Dealing with guilty feelings after euthanizing a dog?

Question

My family cocker spaniel was put down today. He was 15 and basically had a poor quality of life for about the last year or two. The decison was hard, and although I think it was best, I am struggling with making that decision. Any shared experiences or advice would be helpful

His name is Thackary.

Answer 1

My heart goes out to you because I know the sorrow and pain of having to put your best pal to sleep even tho you know it is for his own good so that he will not suffer in his last days. It will take time for your grieving to subsist and you will NEVER forget your pal. Cockers have so much personality and he will always have his footprint on your heart. I had a dog that developed liver problems at age 14 (Cushing's disease) and he was my best friend and went everywhere with me. He really could read my mind and I loved him so much and still tear up if I see a red long-haired dachshund sometimes. I kept him until I could tell he wasn't going to be able to function well enough to be a happy dog and with a very heavy heart, said my goodbyes. I still feel an empty spot in my heart, but it makes me feel better to know he had such a great life and was so cherished, and I did all I could to let him go with his dignity intact. It would not be normal if you didn't feel some guilt and remorse at this time, but I'm sure you made the right decision. Fifteen is a good age for a dog and I bet he had a wonderful life with you! My love goes out to you, we have a soft heart in common.

Answer 2

About 4 years ago I was at a vets office with my 10 year old cat would was having bloody pee and stool. I was in the waiting room about to be seen when a family walked in with thier dog. They were all crying so I asked if they were ok and they went on to tell me how the dog's passageway to go to the bathroom had been closed off somehow and he was in so much pain cause he couldnt go. I guess there wasnt much they could do so they had decided to get him euthanized. I can still remember waiting there watching them go in and come out 5 minutes later hysterically crying. Its still something that makes me sad till this day. Its hard for anyone to go through that especially after having known the animal for so many years. My heart is with you. Know you made the best decision and feel better. I would take some time to remember him and maybe in a year or so find a new baby cocker spaniel that loves you as much as the other one did.

Answer 3

I totally understand where you are coming from. I just lost my <<<<<15 year old cocker a couple weeks ago. I didn't choose to put him to sleep because of the feeling of guilt. He ended up dying on his own...and then I felt guilty cause of that. My father kept telling me he needed to be put down...but his attitude kept telling me he was happy....I now think it may have been my imagination or what I wanted to see....and I couldn't make the decision because of guilt. Guilt that I was doing it too early...because he was high maintenance, because he had accidents in the house everyday. He had kidney failure and as bad as he looked, he kept wagging his tail and at times had spurts of happy energy like when my dad came over or after he had a bath. I kept thinking he wasn't ready to die...but now I think he was. I miss him terribly.
You obviously really cared about your dog and I'm sure you did it becuase of the quality of his life. That is what everyone says..."look at the quality of his life" It's probably the hardest decision a dog lover could make. I feel you did the right thing and what you can do to help make you feel better is think of the good times and great life he lived. I think eventually, you will not feel so guilty. In time you will feel as though it was the best thing to do. I really feel for you and hope you feel better about it soon. I know this was hard for you and it will be hard for a while because you will miss him a lot. My thoughts are with you.

Answer 4

First of all, good for you for putting your friend at ease, and because of your selfless and kind decision, she is no longer suffering.

I had to put my cat Kiki down after she got into some anti-freeze. She was 11, and she could have had more time with us.. she should have never been in an indoor/outdoor cat, that was my fault and I felt guilty for quite a long time.

I think pets come into our lives with one purpose, and that is to help us in get through this realy cruel and negative world. And when they are in pain and can no longer go on, the very best thing we can do for our furry friends is to relieve them from there suffering.. afterall, what a wonderful thing they did for us. Spending their entire lives being our devoted best friends.

It IS hard, even if it is the right thing to do. And with time, your sadness will turn into happy memories.. it just takes time.

I am so sorry for your loss. Maybe someday you will find another animal to love, and he will help you remember all the good times you had your cocker spaniel. (:

Answer 5

I had to put our family cat to sleep, years ago. She had a fast growing lymphoma. She was in pain, but it was still hard. I'm glad it was peaceful.

My dog is 15,disoriented now and blind. She seems alright so far and I hope I don't have to do the same with her. The best thing about it is that the animals do seem to fall asleep peacefully. It's a kindness if the animals are suffering.

I guess it's my fault, our animals are so well cared for..they live way beyond expected norms.

