What to do with an old family dog?

Question

We had a dog for over 20 years. She was with us before my son was born and my son is now in college. She is a 25-lbs cocker spaniel. She is old, not eating well, not walking well since the day she had something like a "heart attack". I don't know why the pet place refused to bath and groom her. She does not bark, bite or fuss. She is just old.

The vet said it's time to put her to sleep. We had a lot of good time together and we just do not have the courage to take her to the vet for the last time.

What should we do? If we should let her go, what is the best way to say good-bye? We have young family kids and we don't want them to think we "kill" our dog.

Have anyone done this before? Can you please share your experience? Thank you.

Answer 1

my gran had to put her cat down...
cuz she had cancer and it was eating up her face

any way we both went to the vet together and it was very hard for us (more her) but we went through had in mind it was best for her...........

good luck

Answer 2

That's such a hard thing to consider. But sadly since our pet companions dont live as long as we do, sometimes it comes up.

Chances are soon, there will be a time when it becomes obvious--when you say "yes it's time"

If you dont have the heart to take her to the vet, just consider what it might be like for her. Better if you can be there with her when you say your last goodbye. Nature may already have this figured out for you and she may die peacefully at home in her sleep.

i think it's best for the kids that you communicate everything that is happening, why it's kinder to have her gently put to sleep than suffering without any hopes of it getting better. Let them know that dying is a part of life and having her go peacefully may be the kindest.

Find a vet that you trust if you dont already have one picked out. they are usually pretty understanding about letting family members be there for the last goodbye.

A nice burial ceremony too if that's what the family is interested in. She has been your loyal companion for so long and if ever she needed you, the time is now.

Bless all. tears and hugs all around.

Answer 3

1. is my dog going to die? Only a vet can give you the answer to this question - you may need to prepare yourself for a difficult decision and balance your dog's quality of life against her chances of recovery/likely time remaining. 2. is there a way to stop my dog from biteing? Again, you need to get the dog to the vet to address this. Just putting a barrier like an elizabethan collar on to prevent the dog biting doesn't remove the irritation. You may want to get some bloodwork done to check for thyroid problems - these are fairly common in older dogs and can show up in coat/skin problems. If it is thyroid, medication can improve things. 3. is there a way to stop her crying at night? You need to try and work out why she's crying. A few things that occur to me are: failing vision - some older dogs lose their sight just like people. If she can't see as well as she used to she might be afraid or lonely when things go quiet for the night. chronic pain - does she have arthritis or other issues (vet again)? If so she really needs help from the vet to deal with the problem, or courage from you to make a hard decision. Ultimately the decision whether she has a reasonable quality of life or it's time to let her go is up to your family, but you need to get your vet's advice now if you want to save her any suffering. Good luck and all the best for her.

Answer 4

20 year old cocker? Wow! There's hope for my dear Shadow yet (15-yr border collie)!

What the Vet is trying to do is to save you both grief (from watching Cocker deteriorate) and money (from medications that may not do her much good). Remembering Cocker as she was - an active, happy dog - can be more comforting than remembering her frightened, soiled, and suffering.

The groomer, knowing that she is both elderly and has a heart condition didn't want to stress her out even further with a bath and clip.

There are all kinds of factors here. But they all boil down to your dog's quality of life. Despite her age and obvious infirmities, is she a happy dog? If she is, then probably she should continue on despite the advice on putting her down. I would seek an opinion of a vet with considerable experience in geriatrics. Perhaps there are heart and pain medications that could improve her daily life.

If, however, she is obviously suffering - complete with that "What's happening to me, Mommy?" look, then it's time to say goodbye.

Answer 5

I'm sorry to hear about this. I know it's not an easy situation to deal with. We had a dog for many years and had her put to sleep last summer. It is very sad, but sometimes it's best for the dog. It's always a hard decision, but it comes down to if you want the dog to continue suffering or not. It may be the most loving thing to just have it put to sleep. You always want to do what's best for your pet, and this may be the best thing, even though it's very sad. You can explain to the kids that your dog is old, has been a really good friend, but she doesn't feel good, and you want to let her rest and not be suffering anymore. Tell them it's for the dog's own good. Best wishes in whatever decision you make.

