| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 2/19/2006 8:47:46 AM | Ever read "Of Mice and Men?"
hey man, I am not saying it is right for everyone. But it is quite common in rural communities. | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 2/19/2006 9:13:37 AM |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_euthanasia:
Pets are almost always euthanized via lethal injection, typically a very high dose of a barbiturate anaesthetic such as pentobarbital. Unconsciousness, respiratory and cardiac arrest follow rapidly, usually within 30 seconds to several minutes later. Pet owners generally consider it to be a quick and peaceful death.
And how is shooting a dog any more inhumane than the above? You guys are being tough on OTB - if there were no vets, you would be forced to shoot your dogs. Once, it was how it was done. It isn't for the meek, that is for certain. The grief that comes with either death form is going to come regardless. I can imagine that in preparation; digging a grave, shooting your dog, the moment you have that gun in your hand and aim it, you are already grieving. The tears are going to flow freely after that. | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 2/19/2006 9:44:59 AM | ^^So true. is why it is easier to let a professional put the pet down..it must be hard for Vets to do this regardless they do it practically everyday of thier career.
Putting my dog down last week was hard now in a matter of weeks my 18 year old cat will be next. But as my vet said, think of the long healthy life they lived with you and be happy for that. | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 2/19/2006 5:18:00 PM | | man, what ever your method, it is a sad thing. I don't wish it on anyone. And Diggy is right. I don't feel any special pride or greatness as a result of having to do what I did, and I only did it once. But it was instant. No driving, no long trip to the vet and HOME, and the last thing mine knew was that he was eating ice cream and quite happy. Frankly I dont know how a vet does it, because he or she would also have to deal with the grieving owners too. And if they are like me they were pretty much an emotional wreck for a little while. | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 2/27/2006 9:53:22 PM | | shooting can cause pain if you are not a brilliant marksman,a needle is a calm,quiet way for an old beloved pet to fall asleep in your arms-I worked as a vets assistant and never will condone the Old Yeller way...just shoot'em...sure it's CHEAPER...but cruel. | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 2/28/2006 7:03:31 AM | Hey 0-t-b,
Just let your wife (or ur family), whatever, do the same to you when your dying day comes to you!  | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 2/28/2006 8:02:57 AM | If it needs to be put down, do it yourself. It's your dog, and your responsibility.
That's how I see it. Paying someone else to do what should be your job is just crazy in my own opinion.
It will, of course be hard, very hard. And it should be. But as the dog's owner it is your job to do it. Or you can let it suffer. It's your choice. That is the responsibility of pet ownership. | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 2/28/2006 8:13:36 AM | | The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) has stated that a well placed .22 caliber bullet is every bit as humane as lethal injection. Easy to do emotionally? NO | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 3/9/2007 10:15:10 PM | I know exactly what it feels like to put down a beloved pet. My family had to put down our 10 year old dog 4 days before Christmas. She had cancer and her quality of life had dropped tremendously. She wasn't eating and couldn't see. She was always bumping into things and she even fell down the stairs to go potty many times because she didn't see them. We've gotten used to her not being here but it's still hard sometimes thinking about her and what a wonderful dog she was.  | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 3/10/2007 6:15:52 AM | The price we pay for the love we get from our pets ain't the vet bills or the food, it's the parting at the end.
OP, I can truly empathize. I had to put my 14-yr-old dog down last summer, and a 16-yr-old cat in January.
I've had several other pets over the years that I've had to give that "last-ride" to the vet's office.
Just think of the good times, and all the love you shared with your pet, and remember those times as she closes her eyes for the final time.
In return for her love, you owe her a painless passing.
It's hard, but try to hold your tears until she's gone. She should be allowed to go without feeling that she's caused you distress.
Hang in there. My heart goes with you. | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 3/10/2007 7:13:45 AM | my friend will have to have her 5-year-old paint euthanized this week. no one seemed to figure out his problem, but for over a year, he can't put weight on his left front foot. he had to go on stall rest, with bute and gastro-guard. for over a year. specialists kept telling her that he would recover, but he keeps getting worse. it hurts to see her get her hopes up, only to have his pain continue.
i told her that, had she not purchased him, he may have ended up neglected, abused or worse. she gave him shelter, food, clean water, attention and affection ~ protecting him from a much worse fate.
i think that these creatures enter our lives for a reason. once they teach us what we need to learn, they move on.
we need to practice gratitude for these lessons. | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 3/10/2007 8:25:18 AM | When my 17 year old Lab/Golden Charlotte was at the end of her life, she suffered a stroke. She collapsed, and could not use her back legs. Her eyes were twitching back and forth (a sign of brain damage) . She wasn't in pain, but her time had come - as it does for all of us.
