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Started By
Message
When is it time to put down your pet?
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:01 am
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:01 am
Vet told me when you notice they stop doing what they enjoy.
My dog still has a lot of energy, is overall happy, and likes to play.
Issues: She will be 13 this year, she has incontinence problems (she will go to sleep and just pee where she lies) and she is about to have surgery to remove 4 benign masses. She keeps chewing at these masses and they open and bleed everywhere! It will look like a crime scene in the morning.
She is CONSTANTLY on antibiotics, etc... and in a cone to keep her from messing with them. If we do have the surgery, she will be kept in a cone for another 2-3 weeks afterward. It's just a shitty life being stuck in that damn cone for weeks and weeks at a time
Fack! I don't know what to do because she is still so damn happy and has plenty of energy but she is falling apart.
My dog still has a lot of energy, is overall happy, and likes to play.
Issues: She will be 13 this year, she has incontinence problems (she will go to sleep and just pee where she lies) and she is about to have surgery to remove 4 benign masses. She keeps chewing at these masses and they open and bleed everywhere! It will look like a crime scene in the morning.
She is CONSTANTLY on antibiotics, etc... and in a cone to keep her from messing with them. If we do have the surgery, she will be kept in a cone for another 2-3 weeks afterward. It's just a shitty life being stuck in that damn cone for weeks and weeks at a time
Fack! I don't know what to do because she is still so damn happy and has plenty of energy but she is falling apart.
This post was edited on 1/3/24 at 11:03 am
32
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:04 am to SmackDaniels
Based on what you have said, it sounds like it’s time.
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:04 am to SmackDaniels
My dog has grown benign masses since she was a baby, and they've gotten more plentiful as she has aged since she has IMHA (an autoimmune disease). We got some removed when she was a baby, but we've since been told to stop fussing about them and just let them come and go.
That said, she doesn't mess with them to the point of severe bleeding or anything.
My bigger concern with your pup would be the bathroom issues. That was the signal of the end with our old cat.
Still, really hard to say because your dog is playful and energetic. Such a tough call, and I'm sorry you're facing it.
That said, she doesn't mess with them to the point of severe bleeding or anything.
My bigger concern with your pup would be the bathroom issues. That was the signal of the end with our old cat.
Still, really hard to say because your dog is playful and energetic. Such a tough call, and I'm sorry you're facing it.
This post was edited on 1/3/24 at 11:06 am
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:05 am to SmackDaniels
If the vet says it's time, it's time. Don't let your pet suffer.
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:08 am to SmackDaniels
quote:
Issues: She will be 13 this year, she has incontinence problems (she will go to sleep and just pee where she lies) and she is about to have surgery to remove 4 benign masses. She keeps chewing at these masses and they open and bleed everywhere! It will look like a crime scene in the morning.
This happened to my boxer and I had her put down that day
She had a seizure about 3 weeks prior to that (parlayed that in to NY strip for dinner for a couple days lol)
The day I put her down I have video of her chasing me and playing around. She still ate fine and was mentally fine and still a happy dog, but she had massed everywhere and her hips were giving out more by the day. She could barely stand on our floor without carpet and was in clear pain at times.
One mass had ruptured already but not too bad. Another constantly bled. I woke up one morning and there was blood everywhere. I knew it was time. Keeping her around would’ve been selfish. I didn’t want to wait until she couldn’t move on her own anymore. One of if not the hardest thing I’ve had to do but it was an easy decision. I’ve never questioned it.
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:11 am to SmackDaniels
If she is happy and not in pain. It isn't time. I have a 14 year old mutt. We've also had to have some lipomas removed that would burst and bleed. Relatively easy surgery. Get a soft t-shirt to put on her so she leaves the incisions alone after surgery. Incontinence is more of a problem for you than her. Perhaps either Pee pads+crate at night or diaper at night. (limit water after dinner and take her out right before going to bed).
In the past I've put down dogs with Cancer (when $8,000 surgery wasn't going to prolong the prognosis), another who couldn't use back legs anymore, and most recently a German Shepherd with anal fistula that wasted away before my eyes (think how awful fecal incontinence is to a pet owner).
It sounds more like you are tired of the hassle or perhaps the expense of veterinary care is too much. In my opinion, these are things we sign on for when we get the pet.
If she's happy and energetic, let her be and enjoy her while she's around.
In the past I've put down dogs with Cancer (when $8,000 surgery wasn't going to prolong the prognosis), another who couldn't use back legs anymore, and most recently a German Shepherd with anal fistula that wasted away before my eyes (think how awful fecal incontinence is to a pet owner).
It sounds more like you are tired of the hassle or perhaps the expense of veterinary care is too much. In my opinion, these are things we sign on for when we get the pet.
If she's happy and energetic, let her be and enjoy her while she's around.
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:13 am to SmackDaniels
quote:
Issues: She will be 13 this year, she has incontinence problems (she will go to sleep and just pee where she lies)
There is easy meds to provide that resolve this.
The rest is a bit subjective
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:13 am to SmackDaniels
quote:
My dog still has a lot of energy, is overall happy, and likes to play
It's not time yet, despite what you said after this. There's no way I could put down my happy, energetic dog because of some health issues that don't necessarily impact her quality of life.
