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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

Did I make the right call?

44 replies

LadyBahBahBah · 27/03/2019 20:29

Dog quite elderly (rescue from the council pound) we bonded instantly and have had 7 glorious years. Around 8 months ago she was diagnosed with arthritis. She's always been a happy soul and I and DH were agreed that as long as she seemed happy she should continue to live a lovely life with our family.
This morning I rose at 6am and she was lying outside our bedroom door (not usual) for her.
She was panting and salivating (again not usual) refused her food (3rd time this week) just kept pacing around and making awkward positions (for her) like the pain had become too much to put up with.
Long story short she was PTS just over 5 hours ago.
She seemed to rally at the end, was enthusiastic about getting into the car and into the vets.
Vet double questioned me about if I was absolutely sure regarding my decision (she was seeing a happy albeit elderly dog)
I knew my dog. I know she wanted me to end her pain. But I can't help feeling I made a mistake

OP posts:

Hearthurts · 27/03/2019 23:33

so sorry op

Original poster

LadyBahBahBah · 27/03/2019 23:33

I can't reply to undivuduals and I'm sure the spelling is shocked. Just to say I'm in floods thinking of my girl when she was still able to romp around.
To see her STILL after after euthanasia .
That was not my dog

OP posts:

Original poster

LadyBahBahBah · 27/03/2019 23:37

Sorry for spelling mistakes. In iPhone- fat fingers.

OP posts:

Honeyroar · 27/03/2019 23:38

Gorgeous girl. She sounds like she really landed on her feet when she found you. I hope I can be that brave when the time comes for my animals. I'm really sorry for your loss. I lost one of mine last year. It's horrid.

PinaGrigio · 27/03/2019 23:45

Oh, OP, I'm so, so sorry. We had the same last month with our old boy, and what made the last day worse was that even though he couldn't stand up or control himself waste-wise, when the vet arrived, he had a last rally and staggered around. In my mind, it was like the last flare of a dead battery - you know how sometimes when a battery has gone, you put it in a new remote or whatever and it works for a short while? It doesn't mean it's ok, it just means that it's been in a new environment for a short while. You definitely did the right thing for your girl, by the sounds of it. Take comfort in the fact that she trusted you to make that decision, and take care of yourself.

Jenda · 27/03/2019 23:55

I'm so sorry for your loss. I think you did absolutely the right thing, she came to tell you and you listened. I had my old girl PTS a couple of years ago. We were going to take her on the Monday but on Saturday she could barely walk and she was just trying to sleep and not herself at all and we decided we could not put her through any more time at all and bundled her into the car. She had been ill for a long time but barked at other dogs in the car and then trotted around the waiting room wagging her tail, she made a mockery of us! Maybe it's adrenaline, or relief but we went ahead and I am very much at peace that we did the right thing , she was such a good girl all her life and I would have hated to have made a decision for her that would have resulted in prolonged suffering. Thinking of you

LadyBahBahBah · 27/03/2019 23:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LittleCandle · 28/03/2019 00:04

I agree, you did exactly the right thing. Not a dog, but I had both my cats PTS in the space of 4 months. The first one was a shock, and the second one expected, if slightly earlier than I thought it might be (he was missing his brother too much on top of his health problems) and I absolutely broke my heart both times. But I know it was the right thing to do.

for you

PinaGrigio · 28/03/2019 00:15

Oh sweetie, sleep well. Or try to. It is the best thing we can do for our dogs, and the worst thing we have to do, all at the same time xx

Notrusthere · 28/03/2019 06:52

Oh OP I'm so sorry.

I know all about the doubts over whether you've done the right thing.

My last boy started vomiting constantly. Lots of vets visits, 1000s of pounds in tests and they couldn't tell us what was wrong. They said they thought it was cancer but without opening him up (which I felt he was to old for and they agreed he could have died on the table) they couldn't say exactly where so couldn't try to treat it.

Eventually he couldn't even keep water down.

I made the decision that it was time but once we got to the vets he was all waggy tail and behaving like a normal healthy dog. The vets knew what was going on but the receptionist treated me like shit.

When it was done and I left the vets the first thing I did was phone my friend (shed lost 2 dogs within 6 months) and told her I felt like a murderer.

I still have guilt now, I have a new puppy who I am constantly comparing to my last boy.

I'm still not sure if I let him go too soon.

So.no advice but lots of sympathy and understanding from me x

missbattenburg · 28/03/2019 09:18

OP, it is so utterly awful when they go. In my experience the memories of what they were like at the very end fade - or at least the power of those memories diminishes. When I think of the last dog I had PTS I don't think of what he looked like after he was gone. I think of what he looked like during the funny and wonderful moments of his life.

I could still tear up now to remember him but the gut wrenching guilt and pain of having to make the decision to let him go is no longer part of that.

fwiw, the rallying at the end is because our dogs love being 'part' of it and so will rally through the most terrible pain to be with us. It's her day-to-day quality of life that was most important. It sounds to me like you made a loving, difficult and very sensible decision not to put her through any more pain.

I always think, when I hear such stories, may we all have someone to watch over us at the end and to be so loved that we are missed so deeply when we are gone. Well done doggo. Take care, OP.

missbattenburg · 28/03/2019 09:23

I meant to say "fwiw, I THINK the rallying at the end..."

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 28/03/2019 13:51

Like someone said, better early than late. You can wish you’d held on to them longer but at least you’ll never ever have the regret of having held on to her for your own sake and her having suffered.

userxx · 28/03/2019 13:59

You 100% did the right thing. My vet talked me into putting my old girl on steroids, I'd taken her into the surgery to be PTS. I regret not telling him I knew my dog and she's had enough, she had an extra few miserable months and it broke my heart. I've never forgiven myself for putting her through that.

Original poster

LadyBahBahBah · 28/03/2019 22:12

userxx please do forgive yourself. It is such a difficult decision to end the life of a much loved family member. I have howled today because I miss my girl so much!
I keep telling myself she is no longer in pain.

Thank you SO much to each and every one of you lovely people who have posted

OP posts:

spiderlight · 29/03/2019 15:48

Oh, gorgeous girl! So very sorry. You have done absolutely the right thing, the kindest thing, the most loving thing for her, however incomprehensible that might feel right now.

AllGoodDogs · 03/04/2019 17:13

So sorry for your loss, OP.

Our lab was PTS last month and it absolutely broke me, the worst thing I've ever been through. I still feel the guilt over making the final call, but I did know it was his time. He was a black lab too, much like your girl.

We have his ashes back now in a labrador urn, I bought a new (smaller) collar for it with his tags on. I talk to him everyday and feel much better knowing he's in the house with me again.

Hope you're doing OK, and being kind to yourself

MaisyMary77 · 03/04/2019 17:21

Really sorry for your loss OP. We lost our lab last year to cancer-he was only five. Making the decision to have him pts was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

Shortly after I came across this poem. It made me cry to read it but it’s also comforting. I hope you don’t mind me sharing;

I was just a pup when first we met, I loved you from the start.
You picked me up and took me home and placed me in your heart.
Good times we had together, we shared all life could throw,
But years pass all too quickly, my time has come to go.
I know how much you miss me, I know your heart is sore,
I see the tears that fall when I’m not waiting at the door.
You always did your best for me,
Your love was plain to see.
For even though it broke your heart, you set my spirit free.
So please be brave without me, one day we’ll meet once more.
For when you’re called to heaven, I’ll be waiting at the door.

💐💐💐

AllGoodDogs · 03/04/2019 17:39

That's beautiful, @Maisy.

This one reminds me so much of how my boy was at the end 💔

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