I spent the day caring for her, and making her comfortable, while my ex-wife was at work. As soon as she returned home, we took her to the vet. I made sure that we made that last journey as pleasant as possible. The three of us, including the vet, worked together to ease her journey. We laughed a bit (so hard to do) , and tried to make it as stress free as possible. There would be all the time in the world for tears afterwards.
He gave her an injection to relax her, and gave us some time to say our goodbyes and show our affection. About ten minutes later, he returned for the final shot.
She died in my arms, comfortably. The last thing she experienced was me giving her a kiss on her nose, and saying "God speed".
I know I did what was right, and have no regrets. The vet agreed totally with the decision. Her time had come to move on.
That's love, and it's never easy to do. If you love something, one cannot accept it's suffering. Doing that is just being selfish. | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 3/10/2007 9:49:26 AM | Montreal Guy, you had my eyes filling up with tears, reading your post.
Kissing her nose and wishing her God speed.
Her passing was so peaceful because you loved her so much.
I have two large dogs, they are both nine years old.
I try very hard to not think about having to say my final good bye to them.
But realistically I know the day is not far enough away.
Especially with my shepard, I can see the aging process is taking its toll.
I do not want to say good bye to her, ever. But I know because she is my friend
and my family, I will do for her what is always unbarable to think about.
I will take her to that last vist to the vets and hold her big beautiful head in my
hands, kiss her nose and wish her God Speed.
We do it because we love them and we owe them a peaceful journey, for all the love and devotion they gave us for their not long enough lifetime.
And we owe them, to end it when the pain and sickness of age, is too hard for them to deal with. If we had our way, we would keep them here for as long as they could.
But to let them suffer for our own sake of having them near, is not returning the unconditional love they gave us all those years.
Sorry OP, I know it has got to be one of the hardest things us animal lovers have to do, to say good bye to our best friends. | |
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kk42
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Joined: 1/18/2006
Msg: 41 | |
| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 3/10/2007 10:29:17 AM | | So sorry to hear that. I know how difficult it is myself. I don't know if there is even a way to prepare for such a thing except for if there is any suffering, you know you would be doing the right thing. I wish you luck and am sorry for you. | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 3/10/2007 11:04:57 AM | I really feel for you.....genuinely....you will know when the time is right .... when you can't stand to see the pet suffer anymore, that'll make your decision for you.
It's the saddest thing to bear because they are so dependent on us. | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 3/10/2007 2:08:09 PM | We had to put down the love of my love on October 26, 2005. We'd had CW since I was 5 years old and he was 17 when we put him down. It was ultimately the worst day of my life. Absolutely the worst day of my life.
He'd been going downhill for a while. He'd been blind for about 7 years but never impacted his quality of life, he just very quickly adapted to it. Then suddenly one night he ended up getting fluid in his lungs and almost died on us, after that my poor dog was never the same. He became very lethargic, couldn't control his bladder too much and didn't eat much. So we kept him locked in the kitchen, forgave his accidents and did our best to keep him fed. Near the end he wasn't eating any dog food so I tried cheese, scrambled eggs, baby food, soup, gravy.. anything to keep something in his system. He finally gave up on eating.
Then one night he had problems standing up on his own. I'd have to help him and even then he'd be wobbly. I stayed up for almost 24 hours with him trying to make sure he was comfortable. Finally the second night as I laid beside him it hit me that we were going to have to put him down. He wasn't there anymore. He was in obvious pain and there was just a shell of a body left. He was so thin from not eating and just couldn't do anything for himself anymore. I sobbed my heart out for ages. Just sobbed.
Finally the next morning we took him to the vet. Apparently his kidneys had shut down and all the waste that normally would be processed through there was going through his blood. He would eventually have a massive siezure. There was definitely no choice at that point. My dad held me as I sobbed and caressed my baby's head as we waited for the shot to do it's trick. Even my father, who's normally as emotional as a rock was crying. It was awful. I never ever ever want to go through that experience again. We took his collar home and had him cremated. Now he sits in our wall unit and his collar is part of a photo collage I made of him. Even a year later it hurts really badly. I'm crying as I write this. My house is filled with pictures of him so I never forget.
But, I do know I made the right decision. My dog told me that a few days later. I had a dream where he was in a field, running with that happy dog smile on his face and playing with a bunch of other dogs. It was him telling me, it's ok, I'm alright, I'm not mad at you, I'm not in pain, I'm happy now. You did the right thing. Thank you. He was sending me a message. It was upsetting but calming at the same time.
