Call to vet to PTS - behavioural euthanasia

[Bookcasebasketcase]

My OH and I have made the difficult decision to call the vet in the morning and ask for our 6 years old rescue lab to be put to sleep.

We got her at 1 year old, no apparent bite history although we know that people don’t always give the full story when giving up a dog. She has always been extremely anxious and if I’m being honest there’s just something about her temperament where we feel like we have a ticking time bomb in the house.

Prior to Xmas she started to display some aggression towards us, snapping and completely intolerant of being handled in anyway. We took her to the vets immediately and she has undergone all manner of tests and scans with no obvious medical cause. Her behaviour is now escalating and we have had a couple of bites towards us. To be clear we very much leave her be, no fussing or anything like that however she is constantly on high alert. If I sit next to her on the sofa I’m wary about how I might move in case that sets her off. We have muzzled her out and about but now we just don’t feel safe with her in the home. We had a visitor stay last week and it really struck me how tense we were the whole time (obviously we warned said visitor not to touch her etc). We now have a situation where she’s not entirely safe in the home, is unpredictable and we can no longer have someone safely look after her if we need to be away.

The decision was made yesterday after a bite and now we have this sickening wait to call the vet in morning when they open to start the process. It feels devastatingly
awful and I feel like I can’t look at her. We haven’t slept and have both been crying since we came to the decision.

I suppose I’m just curious to know what it will be like speaking to the vet. We know rehoming is out of the question and continuing to live like this isn’t for us either. I feel like we have failed her.

She is really unwell, OP. This isn't just an anxious dog. This is a dog on edge in her own home. She's a dog that bites without a trigger, and a dog who by the sound of it goes straight to bite without giving warning signals. This is a dog who is suffering.

I just turned up at the vet practice without an appointment said I had to have my dog PTS. They asked me why and then did it straight away - they don't quibble when it comes to dogs with bite history/aggression.

Vets will always find time to PTS dogs that are aggressive or suffering.

The times you have to wait a long time in the vets for your appointment, this is one of the reasons. My vet was amazing. Shifted everything to accommodate my ddog.

Hello, I’ve been in your position after several escalating bites despite several inputs from professionals, made the call and had to do it. Feel free to message me.

Also look up a Facebook group called ‘losing Lulu’, you’re not alone.

It is much nicer having them pts at home , the last one I had done I booked a specialist end of life vet through the pet crematorium we use and she was excellent .

When we did it our dog was booked in the next day, it had to be our decision we had an over the phone conversation with the vet and the vet booked the appointment ours was pts and during a lock down so the protocol was different but it was really gentle and quick.

Although it’s a difficult decision, it sounds as though you’ve given her every opportunity, but now you need to do what is best for her.

Try to be kind to yourselves.

There is no right or wrong but if she was my dog I’d be seeking the help of a good behaviourist rather than a one off assessment and working with them. It sounds like she had anxiety issues and these can be helped immeasurably by drugs and behavioural modifications.

But it’s a big commitment. The vets won’t talk you out of it but they may suggest a drug trial first. Has she had a pain trial?

It does sound like it's a brain or other injury.

Trouble is, unless you had full papers from the previous owner, you don't know how interbred she is and if she had any issues.

My aunt a few years rehomed a long haired German Shepherd who she called Lottie, who turned out to be a bit 'ill' in the head, but was never quite sure with what, despite tests.

I think she was an ex Army dog, fairly young. She had him with her adorable German Shepherd older male dog, who would never hurt a fly. They ended up, tragically getting into the kitchen where their parrot was and killing him. The male dog would never have done this in a million years and had lived happily with the parrot for at least 4-5 years.

Eventually I think Lottie had to be PTS after she was rehomed to my aunt's DSis, another long story.

I think PTS is probably for the best unless you can afford or want to go through endless testing which might not be fruitful.

Sorry about this but she's had 5 happy years with you. She knows she's loved by you all.

https://www.legacypets.com/home-euthanasia
My sister used this company for her dog. You may be able to speak to someone there today. They were excellent.

