Is it time to let him go............please help?

Question

Well my male yorkie is 6 yrs and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and a heart murmor about 6 months ago. Since then he has been getting progressively worse. The heart medication we give him has helped him so much to breath better and stop wheezing and hacking, but for the past couple weeks the med. has not helped very much. He has been having trouble catching his breath even when he is not moving. I have noticed recently he just wants to hide behind the couch or under the bed for most of the day. He just doesn't seem full of life anymore. Don't get me wrong sometimes he is still full of life running around and playing, but most of the time he just sleeps and does nothing. Today he seems just plain sick and reall distant, he has been behind the couch for all today and only came out to go to the bathroom or eat and drink. Is it time to let my baby go? If not what should i do? I love him with all my heart and just don't want him to suffer.

Answer 1

I am so sorry that you are faced with this decision. I had to do the exact samething on June 7,2007. I kept holding on to my girl, not wanting to let go. She started getting bad the first part of May. I babied her, pampered her & pretty much stayed with her 24 / 7 for over a month. As time ticked away I seen that happy face, with the bright shinning eyes turn sad. I knew I had to let her go & end her suffering. On the 6 of June duing the night when I laid talking to her I promised her then that I would help her for the last time & let her go. Oh did those words cut through me like a knife. I knew I would never break a promise & that is why I made myself make that last promise to her. The next morning I called the vet & sat up the time. I cried my eyes out all day until 2:00 pm when it was time to leave on our last journey together. I am here to tell you making that choice is the hardest thing you will ever do, but we owe that decision to our pets. It will be the last act of caring, love, respect & responsibility we will show our beloved pet. From what you had to say, I think it is time to let go but you can be the only one to make that decision. Here is a site that may explain it all & help you decide http://www.ygrr.org/doginfo/death-coping.html Scroll down till you see the paragraph on euthanazia. Look long & hard in your dog's eyes with your heart & you will feel the answer you are looking for. Here is a beautiful poem you may like to read also. This has hung on my refridgerator since Oct. 2003 when I lost my Dobie boy. http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm

Answer 2

I think you already answered your own question dear. IT is time to let him go if not all that active.
I'm currently dealing with the same thing, I have a dog that is getting old. He's 13 and was very sick last winter.
Currently he's still eating, playing, and running around. But he's also very deaf and almost blind.
But if he went downhill and couldn't do the things he wanted to do. (currently the walks are getting shorter) Then I would be put him down.
I did so with my cat after fighting for a year to get him well. That was only 6 months ago.
I feel for you and I hope you make the right decision for him. Take him to the vet and discuss what you can do. THe vet is there to help you make the dicision, not make money.
With peace.

Answer 3

I had to let go my 18 year old poodle Archie just one week ago. He was my best friend in the world and yes... I feel some how guilty because I realized how much his life was in my hands since he came into my life qhen I was only 15.
His heart was so strong, but the rest of him was in a massive failure.
He lost his eye sight, part of his smelling sense, he got deaf, and devenloped an liver problem equivalent as cirrosis.

Of course, he was old. way old! because his breed only live 15 years tops.

Everybody sayed it was time to let him go, but I was so attached to him so I decided NOT TO SEE how much he was suffering untill this happend:

A very good friend of mine (a human friend) had almost the same problems my Archie had, and she passed away in an enormous amount of suffering this last winter.

A few moths before this happend, she told me "I wish I where Archie... at least he have an less painful option"
That declaration made up my mind.

so I decided to give my dog the best of his last days on earth and indulge him. Made him feel like a king and then...
well, you can imagine.

He went away peacefully and altough my heart havent recover at all, He is not suffering any more.

I don't care about how I feel, that's not important at all.

just remember:

WHAT CARES HERE, IS LIFE QUALITY, AND HOW COMFORTABLE IS HE.
What you think or feel is the less important... think about him wich is the most important thing to know in the world.
How he feel, what he need what you're giving to him.

His perception of life is in your hands: full this perception with LOVE.

A big hugh for you from this crushed heart in Mexico.
Be strong!

