When is it time to put your dog down?

Question

My bischon is 14 years old. She has suffered many illness over her life time. She diabetic, epilectic, blind from the diabeties, deaf. and I have nursed her and taken care of her through it all. I can't tell how many time she was at death's door and held on to hope that she would get better and she always did. Just this past Thanksgiving it was found that she had a compressed disc in her back. She recovered from that.
Now she has started to pace consently .
Having accidents.
Just overall being fustrated getting lost behind doors under chairs. I don't know if I am being selfish at keeping her here or is time for me to let her go. This is the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

please advise

Answer 1

May I go now
Don't you think the time is right?
May I say good-bye to pain-filled days
and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best,
an example tried to be,
So can I take that step beyond
and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first.
I fought with all my might!
But something seems to draw me now
to a warm and loving light.
I want to go! I really do!
It's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can
to live just one more day .
To give you time to care for me
and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and are afraid
because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that,
and hope you'll always know
that my spirit will be close to you
wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me.
You know I loved you too.
That's why it's hard to say good-bye
and end this life with you.
So hold me now, just one more time,
and let me hear you say,
because you care so much for me,
you'll let me go today.


Copyright © Susan A. Jackson
Written for a beloved pet and friend.

Answer 2

I too have been where your at and had to make that decision on one of my poodles and yes it is so very hard it wrecks your soul. You almost wish they could give you the shot so you wouldn't have to do what you have to do. But the pain does diminish over time. The memories never go away and thats what you hold on to. However I still have a 19 year old poodle that is blind, and can't hear very well, has only a few teeth left, he has a few accidents because I guess his bladder is getting weaker, with age as we all do, but over all he still eats pretty good, gets around ok, and I don't feel he is in any more pain than I would be if I was his age in human years, least wise he don't show any pain, he walks into doors occasionally, but I do try to be there every step of the way with him and for him and I will be til the end. If your dog is not in pain its your turn to look out for her now as she has looked out for you in the past, by being loyal and by her side as she was with you. Its hard to do sometimes its like caring for your elderly grandmother, and you wouldn't put her to sleep would you? This is things you have to ask yourself if you really want an honest answer and be able to live with your decision you have to make. Your last legacy of love you can give her is by making the right decision, and if its time you'll know in your heart and Im sure you will do the right thing.
Good luck in making a very hard decision, a fellow animal lover.

Answer 3

Putting a loved pet down is indeed one of the hardest things to have to go through in life. I have to put my 10 year old ferret down very soon also. I realized when she was having accidents all over the cage, losing the use of her back legs, running into walls because she can't see or hardly smell anything, that her quality of life had degraded to a point of hurting her instead of helping her live. If your pet is hurting, constantly confused, and just not themselves anymore, then the decision gets a little easier to determine. Their quality of life is degrading. Do some inside searching with yourself, ask yourself if when you get this old, you want to be left to just exhist like this, or if you'd rather be able to move on and gain some peace. The decision still won't be easy, and you'll need time to say good bye and grieve for your long time friend. Give yourself that time, but don't let your friend suffer. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I'm serious.......Look at her tail as often as you can. If it's pointing down most of the time, and not wagging, then she's not happy. If it points generally upward, and wags even a little, then she is probably not ready to be put down.

With her pacing, it sounds like she is either nervous or working her way through some pain. If she was lethargic and no longer had an appetite, then I'd say it's time to put her down. There is no right or wrong answer. The fact that you are asking suggests that the time is drawing near.

One thing is certain: You get an "A-Plus" as a pet owner. I wish you the best.

Answer 5

I had to put down my dog last August. He was just shy of 13 years, 9 months. He too was deaf (or almost deaf), nearly blind (from cataracts), in renal failure, and had severe arthritis (so bad that walking from grass to sidewalk would cause him to fall). Yet, despite this, I cared for him. However, he then had an onset of canine vestibular disease (analogous to a stroke) that left him immobile. So now he couldn't really stabilize himself and walk. The vet said he won't walk again. While that was a bit of a lie (as I did get him to take a few steps after a LOT of help a day earlier), I knew the time had come. Dogs can recover from vestibular disease, just as people can recover from a stroke. But it takes time. With my dog's kidneys already shutting down, not to mention all of his other ailments (and his frequent falling due to his arthritis left him sore and scabbed), I knew that even if he did recover from one ailment, he would succumb to the others (or new ones). I made that horrible decision.

Your dog is very close to where mine was. He'd try crawling into odd spots, seemed disoriented at times and had trouble with food. If your dog still has life, enjoys eating, can walk and properly relieve herself, then it may not be time YET. However, only you and your vet can judge this correctly. If your vet assesses that your dog still has a quality life, then continue on. But if your vet feels the dog is in enormous pain or the end is near, then you may have to think hard about your choices.

I know my decision was the right one - but I still cried harder than ever in my life. I don't ever recall feeling that pain. Even though I was mentally prepared for his passing, emotionally I was petloss.com. This is a wonderful site where people can share their stories of pets (on the forum page). People discuss pets similar to yours or those they lost. It is a heavily monitored site, so only appropriate posts are allowed. I highly recommend it. It made me feel less alone and reassured me that I did the right thing. That site was instrumental in helping my grief.

I wish you the best in this difficult time.

Answer 6

I know how hard this is but it is the best to put her down. My family put down our schnauzer two years ago (he was 19!). It was so hard at the time but after I felt relieved knowing he was not in pain any more.
We also put down our 30 years old horse last week. We had her for 16 years and she was also apart of the family. But again know I know they are both free of there pain.
It took me a year but I got a new puupy last feb and she is great. She will never be my Pepper Bear but it has been fun having a new one around.
I am sorry as I know it is so hard to lose a best friend but she isnt enjoying life anymore and that is so hard on a dog.

Answer 7

That's a very hard decision, I truly feel for you and your dog. I know you must really want what's best for your dog, If the dog has so many problems sooner or later you may have to make that final decision to not see it suffer. You gave your dog a good life. It may be hard to get your dog put to sleep but it just might be even harder seeing it suffer. It sounds like you already know in your heart what the best decision is in your dogs situation. The final decision after all is yours to make and know matter what...your dog knows that you love her!

Answer 8

we had to put our first dog down three years ago and it still affects me. he had tumors and could not get up on the couch anymore or go up and down stairs. his quality of life was gone and we didn't want him to live like that. i'd get up in the middle of the night to make sure he was still breathing. it sucked really bad but when we made the decision to put him to sleep, all of us were there. we went to a vet's office that my best friend worked at. she was there with us and helped give him the first shot that relaxes him, but he fell right to sleep and then they gave him the next shot. afterwards she said he was so sick and hanging on for us that usually when they give the first shot, the dog relaxes but it takes normally takes awhile but he was so sick it knocked him out. we felt better knowing he was at peace and no longer in pain.

that's no way for your precious baby to live. it's hard. i still cry and i have a hard time watching animal planet. there may be a vet that could come out to the house and do it in her own enviroment and it will be better for you and her. think about cremation. we did it and we are very thankful we did.

about a month after we put our dog to sleep we were sad and missed seeing a dog waiting in the window when we came home from work. so we went to adopt another dog from the humane society and ran into a man that we knew who had to give up his 5 month puppy because he hurt his back and couldn't care for her. she's now a lovable 3 year old. she was mistreated by the man's sons and he was sad that they did that while he was hurt and coudn't take care of her but was happy he knew the people she was going home with.
because she had been mistreated, she was timid around men. so we were considering getting another dog when a little white fluffy dog wandered into our backyard. we called the owners and it turned out they were going ot have to give her away because their baby was allergic to her. so we kept her too. she is a happy 3 1/2 year old and is, i swear, the reincarnation of our first dog. she has his disposition and is a huge sweetheart.

in the long run, it will hurt like hell and will not go away but you will evnetually see that what you are doijng is the right thing. good luck to you and you'll be in my prayers.

Answer 9

I had a dog like this as well. The one day it so bad that I had to put her down. I was hoping she would go on her own but she wouldn't. I know it's hard but you will heal!

This might not be for you but when I've had to put an animal down, I've always told myself that now I have room to give an unwanted pet a home and I did just that. I was not replacing my lost pet, I was opening my heart to one in need.

Answer 10

its always a question of quality verses quantity......you have to look at her quality of life is she lethargic? does she eat well? if she's blind and deaf it will be hard for her......she's old and old dogs can have bladder problems i would take her to the vet to see if she has a bladder infection.....if she seems happy to you and is eating and drinking as she should (you and a vet can determine best) than try not changing the furniture so she can find her way better......and just try to make her as comfortable as possible.....if she isn't eating or drinking and you can see she is in pain than maybe you should put her down......it's always hard.....make sure you don't go through this alone