When to decide to PTS

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Hi all,

13 year old dog (JRT mongrel mix - a rescue) diagnosed with Bladder cancer (Transitional Cell Carcinoma) on Friday.

He had been sick for a wee while, with Gastro issues last summer, currently being helped by steroids. Then recently lots of pee accidents and pain with his arthritis which prompted the most recent vet visit.

The diagnosis was a surprise, as they had initially been looking for problems with his kidneys. Needless to say, we’re so sad. We’ve only had a day to really wrap our heads around it, but have decided that chemo isn’t an option. The vet has suggested he has 1-3 months (and agrees that Chemo wouldn’t be sensible).

An anti inflammatory drug called Piroxicam is an option, however the potential side effects may outweigh the benefits, as he also suffers
with gastrointestinal issues and kidney disease (diagnosed on Friday too).

He is on Pardale painkillers, and vet has upped his dose a wee bit to try and help him. We just want to manage his pain for as long as possible before kindly saying goodbye. I thought we might have had a while longer but this morning there has been blood in his urine. He is still happy to go on walks and eat treats. How will I know when it is time? I know he’ll skip all the way down to the vets and be wagging his tail as he gets all the attention and he will have no idea what’s happening and I just don’t know how I’m going to be able to deal with that. It’s just so sad . Any advice much appreciated.

thank you

It’s so tough being in this position but I’m confident you’ll know when it’s time.
One thing to remember is better a day too early than a day too late.
I ruminated for a few days prior to arranging having my lovely girl PTS but deep down I knew it was time.

I didn’t want to read and run. I’ve had dogs my whole life and I totally totally get it - it’s so very hard.

I agree with the poster above that it is better a day too early than a day too late.

Can you plan for a final few really lovely days with him, taking him to his favourite places and feeding him his favourite treats, and lots of snuggles?

Our last dog (also a rescue) had similar issues and we gave her a really wonderful last week. Like you described, when we took her to the vet she was excited to see him (loved all the attention!), tail wagging and in the very moments before she went to sleep we were hand-feeding her treats (chicken bites - her favourite). I was so upset I could hardly speak to the vet afterwards. However she had an absolutely lovely, peaceful end, gently slipping into sleep surrounded by love and her favourite foods. Which was so much more preferable than not being able to get her up (she had had a few falls) and having to do it whilst she was in a state / having a bad day / confused and in pain.

It’s the most upsetting thing in the world (and I felt so much guilt at the time) but the pain does eventually pass and now I look back on our time together with happiness, and I don’t regret making that awful decision to take her to the vet before it became too late for her to be so comfortable. And I am glad that she had no idea what was happening - I think that’s a blessing although it feels really really hard in the moment.

How wonderful that you have given your lovely dog such a lovely and happy home - rescues are the best. I really am so very sorry xx

I honestly think you know when it’s time, I have with my cats - and much better to be able to plan a time when your lovely dog isn’t in pain or distress than for it to be an emergency.

I remember my lovely cat had lymphoma, was not in pain but slowing down. I was working away and my DH phoned me to say he thought it was time, I drove straight home while he contacted the vet. I got home to find my boy curled up in his favourite spot in the house. He died about 20 minutes after arrived, curled up on my lap. I always think he waited to say goodbye.

All that as a way of saying I think animals do have a sense of their own about when it’s time, and have a way of letting us know that they’re done.

♥️ your dog knew she was loved to the very end. I agree with taking to their favourite places eg a beach, lots of snuggles and attention and feeding their favourite treats to give them the best last week you possibly can give them.

I always try to remember that animals have no understanding of tomorrow but only now and how they feel. They won't know that tomorrow they may have less (or more) pain or a better day and only understand how they feel now. It's our responsibility to ensure that their now is good and if not, it's time, now.

When our dog was diagnosed with kidney disease the vet said he might have a couple of months but to keep a close eye on him. Within a couple of days we knew it was going to happen much quicker so we booked a vet to come to the house a few days later. In the days before the vet came I gave him (or tried) to give him the food he liked, ice cream, steak, hot dog and cheese. He ate little amounts but was still wanting cuddles and wagging his tail when he saw you.
I totally agree with others a day too early is better than too late.

