When is it time to euthanize your dog?

Question

God, I hate to ask this. We have a black lab for 14yrs now. She is so wonderful. She is getting up in her age and now has become deaf and the vet told us that she has an enlarged heart. She was on heart medications, but her being on that made her very slugglish and not eating well. We switched her meds, and same thing. The vet told us that we are real lucky to have her and two years ago he said to us, that we didn't have much more time with her.
She is now having a difficult time getting up the deck stairs which she needs to access the back yard. She constantly coughs due to enlarged heart, keeping us up at night. No heartworms.
I want to hold on to her as long as possible.
But, the question is, I don't know if she is in pain, or unhappy with life now. She wags her tail, and tries to play ball, but she can't and I think she is getting depressed about it.
Any other meds or suggestions? We love her dearly, but don't want to see her suffer.

I'm sitting crying reading all of your reponses.
I really don't know what to do!

I can't choose just one answer here. You all have been most kind. I will let the community pick best answer.
Just pray for strength for me here.
Thanks all!

Answer 1

It is time to put your dog to sleep ***before she looses her dignity***.

If you let it go that far, as I did with one of my dogs, you will carry the guilt with you.

It is up to you to know ... Your decision will be made with love

Good Luck
H.O.T. Dog
Handler Owner Trainer of GSD's
Member U.S.A- MSSV - A.W.D.F

Answer 2

14 is a good age for a Labrador. You took good care of her. It is a difficult decision but it is also called the last gift you can make your dog. Let the dog guide you. Quality of life is the key. If your dog is not in pain but you are unsure if she is content and still wants to be around do this:

Make a list of 5 things you know your dog enjoys the most, like playing with a favourite toy, stealing certain foods off the table, digging under that bush in the yard ... anything you know is a sign of her happiness and lust for life.

Go through the list every day and determine if she is still doing these things and if she is not take a close look. She will tell you when she is ready to leave.

My friend had a dog with a brain stem tumour. Inoperable. He lost balance, started falling and got more and more paralysed. But he still smiled and wagged his tail. He spent 2 weeks almost immobile on the bed in her bedroom until he tried to get up and hide. They took him out, no wagging, no eye contact. He wanted to go.

I wish you strength with this decision. Remember your dog at her happiest always. You'll know when.

Answer 3

I really agonize over stuff like this - knowing I'll have to do it (again) one day.
If it helps at all - if you yourself have ever gone into surgery - the drugs are quite nice - you really do just go to sleep if all goes well. It's quite like that - very peaceful - compared to how it could happen without euthanasia drugs. Quite honestly, it's how I would prefer to have them go - since it must be done.

If your dog is playing - that's a great sign. I think with questions like this - you have to go with your own instinct. I wait and make sure my pet gets several types of tests at my vet to see the general condition of the dog - that tells me a lot. I'm not a vet but because I have dogs I read up on everything about health and medical options that are available to my pets. The more you know about the dog physically - the better abled you will be to make such decisions.

For me - I was in your shoes with my own golden a few years ago - childhood pet. I can't tell you how horrible it was but thank God I had the chance to do something for him and let him go peacefully. He enjoyed a good 15 years of a great life.

Answer 4

Wow, I know EXACTLY how you feel. I have a 14 year old Miniature Pinscher and he has an enlarged heart and congestive heart failure. I take him to the vet frequently and each time he tells me that there is no fluid on his lungs or around his heart so to keep giving him his meds as prescribed. A decision to put a dog down is extremely hard and we always said that it would be time with our dog when the meds no longer control the coughing and he can't enjoy himself, but we're not there yet. It's a rough choice, and all I can say is do what you think is best for him. My dog takes Hydrocodone to suppress his coughing and Enalapril for his heart and at this point it works for him... he still acts like a puppy. We always take him for short walks (they're short walks because we don't want to overdo it with his heart) in the woods too... this is his absolute favorite thing to do and we want him to do what he loves as much as possible. I wish you the best with your baby, hope everything works out for you.

