Had to put my Lab to sleep (Cool Story Update for those who commented)

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Anybody else on this board ever put down one of their dogs that had that long??

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Sorry for your loss, it's never easy.

Yes I had to do that a few years ago, he was 14 years old. He'd pretty much been my shadow from college until my 30s. Hardest thing I've ever done and like you I struggled with guilt about it for a while. He had a tumor in his cheek that was starting to keep him from eating. You could tell it was hurting him because he started to get anxious all the time. He was in great shape otherwise and when I took him to the vet to have him put down he walked in wagging his tail excited to be there and see everybody. Once they get to that age you have to remember that often when you put them through a major surgery and recovery they might only have a few (if any) good months after that. Labs are often so stoic about pain that once you notice that something is hurting them it's pretty damn bad. It's not always worth putting them through additional pain when they are at that age. You did the right thing. Making their passing easier is the least we can do for a dog that gave everything they had to us.

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You did the right thing. Making their passing easier is the least we can do for a dog that gave everything they had to us.

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Yea its just killing me cause while his hips and stuff was going out he still would do everything he could to run around, he was there fully mentally and never showed he was in pain...But the breathing thing had got to be a major issue and what started us my wife went on the patio thursday and he barked when she opened the door and fell over. It had just got to any point he got excited he would struggle to breathe and like you said we didnt think spending thousands on a surgery that may or may not was worth risking him dying during it, or coming out and still struggling

He was with us since before our daughter was born and with us every step of the way while we learned how to be a family. My little girl is distraught and im probably just as bad off as she is... Signing that piece of paper was the hardest thing i ever did in my life.. Wish i would have loved on him a little more before they did it but my heart couldnt take it however i didnt leave his side

Dang, I’m sorry to hear this.

Tough choice but the right one it seems

Here’s to a great life with him!

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This has been hard as hell on me, my kid, and my wife and its almost like i have this guilt lingering over me. Ill be fine for a while then it just hits me all over again. It just sucks because he was there mentally and still acted so happy but when i went home to bring him to the vet to either figure out an option to prolong him or put him down he had got excited running around sniffing and almost suffocated from his throat.

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You made the right decision and you shouldn't harbor any guilt whatsoever. You gave him a peaceful transition to the next life, which is the least you can do for the years he gave to you. That is so much better for him and you both than sitting watching him suffer through the end of his life.

I lost my last dog last November and I think about her every single day. She started acting off, not eating, etc. one day so I took her into the vet. They did some imaging and found out that she had a huge tumor on her spleen. She was healthy and happy otherwise, so after consulting with the vet, we opted for surgery to remove her spleen. I told the vet that if she got in there and things looked really bad, to give me a call to make a decision. It turned out that the cancer hadn't metastasized so her spleen was removed and she was sent home. She acted 100% better for about a week - back to her happy, healthy self, other than recovering from surgery.

I came home from duck hunting with my young pup Sunday of opening weekend last year. Old pup greeted me at the door, wagging her tail per usual, and when we walked into the kitchen she threw up. I took her outside and she fell down on the porch. At that point, I knew what was going on so I sent my wife to our vet friend's house to "get some emergency blood clot medicine." 2 absolutely brutal hours later, she was gone. The likely scenario was that she threw a clot or something that cause significant internal bleeding, which killed her. It was one of the worst days of my life and I've had some bad ones.

I get pretty emotional just typing that out, but I tell you that to share that while I don't regret opting for the surgery for her at all, I'd give anything to go back and give her a peaceful transition from this world to the next.

My young pup is now 2 years old and about to go into her second season. She has brought so much joy to my life over the last two years. She's absolutely hilarious and turning out to be a hell of a bird dog. I share that just to encourage you to pick up another pup when you and your family feel the time is right. There is no better friend than a good dog.

More than I care to admit, pretty much sworn off any new animals for me ever.
You did the right thing for you owner and he appreciated your kind gesture.

Sorry to hear. It is never an easy decision. Prayers for your pup as he crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Take care!

Only once. My first lab. She had a stroke and had to be put out of her misery. My other labs went quietly and didn’t make me go through that again. We have had 4 labs in 45 some odd years. Our current is 7.
Sorry for your loss. It is never easy.

I've been there several times. Never shed a tear when family members have passed but I've cried like a baby over losing my two goldens. Took a while to get over the grief but it will pass.
We got two vizslas a couple of years ago and I love them to death. Not having a dog in the house leaves a hole in your heart.

We lost our Chiweenie of 13 years a few weeks ago, my best friend.

Every time i left the house he had to go, sleep in the bed, spoiled.

I felt guilty about this but I cried more than when my mom passed, and don't know why.

They are family