Have you ever put your pet to sleep?

How did you come to the decision? My dog is 14+ and I feel like its been one thing after another since 13. And despite doing everything in my power to make her better, more comfortable, she just gets worse and worse. She can go up and down the stairs, but it's a struggle. She has accidents in the house on a daily basis. We walk her tons to try to avoid the accidents, but it doesn't help. My house has become her personal toilet. Im constantly cleaning and sanitizing. Her back legs are very weak so sometimes she falls and gets stuck and needs help getting back onto her feet. She cries a lot more. She was always somewhat vocal, as most huskies are, but she often cries/wimpers in the morning or night. I'm just no longer sure what her quality of life is really like any more.

Message edited 11/8/2012 12:36:52 PM.

Re: Have you ever put your put to sleep?

I did and I am sorry you are going through this . We made the decision to put my Gizmo down when she was 16. She started slowing down and becoming very lethargic at around 14 but wasn't showing any signs of pain so we kept her going for about 2 years. She still was eating and cuddling so we knew she wasn't ready. We also took her to the vet pretty often to make sure she wasn't in any pain. We finally decided to let her go when she stopped functioning. One day she just stopped eating and was hiding behind my living room chair and had a small seizure. We brought her straight to the vet and we knew it was time. Honestly, only you really know, and I really feel like they will let you know when they are done. It's a horrible decision to have to make so I really feel for you but you know your dog better than anyone else, so it's really something you can only tell. Please keep us updated and good luck with this.

Have you ever put your pet to sleep?

I had to put my 15yr old dog down and it broke my heart. He had a heart attack and it would have been invasive and would have not been a good quality of life. Even today I cry as I type this bc he was the best dog but it was his time to go. You just know.

Have you ever put your pet to sleep?

I am so sorry that you are going through this. When I was in college we put our dog to sleep who was just shy of 18 years old. She was herself for the most part, but her legs were giving out. Once it came to the point where we need to hold her up outside to go to the bathroom, we decided that it was time. As much as it hurt us to do it, her quality of life was diminishing.

It's always difficult to make such a decision especially when our parts are part of our family.

Sending you lots of hugs during this time.

Re: Have you ever put your pet to sleep?

Re: Have you ever put your pet to sleep?

I did.
My 12 year old cat munchkin had squamous cell carcinoma, which is a non-treatable cancer of the jaw and gums.
He had a biopsy where some of the cancer was cut out, leaving him with part of the side of his tongue missing. It was difficult for him to eat, and sometimes he would bite his tongue and bleed a lot.
He was treated him with pain medication and a soft diet.
I kept hoping that he would pass in his sleep.
One day I came home and found that he just had a pitiful look in his eyes, almost like he was begging me to help him. It was then that I decided he had no quality of life anymore and that I had no choice but to put him down.
He would have eventually starved to death - and that would have been extremetly cruel of me to let happen.

I put him down on November 6, 2006.
One of the hardest things I ever had to do.

Re: Have you ever put your pet to sleep?

My parents put our childhood dog to sleep. She was 14. She was suffering. A lot of what you described was what was happening with my dog. It's such a personal decision and only you know what is best for your pet. I am so sorry you are going through this. It's so hard to see our pets suffer but it's so hard to let them go.

I did go with my dad (I was 17) and I held her head in my arms while they put her down. We were best friends and I wanted to be the last person she saw as she passed. Knowing that helped me get through it.

Message edited 11/9/2012 9:41:30 AM.