I agree and it depends on the relationship you have... I've lost a parent (my dad) and two dogs. I've had a much harder time losing the two dogs, especially the last one. Of course I was a lot closer to the dogs than I was my father. Not saying it's that way for everyone but it is for some.
Pet Euthanasia
- Thread starter cyclonefreak5
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I agree and it depends on the relationship you have... I've lost a parent (my dad) and two dogs. I've had a much harder time losing the two dogs, especially the last one. Of course I was a lot closer to the dogs than I was my father. Not saying it's that way for everyone but it is for some.
My dad is actually the vet in my hometown, I have never actually had to put one of my own animals to sleep, but have been in the room for several. It sucks every time. Your call on whether or not to be there, but from others I have talked to being there helped more than not. I will also say that if it is an animal that has been going to the same vet for a long time, it is hard on the vet too. Thoughts and prayers...
My girl is the one in my avatar. She is 11 and has had hips and joints. She has one torn achillies as well, which the vet said would be impossible to fix. Luckily, she is actually doing quite well though all things considered, and her internal organs seem to be all good. However, I know that the day is coming that I will have to say goodbye to her. I got her my senior year of college. She lived with me on Knapp st actually. I can't even fathom how hard that day is going to be.
Count me in the crying at work crowd.
Count me in the crying at work crowd.
This thread is precisely why we only have fish in this household. Lot easier to flush one down the toilet than deal with putting a "family member" down.
I had to put down my 18 year old cat this year. Really struggled with whether I wanted to be there when they did it. In the end I was present and glad I was there for her. It was really pretty peaceful. Actually for me making the call that I was coming in was the toughest part. The only regret I have is not keeping the ashes. Wish I would of planted a tree or bush over them or something. I think that would of been cool.
I've never seen on of my pets put down, but I was standing 40 feet away when my dog got ran over. It had just got done snowing, so he couldn't tell where the road started. I still have a picture of him in my wallet, everytime I look at it I get choked up. It's a terrible feeling, but it's something every pet owner goes through, whether it's putting it down or some other cause.
lol, after I started letting the tears flow a bit, my newest dig came right to my side. Almost made it worse.
Found this article not too long ago about how to treat our four legged best friend in their last days. Cool idea to help get through this.
Jon Katz's Going Home: Spend one, last, perfect day with your dying dog. - Slate Magazine
Jon Katz's Going Home: Spend one, last, perfect day with your dying dog. - Slate Magazine
Took him to the vet this afternoon after feeding him a whole pack of hot dogs. It went very well and I find great comfort in knowing that his last moments were peaceful and in the company of those who loved him the most. I would have hated myself if I had waited too long, only to come home one day and find that he had died all alone while I was away. It definitely sucked, but i'm glad I was there with him. Thanks for sharing the stories everyone.
You are not alone bro, obviously there are lots of others who have gone thru the same thing. In all my years here, I think this is the best thread there has been. I wish you well. You did the right thing.
Basically the same story as you. 18 year old cat as well. Making the call was nearly impossible. Started ok with telling her that I will be taking a cat in and leaving without him. Then I couldn't complete a sentence. Had to put the phone down for a bit. He was practically a ghost. His personality completely vanished. Litterbox use was spotty and he would get stuck in corners or in very tight spaces, unable to move. It was like he didn't know how to back up. Pets would always have that spot in the house where they preferred to sleep. Its sad looking at those spots and not seeing them there.
Well, it sure sounds like you did the right thing. Sometimes it seems like doing the right thing is never the easy thing to do. You're definitely right that it sucks but I'm glad to hear that you were there with him. I've gone through it twice and I've always thought it was something I needed to do for my dogs. Both of them gave me a lot of good times, laughs and love and at the end, it was my turn to be there for them.
Best wishes to you through this and take comfort that you will have many good memories.
The first time we put a dog down was when I was 7. He had a tumor that had gotten so bad he could barely walk. I wasn't quite old enough to really understand what was happening leading up to it, but the dog had issues with needles, too. He was whimpering/yelping when the vet put the need in, and I started bawling.
The next time we put one down was my senior year of high school, just after Thanksgiving. He had a twisted stomach, and we didn't realize it soon enough. It was the middle of the night, and the vet told us it might be little more than indigestion (though he did say it could have been a twisted stomach, too). We waited a while longer to see if it passed, and it didn't. We were preparing for an emergency surgery at the vet's office at like 2 a.m., and they could tell that there wasn't any chance of saving him (don't remember how, but they knew).
I held him while the drug took effect, crying like a baby the whole time. Easily the most painful experience of my life.
