Struggling to know when to make 'the' decision :-(

[shipfaced]

Lovely dog has kidney failure so I know it is only a matter of time - bloods were BUN 27, creatinine 370.

He was very sick looking when I got home this afternoon - didn't get up to greet me, hadn't eaten all day, kept lying down and was a little wobbly. I gave him his evening meds - fortekar and antepsin. He rallied and has been much more upbeat tonight - lots of wagging and he ate a meal of spaghetti bolognese! Now back in bed.

Earlier I had decided that was it and to book the vet for euthanasia but after this evening I'm not so sure. It was the same story yesterday. What I dont want is to end up with a dog that is vomiting, in pain etc

I am terrified of making the wrong decision and leaving it too late or asking for euthanasia too early. How will I get it right. I had wanted vet to come to house but that meets deciding the date in advance which doesn't seem right.

Any advice?

Does anyone know if the fortekar is giving him a boost in the evening and whether it can be split as a dose? Or two doses given a day?

Personally I'm a great believer in the saying "better a week too early than a day too late".

DDog1 was on the maximum doses of everything he could be for both heart failure and arthritis. We made the decision to let him go the first time his evening meds didn't quite see him comfortably through to the next morning. It could have been a blip but there was nowhere else to go medication wise, we knew he was on borrowed time and we wanted him to go whilst he was comfortable, happy and before he started having frequent bad days to weigh up against his good ones.

It was heartbreaking but absolutely the right decision and I'd definitely do the same again.

I can't imagine how hard it must be .

I had wanted vet to come to house but that meets deciding the date in advance which doesn't seem right. I would make an appointment with the vet but just for a chat to get help on deciding when the time is right, then you can make an appointment when you are ready for the vet to come to the house.

Our vets asked us to phone in the morning when we wanted our dog PTS and they would come round that day. We had an added problem in that our dog hated the vet, and hated being handled by a vet, so also had to be sedated. It did feel very cold and calculating, because I had to collect the oral sedation in the AM and give it to him an hour before the vet arrived. He was almost asleep on the sofa when the vet came. Yes, you feel mean organising it like that, but it is the dog that matters. Our lovely but old and ailing dog passed quietly in his favourite position on the sofa in front of the fire. So much better than those awful clinical last moments on the vets table (and I've had a few of those).
As for when the time is right - well, he was struggling on, but quite bright and happy, but the day before we had him put down he didn't want to go for even a short walk and he had a worried look in his eyes - he seemed unhappy. He had been on pain medication for years, and I think it was no longer working. His quality of life had become so diminished we decided it was better to let him go, we didn't want him to suffer. It was a dignified end.

For advanced kidney disease, we had to make this decision last autumn, and after I'd read up on what the end stage looked like (pretty awful) I had no difficulty in asking the vet to come to the house when she took a turn for the worse and started being sick. We could have left it longer but that would have been for our benefit, not hers. As it was, I'm happy she enjoyed her walks, was eating her favourite meal and still loving and happy when we said goodbye to her (through frail and sinking fast). Like others, I'd always if possible PTS at home - it's much more relaxed and intimate, and less stressful for all concerned. I'd ring your vet and have a quick phone discussion and book the appointment for tomorrow. What you don't want is DDog taking a turn for the worse over the weekend and then you needing to go to the Emergency OOH vet for the final visit.

When my last dog started to become ill we gave him a few days thinking he would get better, he wouldn't drink and wouldn't eat and barely moved. I really wish we had done it sooner, we didn't leave it THAT long but it was long enough when you think he was uncomfortable.

He didn't die of anything specific, he was just older and started to shut down. By the time we got him to the vet they could barely find his heart beat so it was really a matter of hours.

Your dogs diagnosis of kidney failure means you'll know he's likely to pass from it, it is much better to let him go as he is now with all your happy memories than to let his condition become worse. As a previous poster said sometimes you keep them for your benefit and not theirs. They give us years of unconditional love and I always feel like that giving them that final kindness is a small way we can repay them.

