have any of you had to put one of your pets to sleep?(for medical reasons and how did you deal with it????????

Question

3 years ago i had to put my loving dog KAHLUA that i had for 17 years to sleep. while this may sound silly to those that dont like dogs or any animals. it was one of the hardest things i have ever done and i have seen plenty of death including war!!! my father died about a 3 years before and this hit me alot harder than his death did. i quess i feel quilty for having to basically kill one of the best friends i have ever had. any body else out there know what i mean?????????

Answer 1

Yes, it is very difficult even when you know you are doing what has to be done. It has been a little over a year since my miniature Schnauzer, Annie, was put down. She had been blind and deaf for awhile and then developed Cushing's Disease, which made her walk in tight circles for hours until she would drop from exhaustion. It is a kind of OCD, I think. She was just miserable, and had lost control of herself in the house and would then walk or lie in it. It was very hard for me. I took my younger dog, a little Pomeranian, along with us when we went to have Annie put to sleep, so that she would understand and not just wonder where her friend went. It seems to have worked. She is an only dog now, but pretty happy. Sorry for your loss, though.

Answer 2

Several, over the years, and it never stops being a heart wrenching situation. I had a cat years ago, his name was Boo-Boo, and he was dieing of a kidney problem. I had just become a single father and had left work to care for my son, so I had no money to take Boo-Boo to the vet. He became really sick, and was throwing up and passing blood (sorry for being graphic, but you need this for context). He was suffering badly, and I couldn't stand it. I put some catnip in his favorite blanket, and when he climbed inside, I wrapped him up, and took him into the bathroom and drowned him in a warm bath. It was an act of love, I know, and it was the right thing to do, as he may not have lived much longer, but it really hurt to do it, and although I don't regret my actions, I still wish it could have been different. I am sorry if this is a sad thing for you to hear, but I just wanted to share with you and to tell you that it was probably one of the hardest things I ever had to do in my life.

Answer 3

I had to put my best freind "Buddy" to sleep after he came up lame with hip displaysia. He was a beautiful shephard/ husky mix and as I stated he was my best friend. I know what you mean about the idea that the only way to help your friend was to take his life. It destroyed me for a long time. The best way that I had to get over him is to never forget him and leave little reminders around the house. A friend framed a picture of me and Buddy together and gave it to me for Christmas. It was the most thoughtful gift I've ever gotten and hangs on my wall to this very day. I also have his collar hanging on the coat rack in the hall. No dog will ever wear that collar again, just a little reminder that Buddy is still with me. I know your heart ache and I also know that it will heal. Remember all the wonderful times you had with your friend. Hope this helps. So sorry for your loss.

Answer 4

its the humane thing to do 17 is verry old i had to do the same thing but i dont feel guilty i no it was the right thing to do its peacefull no pain and they suffer no more mabie you should get another dog i think the loss of a loved one is much worse then doing the right thing for a pet of course youll never forget the dog but the fact that it lived 17 years is a blessing please focus on something else you have a great heart and the dog was verry lucky to be so loved and wouldnt want you to suffer ill bet he hurt everyday and could harley walk would you want to live that way you did the right thing if i ever die id like to come back as your dog and be loved so much as you loved your dog and not your father that you put jest after the dog.

Answer 5

I had a cat who developed liver cancer. The vet told me I could give her medication which would possibly shrink the tumor and prolong her life. I went along with it. I had to give her pills daily which she hated. She died anyway, alone at home when I was at work. She also suffered with pain the evening before she died. I had decided to come home from work and take her in to be euthanized, but she beat me to it. I felt very guilty that I had not taken the day off work, etc. I regret attempting to prolong her life through artificial (chemical) means. If I had it to do over, I would have had her euthanized as soon as I realized she was uncomfortable. As it is, she suffered needlessly. I would have insisted on holding her as she died. I think this is the most humane method. It is a hard decision, but I think it was worse for me and for her, having allowed her to get to the point of suffering, and knowing she died alone. Maybe I'm anthropomorphizing because I've heard pets actually prefer to be alone when they die. I don't know if I will ever get over her death. I still grieve over a pet I lost 30 years ago. I felt worse when my pets died than when my parents died. I don't know why that was, but I think it has to do with the fact that humans go through a much longer, slower decline. You have much more time to assimilate and get used to the idea of a human dying. With animals, its usually relatively rapid and you don't have much time to get used to the idea so it is harder to accept. Never underestimate the human-animal bond.

Answer 6

Dogs have become more like children to a lot of us.
I had to put my favorite Dane to sleep in 2001. We were so close that I still get depressed when I think about it. Lacey was in the final stages of bone cancer and in pain. Because I loved her so much, could not stand to see her in pain, she was lovingly helped to cross over. It is an act of love to put them to sleep. It still hurts, but I'm sure that you did the right thing for the right reason.

Answer 7

its VERY hard to say good bye to a dog that has been your best friend for so long.
Ive had to do this as well. my dog Cody, a Sheltie. he was 13, i was 15, he had been my dog since i was 3....he was my shadow, my best friend, he knew all my secret and he always was there for me. I've lost grandparents, and other loved ones...but there is something about a beloved dog...that goes farther than anything else. its a very special bond, that is so very strong it almost feels as if part of you has died as well.
in our "human" relationships we arent faced with the questions that we are when our pets die. we have to tell a vet to put a lethal drug into our pets to end their suffering...that is a HUGE thing to do, an even bigger thing to get over. with human family...that isn't the case, so we don't feel as responsible for that life as we do for our 4 legged family.
it was very hard for me to get over that picture of the vet humanely euthanizing my poor sick friend of 13 yrs...i knew it was best, but it hurt so bad to see him looking at me with those trusting eyes...full of loyalty and love. its still hard to think about it, and that was over a decade ago!
it just sux!!
just know that your dog is not in pain anymore! and that YOU helped stop that pain.

Answer 8

Yes i have lost a couple of my friends dogs and those dogs were sooo nice. i mean there was this one house that i whent to and i was scared of that dog. Well it has been lik 5 years sens she died but i stil miss her alot. Goood Luck!

Answer 9

exactly.. i have been there.... my dog tyson had 2 be put to sleep when he had cancer... he had surgery and two months later it came back.... we tried everything to help him... but we couldn't let him suffer... but think... he's in a better place now! it is a horrible experience but would u rather wake up to him lying dead in your house? i know i would never be able to handle that! because i love dogs!