Answer 6

i'm sorry to hearken to approximately your difficulty. whilst the veterinarian is able to manage the euthanasia answer the assistant will help carry your puppy and positioned a average quantity of tension on a vein, commonly contained in the foreleg. this permits the veterinarian to make certain the vein extra useful and aids in passing an outstanding needle into the vein. whilst it extremely is for particular that the needle is interior the vein the veterinarian slowly injects the answer. Many puppy proprietors opt for to help carry their puppy and if plausible even have the puppy of their hands on the time of euthanasia. Your veterinarian will attempt to handle your needs, yet undergo in ideas that it extremely is crucial that the answer be injected interior the vein for the technique to unfold precise. commonly interior six to 12 seconds after the answer is injected the puppy will take a marginally deeper breath, then improve susceptible and finally lapse into what sounds like a deep sleep. (This state provides upward push to the questionable euphemism "to place to sleep".) The puppy, besides the actuality that thoroughly subconscious, could proceed to take some extra breaths earlier all flow ceases. I unquestionably have chanced on that the older and sicker the puppy the longer this subconscious respiratory state is going on. it extremely is at this factor whilst the veterinarian has achieved the technique the place great empathy and help for the puppy proprietor is rather important. Then, you would be asked in case you prefer to spend a pair minutes along with your canines on my own. If the customer chooses to take the puppy residing house, via pre-affiliation a field is on the waiting to acquire the puppy. The veterinarian commonly will place the puppy into the field and carry the deceased puppy out to the motor vehicle for the owner. If the puppy proprietor chooses to have the puppy cremated the veterinarian commonly will make the preparations with the aid of a cremation service and notify you once you may anticipate to have the ashes back.

Answer 7

I am sorry for your loss---and grieving takes time. You won't feel "right" about it for awhile. After all, you lost a family member.

If the poor dog was suffering, in pain, sad, and couldn't do the things he loved, then you absolutely did the right thing....why make him go through so much pain when you have the power to help him rest? You helped him be at peace which was the most loving thing you could do for him, in my opinion.

Again, I am so sorry; but at least you got to share his wonderful life with him and your family; he must have been a blessing. Peace to you.

Answer 8

Animals live in Joy every moment they are alive. They don't worry about tomorrow. They are always in the perfect now. Many spiritual teachers believe that animals live each moment connected to god in total happiness. What you may have felt was a poor quality of life may have be much more connected to life than you know. Also animals do not fear death the way we do. When its there time if you observe them in nature you will see a quiet grace in life and death. Your spaniel would not suffer in nature. He would go off to a quiet place and cross over. Yes I do believe they cross over into an afterlife. I am not alone in this thinking. Our pets are our teachers and in a sense perhaps our masters as they show us how to live. Do not be surprised to dream about your dog and find that you begin the knowing of how ok he is now. I am sure he was grateful at your kindness to allow him to move on when his body began to fail him.

Answer 9

We just went through this in Sept with our 11 year old Lab. She was diagnosed with bone cancer on her hip after two weeks of her walking ability degenerating very quickly. She had been diagnosed with arthritis prior and the vet just thought she needed stronger medicine. When it didn't work, he x-rayed and found the huge tumor and one metastisis in her lung. She developed pressure sores from dropping down heavily on her elbows, one of which got infected. He put her on an antibiotic but she just couldn't fight off the infection because her body was just too weak from the cancer and the infection spread. One week and two days after finding out about the cancer, we had to help her pass on because she was suffering so bad. It is very hard. I still burst into tears randomly throughout the day. I too struggle with the decision because I keep wondering if there was anything else I could have done for her. But I know that dogs are more enlightened than humans and that she wouldn't have wanted to hang on the way she was, unable to walk or even get up by herself. Dogs live to serve. All they want to do is please you and when they can't do it any more, it has to be very hard on them. I know my girl understands what we did. And your baby boy does too. They can't tell us where it hurts and they don't want us to watch them suffer. My girl tried to hide it from us. She was determined not to let on even though I knew she was in terrible pain.
One of the ways I get through it is, when I start crying, I picture her as a healthy young dog exploring the universe (dogs love to explore)! I can see her running through the grassy fields near Rainbow Bridge, floating weightless among the stars, visiting her other doggie family members (because I think they miss each other when we separate them), and watching over me and the rest of our family, always with us.
We also did some practical things like went to the shelter we got her from and made a donation in her name. We took bags food for both the dogs and cats too. And our daughter lit a candle in church for her. And now I come on here and answer dog questions hoping to help even one dog (or their human) because she would have liked that. I'm sorry for your loss.

Answer 10

I am sorry for your loss. Know that you made the right decision. You gave him a great life and remember all of the good times.
I went through the same thing last year. I wish I could tell you that it gets easier, but I miss my girl everyday. You loved him and did the right thing for him, even though it was hard for you.