Answer 5

I agonized over this same issue back in 01 when my 17 year old cat with kidney disease worsened. People (some close friends) couldn't understand my dilema- "my god, he's so old" they'd exclaim, as if this lessened my pain. But, ultimately I feel (now) I waited too long, and let Mick suffer because it was hard to let him go. Go forward to 03, when another cat developed a blood infection, and was lethargic and wouldn't eat- I made the decision much faster and easier...... so I feel your pain. If she's keeping you awake with the cough- she's not sleeping either. Quality of life is hard to measure, but they depend on us to know "when it's time", and hard as it is, it may be time for your pet. Maybe keep her thru the weekend and spend real quality time with her and then do it Monday. You'll cry, and I still do but her best interests have to come first.

Answer 6

It is always a very hard decision. If she doesn't come down with something that will kill her, but is gradually getting in worse shape, it's even harder.
Basically, you have to try and decide whether her quality of life is still good. If she still tries to play and seems to be happy, she probably is content with her lot in life, although she may not understand why her body is failing her. If she starts to get lethargic, listless, loses that light in her eyes, or basically seems to give up and not try anymore, she's probably ready to go.
I'm so sorry for you. Our choice was made for us when our 16-year-old black lab came down with a condition where his immune system was attacking his own body. He couldn't walk with his back legs and had internal bleeding. The vet said he could have surgery and meds and MAYBE he would live, if not he had days at the most, and painful ones at that. We decided not to put him through the stress of the surgery that might not even save him, and certainly wouldn't allow him to walk again.
Just know that when you DO decide it is time for her to go, you are absolutely doing the right thing. She will thank you for it, in her own way. God Bless.

Answer 7

One of the hardest thing I had to do is put my dog down. She was my baby. What you have to do is think about the dog. She is suffering. I don't think it is right to let a dog suffer so you don't feel guilty. My mom did that with her dog and he suffered so much. She now regrets keeping him alive. 14 years is a long life for a dog. It is your decision only. But let her go and let her be free of pain. Also a dog will play and wag their tail to the very end. I know this is very hard on you. But it is time. She knows you love her and she knows the great life you gave her. I grew up with dogs and it was hard everytime. Ask your self one question are you keeping her alive for yourself or for her?

Answer 8

In my own opinion I think you'd know if she was suffering. I always like to let my animals die natural just like people, well most people. I know it is very hard to see her like that sometimes, but she needs you the most now, so just be strong, love her, and let her live as long as her body will.

I once thought about euthanizing an animal, but I didn't because I though about this..... She would be scared if I took her anywhere like the vets, and I would hate her last thought to be of fear, so I let her die in my home were she was comfortable and she died in her sleep, a pieceful death, and she was not scared or uncomfortable when she died, and that's the way I will forever do it with the rest of my pets.

Good luck, I know it will be hard, but hang in there your baby will appreciate it!

Answer 9

I beleive that only the owners know when it is the best time to put down their pet. You know your dog better than anybody else. But the rule of thumb is that when they have no quality of life then that is when they should be put down. If she is soo painful that she cannot go out to go to the bathroom properly or is having a hard time eating or keeping her food down then you definetly know that it is close to that time. Many owners let their dogs go on for too long and in a way that can be selfish. It is a hard decision to make but it is the ultimate act of love that you can give your best friend. She will tell you when she is ready.

Good luck

Answer 10

Saying goodbye to a family member of 14 years is never easy. I dont think i would want to encourage you one way or another. Its a difficult choice to make. It sounds like you are taking the right steps by taking care of her the best you can and keeping her as comfortable as you can, but if you think shes suffering it might be time to let her go.

Answer 11

We had a dog that had cancer. The vet told us to keep him on pain meds and when he stopped eating we should bring him in to put him to sleep. It was very hard to do but it HAD to be done. There is no way around it. Keep loving her and playing with her until she refuses to eat, then you will know its time.