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Original poster

Would a vet euthanise if they thought it was too soon?

45 replies

Poppingby · 01/10/2026 21:58

Had my lovely old boy put to sleep today. There were more procedures and tests we could have tried, but he was so miserable and poorly and hated the vet so much and I just couldn't do it to him in the end. But now I'm worried I should have given him more time or maybe he would have recovered really well if we'd tried something else. The vet didn't hesitate when we said we thought he'd had enough. Would she have said something if she thought we were too hasty?

OP posts:
NormalityIsOverrated · 01/10/2026 21:59

You absolutely did the right thing. Condolences from me.

krustykittens · 01/10/2026 22:00

She absolutely would have. Sometimes there is no point putting en elderly animal through more tests and treatment. It can be invasive and painful for very little gain. I have no doubt you did the right thing. I am so sorry, it is so painful when they leave us. xx

Sewingbeedamned · 01/10/2026 22:01

they are usually non committal but I think they might make suggestions if they thought there was more that could be done. It sounds like you made the thoughtful and kind choice for your beloved old fellow. It’s so hard, but you did the right thing.

BrickBuilt · 01/10/2026 22:01

Oh bless you - you’ve done your lovely boy the ultimate kindness in letting him go. Please don’t feel guilty; you’re the one who knew him best and understood him the most

TheNavyDog · 01/10/2026 22:02

I’m so sorry for your loss. I have been in your position twice, you do wonder when the right time is, but if your boy was miserable then you did the right thing, the most compassionate thing you could have done. Stretching it out would have been worse for you and him. Think of the good times and all you brought each other. X

catzrulz · 01/10/2026 22:02

You did the right thing, you know your dog.
It's better a day early than a day too late.
Sending hugs to you.

SmallandSpanish · 01/10/2026 22:03

I don’t think they would put an animal to sleep too early. I worried about that too but the vet didn’t even question it when my girl could walk any longer and was becoming incontinent. Yes she could have lived another day but her quality of life was so diminished. Try to see it as a kindness. You made a very hard decision with the most loving intentions xx

AInightingale · 01/10/2026 22:04

I am very sorry. Vets know animals best and given that many tend to push excessive tests and treatments on very old sick animals, she must have thought he had really reached the end. It is a wretched experience, but he isn't in pain or miserable anymore. 💐

SpringSunshines · 01/10/2026 22:04

You were very brave for your old dog. As a caring owner when you know it’s too much for them to go on, then you are right. The vet would definitely have helped you know it was important to try other things if that was a reasonable route to take. Sorry for your loss.

babyproblems · 01/10/2026 22:04

The vet very likely agreed with you or they would have suggested other avenues and spoken to you about it all.
Please let go of the guilt - you did the right thing. It’s a real kindness to offer them a peaceful end with you there together. Read that again.
big hug from me. I’ve had many senior dogs who I’ve trodden that road with and it’s very very hard - remember the nice times and the lovely life you gave/shared.
I missed my first so much when he passed, I adopted another. Now I’m on no.6 & 7!

It really is a kindness to offer a pain free, peaceful end. We don’t even offer it to people… it’s a selfless decision to make and comes from a place of true love.
big hug to you @Poppingby xoxo

Shatteredallthetimelately · 01/10/2026 22:05

You have done the right thing, you chose what's best for your pet.

Better a week to early than a day too late.

AgentPidge · 01/10/2026 22:05

Our vet told us that people usually wait about two weeks later than they should. Certainly that was the case with our ddog, but DH couldn't face it until it was obvious that ddog was suffering. Sounds as if you did the right thing.

LilyForrest · 01/10/2026 22:06

So sorry for your loss. You have absolutely done the right thing. I know that my vet wouldn't do this if they thought it was too soon & I'm sure yours would have said something if that had been the case. Sometimes our furbabies are treated with more compassion than we are. 🌈🐾

PrettyFox · 01/10/2026 22:07

I went through the exactly same in the summer. There were more tests we could have done but our cat was in such a distress (respiratory) and so scared that I just didn’t want to put him through that. Particularly when there was a big chance of a bad prognosis anyway. The vet agreed it was the right decision as soon as we voiced it. Be kind to you - it’s never an easy decision but must of the times is the right one.

Original poster
Poppingby · 01/10/2026 22:07

Thanks everyone. I'm missing having him curled up on the sofa in the crook of my knee this evening😪.

OP posts:
FluffMagnet · 01/10/2026 22:10

I often think the reverse is true, and people are given options that are hypothetically possible, but do not benefit the animal. You made a brave decision and took the hurt on behalf of your boy. Be kind to yourself OP, it sounds as though you made the right call.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 01/10/2026 22:21

We had options to extend our cat’s life when she was diagnosed with intestinal lymphoma, but the prognosis was poor and treatments were not curative. We opted to give her a lovely week then pts, based on the fact she found going to the vet horribly distressing, and being hauled there weekly for chemotherapy would have been miserable for her.

On the day of our final visit I was an absolute mess and said to our vet, would she do the treatment if it was her cat? She said no, and that we were doing the brave, kind thing. I think you did too, OP - even though it’s the very worst thing.

Giraffehaver · 01/10/2026 22:28

Just over a month ago we had our beautiful Maya PTS after a lot of consultation.
She went before the needle went in.
It's horrible and heartbreaking for you and us but the kindest thing we can do...the last service we can give them. Your baby was tired and in pain.
You did the right thing 🫶

Weirdpig · 01/10/2026 22:44

I've been surprised to find that vets haven't suggested we pts, but then when we've brought it up, they have seemed almost relieved. I'm guessing that some owners get challenging if the vet raises it.

theblame · 01/10/2026 22:52

It sounds as though you knew Flowers
I let my cat go what people thought was a bit early by weeks, months maybe. But I didn’t want my last memory to be him in pain rushing to an emergency vet. Looking back on photos some time later I could see how frail he was and it was the right time

WhatYouEgg · 01/10/2026 22:58

You’ve done the right brave thing for your darling boy, as hard and as painful as it is. I am so sorry for your loss.

I went through it with my old girl a couple of years ago. We were at the vets a lot to manage the onset of her high blood pressure, then hyperthyroidism, then going blind. She was still ticking along ok and happy in herself most of the time. Then the vet discovered a lump in her stomach the size of a tennis ball. I could see in the vet’s eyes what that meant. She made a half-hearted mention about surgery etc but we both knew that it would be cruel and not worth it. Instead I gave her a lovely week and then took her to be PTS before she deteriorated further. One of the hardest things I have ever done and I probably could have got her through a few more days but who knows what pain she might have been going through and hiding. I am sure that if the vet disagreed with me she would have pushed for more treatment as she is a compassionate woman who was fond of my cantankerous difficult old lady cat, but she didn’t.

Favouritefruits · 02/10/2026 19:06

No, you did the right thing. Those tests and things you talk about is medical torture for cats, they don’t understand. You did the right thing for your cat!

fredflintthethird · 02/10/2026 19:13

Better a day too soon than a day too late

babyproblems · 02/10/2026 21:52

thinking of you @Poppingby
I think often when we are in the thick of the worst part of old age with them, there is a gradual decline with these serious moments dotted in between and it’s quite difficult to step back and see how bad they’ve actually become; and dogs really don’t show pain etc until it’s really bothering them. When I’m in this situation now; I know if I find myself wondering regularly ‘is now the right time - is this the lowest point of no return?’ That it is the right time. I agree with the pp above who said her vet mentioned people normally leave it about two weeks too late. It takes a while to process the facts and come to terms with the choice. Hope you’re ok; do something nice to celebrate your friend and the love you have in your heart for them. Plant a tree or a nice hardy shrub or something. It seems like a small detail now but as the time passes it will bring you happiness to see it and remember xxxx

rachel734 · 02/10/2026 22:41

My condolences. It is so hard to recognize the exact right time. One thing that struck me with my last kitty was that, at a certain point, she started to seem scared. She survived a bout of cancer with aplomb, but 15 months later, it recurred, she had a seizure and lost control of one of her hind legs, and she just seemed terribly frightened about what was happening to her. The cat's emotional state is part of her health; you were right to take that into account.

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