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Message
re: Had to put my Lab to sleep (Cool Story Update for those who commented)
Posted on 10/8/25 at 2:35 pm to SwampBandit
Posted on 10/8/25 at 2:35 pm to SwampBandit
Putting my golden down was harder than losing my dad. All dogs go to heaven. I'm sorry for your loss
This post was edited on 10/8/25 at 2:36 pm
0
Posted on 10/8/25 at 3:25 pm to SwampBandit
Man it is brutal to go thru, but you did the right thing. 13 years is a good run. Had to do it recently with my 14 yr old lab, and twice before with 11 & 12 yr olds. It never gets any easier, but when they're suffering like that, it's an act of mercy. But I know the guilty feeling you talk about. It sucks because you have to be the one to decide when they pass on. My advice is wait a little while (not too long) before you get another pup -when your family is ready. When you do, just know they'll never replace your old dog or be the same as them, but they'll have their own personality and traits, but will help fill that void over time and create new memories.
Posted on 10/8/25 at 4:03 pm to SwampBandit
quote:
Anybody else on this board ever put down one of their dogs that had that long??
No. But I did put down a Golden with liver cancer. She had lost most of her appetite and may have lasted a few weeks more. But we decided it was time.
I have regrets about that.
Our second to last Golden got cancer attached to her heart. We put her down at the last possible moment.
Our current Golden is 4 1/2. And I've put a down payment on another Golden which will be our last, our fifth and final which will encompass most of my after college life and likely will take me to near the end of mine.
Posted on 10/8/25 at 6:17 pm to SwampBandit
I had one of the worst experiences of my life this past Christmas — losing my dog, Ruger. He was a 128-pound Rhodesian Ridgeback, only eight years old, and easily the best dog I’ve ever owned. He was healthy, full of life, and there were no signs anything was wrong.
I had just gotten back from a weeklong wedding trip where Ruger stayed with my wife’s mom. I felt guilty for being away, so on Christmas morning, I took him to the beach to burn off all that pent-up energy. He was so excited — running through the water, rolling around, eating shite shite mid and sand everywhere he was having a blast chasing birds minnows and my sisters dog, just being his goofy self. It was the happiest I’d seen him in months.
I no the exact second and point when I fricked up, he tried to jump a ditch — probably 12 or 15 feet wide — and didn’t quite make it. He hit hard, high-centered on the edge, and slammed his chest and stomach pretty bad. It looked rough, but he got right back up and started sprinting again. I called him to heel checked him over, wiped off the mud, and he seemed fine probing his ribs for him to yelp or whine or anything but nothing he was fine — let him loose and he was running around like nothing happened.
The next morning, everything changed. Ruger wouldn’t get up. He looked in pain no whining but refused to move, he didn’t climb in bed that night and I should have known something was up, and when I tried to help him stand, he started having seizures. I carried him to my truck and rushed him to the vet, telling them I’d pay whatever it took to save him. After X-rays, and ultra sound they told me there was nothing they could do — his spleen had ruptured, his stomach was full of cancer, and his abdomen was filled with blood. He was going septic.
I begged them to tell me where the best specialist in Houston was in a panic. Got a pre approval from
Navy fed for 10k then they said surgery would cost at least $15,000 and he likely wouldn’t survive it. I was crushed. He was struggling to breathe, and I at that time I noticed his belly was swollen and all the blood in his body I imagined was pumping into his stomach cavity mixture with acid all that bile I new what I had to do. The vet told me they could ease his pain and give me some time with him.
I only managed about fifteen minutes — I couldn’t bear to watch him struggle anymore. I held him in my arms as they put him down. It broke me. I’ve been through some painful and bloody deaths in my life, but nothing compared to losing him that day.
I still haven’t been able to open Ruger’s box with his ashes and paw print. When I can, I’m going to make a digital frame filled with pictures from all our adventures — fishing, diving, boating, swimming, and hunting — so I can remember the life we had together.
I’m truly happy you got thirteen years with your boy — that’s almost 66% more time than I had with Ruger. You and your kids have those memories forever, and that’s something special.
