Should i put my dog to sleep?Please help me make the right choice.?

Question

I am the proud owner of a 12yr old black cocker spaniel named amber cute, friendly, like a picture had her since she was 8weeks old. Im so attached to her yet very turmoiled on my decision if i should put her to sleep.She is quite ill she currently is suffering from a ear desease affecting the inner ear to be infected and it comes out to the outer ear, it has a horrible odor as well. Ive being dealing with this since she was about 8yrs old but it only has gotten worse spent hundreds on medications and holistic remedies as well. Currently she is completly deaf in both ears and due to the ear infections her ears are hard and matted even after gromming her. she hold her head to the sides bangs her head when the irratation gets to her , and now lately she only sleeps and her eyes aren't clear there quite weak and disclored from her infection in her body i assume. she has always been a very mild tempered dog but I feel that she is extremly uncomfortable and her quality of life is gone!

Answer 1

I'm so sorry for you. I just recently had to put one of my dogs down on April 2.

The time to let her go is when you feel she has suffered enough and her quality of life is no more. You can tell by when she looks at you and there is pain and sadness in her eyes.

Answer 2

It seems like a different vet might be in order. Maybe there would be a more successful treatment for the infection. You don't say why the infection has been so hard to clear up for the last 4 years. Are the dog's ears formed improperly and that causes some sort of problem? Does the dog have bad teeth (which can sometimes add to problems with infection)? If you see a different vet and they do not find a way to help the dog, you will need to see exactly what state of health she is currently in. If they can clear up the infection, that would certainly be a good option. Don't let her just be sick, take her to a different vet. Also, is this a bacterial infection, or is it a fungal infection? Fungal infections sometimes respond to treatment for athlete's foot after you have cleaned the ears out. If there is that dark gunky stuff in the ears, this may be part of the problem. I have noticed that vets don't exactly diagnose ear infections very well. Maybe, at least, if a vet can come up with nothing else, you could try that, or Monostat cream. You can even use a little to do the cleaning, too. If that seems to be the problem, she may need a systemic fungal treatment. Ask the vet if they have such a thing. You might also see allergies in the dog in this case, or little bald areas from itching. Online: dog candida infection.

Answer 3

It is always horrible to put a healthy dog down, but I understand what you did and know that you did the only safe thing. A couple of years ago I rescued a pit bull from a park. It had a choker chain around his neck and one foot caught in that same chain.He was about a year old and was skinny and had a skin condition. I also had two other dogs at the time, a Shepherd/Husky mix and a Yorkie mix. To make a long story short, after many visits to the vet and lots of care and love this dog grew to a magnificent creature within seven months. I named him Dante and he was a desirable Blue. He love me very much but as he became more healthy he grew more and more aggressive. I had to walk him separately because he acted like he wanted to kill almost every dog he saw, and when he couldn't get to them he turned his aggression on something near by, like me, after I stopped walking him with my other two. Eventually he bit my big dog in the foot and my little one in the face almost blinding him. After three attacks I had no other choice but to put him down. It broke my heart and I held him on my chest, on the floor, for a half hour before I allowed the hospital to give the lethal injection. I cried for over a year, and cherish his ashes, along with my other past dogs, but it was my responsibility to keep everybody else safe. I just couldn't live with a dog that could do so much damage easily, especially when I knew eventually I would trip over the bad sidewalks in the neighborhood and Dante would get loose. I miss him so much, but my other two dogs are safe and almost every other dog in the neighborhood. He didn't know better, so I did what I had to do, the same way you did. I pray that one day I will be reunited with all my pups, including Dante, in the here after. Your blue nose boy is probably playing with Dante right now, at least I hope so. I will always understand your uncertainty, and I hope that I have been a comfort.

Answer 4

This type of ear infection is extremely painful. At this point the only thing that can be done is an operation called a total ear canal ablation. The whole ear canal is removed to stop the pain. At 12 years old, this may not be a good option. It depends on the dogs health otherwise. If you can't do this, then I agree that it is time to put her to sleep to end her suffering. It is the last thing you can do for her because you love her.

Answer 5

It may be hard, but you know what the answer is. I had a dog that I had since I was born, and she lived a long time. But then she got horrible arthritis and my family knew it was time to put her down. It is the right thing to do, if your dog is suffering. And some people just keep there dogs forever-not thinking of there dogs and how much they are suffering. Make her last days speicail, and make a appointment to the vet. Your dog was a good dog and she lived a long, good life. But it is time. So move on, and just remember what a great life she had. And you can , after a while, get a new puppy and move on. My symphonies.

Answer 6

Every time I have had to put an animal down I ask the same question. Would I want to live like that. If you can answer that no then that is the right choice. It does not mean it won't hurt and be painful for you because it will. You have had a best friend who has loved you unconditionally for 12 years. It will be hard but if you wouldn't want to live this way and you in your heart know you have done everything you can then it is time to say goodbye. The pain and lonliness do go away. grieve and then move on.

Answer 7

You know they have surgerys that can actually close the ear holes right? Only thing is... I don't think they can do it on a dog that old. Just take time to think about it. What is it your really worried about.. the cost or her well-being.. Can it be treated but is just getting pricy? Because I know how that goes when funds are low.. Our Golden rang up a $4k bill the last 6 months of his life... he had cancer in the spleen, and we wanted to give him a chance to live out a a few more monts... So we got him a $3k surgery.. He lived 3 more months.. many people wouldn't be able to afford that.. but to this day my parents don't regret any penny since we got a few more months with him.. He was my first dog & Its been 1 1/2 years and still hanging on...You really don't know how much you love something till its gone...Do what you think is right. Do what you can.. At least you are thinking of your dog instead of being selfish.. Many people assume its the dog that doesn't want to go but its really the owner.. all I can say is I know what thats like.. Good Luck

Answer 8

According to what your telling me, she is very ill and cannot sustain a certain level of living. Put yourself in her position, if you were in that much pain would you rather be here or pass? I know you are attached to her as we all are to our pets. But is it fair to her to live like this? From what I can tell it would be best to have her put to sleep. I'm sorry for your lost, one day you'll see her over the rainbow bridge again.


There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass and abundant acorn trees.

When our beloved pets die, they go to this place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather. The old and frail animals are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again. They play all day with each other.

There is only one thing missing. They are not with their special person who loved them on Earth. So, each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up! The nose twitches! The ears are up! The eyes from the group are staring! And this one suddenly runs from the group.

You have been seen, and when you and your friend meet, you take him or her in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again and again, and you look once more into the beautiful eyes of your trusting pet. Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never to be separated again.

Answer 9

QUALITY OF LIFE- Is a big issue. If her ears were hurting her, but not in much pain and it was tolerable then keep her. However, it sounds like she is really suffering and not happy. Ask the vet just how much pain and misery is she going through right now and I am sure that you will do the right thing. You want her to be around but don't make her if her quality of life wont be good. Good luck!! You will do the right thing!!!

Answer 10

Talk to your vet. SInce you've had her for so long, after she's gone, your bound to feel extremely guilty, and its going to be something thats going to hurt you for a while, even though you may be helping her. I, and an animal rights activist, am not sure how I stand on putting dogs down, I mean, we don't put people down do we? It's an extremely difficult thing to decide the life of an animal, when I, (Not sure of your religion) Believe that is up to god, but I wouldn't want to see my pet suffering either. After she is gone, your going to be left with doubts...
What if there was something else I could have done?
What if it wasn't her time to go?
What if she could have gotten better, if I had waited?
What if she didn't want to die?
Decide how you feel about that first, imagine you put her down, and decide if you are okay with that, and if you decide to do it, just remember, she's not suffereing any more.
Talk to your vet, and they will help you decide if your dog is truley in enough pain to justify putting her down.
Good luck,
I hope you make the right choice for Amber
My prayers are with you.

Answer 11

My heart goes out to you! I know it's difficult but it seems that she is suffering. I had to put my beloved dog to sleep two weeks ago. She had lymphoma. She was only 4 1/2 years old. I kept wondering when it would be the right time. I knew when she couldn't lift her head up and she stared at me in a certain way as if to say "it's time". I'm still struggling with her loss but a least she isn't in pain. I hope this helps!