re: Dog Euthanasia Question

Kind of a rough thread to read. I had to have my doberman put down a few weeks ago. Best dog I've ever had, and I've had lot of them. He was 10, which is the average lifespan of a doberman. I had just bragged about how he was still going strong, then suddenly he started going downhill. A vet visit found cancer that had spread into his lungs. A couple of days later he was really laboring to breath when he laid down. I spent two nights sleeping in the floor with him. The last one got pretty bad, and we managed to find a mobile vet that would come to our house during this covid mess. It was some of the hardest couple of days in my life. He was trying to keep watch and guard the house right up to the end.

quote:

---

Dr. Carly

---

Great Vet and an even better person. She even prayed with my 10-year-old before they put the dog down

I had an uncle that would put his down himself. 38 to the base of the skull.

When I was a kid, he brought a couple of our old dogs "to live in the country"... As I got older I realized that we already lived 10 miles from the nearest town!

quote:

---

One well placed .22 shot to the head.

---

frick that I would pay whatever it cost to not have to shoot my own dog.

quote:

---

The wife has been wanting to get another puppy for some time now. I've told her I don't want to get another puppy until the dane goes because I don't want a puppy knocking her down all the time. But I'd also like to get the Aussie acclimated to a puppy before she's alone for some period of time. Kinda a catch 22 at this point.

---

went through that recently. We had two mutts. First one died at about 12. She had heart disease so we knew it wasn't going to last much longer. I had found her one morning laying outside in the bushes when i woke up, which is unlike her since she usually sleeps on the floor by my bed. She was just laying there, and it was freezing cold that night. I had an important meeting to go to that day and went to that, and my boss was with me and i told him around lunch time i had to go home to make sure she was alright b/c i didn't want her dying alone, even though i know that's what she went to do that night. Got back and made a sandwich and went to give her the last bite and she didn't take it. This little fatass has never not eaten something i presented to her a day in her life. Went to the vet shortly after that to put her down.

After she died (they were brother and sister), i had brought my boy to the groomers some time later and they told me he busted out the cage several times. Kind of shocking to me since he had never done something like that before, but then i realized that he had never been alone before like that. Sure he was home alone for a few hours here and there after she died when i had to go make customer visits, but i work from home for the most part, so his entire life he was always with his sister, and after she died, he always had me, or at least his home comfort. Being at the groomer was the first time in his life he probably felt uncomfortable and not knowing anyone or anything around him b/c he always went to the groomer with his sister. Then you think back on it and you realize that they were literally always together their entire life, always, no matter where they were, home, the neighbors, the vet, the groomer, etc.

We had the one dog for about a year by himself, and he ended up getting the same heart disease, but he lived for almost 2 years with it, which was quite expensive. Same thing for him, it was easy to tell when he was ready to go, and it sucked that we waited a few days too long but i had just had surgery and couldn't walk so he kind of took a back seat for a few days, and i felt terrible he had to spend those last few days miserable. I found him one night sleeping while sitting, b/c he couldn't breathe if he was lying down. He was exhausted b/c he couldn't sleep b/c he couldnt' lie down. He'd come put his head on my knee and sleep during the day while standing. I don't know why i didn't think to ask the vet to come over. It still bothers me that he had to go about a week like that, but i simply couldn't go anywhere with my surgery.

We got a second dog about 6 months before he died, and i was a bit tentative to do it b/c i didn't want him to think we weren't giving him attention and giving the new puppy attention, but it didn't seem to bother him and we didn't neglect him, and he enjoyed his energy at times. One of the best days was when i came home late from Houston at like 10pm. wife and kids were all still up in their rooms and the only one that came greet me when i came home after being gone for a week was the old dog that probably hurt him to get up and walk down the hall and to the kitchen to see me, and he wagged his tail and jumped a little and was excited to see me. Made my day and it's one of the lasting things i'll remember about him b/c he died not too long after that.

We got a second dog about a month after he died to join the other puppy. I just think dogs should have other dog companionship, especially if you're not going to be home most of the day. My two i have now will go outside and play tag with each other for about 2 hours every morning, doesn't matter if its raining. They need each other to burn off that energy b/c i can't always be the one to do that with them everyday like it's needed.

Sucks. Know how you must be feeling right now. It's harder on bigger dogs like that too.

We've had to put two down in the last couple of years. A Chihuahua shite head (we loved him though). How'd we know? He had a seizure and started flopping on the floor. Took him to the vet on the way to the airport for a trip we were taking. He lasted 16 years.

Our hound type dog (both were rescues) was incontinent. We'd had her in diapers for about a year. She couldn't stand. Would fall and just try to get back up. Very emaciated looking despite eating well. Had her for 17 years.

For arthritic dogs, you could check with your vet. Don't give them stuff you'd take. Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers can endanger your dog's health.

Some say CBD oil is effective at helping to control pain in arthritic dogs.

I'd book marked this article years ago: LINK

As noted above (and we used this for a while):

Glucosamine and chondroitin are both relatively safe supplements that are given to dogs with arthritis and other painful conditions. These joint supplements are often used together to improve joint mobility and to reduce pain and inflammation.

Like others have said, you will know when it’s time. My wife and I decided to bring a vet to our house when it’s time, going to the vet stresses out our dog so much we want his last few minutes with us to be peaceful.

Ask your vet for names....just a suggestion.

Had to put my GSD down April of 2019 two weeks after her 10th birthday. I came home from work and she would always greet me with her toy to go outside and play before my wife and son got home. That day she didn't and was laying on the floor lethargic. I got her up and outside and she just laid down again and didn't move. I knew then something was up so our vet was already closed so I took her to the emergency vet who diagnosed her with hemangiosarcoma and it had ruptured and she was bleeding internally. I asked if surgery could help and she said yes to stop the bleeding but it will happen again and you might buy them three months. Toughest decision I had to make as I could tell she was in pain, but GSD tend to not show pain or weakness. Luckily my wife and son got to say goodbye before I took her to the vet and my son was asleep when I got back. I sat in the floor for a good hour petting her and crying before I told the vet to put her at peace. I cried in the parking lot for another 30 minutes before I could drive home. It was terrible but having to tell my 3 yo son that his best bud had crossed the rainbow bridge was probably tougher as I had made the decisions with other dogs in the past. That was his first knowledge of death and not a day goes by that he doesn't say he misses her and prays for her every night.

You will know when its time. Had to put down my lab last year and I could see it in her eyes. She would have given every last ounce to make us happy, but she was in pain and miserable. She spent her last two days on the couch with my wife watching tv and eating donuts, Cane's, Cookies and whatever else she wanted. Dr Carly came by and we visited for about an hour before she sent her over the rainbow bridge. Its been more than a year and it still hurts. Best of luck.