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:18 am to SmackDaniels
Energy is the real key. When they lack that, it’s time. Also, you asking this question is a good thing. The last person to realize it is time to put a pet down is generally the owner, for obvious reasons. Most pets end up suffering for a while because of this. We just talk ourselves into believing they “aren’t ready”.
So, this is a great question to ask, and it also sounds like she has some more time left. Especially if the masses being removed helps her out.
As someone else mentioned, I would absolutely crate her at night and put a pee pad down. So much easier.
So, this is a great question to ask, and it also sounds like she has some more time left. Especially if the masses being removed helps her out.
As someone else mentioned, I would absolutely crate her at night and put a pee pad down. So much easier.
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:19 am to SmackDaniels
You usually always know when they either stop eating, can no longer move around much at all and/or have 0 energy, or are in obvious pain.
This post was edited on 1/3/24 at 11:20 am
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:19 am to SmackDaniels
If they are in pain or struggling to breathe.
Or if they have cancer or a serious illness.
Or if they have cancer or a serious illness.
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:20 am to SmackDaniels
quote:
Issues: She will be 13 this year, she has incontinence problems (she will go to sleep and just pee where she lies) and she is about to have surgery to remove 4 benign masses. She keeps chewing at these masses and they open and bleed everywhere! It will look like a crime scene in the morning.
There are "Doggie Diapers" you can use. We did on a hound we had for about a year.
When? If they look in obvious pain. Can't walk without assistance. You'll know. Vet can guide you also.
The worst part of pet ownership, but you don't want them to suffer.
BTW..to help ease the loss, in the past, I've created photo albums using MixBook for the family of the pet. Also, we were able to make personalized headstones with the photo for the dog and placed it in a little "pet cemetery". Not that expensive. Maybe $40.
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:25 am to SmackDaniels
I always have just kept asking the vet (even if it was 4 or 5 times). From what you said I dont think its time (with my experience). When the time came for my dogs they were standoffish and kept trying to be by themselves.
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:26 am to JumpingTheShark
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:28 am to SaintLSUnAtl
quote:
She could barely stand on our floor without carpet
She's fine for the most part but I have noticed her back legs are starting to give out on the tile floors at times.
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:31 am to SmackDaniels
My dog is over 17. He has some incontinence issues at night, so I cut out water and eating later in the evening and gave him the laundry room and an adjacent small bar area to sleep in, rather than confine him to his crate. He still has mishaps sometimes, but they are easier to clean up and he is less distressed. He also has a benign tumor on his neck that bleeds when he scratches it. We are told he is too old to have it removed since he'd have to be under general anesthesia. It does not appear to cause him much discomfort, and I keep it clean and put medicine on it to prevent infection. It's more an issue for me than him, as he does tend to scratch it and cause bleeding at night, making a bloody mess in his fur and bedding. All that said, he still has energy. He's slowing down and finding it harder to get up the steps. But he still chases after the mail carrier/delivery drivers and his appetite is good. If he stops eating or chasing delivery vans, it will be time.
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:32 am to SmackDaniels
If they can't walk to eat or pissing /sitting themselves it's 100% time to put them down. We should be able to do the same with humans.
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:40 am to saintsfan1977
quote:
it's 100% time to put them down. We should be able to do the same with humans.
I used to agree with you 100%. After seeing how some people act when they have an elderly parent/grandparent in bad health, I'm only 60% at this point. There are people who want to "bury mama before she's dead" and they'll spend her money on themselves as if it was their money.
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:50 am to SmackDaniels
There’s a medicine for the leaking, Prion
A month supply was around 40.00 a month
If she is happy & otherwise healthy I’d try that after having masses removed
Also there is an inflatable collar that isn’t as terrible as the cone
ETA
What breed?
Boxers have a high chance of degenerative myelopathy
There’s no real test but I did a DNA test that showed mine had both genes which confirmed her back legs going out wasn’t arthritis
I lost my girl 2 months ago to a stroke, I wasn’t ready for her to go but I’m glad I didn’t have to watch her slowly become unable to walk all the while trying to decide if it was time
A month supply was around 40.00 a month
If she is happy & otherwise healthy I’d try that after having masses removed
Also there is an inflatable collar that isn’t as terrible as the cone
ETA
quote:
She's fine for the most part but I have noticed her back legs are starting to give out on the tile floors at times.
What breed?
Boxers have a high chance of degenerative myelopathy
There’s no real test but I did a DNA test that showed mine had both genes which confirmed her back legs going out wasn’t arthritis
I lost my girl 2 months ago to a stroke, I wasn’t ready for her to go but I’m glad I didn’t have to watch her slowly become unable to walk all the while trying to decide if it was time
This post was edited on 1/3/24 at 11:55 am
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:57 am to SmackDaniels
I put my dog down one week ago today. It's the hardest decision to make, but you have to think about your pup over yourself. If the dog still appears to be happy and energetic, try your best to keep them that way. Mine was extremely lethargic, wouldn't eat, and had very labored breathing so it was painfully obvious that it was her time.
Trust your gut but also listen to your vet. If there's even a chance that it should go one for another year or so with these corrective procedures, then you take it.
Trust your gut but also listen to your vet. If there's even a chance that it should go one for another year or so with these corrective procedures, then you take it.
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