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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

Saying goodbye tomorrow

11 replies

Howmanysleepsnow · 26/09/2023 18:18

My 13yo boy has cancer. We found out today after a rapid decline the past 4 weeks. I’ve brought him home on painkillers overnight before one last vet visit tomorrow to let the kids say goodbye. He’s very quiet (probably the painkillers) and I’ve just been sat with him the last 6 hours. How do I say goodbye? He’s the best boy ever.

OP posts:
SpanielsMatter · 26/09/2023 18:31

I’m so sorry,

Take a towel or something that smells of home with you to the vets so he can smell home before the sedative takes effect. I find talking to them through the procedure, stroking them and cuddling makes sure they know they are not alone.

A few practical things I found helped.

  1. pay the vet before the procedure so you can simply leave afterwards
  2. organise and discuss what will happen to your lovely boy afterwards, I pre warn the local funeral directors and they do an individual pet cremation, do you have a pet service near you?
  3. take tissues, many of them

Its such a heartbreaking situation, am so very sorry. Stay close to him, thank him for sharing your life with you, for the smiles, walks, unconditional love, puppy naughtiness that is so funny in retrospect.

You and your family will need time and space to grieve, just the same as a person. He’s been a huge part of your home/ family time and space to grieve is so important.

Its really cruel that their lives are much shorter than ours. So sorry you are facing this.

Cantfindutrogestan · 26/09/2023 18:33

I'm so sorry. I can't think of anything else practical to say. Xxx

Blinkinbloodyhayfever · 26/09/2023 19:32

Sorry you are going through this.
Just keep him calm and feeling safe. Wrap him in a favourite blanket, or something of yours like a t shirt.
Have a think about what you want to do afterwards re private cremation, and if you can take him to the crematorium yourself - you will find the ritual aspect comforting.
For tonight let him sleep with you in your bed and just cuddle him.
💐

Original poster
Howmanysleepsnow · 26/09/2023 19:48

He can’t get upstairs to my bed, but we’re having lots of cuddles downstairs. This will be so hard.

OP posts:
HappiestSleeping · 26/09/2023 20:15

SpanielsMatter · 26/09/2023 18:31

I’m so sorry,

Take a towel or something that smells of home with you to the vets so he can smell home before the sedative takes effect. I find talking to them through the procedure, stroking them and cuddling makes sure they know they are not alone.

A few practical things I found helped.

  1. pay the vet before the procedure so you can simply leave afterwards
  2. organise and discuss what will happen to your lovely boy afterwards, I pre warn the local funeral directors and they do an individual pet cremation, do you have a pet service near you?
  3. take tissues, many of them

Its such a heartbreaking situation, am so very sorry. Stay close to him, thank him for sharing your life with you, for the smiles, walks, unconditional love, puppy naughtiness that is so funny in retrospect.

You and your family will need time and space to grieve, just the same as a person. He’s been a huge part of your home/ family time and space to grieve is so important.

Its really cruel that their lives are much shorter than ours. So sorry you are facing this.

This 👆

Unfortunately, it is the downside of pet ownership. You have to think of all the good times.

Big hug.

itsnotmeitsu · 26/09/2023 20:20

It is so, so hard. I hope it will help to know he's lucky to have been part of your family and you were blessed to have him.

itsnotmeitsu · 26/09/2023 20:33

So sorry - I shouldn't have talked about him in the past tense. It will help to know you're doing the right thing for him. We had the vet come to our house but I think it's a great idea that some have mentioned on here to take something with you that smells of home. In my experience it is peaceful for the dog if it's done right, which it will be.

Freezingcoldinseptember · 26/09/2023 20:43

Op ring beforehand and ask for sedation first... We went into a room with a peephole. A nurse gave our girl a quick jab to the thigh and that was the only time she saw a stranger.. We sat with her while she went under the sedation.. Via the peephole the nurse stayed away until ddog was asleep.. Then she gave the pts meds. Ddog knew not a thing. No iv. No messing. No vet. Was the most peaceful experience we could have hoped for. We weren't hurried out afterwards either. Shared a few tales of ddog with the lovely vet and the nurse.
Thoughts are with you op.

ShineBright1209 · 26/09/2023 20:56

I’m so sorry, it’s one of the hardest things to do. I had to have my dog pts last year and it was heartbreaking. The vet was lovely and told me she wished more people would make the decision at the right time for the animal and not for themselves as it’s the kindest thing to do.
What I would suggest is try not to go alone, even though I was in the room with my dog on my own my mum was outside waiting as she had drove me there because I don’t think I would of been in a fit state to drive.
Also I had already arranged with my local pet crematorium to collect my dog and they were there almost immediately afterwards so I know she wasn’t left alone for very long and was ready for me to collect her ashes a few hours later. They also did some ink paw prints for me and key ring with some of her fur inside.

Pegsmum · 26/09/2023 20:57

I am very sorry, it’s so hard. I don’t know if it’s possible for the vet to come and do a home visit? If not the suggestion of taking something smelling of home is a good idea, I’ll be thinking of you.

Woollymonster · 26/09/2023 21:07

I’m so sorry OP. Such a hard but ultimately kind thing for you to do, to help your dear friend painlessly leave.

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