We can book online appointments at our vets.
When our dog was pts last year it wasn't unexpected as she was very poorly.
I emailed the vet the day before to tell them our decision and they had everything ready when we arrived.

It's reasonable to pts an animal which you think is dangerous. Call your vet or email ahead.

Killing a bird that flaps is normal dog behaviour, especially in a high drive dog like a GSD. It can take a lot of exposure to birds from puppy hood to prevent it.

I’m so sorry @Bookcasebasketcase

You are in an awful position. You and your husband clearly love the dog but this is no life for any of you.

To those saying you could try this and that…. Yes you could but it will still be stressful for you all and no guarantee it will work.

It sounds like you’ve tried the obvious.

A lab should be the easier, most tolerant dog.

You should be enjoying life but may have another ten years of this.

The kindest thing you can do is PTS.

Your vet will be understanding and help through the process.

Take care. X

I was thinking this when people were recommending brain scans. It’s very much more statistically likely that the dogs just aggressive. And if they do go through the horrendous cost of brain scans etc and do actually find something, then you’re still left with an aggressive dog with a brain tumour. I think pts is the most sensible option at this point

I'm sorry that you're needing to do this. The one and only time our old dog showed aggression was when one of our other dogs bumped into him accidentally. Turned out he was starting with a tumour on his liver but it was another few months before it was big enough to be seen on a scan.
Your poor doggy may be similar. It doesn't sound as though he has much quality of life despite everything you've been doing for him. Thinking of you, you're doing the kindest thing and a vet will see that too.

You are doing the right thing for the dog and yourselves/ humans.

I wish more people would be as responsible and brave as you.

We've used these (not for aggression though) and the care and compassion we received was unbelievable. Really sorry you're in this position x

Don't be ridiculous.

I agree. You cannot train a dog that is so anxious at home, has no identifiable triggers, and no warning behaviours.

(Edited for clarity)

What’s ridiculous about giving a dog every single chance ? Sorry I wouldn’t just put a dog down without trying everything first and from original post no mention was giving that a trainer had been involved.

im talking from experience having had two dogs turn on each other and me being in the cross fire. Everyone saying to rehome one or euthanise her. Thank fuck I didn’t listen because I navigated through and it took 2 years but I have my dogs back living together happily.

I was not being ridiculous

Whilst I am grateful to hear from those who have had more positive experiences we know in our gut this is the correct thing to do for her and for us. That it was an easy decision to come to yesterday tells me a lot.

It just feels so surreal. I always thought when the time came we’d have this lovely last day/s with her and it just feels not only sad but not at all comforting. It sounds daft but even just caring for her as we usually would, feeding and walking her feels so weird. We’ve just taken her out for a quiet walk and I could feel myself thinking well that’s one of her last walks with us. I’m absolutely heartbroken.

A disagreement (including high intensity fights) between two dogs is normal dog behaviour, and it can sometimes be satisfactorily managed. It also doesn't necessairly pose a risk to humans, so long as you don't get in the middle of it.

I'm sorry you are in this position, i am a vet nurse and it is not often that we have to put a dog to sleep due to aggression thankfully.
I believe and i know my colleagues would agree that you are doing the right thing .
It is all well and good people suggesting drugs ,scans, trainers etc but you are never going to get a loving trustworthy pet from this fearful dog that has bitten you and everything you describe, there may be aspects that could be improved in time but nothing anyone can do will fix this dog 100%.
I really do not understand the thinking behind keeping a miserable unhappy dog alive at all costs this simply is not fair on the dog ,not when we can end its misery with dignity and kindness.
You clearly have tried and have put thought and consideration into this.
You asked what would happen , it maybe an idea to ask your vet for meds to take the edge off the visit that you would give before the appointment then very likely the vet will give an intra muscular sedation injection in the back leg muscle this will make the dog sleepy often to the point of almost unconsciousness where the vet will then administer the final injection possibly front leg , back leg or directly into the chest or abdomen if the veins are difficult to find due to the sedations effects .
I hope whatever you do is peaceful for your dog and you.