So I know exactly how you feel, and I’m so sorry. It will get better, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.
I had just gotten back from a weeklong wedding trip where Ruger stayed with my wife’s mom. I felt guilty for being away, so on Christmas morning, I took him to the beach to burn off all that pent-up energy. He was so excited — running through the water, rolling around, eating shite shite mid and sand everywhere he was having a blast chasing birds minnows and my sisters dog, just being his goofy self. It was the happiest I’d seen him in months.
I no the exact second and point when I fricked up, he tried to jump a ditch — probably 12 or 15 feet wide — and didn’t quite make it. He hit hard, high-centered on the edge, and slammed his chest and stomach pretty bad. It looked rough, but he got right back up and started sprinting again. I called him to heel checked him over, wiped off the mud, and he seemed fine probing his ribs for him to yelp or whine or anything but nothing he was fine — let him loose and he was running around like nothing happened.
The next morning, everything changed. Ruger wouldn’t get up. He looked in pain no whining but refused to move, he didn’t climb in bed that night and I should have known something was up, and when I tried to help him stand, he started having seizures. I carried him to my truck and rushed him to the vet, telling them I’d pay whatever it took to save him. After X-rays, and ultra sound they told me there was nothing they could do — his spleen had ruptured, his stomach was full of cancer, and his abdomen was filled with blood. He was going septic.
I begged them to tell me where the best specialist in Houston was in a panic. Got a pre approval from
Navy fed for 10k then they said surgery would cost at least $15,000 and he likely wouldn’t survive it. I was crushed. He was struggling to breathe, and I at that time I noticed his belly was swollen and all the blood in his body I imagined was pumping into his stomach cavity mixture with acid all that bile I new what I had to do. The vet told me they could ease his pain and give me some time with him.
I only managed about fifteen minutes — I couldn’t bear to watch him struggle anymore. I held him in my arms as they put him down. It broke me. I’ve been through some painful and bloody deaths in my life, but nothing compared to losing him that day.
I still haven’t been able to open Ruger’s box with his ashes and paw print. When I can, I’m going to make a digital frame filled with pictures from all our adventures — fishing, diving, boating, swimming, and hunting — so I can remember the life we had together.
I’m truly happy you got thirteen years with your boy — that’s almost 66% more time than I had with Ruger. You and your kids have those memories forever, and that’s something special.
So I know exactly how you feel, and I’m so sorry. It will get better, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.
Posted on 10/8/25 at 6:47 pm to SwampBandit
We lost our Brittany spaniel unexpectedly a few years back. The scream and cry my youngest daughter let out was enough to break any man. Will never forget it! They become more like family and less like pets. Prayers for you and the family!
Posted on 10/8/25 at 7:39 pm to SwampBandit
My Lab/German Shepherd is 13 and his hips are getting pretty bad. I don't think we have a ton of time and I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I'll do my best to call when it's his time. He's the best dog I've ever had. He was with me through buying my first house, getting married, having kids, getting divorced. There's not much I wouldn't trade to make him better. You did the best you could OP, you gave him an awesome life and didn't let him suffer.
This post was edited on 10/8/25 at 7:43 pm
Posted on 10/8/25 at 8:00 pm to SwampBandit
quote:
Anybody else on this board ever put down one of their dogs that had that long??
My chessie passed at 16yrs old, she was very “dog aggressive” in her later years but was great with our young kids. I have transitioned to more upland hunting so my plan now is to build a string by adding a new pup every 3 years with the goal of always having 3 working dogs (with hopefully 1 retired for a few years). Just added my 2nd dog to the circus a few weeks ago and have been pleasantly surprised on the benefits of a multi-dog household.
The new pup has no concept of personal space…
Posted on 10/8/25 at 9:43 pm to SwampBandit
We went through this with the Matriarch of our pack a few months ago. It’s horrible. But, my friend that takes in geriatric dogs that are dumped on shelters gave me some comforting words. They count on you knowing. Still. It’s gut wrenching. I have to say, the Vet that came to the house to put her down was so good, it helped make a tough day a little better.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 5:39 am to SwampBandit
Sorry brother
Posted on 10/9/25 at 9:58 am to SwampBandit
Sorry to hear it.
