Honestly don’t know how I’m going to cope getting DDog PTS

[sweetkitty]

I can’t sleep and I’m in bits and it’s not even happened yet, DDog is 11 which is a great age for her breed, she has a tumour, she was at the vets 2 weeks ago and it was touch and go then. Apart from the tumour she is still very much herself, eating, barking at everything and anything. The tumour is in her nose and is taking over her face nose, it’s horrific and so so sad. She’s on 5 different painkillers.

I know at best she’s uncomfortable, at worst she’s in pain even though she’s hiding it. I can hear her snoring beside me now. We have utterly spoiled her rotten these past few months. She’s put on weight with the amount of treats she’s got bless her. I know it’s probably 2 weeks tops. She’s like one of my DC, they have grown up with her, they all adore her too. I honestly don’t know how I am going to do this. (yes I’ve been here before with a dog and several cats) but she is my once in a lifetime heart and soul dog. If she had stopped eating and was very poorly it would make it a bit easier but she’s still so strong.

As heartbreaking as it is, if the tumour is that advanced you have to think about how awful it would be for her and for you all if it did rupture. We all hope for a peaceful death and I think if you offered most humans the chance to die peacefully one month earlier or the month later in pain then they would almost all take the month too soon but peaceful than a moment too late. You have the opportunity to give this peaceful, dignified death to your pet so I think you need to take it while you still can.

You and your family can say goodbye, give her a final walk in her favourite place, feed her treats that she wouldn’t usually be allowed maybe and someone can be with her when she passes over - you might not be given that opportunity if it advances.

Sending you love as you deal with this, it’s the moment we all dread as animal lovers x

I am so sorry you’re going through this @sweetkitty unfortunately I could have written this post myself.

we have a 12.5 year old staffy cross with a massive tumour on his tail which has become ulcerated and will never heal. We took him to the vet on Monday and they said it would be kinder to let him go as he’s in pain. He’s being put to sleep on Monday and honestly I have no idea how I’m going to cope either. It’s so hard when you can’t see the pain so it’s not a black and white decision.

he is my first baby too and I have 2 young children and they’ve all grown up together.

Although it’s so bloody awful I know we’re doing the right thing for him and he’s going over the rainbow bridge while he’s still himself and not when he’s too far gone or we have a crisis.

will be thinking about you tomorrow you’re doing the right thing for your girl 💐

Hope you're OK, @sweetkitty - thought of you this afternoon.

Thank you all for your kind words DDog was PTS this afternoon, very peacefully with my head in my lap eating sausages to the last just as she would have wanted. The vet was great and said we were 100% doing the right thing for her and it was a very brave decision to make. The DC are heartbroken but they are ok they understand we did it for her, they could see how horrible the tumour was becoming. The house feels so empty now she was a big dog with a big personality, even though we have 4 cats it feels so quiet now. I keep expecting her to pad upstairs looking for me.

@BoringAF19 sorry you are having to through this too, it’s bloody horrible. In some way even though I’m devastated she’s gone it’s a relief as we were waiting for it to burst or get infected and it seemed to be getting larger everyday. She slept with us and I could hear her licking and smacking in the night and I knew it must be painful or uncomfortable for her. She’s at peace now. I’ll be thinking of you on Monday. ❤️

Sending so much love and strength to you OP xxxx 💕

@sweetkitty
Your beautiful dog was very loved, to her last moment, and now beyond.
You will always have the memories.

@sweetkitty I’m so glad your girl went peacefully with you eating sausages ❤️ personally couldn’t think of a better way to go myself.

unfortunately our lovely boys tumour has ruptured and is now infected and I can honestly say it’s absolutely awful so I’m glad your girl was spared of that ❤️

I have heard it’s supposed to be a massive relief when we let them go, absolutely dreading Monday when we booked him in it seemed like ages away but the days are flying by far too quickly.

So glad your DC understand what’s happening even though they’re devastated. My eldest is only 3 and we’ve explained he won’t be coming home but I don’t think she quite gets it so I think there will be a lot of questions when she comes home from nursery on Monday 😫

I'm so sorry for your loss. It sounds like you can take comfort in giving your beloved dog a calm, peaceful ending. She would have known she was loved so much by you all. She's a lucky dog to have had you as her family.

Oh @BoringAF19 so sorry to hear this cancer is so awful I did say anywhere but her face but it doesn’t really matter where it is in the end. The vet prescribed us strong antibiotics she took for 14 days just in case (they were really good they gave as a prescription to order online save money for those and another one I ordered from the chemists as it was a human medication as it was a quarter of the price). Our 17 year old cat had a tumour on his leg which ruptured so I understand how distressing it can be. Our DDogs have been cherished their entire lives, this is the last kindness we can do for them as their owners. My DC are all teenagers so understand.

I'm very sorry for the sad loss of your lovely dog.

You did the right thing @sweetkitty

I'm glad your dog was allowed to die before the tumour caused her too much distress, it was the kindest thing.

Oh I'm so very sorry I didn't read on.

I'm so very sorry. There's honestly no pain quite like it, but it's our side of the bargain - they give us a lifetime of pure love, and at the end, we take on the pain so they don't have to carry it. I lost my soul dog in September so my heart truly does go out to you.

So sorry for your loss op
.. We are over 4 years past losing a large breed ddog. The house still feels empty and we have 4 other ddogs! Massive personality =massive hole. Her favourite (bad) habit was getting under my feet in the kitchen!

@sweetkitty how are you today?

our best boy is gone and he had an amazing run about the fields this morning and the sun was shining for him (we’re in Scotland so that’s a rare thing).

He hadn’t had the full injection yet and the energy shifted in the room and I knew he was gone it was so peaceful ❤️

Hard when we came home though and he wasn’t at the door to greet us but it’ll take a while I think. Kids are at nursery and honestly I’m dreading DD coming home because she’ll be upset 😢

@BoringAF19 oh I’m so sorry I hope you are ok I was thinking of you yesterday. I’m glad he went peacefully. I hope you’re DC are ok too. We are in Scotland too the sun was shining on Saturday and our DDog lay out the back garden sun-bathing with me for a bit (and I took her last photos).

The house feels so so empty without her, like there’s a huge piece missing. It’s too quiet. Luckily we still have cats around but I understand why people rush out and get another dog not to replace their other dog but to fill the gap. Not that we are even thinking about another dog right now we are still far too raw.

Sending you an unmumsnetty hug. I went through something similar and I knew when the time was right. It was when I knew she wasn't going to get any better and I didn't want her to get any worse. I wanted her to still be her rather than the disease. This was about 3 weeks ago and we are all still heartbroken. She was an amazing girl and she didn't deserve any of it. She fought hard and we fought for her but letting her go was the final act of love that we could do for her. I miss my baby but I'm glad that i was with her at the end and that she is now happy and peaceful over the bridge waiting for me.