Answer 6

putting a dog to sleep is real hard but its the right thing to do its better than her living in pain .

tell your kids that u didnt kill the dog just that she was old ansd sick and couldnt live any longer.

i am sure they will understand. i havent done this before but i no someone that has. the vet give u the dog back if u want so u can burry it ureself maybe u could have a little funneral type thing so u can all say goodbye.

when she goes dont be sad be happy for her as it is AMAZING for a dog to live 20 years old. and good on her. my nanas dog lived to 16. and than was put down and she was in a lot worse state.

good luck i have my fingers crossed for u and ur family.

Answer 7

we actually had the same problem when I was about 15 (my sister was 17 and brother was 13)... it was very hard... it was our first dog. My mother said (over Christmas break....bad timing) that Namo was not eating or walking anymore. She was suffering. So my sister, mom, and brother took her to the vet. I could not deal with it so my mother let me stay home. After the vet put her down my mother brought the dog home and they buried her in the backyard. Looking back on it now, I would say its good that my mother didn't lie to us and it was also good that she let each of us grieve the way we needed to. I couldn't go and she didn't make me. We all cried together and held each other and we got through it. The best thing is to stop the dog from suffering and to let yourself and the kids greive. This is very hard. Hope you make the right choice.

Answer 8

I agree, the young children don't need to go, but they need to be allowed to "say good bye" before the dog is taken. They also need to be made to understand that the dog is not coming back. You don't need to use the word kill in explaining the situation as long as they know not to expect the dog to return with you. Just explain that the dog is old and needs to be put "to sleep" (at least until they are old enough to fully understand) and leave it at that. Remind them of all the happy memories they have of the dog, and how they will always have those memories.

When I was about 12 years old, my family had to take our dog in to be put to sleep. I had known that dog my WHOLE life! I went along, and personally put him up on the vet's table. I hugged him and told him good bye, but was unable to remain in the room while it was being done. I sat out in the front office on a bench, mourning the loss of my best friend. My mother never forgave me for being so heartless as to not remain with the dog in his last moments.

Answer 9

I have never been thru this type of problem, but if she has been with you that long don't you owe it to her to make her as comfortable as possible and she will just die on her own with the family that she loves... Give her caned food or find what she loves the most to get her to eat... call around and find a real good groomer and explain yours and her needs to groom. Old dogs are like old people. They just need some extra love and attention til the time is right to move on.
Good Luck and God Bless

Answer 10

My mom had a dog so attatched to her that she had the dog burried next to her grandma, whom she loved dearly. We had to put him down due to kidney failure. He was 8. It was hard for the whole family without the dog. We soon realized life must go on, and the shan't be any more despair. Instead, there shall be room for new love. Why don't you get another dog. Take her picture, make a scrapbook for your dog, get a lock of her fur, and realize that she'll be in a better place when she passes. Her suffering will end, and she can chase all the rodents and balls she wants. Good luck, and i am very sorry for your soon to be loss.

Answer 11

I think it depends on how much pain your dog is in. If he/she is in so much pain from being elderly than I think it would be better for him/her to be put to sleep so she wouldn't be feeling the pain anymore. It is very hard to put anyone of your pets down and to think that this will be the last time at the vet. But if it does come down to putting him/her to sleep, you could go do one of you and the dogs favorite and most memorable activities like taking a walk together or doing something like that. As far as grandchildren or family children or something like that, if you did put him/her to sleep, than tell them that he/she has moved on to a happier place and isn't in any pain anymore. This is a very normal process, my family has had to do it along with my grandparents and the grandchildren took it well when they knew that their dog wasn't in any pain any more.