I had to put one chocolate down in September 2023.
Then had to put his sister down in September 2025.
Both had splenic masses that ruptured and were wagging their tails to the very end, which made it so much more difficult.
Two young children help take your mind off the loss, but I still am not used to there not being a dog to greet me at the door after work and all that.
Just take solace in the fact that he had a good, long life.
I had to put one chocolate down in September 2023.
Then had to put his sister down in September 2025.
Both had splenic masses that ruptured and were wagging their tails to the very end, which made it so much more difficult.
Two young children help take your mind off the loss, but I still am not used to there not being a dog to greet me at the door after work and all that.
Just take solace in the fact that he had a good, long life.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 11:32 am to SwampBandit
Yes SIr
Had a 13yr old male that I got as a freshman in High School. Trained him myself. It was rough
Currently have a 5yr female that I am not prepared to lose
Had a 13yr old male that I got as a freshman in High School. Trained him myself. It was rough
Currently have a 5yr female that I am not prepared to lose
Posted on 10/10/25 at 7:02 am to SwampBandit
quote:
Thanks Ya'll... I know i will get better with time but my heart is heavy right now and being that he was there when me and my wife met through us having our daughter and starting a family at 22 years old 12 years ago i just know there will always be an empty void in my heart for him...
The guilty feeling you have right now is just a part of being a normal human being. About 5 years ago I euthanized my great dane and she made it 12 or 13 years. Her hips were just not able to function anymore but like your boy, her mind still had puppy energy. We know when we get a pup that we will outlast them. It's just a crap part of having a dog companion.
Through my reading online about "when is the right time", it was spelled out that euthanasia truly is a gift to your pup. In nature and even in human endings, there is rarely a peaceful/graceful death. The end is full of suffering and pain unless you hit the jackpot of endings and go in your sleep or instantly. The alternative for your pup was not pleasant. Instead, all he knew was that he went to sleep.
And I agree with the person who suggested in-home euthanasia. We did that for our great dane. She was terrified of car rides as she got older, and hated going to the vet. Instead she had some new visitors to sniff who gave her treats, the vet and two staff he brought had incredible demeanor and were very kind and gentle through the visit. She went to sleep, they applied the potassium, and never got any sign of struggle from her. It cost $500 or so if I recall correct. Well worth the experience.
Posted on 10/10/25 at 9:42 am to SwampBandit
You did the right thing.
When I finally put my 16 year old buddy down it was hard, but I probably waited too long. He hunted with me through 12, and boat rides to hang out in blind until one month before he turned 14. At the end, he was practically blind, hearing gone, arthritis, and had cancer. I held him as we laid on the floor and he went to sleep. Hit me harder than anything before or since. My 10 year old lab had the esophagus issue. Would come and go. One day we went to the park and it started and never stopped. Brought him to the vet within the hr. They sedated him and it never got better, he passed away 4 hrs from the onset. Doc said they only get worse and would eventually suffocate. Don’t feel guilty about squat, you did him right and from the pic he had a blast while on this earth.
Now I have my 3rd old yellow lab, non hunter and a huge puddin’. He’s 6 and is starting to get stiff and limp after long walks. They all get old and will eventually pass on, but I couldn’t imagine life without a dog.
When I finally put my 16 year old buddy down it was hard, but I probably waited too long. He hunted with me through 12, and boat rides to hang out in blind until one month before he turned 14. At the end, he was practically blind, hearing gone, arthritis, and had cancer. I held him as we laid on the floor and he went to sleep. Hit me harder than anything before or since. My 10 year old lab had the esophagus issue. Would come and go. One day we went to the park and it started and never stopped. Brought him to the vet within the hr. They sedated him and it never got better, he passed away 4 hrs from the onset. Doc said they only get worse and would eventually suffocate. Don’t feel guilty about squat, you did him right and from the pic he had a blast while on this earth.
Now I have my 3rd old yellow lab, non hunter and a huge puddin’. He’s 6 and is starting to get stiff and limp after long walks. They all get old and will eventually pass on, but I couldn’t imagine life without a dog.