Answer 4

Sometimes what's best for the pet isn't always what you might want to do... if he's sick and hiding behind the couch and is no longer enjoying life like before than maybe it's time to take him to the vet and talk to them about putting him out of his misery... it's not fair for him to suffer just because you dont want to let him go... i understand you love him, and if that were the case with my cats, i would be devastated, but it's time to let go so he can feel better... talk to your vet and see what they say... most likely they will tell you his time is up :(

Answer 5

Animals with congestive heart failure will dry hack often. Take him back to the vet and get a professional opinion. Ask about herbs and vitamins that could be used in conjunction with the heart medication. And most of all, look passionately into your dog's eyes. He will tell you if it is time.

Answer 6

I Think It Is Time To Let Your Dog Go, Everything Must Pass On Sooner Or Later, Its Just a Fact Of Life,
Im Sorry For Your Dog

-Jacob

Answer 7

If he is still eating, drinking, eliminating and plays some maybe you should take him back to the vet and see if there's a better medication for him. It may be that the medication he's on is too strong or he's just not suited to it. If he stops eating/drinking and his kidneys start to fail (not urinating) it may be time to let go. I am so sorry.

Answer 8

My Dear:
Having a pet that is ill is one of the things that we have to contend with in this life ( as pet owners); making the decision to end that life is the most difficult of all.
Your dog is still young for a small dog so I can see and empathize with your dilemma.

Having terminal heart disease myself, I would like to offer a few thoughts before you do anything else.
Hot , humid days are the hardest to deal with. A cool place to rest helps to ease the difficult breathing. If your residence is not air conditioned, perhaps a small fan set on the floor near your dog's favorite resting place will be an aide to better breathing and his overall comfort.
Having a fan blow across a pan of ice cubes ( if no air conditioning) will help to cool him if that is what he needs.

I have had many medication changes to keep me active and more comfortable; for whatever reason, sometimes one medication stops being effective and a change will work wonders. It is truly amazing that our bodies change in the way we utilize meds. ( When I say ~~we~~ , I refer to humans and animals). You have had another person recommend seeing your vet. for medication change and that is a good suggestion.

There are veterinarians that are known to have a special interest in heart disease . Perhaps it is in your budget to see another vet for a second opinion? As a former RN I am well aware of the value of a second opinion and it is your right to do so (as your dog's guardian). It is not being disloyal to your present vet., it is about being an advocate for your dog.

I am a believer that each dog owner knows when the time has come to discontinue treatments and assist their beloved pet to the Rainbow Bridge.

I have faced this so very many times as I rescue dogs of advanced years and sometimes their life span is not expected to be very long.

If your Yorkie is still eating and drinking , then I would say that he is still interested in living.

Resting is a means for your dog to reduce activity enough so that he can put all the strength he has into whatever self healing he is able to accomplish. Our dogs are amazing , inherently wise, beings in that they seem able to do what is best for themselves when ill health descends upon them!

Bless you for seeking support for your decision(s), as sometimes we are truly "too close to the trees to see the forest", as the old saying goes.

I do think that it is important FOR YOU to be comfortable with that final decision.
I recommend that you have another vet look at your dog and give you his/her opinion. If you get the same answer from that consultanting vet, I would go back to your original vet to be your support if/when it is time to say your goodbye to your beloved pet.
This way you will have someone at your side that knows your dog and you. That sort of person will be important too, as familiar, loving faces are important at this last stage of life.
I wish you strength and courage to face the days ahead! Give your "baby" a hug and a kiss from me!
I will add you and your pet to my prayer list!

Answer 9

You basically answered your own qyuestion.
It's not teh quantity of time but teh quality of time.
he sure is getting worse and if you do try new meds it's just prolonging the time for YOU to be with him.It really isn't for him ( please don't get me wrong I understand you love him but I hope you ;know what I mean).
My mother has congestive heart failure and is now on oxygen 24/7 it's not something that can be cured it will and does get worse.
Please do your baby the favor of getting him out of teh apparent misery he is in.
And I will say it in advance sorry for your loss.

Answer 10

Doesn't sound good. But you might want to try a holistic vet or look into holistic options. There may be natural remedies and natural supplements that could help. Or maybe another treatement you can go with.
Ask people whose dogs suffer from the same thing:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineCongestiveHeartFailure/