New beginnings and letting go of your dog..?

Question

Nala is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever mix Brittany Spaniel. At 12 years of age she is slowing down. She has severe hip dysplasia and a severe heart murmur coupled with an underlining heart condition. She runs after the other pups when they bark and run out the dog door, ocassionally plays with the other pups, and is still eating a bit. However I know she is getting older, as of now she is being treated for the pain of her heart and hips. But saying good bye or letting go will be hard. I feel soon she will need to put down if she doesnt die first. Ive heard I will know when its her time, but I feel that within a few months her time will be limited..should I go with my thoughts, or wait it out? As for new beginnings Ive also heard that getting a puppy non resemblent to your previous helps in the passing. Needing time to grieve but not for too long. When should I get the new pup?

It seems I have failed to mention. I own 4 dogs. Two Border Collies, an ESS (English Springer Spaniel), and Nala. I feel they will suffer as much as I will. Its hard deciding when to get the new pup, whilst myself and the other pups are mourning, or before hand. There are four dogs, but two different packs. Kei and Harpoon (the two Borders), and Nala and Jasmine (Mutt and ESS). Jasmine is dog aggressive, and luckily was introduced to Nala at a young age, I feel this will be a big blow to her, Nala has been with her through it all (Jasmine is 7). Its rather hard to say if I should be choosing the pup I feel is right or I feel Jasmine will adapt to better..

Answer 1

If the dog is still alert, eating, and using the bathroom in the appropriate place, it probably still has some time left. If the dog was moaning in pain and simply laying on the floor all day, then I would say put it down. I would wait it out, until you feel Nala's quality of life is not worth the pain she might be going through or showing. She will let you know when it is her time.
Go for a few weeks without a dog and take your time in picking out a new one. Properly say goodbye to your previous before you jump into owning another.

Answer 2

My dog is gravely ill right now. However, she 's still eating and moves her bowel movement. But she is losing her hair, she is very slow and thin; her skin is a mess. She spends a lot of time in bed. She is still alert. But for some reason, she seems reserved and shy as if she knows what's going on. What a hard decision to make! I never had to face this kind of decision before. Boy, it's hard.

I know how you feel. I think you should listen to your heart. The animal will also let you know when it's time. They have a special way of conveying such feeling. In the meanwhile, spend time with her and give her as much love as you can. Unfortunately we have no control over these things. That's life. You should get a new dog perhaps a few months after you are done grieving. I don't know what I'll do yet. This dog is so special. I am in denial right now, hoping for a miracle.

Answer 3

Trust your instincts. You know your dog better than anyone else.

It took us about 3 months to be ready for a new dog. I wasn't even sure if I *was* ready for a new dog until I met Sarah. She's by no means a replacement for Princess, but I just love her, and now there will never be another dog that can replace her.

I still miss my big black mutt, but now that I have a big yellow mutt, I have someone else to take care of, yes, it is easier. And it's good for the other dogs, too. They grieve the loss of their friend, and I think having a new buddy makes them feel better, too. (I have multiple dogs, too. Four of them.)

I'll have you and Nala in my thoughts. I hope the rest of her time with you is as wonderful as the last 12 years have been.

Answer 4

You should't put your dog to sleep. When you do, the grief is alot worst than if your dog was to go on it's own. It's always better to wait it out because everything has a pourpose. God knows your only doing what you thing is right for your dog out of love, but you must not interfer with natures grand design. the only time you should proform a mercy killing is when something is going to die very soon and is in excrucitating unecessary pain

Answer 5

Sorry to here this. I've been through this in May. MY husky was 16 & I had no choice when I had to put her down. One day she was acting like a puppy (which she always did) & the next day started seizing. I took her to the vet cause of the seizrues (4 in 4 hrs last. The last 2 were 1/2 hr apart But the last one lasted 5 minutes). The vet told us that she has cancer & would continue to seize till she gave herself a stroke & died with in 24 Hours. Even then when I had no choice I had to let her go because of the pain she was in & she didn't have any quility of life. In Sept I noticed a stray puppy which I started feeding (she was skin & bones could see her ribs & backbone) after 2 weeks I was able to catch her. I rescued her when she was 6 weeks & now she is 6 months. She doesn't replace my other dog but she helps with the lonelyness & my house is no longer quiet! I will always LOVE my husky but I am also able to love my lab pup. I see alot of my other dog in my puppy! It's almost like my husky is here & saying everything is going to be ok.

As for letting go of ur dog think of it this way she will always be with u but do u want her to suffer or be in constant pain? I couldn't put my husky through that (even the last 24 hrs). She was too old for treatment & there was nothing either I or the vet could do for her but let her go & be in peace.

She was my daughter (all my animals are since I can't have children) & I miss her to this day & I Still feel like part of my heart is missing but @ the same time I'm glad she's @ peace & is back to acting like puppy plus when I die I know she will be waiting for me in haven! I was 11 when I rescued her from the shelter when she was 1 yr old & a day from being out to sleep from being @ the shelter to long. I am now 26! I had her for 15 yrs!! Huskys normally only live to be 12-14 even my vet was surprised that she was still alive. He told me on the phone just a month before she died that if I had told him on the phone I had a 16 yr old husky he would have said that she didn't need any vaccioations because of her age BUT when he saw her he saw how alive she was he said he would give her the vacc's. He was upset also when I called him to find out what I could do 4 the seizures. He said that when the hospital called him & told him about the cancers (liver & spleen, hind legs parrylized) he broke down becasue he couldn't believe the turn around over night from healthy dog acting like a puppy to seizring dog. The seizures caused her to be parrylized!!

Look for signs from ur dog or just watch her actions to see a increase in pain or movement slowing down. She will let u know when it's time to let her go or u could decide that U don't want her to suffer anymore & u just want her to be in pain. Watch for little signs. Give ur self & ur dogs time to greave & only when u think u r ready to care for another dog & ur dogs r lonely then get another dog. Both U & ur dogs need to greave. Trust me I know how u feel. I wish everyday that my husky was here but I know she's 2 peace & watching over me! Just take it one day at a time that's all I can do especally with christmas coming up & her not being here it's hard but my pup also helps me get through it. MY Pup is finding her way in to my heart which I know that my husky would have wanted. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Sorry to hear about your dog. Yes I think it does help to get another dog. First off all when your dog passes your home will feel empty. I would suggest getting a new dog before your other one passes. It will give you some time to bond with your new one, and when the other is gone, you won't feel like your trying to replace him/her.

Answer 7

i been through this..give her lots of love and when you are ready, let her go. otherwise, she will get only worse and thats suffering and vet bills. I would wait at least a season before the new pup. Stick with retreivers, a different breed. they are the best dogs.

Answer 8

as long as this dog is in no pain then don't put her down.and that's not true about getting a different breed makes the passing better.if you like that kind of dog get it again and get one before anything happens to her.

Answer 9

What does the Vet say? If you have to do it please ask the Vet to come to your house and let her die at home with you holding her