Posted on 10/10/25 at 9:56 am to SwampBandit
Sorry to hear. I put my lab (Maddie) down in February. She was 14. We did the in-home death doctor. If you have the option, it was a much better experience than what we had had going to the vet. We took a whole week, gave her every food she had ever wanted, and ended it with some chocolate cookies before the deed was done. My wife asked "what if" a bunch and what honestly helped the most was looking at photos and videos from just 6 months before and realizing she was a shadow of herself and we were just being selfish.
Then in July, my wife's greyhound gets aggressive cancer and we had to put her down.
Guess where I was yeterday... Last of the 3 can't stand up out of bed. 2025 has been hard, and the lab hurt the most. Don't feel bad for being sad and focus on the good times you had.
Then in July, my wife's greyhound gets aggressive cancer and we had to put her down.
Guess where I was yeterday... Last of the 3 can't stand up out of bed. 2025 has been hard, and the lab hurt the most. Don't feel bad for being sad and focus on the good times you had.
Posted on 10/10/25 at 10:39 am to SwampBandit
I had a 16 yr old chocolate lab named Annabelle. She wasn't a dog. She was a human wrapped in chocolate fur. She wanted to please us with everything she did. Never wanted to crate train because of her anxiety. So we left her out. Her separation anxiety got the best out of her. Never figured out what those Coke boxes did to her...but man she would sure shred the hell of them. And I let her. It was nothing to clean up..and as long as she didn't tear up anything costly, it was fine. She grew out of that and turned out to be one of the best dogs I ever owned. When we put her down I was a basketcase. I hated seeing that little girl go across the rainbow bridge, but I knew it was time. When the time comes you'll know it. Because the question you'll ask yourself is "Am I keeping the dog alive for me or is the dog living?" If you answer the first part, well, it's time.
First dog I ever put down was a black lab mix and she got ornery and mean those last days. But Annabelle wanted to stay, but she was hurting too bad and her quality of life wasn't there. Our last dog was Da Boots...and she knew it was time, that one was easiest.
My condolences on your loss of a friend. It never is EASY to let a companion go.
First dog I ever put down was a black lab mix and she got ornery and mean those last days. But Annabelle wanted to stay, but she was hurting too bad and her quality of life wasn't there. Our last dog was Da Boots...and she knew it was time, that one was easiest.
My condolences on your loss of a friend. It never is EASY to let a companion go.
Posted on 10/10/25 at 7:38 pm to Lsutigerturner
quote:
I had one of the worst experiences of my life this past Christmas — losing my dog, Ruger. He was a 128-pound Rhodesian Ridgeback, only eight years old, and easily the best dog I’ve ever owned. He was healthy, full of life, and there were no signs anything was wrong.
I had just gotten back from a weeklong wedding trip where Ruger stayed with my wife’s mom. I felt guilty for being away, so on Christmas morning, I took him to the beach to burn off all that pent-up energy. He was so excited — running through the water, rolling around, eating shite shite mid and sand everywhere he was having a blast chasing birds minnows and my sisters dog, just being his goofy self. It was the happiest I’d seen him in months.
I no the exact second and point when I fricked up, he tried to jump a ditch — probably 12 or 15 feet wide — and didn’t quite make it. He hit hard, high-centered on the edge, and slammed his chest and stomach pretty bad. It looked rough, but he got right back up and started sprinting again. I called him to heel checked him over, wiped off the mud, and he seemed fine probing his ribs for him to yelp or whine or anything but nothing he was fine — let him loose and he was running around like nothing happened.
The next morning, everything changed. Ruger wouldn’t get up. He looked in pain no whining but refused to move, he didn’t climb in bed that night and I should have known something was up, and when I tried to help him stand, he started having seizures. I carried him to my truck and rushed him to the vet, telling them I’d pay whatever it took to save him. After X-rays, and ultra sound they told me there was nothing they could do — his spleen had ruptured, his stomach was full of cancer, and his abdomen was filled with blood. He was going septic.