I'm sorry you're going through this, I hope it goes as well it possibly can. For what it's worth, we had our boy put down in the vets as opposed to at home, not sure why but it was just better.

I sounds like the time has come OP. I'm so sorry, it's really tough.

better a week too early than a day too late

As hard as it is, I agree with this. I always look at the quality of life my dogs have before having to make that awful decision. From your OP it sounds as of you need to make the decision. It's such an awful time

Thank you for the kind replies. Since I've been home he's had a wonder in the garden, done some sniffing and is quite waggy. But he won't eat at all today - nothing. Although he jumps up if I look like I'm going to prepare some food. Drinking and weeing lots.
This is really hard as it does feel a little early but I'm worried decline will be rapid.
Sorry so indecisive

I always thought of it as ending suffering. But our vet said something that made me think. He asked me if old cat still had her dignity and if she still enjoyed doing all the things that made her happy. She didn't. It was time.
I'm so sorry. It's so hard.

If he's not eating, then I think you have your answer. Sorry to be blunt, but you shouldn't wait until he's really distressed or vomiting constantly. He is almost certainly already feeling unwell and nauseous as toxins build up in his body from the failing kidneys.

This is one of those times when the most loving and caring thing you can do is put aside your own feelings and think hard about your dog's welfare and prognosis.

I know how hard it is - my heart was breaking last October, but I absolutlely knew it was the right thing to do for her. I still miss her desperately but I know without a shadow of a doubt that we did not prolong her suffering and I can look back now and although I am grieving I have no regrets. That is a very precious thing.

Thanks for the support, I needed the reassurance that this was the right thing. I've arranged for the vet to visit today.

for you and a peaceful passing for your lovely boy.

All the best OP, it's hard but your doing the right thing and looking after him right up to the end

Thinking of you today.

It is the right thing to do. You've made the bravest decision and the kindest decision. You're a good owner OP.

Oh my love, I know what you're going through and my heart goes out to you

Please don't worry that it's too early - your dog would thank you for letting it go before it really suffered.

As someone said to me when I went through this last year, you've made the hardest decision any animal lover ever has to make. And you've done it with love, putting your dog's needs above your own.

I'm so sorry to hear this news. It's never easy, no matter how much your head knows it's the right thing to do, your heart still breaks. Hoping you have a peaceful day and the passing is quiet and easy.

It is so much m

It is so much more painful than I could ever have imagined. He was with me years before my children. A lovely lovely friend and I am so sad. I've been desperate for the children to go to bed so I can have another proper wail. It's very quiet without him here.

Xxx

I promise you, in a few days you will start to be glad you did the right thing and then it won't seem so awful.

I lost my lovely girl in March16 and at the time I felt I'd never get over it, but I did quite quickly. I found knowing I'd done right by her was a huge comfort to me. I still get the odd wobble and have the odd cry when I miss her particularly, but I think I'll always do that.

Not sure about the emptiness of the house: I still have her brother who's nearly 15 now. When he goes I'm not sure how long it'll be until I need canine company.

⚘

shipfaced I could have written your last post (apart from the bit about the children).

We had to let our old boy go today, after several days of wondering whether we were doing the right thing. The pain is physical, my chest has felt tight all day. I made an excuse to go out in the car earlier so I could have a proper wail. I miss him so much already and it's only been a few hours.

My only consolation is knowing we did the right thing for him. As did you. Look after yourself

Sorry about your news too.
It feels just awful and I wasn't prepared for how much it would hurt. The house was very very quiet last night as both children were away at sleepovers. But yes, I did do the right thing.

I know what you mean about the house seeming quiet. We don't have children so it's just the two of us moping about and not really talking to each other. Coming down to an empty kitchen this morning was horrible. My boy would usually be waiting for me with his tail wagging.

We can only hope it gets better over the next few days.