What is the most common health reason for putting dogs to sleep?

Question

We have been discussing this at the clinic. The most common reason owner's dogs are euthanized in the clinic is hip dysplasia/orthopedic problems related to aging. A lot of people choose to euthanize when the dogs can't get around to go potty or to go in and out well. What do you see in your areas?

Because there are leash laws here, we don't see many dogs coming in hit by cars. Maybe 3-4 a year, but not a lot of them. I see orthopedic problems or age-related arthritis dogs coming in to see the vets at least 5 times a day.

Chalice mentioned aggression-- There seems to be a lot more big dogs coming in from code enforcement to be euthanized lately. I think there has been a stricter crackdown on larger more dominant breeds. Just a couple of weeks ago a Rhodesian Ridgeback came in to be destroyed from code. That surprised be because the shelter could have sold him for a lot of money. But I don't hear a lot of owners destroying animals for that, just code enforcement who won't take a chance on putting them back on the streets.

Chalice mentioned aggression-- There seems to be a lot more big dogs coming in from code enforcement to be euthanized lately. I think there has been a stricter crackdown on larger more dominant breeds. Just a couple of weeks ago a Rhodesian Ridgeback came in to be destroyed from code. That surprised me because the shelter could have sold him for a lot of money. But I don't hear a lot of owners destroying animals for that, just code enforcement who won't take a chance on putting them back on the streets.

Answer 1

Since I don't work in a clinic, I can only give you my impression of the reasons I've heard, common to my exposure to dog owners.

The top three reasons for putting a dog down (de-compression, lethal gas, a bullet, lethal injection, breaking its neck, hanging it or drowning it)

3: Its in the best interest of the dog;
2: Some carastrophic event resulting in unmanageable pain and suffering; and
1: Its the most convenient choice given the dog-owner, who will invariably argue point 3.

I was going to expand on number 1, but you people know who you are ... live with it.

Tony Ancheta

Answer 2

I come from Kent, England and work in a vet surgery as a nurse. Hard to say what the most common reason for PTS is, but I think perhaps geratricity might be it, which is a good thing! Very often when animals have been put to sleep their notes read 'geratric animal, arthritic and incontinent, PTS at o request'. We don't see many road traffic accidents either, and they're rarely fatal in dogs.

I'd say the second most common cause must be tumours. Very often a dog or cat comes in with an abdominal lump, we do an ex lap and the result is they have to be PTS under anaesthetic. This is more common in cats I suppose. This is most commonly splenic tumours in dogs. We also see far too much mammary cancer, which is why it makes me insane when people don't spay their dogs!

Every once in a while a dog is put to sleep for aggression, and I hate that so much. Often their are children in the house and the dog has to be got out fast but no one can be found to rehome. I've tried so hard myself to rehome a bassett, I couldn't BELIEVE how many people just didn't want to know.

Chalice
Chalice

Answer 3

I wouldn't think old age would be the top because I think most animals die of old age at home. I think the number one reason to put a dog down would be lack of money for an expensive vet bill. Most people can't afford the surgery for the cancers and hip replacements. I think many people take cost into mind when it comes to putting a dog down. First can I afford to put 1000's into a dog that I still might have to put down because of age. Or if I treat my dog and he doesn't do well anyway and is in pain. I still think cost comes into play first.

I saw a not so funny joke on TV the other day (Sat. Night Live), that talked about the hip replacement of a cat being (I FORGET THE EXACT AMOUNT......) 3,000. Then they went on to say the cost was 2,999 more than total cat replacement. Yes not really funny one must put into consideration the love attachment of the animal but many people do feel this way. Just a thought. Many people say don't have a pet if you can't pay the vet bills. But not many people can afford thousands and up for surgeries. I have seen many over the years begging on line for help or donations for vet bills. Evita

P.S. I have mixed feelings when I see people on rescue sites asking for in the thousands for vet bills for treating a rescue puppy that dies anyway when every second a healthy puppy dies because it was born in the wrong home or peed on the floor one to many times or chewed up someone's favorite shoe. Why not use all that money to rescue the healthy dying every day?

Answer 4

In the shelter where I work Its Heart Worm Disease..Which s preventible and treatable but the shelter cant afford to treat it. Injury from Cars ar a close second,but we are talking alot of strays and dogs that the owner wont claim if they are wounded and need care.
On a personal level I have a 15 year old cockapoo he is doing great,I do notice cataracts forming when he cant see and cant get around I will put him down.Our lab is10 she has bad hips but does OK.We treated her for Cancer a few years ago rather than put her down because her quality of life is/was great..She is slowing down a bit now when she is suffering I hope we do the right thing...

Great Question!

Answer 5

The only time I would put any dog to sleep is when his age becomes a major factor, when he is so old all he does is lay all the time and is very slow about doing things, and you can tell he wont live much longer and is so much discomfort, the i would put him to sleep becuase there is not since in watching a very old dog suffer like that, artheritest, age pains, weakness, especially joint pains, I dont do this to be mean, I have only done this once becuase the family lab/chow mix reached 18 humans yrs old and you could tell how bad off he was with discomort and would just lay in one spot all day and when it was time for him to eat, it took him forever to get up and layed down and ate, so we all decided theres not since in having to let him suffer over old age

Answer 6

Here where I am it is mostly age related Illness. Arthritis and the problems with very old dogs. Some heart things also age related.

Answer 7

funny thing about this-
last night, i went and babysat for a friend of ours 2 dogs.
both are black labs.
one is ariund 4 and the other one is amazing-




19 human years old!

the 19 year old has had seasures, but is on medication.
but she is as happy as a clam and still plays (a little nicera and causiously)
she can still walk go to the bathroom and eats.
so basically she still funtions and is perfectally happy.
she is still alive.

Answer 8

I'm in my 40's and I have owned a LOT of dogs for their entire lives. So far, I have had to only had to have one put to sleep for hip dysplasia (he was a golden retriever / german shepherd mix). My retriever / shepherd mix went from healthy and happy to unable to walk in 2 months. As you mentioned, when he was unable to go outside without me carrying him, I decided it was time. The only other dog I had to have euthanized had some sort of nasty cancer in his head.

Answer 9

Around here,it is old age..dogs that just can't function anymore..can't walk to go to the bathroom and /or the bodily functions cease to fuction due to old age.... and the animal gets too sick and they are too old to survive surgery.It is a most heatrbreaking decision,but I know it's best when there is no positive side to their lives anymore.

Answer 10

That's just about the saddest thing in the world is to have to put your beloved pet down. For me, I had two with enlarged hearts and two with senility and incontinence. One went deaf and blind as well.

I have always tried everything before I made that fatal decision. :( Their comfort and quality of life is the most important thing to me.