Peeps that had to put their pets down.

Oldfishkeeper,

I bet it does still bother you...it really sux, for sure. That is one of the reasons that we arrange for one of our boys to dog sit if both of us have to be out. We'd hate to have her fall and be stuck until we get home if her leg gives out, but as you know, we all do what we can, when we can for them.

Our home has tile flooring downstairs and hardwood upstairs, and both are slippery for the dog. What did we do? Slowly added inexpensive area rugs and runners in the traffic areas downstairs, and in our bedroom...our place looks like a rug store blew up! LOL

 

She's a beautiful old girl. Very sorry you are having to face this and I am dreading the day my pug has to go. Instinctively both you and your dog will know. One morning she won't get up and she will look at you, lie back down and breath a deep sigh and you will both know. God bless.

 

And today she is having a great day for an 18 year old! Getting up "pretty" easy, eyes are bright, no panting. These are the reasons we still have her here. She has a couple of bad days and then springs back to say, 90% of where she was before. Her decline has been by notches or steps, not slow and steady. I guess maybe the bad days are just getting worse, hopefully they won't become more frequent.

But it was also a hot day the other day, and she doesn't tolerate the heat anymore. That could be what was going on and why she looked particularly bad at that time.

She's known at work at the dog that won't die. After 2 years of us crying wolf, I can see where that comes from. My Japanese friends think she is already dead and it's her spirit hanging around. A couple of times we had to wonder, heh!

 

Oh my..... oh my my my..... oh my. That's awful. That's a worse experience than having to put them down. The only time she's left alone is for my early morning PT appointments. It's her sleepy time, so I always hope she'll stay bedded. Later appointments or something longer than an hour and Greg comes home from work. Your experience would have haunted me forever too......

We pray she'll go in her sleep, curled up in a nice quiet sleeping position.

If your pup was having seizures, he wasn't aware of what was going on. Sometimes they can stop breathing while their having them, much like people can do, and they would have no amount of suffering at all. None. Some you can feel them coming on, but when it takes hold, your not aware of what's going on. It was like going in his sleep for him.

 

Take comfort in that he may not have known what was going on as he passed. I've held my german shephard in my arms during a seizure and he was not aware I was even there until after it passed and he snapped out of it. It's very scary to witness and it makes you feel helpless.

 

I worked on a seizure unit for years. One little girl would be coloring and talking, do her thing, and continue on it the exact same place in the sentence where she left off. She wouldn't know she had a seizure until she looked up and saw all of us looking at her. I can remember her say "wah?"

Another kiddo could completely stop breathing. If we couldn't stop it fast enough she would stop breathing and we would even have to intubate before it passed. She was older and would be OMG, did I look gross in front of that guy?? Heh!

Last story. one older girl did it while we were walking in the hallway. She started to seize and I tried to somewhat ease her to the floor.... but I was 100', 5'1". Somehow she ended on all on my head when she snapped out of it. She was Like "Renee? Do I even have to ask?" To which there was a muffled reply "Nope!"

 

I would have responded to this thread sooner but it was just too painfull. I just had to put my 11 year old dog down.In Oct. she began to cough.I took her in and the diagnosis was confirmed as heart disease. We started her on lasix's (furosimide,). She was getting a total of 7 pills per day.(spironolactone,Pimobendan,Enalipril)
She responded very well to the meds and was back to her old cat chasing self.Last month the coughing was getting much worse and if she started to chase something she would have a seizure.(not unusual as Renee pointed out) After many sleepless nights and the bad days quickly outnumbering the good ones I had to make the desicion on March 28.The hardest part was she was in perfect health.(other then her ticker of course)Her blood work resembled that of a 1 year old animal.Her teeth were sparking white her eyes clear and as for mobility even the day I took her in she still jumped on and off my 4 foot high bed with no problems.(I will never again allow my dog to become overweight.Been there done that.You are not doing your animal any favors by treating it to death.I digress)
Zoo Zoo was 23 pounds from the day I got her to the day she died.If it wasn't for her ticker I am sure she would have lived another 5 years easily.
Luckily my Vet is just an awesome person and it went better then I could have dreamed.She just drifted away in my arms.

While we love them all sometimes one comes along that just touches your heart a little more and an inseperable bond is formed.It is much harder to make that desicion when it comes time for these"special" ones.
It is important to not be selfish and keep them around longer then you should.You will regret that much more when you try to make peace with its death.

Zoo zoo in her prime.She looked just like a little red fox.
R.I.P.




Good luck Greg and Renee. I am sure you will do what is best.

 

oh my, oh my. These precious critters are a part of lives. we love them, care for them, nurture them, and in return we get love and companionship. I had to put down my 8 year old Doxie last year due to cancer. when it came time my husband said he couldn't do it. So I did. I stood there and held her while she took her last breath. Point is, I think you will know. my poochie girl had stopped eating and had lost over half her body weight in just a couple of months. She was so tired and it was all over her eyes when she looked at me. You'll know. Remember, she will know how much you have loved her and take that with her to a better place.

Sherry

 

My Vet and his staff just sent me a lovely card and each one of them wrote a little note.Very touching.They also enclosed this letter.

Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.When
an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here,that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.There are meadows and hills for all our special friends so they can run and play together.There is plenty of food,water,and sunshine and our friends are warm and comfortable.All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor.Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again,just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.The animals are happy and content,except for one small thing;they each miss someone very special to them,who had to be left behind.They all run and play together,but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.His bright eyes are intent.His eager body quivers.Suddenly he begins to run from the group,flying over the green grass,his legs carrying him faster and faster.You have been spotted,and when you and your special friend finally meet,you cling together in joyous reunion,never to be parted again.The happy kisses rain upon your face;your hands again caress the beloved head,and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet,so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.........

 

Awwwww..... look at those bright eyes!

Well, it seems I've been yelling at her all night and morning (even though she's completely deaf) because she had that "wild" look and has been running around. She actually ran back in the house this morning, which I haven't seen her do in forever. It was 6 am in the morning and I was screaming "Greg! Greg! Look at her go!". I'm sure the neighbors appreciated the update.

She's my special one. The Schnauzer was my dog and I loved him all to pieces. Chancey (this dog) is my fur baby. For some reason, everyone is able to pick out how special she is too. She came with me from Canada, just the two of us, to start a brand new life and adventure. The bond is unmistakable.