re: Having a hard time putting my Lab to sleep

It really sucks dogs lives are so short. I have had to put down my last two dogs. Both were over 10 years old and both had serious health conditions. You always think when should i do it? but both of mine let me know in their own way it was time. It's never easy and i was there when both toke their last breath but it sounds like yours is giving you the sign.

So sorry to hear this. Had to put two down in the last couple of years. One lived to be 16, the other 17. Our kids grew up with them.

My advice would be:

When it's time it's time. Do it. They're suffering. Dogs rarely display the outward signs, but you can tell. Your vet can tell. You're doing it to ease their pain not yours.

Be with them. Pet them. Love on them. Don't weenie out. Some bring in home vets to do it. The last place we went to had a nice private room. The other was with the vet in her office.

Have them cremated and get the ashes. They can put them in a nice box. Some people save the boxes forever. Others bury it.

Honor his memory. For your sake and the families. I put together for Christmas photo albums each year using MixBook. Great site. The books were a surprise and cherished.

We have a "pet cemetery" out back. A nice, landscaped areas. We bought these placques (very nice) with their picture, dates and some words about them we put on top of the grave.

My wife and I did this about 5 weeks ago with our 13 year old lab. Holy cow it stunk. But we knew it was time. Our kids knew it was time.
We got him some McDonalds hamburgers the last couple of days, which he loved.
If you are writing this it is time. Remember him as a great and happy dog. Not as he is now.

Losing a pet is terrible. They are so loving, so faithful and only want to be loved. It's a shame to lose them. Take comfort in the good times.

quote:

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Buy him a burger, give him lots of love, and end his suffering.

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This gave me the feels. When I put my lab down a year ago I cooked him a big steak, loved him lots and sent him on. Very hard thing to do.

My lab was also 13 y.o. with gangrenous, necrotic mammillary tumor and I regretted waiting too long to put her down. The wife still gives me heck about it.

Man up and by all means be with your dog when the vet euthanizes it. Pet and talk with the dog and it will just be like going to sleep for the dog. To death do us apart, ashes to ashes. She is buried underneath her dog house in the back yard so we can always remember the good memories she gave us.

First, my condolences that you have to go through this. There aren't any words that really help. But I do believe it is better to have had a good friend and lost him, then to have never had a friend at all.

Like another poster said, just be there for him when it's time. Hold on to him like you've never held on to him before. It'll hurt like hell for a while...then pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and go find your next little buddy.

I've got three...my oldest is almost 14, and this day is coming for me as well. But all of that pain will still be worth what he gave to me...how do you pay them back for all of that loyalty over the course of a lifetime? Take care of them at the end, and keep their best in focus.

Good luck, geauxdaddy. Let us know if and when you decide to get a new one.

Damn, these threads suck.

Google "lap of love". They will come to the house and make sure he goes to the other side where he's comfortable, with dignity and peace

Just reread these posts as we just put down our family dog of 13 years. Dogs and all pets are amazing and such a tough loss when they go. I’m struggling right now :(