It will be a long time before I get another dog again. I want one, but I'm also very much afraid of going through this experience again. I can state without a doubt that it definitely was the worst day, the worst experience of my life. No dog will ever be as quirky and loving as him. He was my best friend for almost my entire life. I still miss him constantly. | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 3/10/2007 6:17:22 PM | i had a black lab until recently, she was my best friend. she ahd a thyroid problem and got a pill twice a day for that, she had diabetes and i had to give her a needle twice a day for that as well. she hated the needle, but she had such trust in me she just sat there and let me do what i had to do. she went blind as a result of the diabetes and would only walk outside if i had her on a lead, until she was blind i never used a lead. didnt matter what it was, she had so must trust in me, it was amazing. when her arthritis got so bad that she was in pain all the time, i knew what i had to do. i took her to the vet and had her put down. i felt as if i betrayed her trust, that is what killed me. to this day, i have a picture of her on my fridge. i have had 3 dogs, but none had the trust and the love that she had.
i will always love you sasha...i miss you my friend. | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 2/3/2008 5:10:59 PM | Had to say goodbye to my 17yr old Belgian Shepherd a few weeks ago.. hardest thing I'd ever done. Thought I'd share the following as I know it will relate to all of you..
Goodbye Old Friend
Please forgive me Mischa
My old and trusted hound
I've watched you sit and suffer
Without uttering a sound
You've been such a loyal friend to me
Brought me comfort every day
But I cannot continue
To see you suffer in this way.
The next time that I walk you
You won't return back home
But you'll be in a better place
Where freely you can roam
It will break my heart old girl
To take you to the vet
So please, forgive me Mischa
My dear beloved pet. x | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 2/3/2008 5:44:40 PM | | I would never considering shooting a pet any more than I would one of my elderly parents. When my 16 year old beagle-mix was sick I went to several vets and they all said the same thing but I couldn't accept it so they put her on steroids. I regret it in hindsight but when she started to have fluid in her lungs I finally had a vet come over and put her down. It was heartbreaking. I loved that dog as much as any person I've ever known so I cried for a month when she got sick and six months after she died. | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 2/3/2008 6:03:45 PM | My friend just had to put his dog down.
She was an amazing German Shepard cross, one of the best dogs I've ever had the pleasure to meet in my life. Perfectly obedient, loving, and just a wonderful animal.
He'd spent about 3,500 dollars for operations when she developed cancer. A little over a month later that same cancer returned massively.
As I told him, he did all he could do. That partnership that began so many years ago required that he try - and he did.
She's in God's hands now. She was put down last Saturday.
Everyone that knew her and loved her will feel that loss for the rest of their lives. It just won't be the same walking down my street and not going over to have "a talk" with her.
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 2/3/2008 6:22:55 PM | It's always tough putting down a beloved pet. They give nothing but unconditional love, and I think they hope that when the time comes, we will be strong enough to do what's right. I had a German Shepherd we had to put down. He had cancer and there was nothing they could do. It was the worst day of my life to date, but I'm glad that I was there with him when he passed on. I couldn't let him leave this world alone. After all the love he gave me over the years, it was an honor to be by his side in his time of need. I kept telling him he was a good boy, and it wouldn't hurt anymore. He gave me kisses til the end. My ex was too upset to be present but she knew I was going to be there, and he wouldn't be alone. He died in my arms, it seemed peaceful. No jerking, no reaction, he was there, and then he was gone. God I cried a lot that day, and others, I even get tears building up as I type this. but as I've said before I'll take all the grief to know he isn't suffering any more. He lived a good long life, and is now able to run free, without any pain.
Sometimes I swear I can feel him around. That big head, his cold nose. I miss him every day.
If there is a Heaven, I know he will be waiting for me. Be strong, and know that you are not alone. | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 2/3/2008 8:58:50 PM | This topic sucks, my dog had to be put away yesterday and he was in the prime of his life only 3 =( ..... Some **stard shot him in the stomach and it made its just start to hang out but it didnt fully kill him. He was just standing there looking at me like WTF im going to die.
Dont bash me there was no way he was going to live he had already bled out alot and his guts where hanging out, couldnt exactly pick him up and take him to the vet so he could get put to sleep. I had to get the neighbor to come over and shot him in the head for me because i couldnt do it. I loved that Dog =( | |
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| Putting an old dog down...
Posted: 2/3/2008 11:29:54 PM | gah, im not good at words for this kind of situation...
All i can say is i know what you are going through and
Hug > Words | |
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