The next time we put one down was my senior year of high school, just after Thanksgiving. He had a twisted stomach, and we didn't realize it soon enough. It was the middle of the night, and the vet told us it might be little more than indigestion (though he did say it could have been a twisted stomach, too). We waited a while longer to see if it passed, and it didn't. We were preparing for an emergency surgery at the vet's office at like 2 a.m., and they could tell that there wasn't any chance of saving him (don't remember how, but they knew).
I held him while the drug took effect, crying like a baby the whole time. Easily the most painful experience of my life.
INSIST ON STAYING WITH YOUR DOG THROUGOUT. I KNOW ITS HARD, BUT ITS TRULY THE LAST ACT OF LOVE YOU CN SHOW HIM/HER. DONT LET THEM PASS ALONE.
While you can celebrate a life and its contribution to you or your family, that last day really sucks.
Plan on crying a lot if you are human. Maybe in the car on the way home, maybe alone by yourself. But don't do it in front of kids.
Pets are to be outlived. The goldfish and the turtle are easy to replace and remembered fondly. A cat or a dog who bond with their human partners are really freaking hard to get over.
It's supposed to be that way. Otherwise they wouldn't mean so much to us - and us to them. You provided a great life for them and they gave you undying love.
Remember the good times and know that they are no longer in pain.
My heart goes out to you.
Plan on crying a lot if you are human. Maybe in the car on the way home, maybe alone by yourself. But don't do it in front of kids.
Pets are to be outlived. The goldfish and the turtle are easy to replace and remembered fondly. A cat or a dog who bond with their human partners are really freaking hard to get over.
It's supposed to be that way. Otherwise they wouldn't mean so much to us - and us to them. You provided a great life for them and they gave you undying love.
Remember the good times and know that they are no longer in pain.
My heart goes out to you.
We had two dogs when I was growing up. My parents had both before having kids. One was this big, three-legged dog that my dad had rescued. She almost always stayed outside, and sometimes wandered off for days. We had to put her down first, probably when I was 7 or 8. I wasn't as close to her, so it didn't hit me too hard. The other was this tiny ball of fur that never left my mom's side. She was probably 13 or so when she started having trouble moving her back legs. I remember being a complete mess as we drove up to the vet to see what they thought was wrong.
They gave us some medicine to give to her, and it helped for awhile. But things got worse, and my parents finally decided it wasn't fair to her to let her keep suffering. There had literally never been a time in my life that she hadn't been around...it took a long, long time for anything to start to seem normal at all again. My mom and that dog were so close...she coped with it 1000x better than I ever could.
We also have two 15 year old cats we got when my sister and I were little. They're still healthy and don't act any differently than they did a decade ago. Hopefully it stays that way for at least a few more years. I try not to think about how hard it will be when the time comes...
By far the hardest for me will be when the dog my parents have now dies. We got her awhile after we had to put down our first dog. I was the one who picked her out, and the one who named her. We were at the shelter, and they had just had her out of her kennel. The person walking her asked if we wanted to see her, and let her off her leash. She ran straight for me and jumped into my arms. It was obvious she was supposed to be our dog. Sometimes she still acts like she did when she was a puppy, but you can tell she's getting old. Used to, she could hear the car pull into the driveway and would be at the door jumping and barking before you were even out of the car, so excited for you to be home. Now, sometimes she doesn't notice until you open the door. But now that I'm away at college, she's still the first one I see when I get home. It wouldn't be home without her there to greet me.
It's been a long time since something made me cry as much as reading this thread and typing this post.
They gave us some medicine to give to her, and it helped for awhile. But things got worse, and my parents finally decided it wasn't fair to her to let her keep suffering. There had literally never been a time in my life that she hadn't been around...it took a long, long time for anything to start to seem normal at all again. My mom and that dog were so close...she coped with it 1000x better than I ever could.
We also have two 15 year old cats we got when my sister and I were little. They're still healthy and don't act any differently than they did a decade ago. Hopefully it stays that way for at least a few more years. I try not to think about how hard it will be when the time comes...
By far the hardest for me will be when the dog my parents have now dies. We got her awhile after we had to put down our first dog. I was the one who picked her out, and the one who named her. We were at the shelter, and they had just had her out of her kennel. The person walking her asked if we wanted to see her, and let her off her leash. She ran straight for me and jumped into my arms. It was obvious she was supposed to be our dog. Sometimes she still acts like she did when she was a puppy, but you can tell she's getting old. Used to, she could hear the car pull into the driveway and would be at the door jumping and barking before you were even out of the car, so excited for you to be home. Now, sometimes she doesn't notice until you open the door. But now that I'm away at college, she's still the first one I see when I get home. It wouldn't be home without her there to greet me.
It's been a long time since something made me cry as much as reading this thread and typing this post.
I can't make it through this entire thread. I've got two dogs that are both coming up on 10 years and are starting to show signs of decreasing health. My sympathies to everyone, because there are few things tougher than this.