I begged them to tell me where the best specialist in Houston was in a panic. Got a pre approval from
Navy fed for 10k then they said surgery would cost at least $15,000 and he likely wouldn’t survive it. I was crushed. He was struggling to breathe, and I at that time I noticed his belly was swollen and all the blood in his body I imagined was pumping into his stomach cavity mixture with acid all that bile I new what I had to do. The vet told me they could ease his pain and give me some time with him.
I only managed about fifteen minutes — I couldn’t bear to watch him struggle anymore. I held him in my arms as they put him down. It broke me. I’ve been through some painful and bloody deaths in my life, but nothing compared to losing him that day.
I still haven’t been able to open Ruger’s box with his ashes and paw print. When I can, I’m going to make a digital frame filled with pictures from all our adventures — fishing, diving, boating, swimming, and hunting — so I can remember the life we had together.
I’m truly happy you got thirteen years with your boy — that’s almost 66% more time than I had with Ruger. You and your kids have those memories forever, and that’s something special.
So I know exactly how you feel, and I’m so sorry. It will get better, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.
Man i am sorry to hear that. I can imagine it coming out of nowheres like that is way harder. I watched Drake regress and knew it was coming and even told myself and tried to accept it which i thought i did till that day came. I cried so hard signing that paper that the ink was smeared everywhere
Posted on 10/10/25 at 7:39 pm to bubba102105
quote:
We lost our Brittany spaniel unexpectedly a few years back. The scream and cry my youngest daughter let out was enough to break any man. Will never forget it! They become more like family and less like pets. Prayers for you and the family!
My daughter went full on panick attack struggling to breathe for about 2 hours straight and i had to force her to eat all last week. I wanted to cry just as much as she did and it was hard as hell to try to stay strong for her. At one point when she was crying i acted like i got a phone call and stepped outside and threw my guts up
Posted on 10/10/25 at 7:48 pm to SwampBandit
I got a cool story for yall. As we all discussed how we get a feeling of guilt i have been praying that Drake or God would give me a sign that he is at peace with what i did. The day we put him down my wife and daughter love yellow flowers so i told my daughter he is in heaven running through a field of daisies and sunflowers getting belly rubs from Jesus. Tuesday for my wifes birthday i bought her flowers which were sunflowers and told her i hope her day is as beautiful as the flowers and that i picked them because thats the field we picture Drake running through. Drake would always walk in the woods behind my house down a certain trail, so wednesday we come home and walk in the backyard and right at that trail is a tree full of yellow flowers that came out of nowheres and it is the only set of them in the whole block of woods down my street. I took that as my sign of him saying Daddy im okay and im here.
Kind of eased my pain, then of course i cried some more and thanked him and told him i missed him.
Kind of eased my pain, then of course i cried some more and thanked him and told him i missed him.
This post was edited on 10/10/25 at 7:50 pm
Posted on 10/10/25 at 9:18 pm to SwampBandit
Damn dude, didn’t need you to make me tear up tonight.
All jokes aside, that’s a beautiful ending. I have an 11 year old lab that I got right after graduating college. She’s been with me all the way from my womanizing days, to meeting my wife, and now having three daughters. The day I have to put her down will crush me. I’ve been told on several occasions that the best thing you can do to somewhat fill
that hole is to get a pup whether you think you’re ready for it or not.
All jokes aside, that’s a beautiful ending. I have an 11 year old lab that I got right after graduating college. She’s been with me all the way from my womanizing days, to meeting my wife, and now having three daughters. The day I have to put her down will crush me. I’ve been told on several occasions that the best thing you can do to somewhat fill
that hole is to get a pup whether you think you’re ready for it or not.
Posted on 10/11/25 at 2:16 pm to scottyd
quote:
I’ve been told on several occasions that the best thing you can do to somewhat fill that hole is to get a pup whether you think you’re ready for it or not.
Yea we got one about a year and a half ago, I posted him on page 1.. o wanted to get one before Drake was gone to develop some of his traits… now I got a cattle dog that fetches like a lab and loves to track deer and has the funniest little personality ever… the whole in my heart will never be filled but that puppy is being spoiled more now than ever.. I wish o would have spent more time with Drake before he left but main life is so busy but ill never let that happen again
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