.
From experience, life will still be awful in a few weeks but you will feel slightly better.

Owllady · 07/10/2013 18:29

I'm sorry poached, how terribly sad :( Just think about the wonderful life you gave her though and concentrate on the good stuff
My 11 yr old had to be PTS on Wednesday too :( she was hit by a car on the lane outside our house, the bastard drove off and left us there as well. She had the worst tail pull injury the vet had ever seen and other issues too and I just thought enough was enough. She was an extremely nice dog and didn't deserve any pain at the end of what had been a very mice life (apart from the beginning before she was rescued) I loved her too much to put her through painful surgery at the end of her life that might not even work and the conclusion might still be the same. It's shit though. I am devastated. She was so pleased to see me at the end too and snuggled right up to me in the vets, and I stroked her until well after she had slipped away

Original poster

poachedeggs · 07/10/2013 18:53

Owl :( what a shitter of a thing to happen. Tail pulls are horrible. It sounds like you made a very brave and kind decision though.

I was feeling proud of myself for not weeping today then dinner time came around and she wasn't lying mournfully in the hall, making "you never feed me" eyes at me. Sad sad. I'm going to put a pic on my profile.

It'd been thirteen years since I've had to make that decision and it was harder than ever. Glad to be off work this week.

OP posts:

Owllady · 07/10/2013 19:01

oh she was lovely :) what kind of dog was she?

I have felt sad today as well. I think it takes ages. This is the second dog i have had to have PTS in less than two years. In a way I am glad I have the other younger one (who we had to keep the older one company fgs TEN months ago!) because they way I have felt I don't think i could have coped with having another dog for a very long time. They really do leave a massive dog shaped hole in your life. Thank you for saying I have done the right thing, I really questioned myself afterwards even though the vet said after she had gone that he felt I had done the right thing. I just couldn't stand the thought of her being miserable and she really would have hated having no tail and being incontinent, she was just such a clean dog iykwim. It has hit my 12 yr old very hard too, he came with me to say goodbye but left just before. I thought it was very grown up of him

Original poster

poachedeggs · 07/10/2013 20:44

She was a lurcher, and very very fast once upon a time. I've never met a dog like her in looks and very few with such a placid stoic temperament. It was a privilege to have known her.

I'm sorry you were forced into making such a difficult decision so quickly. You feel like there's so much to weigh up and not much time. But I think then gut feeling takes over and that is the instinct to go with. I guess your other dog will keep you plenty occupied whether you like it or not :)

OP posts:

Scuttlebutter · 07/10/2013 22:56

Owllady - I'm so sorry to hear your sad news. That's awful. Sending you all best wishes - you must be devestated.

Owllady · 08/10/2013 14:50

thanks both of you, i do appreciate it x

Flip

1 2