It’s the hardest thing but being there and being the last thing they see helps them and you.
Sorry you’re going through this.

Thank you everyone for your kind responses. It’s just so sad isn’t it, but how lucky we have all been to know and love our special pets ❤️

It’s so hard but letting a pet go when it’s time is a final act of love, selflessly ensuring they don’t suffer unnecessarily.

I know it goes without saying, but have a chat with your vet. Blood in urine could be a few things and not necessarily to do with his cancer.
But then you always want to avoid a situation where the tumour ruptures and you rush him to the vets to be PTS in crisis mode. A horrible scenario all round, and why it is best to say goodbye when things are better rather than when they are awful.

My dogs love the vet and muddypup1 wagged his tail when the vet plus nurse came to the house to PTS.

I agree with this. With our previous dogs, we worried that we'd pts too early. But with our last one, she'd been diagnosed with cancer (tumour in her chest) and we were told she had a few months left.

Two months later, she seemed OK - perhaps a bit slower - but one day I had my hand on her chest and realised her heartbeat was so fast I couldn't count it. The vet told us to bring her in - and told us it had to be NOW. She said "She's going to drown in the fluid on her lungs, I can't let you take her away."

It was devastating to think we HADN'T known it was time.

PS we do have another dog now. She's BONKERS!

Thanks again all.

How did you actually make the appointment? I’ve tried calling a couple times now and end up hanging up before it even rings. I can’t bring myself to do it or say the words.

God I’m usually very strong and matter of fact but this is absolutely awful.

Thanks again everybody for taking the time to post it really means a lot ❤️

Making the call is the hardest part for me. Thinking of you x

Can you send an email @987654321abc?
I was the same, I couldn't speak.
Thinking of you, it is the very hardest of times.

So sorry Op, it’s the toughest thing we have to do.

When it was my boy’s time, I dropped by the surgery to talk to the receptionist. But if that’s too much for you, can you email, tell them what you need and ask them to call you ?

I know we could have carried on a bit longer, but I am comfortable that I did my best by him. I think you will know when the time is right 💐

I didn't use a vet but chose a private company (my children are both ASD and needed to be with her but I couldn't face taking all of us to the vets). I made the call through sobs. It's really hard but it needed doing.

It's the toughest decision and the hardest thing to do, but the decision must 100% be the right one for your dear dog.
We knew with our Stan, he'd had enough and showed us with his eyes and manner. The vet agreed but, at just 5yrs old, it's the worst thing ever. Make sure you stay with them while it happens, you don't want them dying alone in a room full of strangers, looking around for you. You owe them that much. We took Stan's brother Ollie in with us too so he'd hopefully understand that Stan was gone and maybe wouldn't pine so much. They were incredibly close, inseparable really.
Two months later I still shed tears, I'm beyond heartbroken 💔

I booked it online as I couldn't face calling the vet/going in. We used a company that came to our house rather than our usual vet as my boy hated the vets so would have been very stressed if we took him there, which was the very last thing I wanted for him.
I also booked a cremation for him and had to call the lady to arrange, I sobbed all the way through the call but she was amazing and was the same when we took him to her for the cremation.

We said goodbye to our boy Oscar yesterday. I am just devastated but it was the right thing to do. He went to sleep peacefully in my arms wrapped in his favourite blanket.

We will miss him every single day ❤️

So sorry to hear that but it sounds like it was the right time for him,
You will miss him him, I still do, but we can now remember the good times and it doesn’t hurt as much.
Try and look after yourself and it will get a little bit easier each day that goes by.

Stan was beautiful. Boxers are amazing. xxx

Sorry to read your update, but it sounds like it was the very kindest decision.

I still miss my beautiful boy every day, and I think I always will. But I have some very lovely memories. ❤️❤️🐾🐾

So very sorry xx

I am so very sorry. It is a dreadful decision to make, but the last kindness for a much loved pet.💐