Euthanasia and your pet

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Pinner

You did the compassionate thing, that is an act of your love of your pet.

Thank you. I've been feeling guilty ever since I made the decision to put her down. Diablo was the first pet that I, personally, ever took in. Sure we had pets growing up, but a few months after moving away from home and having my own apartment, I thought I'd take in a stray cat. So this is my first time making the decision to put an animal down. I know she was in pain and was suffering.... but I still made the decision to end her life. The vet did push me in the general direction, but didn't come right out and tell me to put her down. The logic side of my brain says it was the right thing to do, but the emotional side can't help feel the guilt of putting my friend down.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

Thank you. I've been feeling guilty ever since I made the decision to put her down. Diablo was the first pet that I, personally, ever took in. Sure we hat pets growing up, but a few months after moving away from home and having my own apartment, I thought I'd take in a stray cat. So this is my first time making the decision to put an animal down. I know she was in pain and was suffering.... but I still made the decision to end her life. The vet did push me in the general direction, but didn't come right out and tell me to put her down. The logic side of my brain says it was the right thing to do, but the emotional side can't help feel the guilt of putting my friend down.

I can say it's fairly "normal" to feel the guilt you have . . . . but it's very personal to you and that probably won't help much.

Unlike the fairly clear-cut situations with Abby and Keeper above, when we had to let our 10 year-old Sheltie go we were in a similar spot as to yourself. It took three trips to the vet before we could go through with it. There was no obvious day, none better than the other necessarily . . . just a slow, slow deterioration in quality of life through half a year. We could easily have waited, yet again, for ourselves, perhaps for more weeks or maybe longer. But that would have been about ourselves and not her.

In the end, it has to be a decision about the best interests of the animal and not about yourself . . . . and no one can rightly make a judgement about you and the timing in your situation.

It hurts and you may carry doubts for quite a while - that's "normal" - but be confident you did the right thing for your friend.

Cowperson

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I ended up putting my companion of 12 years down tonight. As mentioned previously in this thread, she had a malignant tumor on her paw.. and last weekend she ripped the tumor open and it's been bleeding on and off ever since. She could barely walk at all and when she did, she tried hopping everywhere. The vet said it wasn't going to get any better and it was likely quite painful for her. It's extremely hard when the animal is mentally alert and still seemed spry for her age, save for having the tumor on her paw. The vet said that if the tumor was elsewhere, she'd recommend waiting until the cancer took more of a toll on her health, but given that it was on the bottom of her foot, it was torture to keep going.... malignant tumors don't heal.

Sorry to hear. My girlfriend and I had to put our two year-old cat down just over a year ago because she contracted what's known as feline infectious peritonitis. Our cat wasn't eating very much and I had attributed it to her not liking her food very much. I then left town to go visit my dad for 10 days and the next day my girlfriend called me crying because the vet had told her what our cat had.

My girlfriend waited for me to come home before having her put down, but it was a tough decision to make. Tinkerbell (my girlfriend named her) was starving herself because disease caused her stomach to swell up with fluid. The vet told us there was no cure for the disease. She said technically if we put her on various drugs and force fed her she might have lived for another 3-6 months, but eventually she would die and she would likely suffer during this time.

Like you, it was my first time actually going to the vet and having my pet put down. How young and healthy she was two weeks earlier made it that much more of a difficult decision. It's really hard saying goodbye to an animal and not being able to explain to them why you're doing it. We've since taken in two new kittens but I still miss Tinkerbell quite a lot.

[Rerun]

Just read about Keeper passing away (I knew Abby had gone earlier).
So sad.
I've got tears in my eyes.
Take care Rick.

[burnin_vernon]

As for many this is a very difficult thread to read. I've had my first pet (Golden Retriever) for about 18 months and I don't even know if I could go into work when that awful day comes.

However, this thread reminds me how short life is and it makes me appreciate him that much more.

[Table 5]

Add another one to the list. Yesterday had to put down our 4 year old Calico. She was diagnosed with intestinal cancer a month ago, and with the help of some steroids made it this far. Such a great, good hearted pet....we're already missing her greatly. The house feels too quiet without her around.

The real sad thing is that 3 months ago, we had to put down our other cat that had sudden liver failure. One day she was totally fine, and the next we had to put her to sleep.

Amazing pets to have around, but after having to put 2 relatively young kitties to sleep in such a short span, it's going to be hard to get back on the pet wagon.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Sorry for your loss Tom.

[PIMking]

I'm so sorry guys, but seems like you guys/gals have brought another loved animal into your lives and taking care of another animal!!

Katie (fiance) called me on Tuesday night as she was on her way home from work. In the middle of the conversation she brought up that there was a dog walking in the middle of the road. So I told her to stop and see if the dog had a collar with a dog tag to see if we can identify the owner. She agreed and we hung up the phone. Meanwhile ten or so minutes pass and her father calls me. "Katie just hit a dog and is hysterical". So I think he is jerking my chain and I call Katie and as soon as she picked up the phone I knew the unthinkable had happened.

It was raining and these idiots down here cant drive when it's wet out. So Katie went up about two blocks and turned around. Meanwhile she came back to get the dog and the dog freaked out and ran in front of her vehicle. Katie felt absolutely horrible for what happened, as did I.

Well fast forward to Wed. night. She comes home from work and opens the door to the apartment and asks me to help her outside. So I get up and there is this adorable little mutt that is standing in front of her car. I bent over to see if it would come to me and it not only came to me but ran into my arms and let me pet her belly.

We decided that we would put a leash on her an walk her around the complex hoping that the family that is missing this adorable, and loving dog would be searching for her.

Nothing came of the walk other than the dog marking a lot of territory. I told Katie that I wasn't going to allow this dog to stay outside for the night. It was getting cold (32*F) and I wasn't comfortable leaving this dog outside. We have two dogs (long hair whippets) and a long hair Calico. But we also have a 2 bedroom Apartment. So our spare room has a bed and a nice desk that we use as the dog room/office now. So when we leave we just lock the dogs in there so they don't eat cat poo or food while we are gone.

So we take "watermelon" inside and take a photo of her and print off a bunch of posters and posted them up all over the complex. We will separate the dogs when we are gone because ours aren't neutered and I'm not sure if she is spayed.

Hopefully we find the owners for this dog. If not I think since the hour that I was home before I left for work they were getting along with each other. I won't take this loving animal to a shelter. She is way too nice and no way will I allow her to be Euthanize. I will try to adopt her to a family if I can. If not we will just keep her.

Anyways, here is the poster I made.

[PIMking]

My photoshop skills suck! So don't make fun of them.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by PIMking

My photoshop skills suck! So don't make fun of them.

Seriously. You are my hero for doing what you have for the little guy.

[PIMking]

Great news!!!! Found her home!!!!

She lived in the same apartment complex, but the ladies 15 month old grandchild opened the door and that allowed her to get out.

I'm so happy that we found her home.

[Vena]

^^^ Yay!!! Good to see good news in this thread.

[Vena]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I ended up putting my companion of 12 years down tonight. As mentioned previously in this thread, she had a malignant tumor on her paw.. and last weekend she ripped the tumor open and it's been bleeding on and off ever since. She could barely walk at all and when she did, she tried hopping everywhere. The vet said it wasn't going to get any better and it was likely quite painful for her. It's extremely hard when the animal is mentally alert and still seemed spry for her age, save for having the tumor on her paw. The vet said that if the tumor was elsewhere, she'd recommend waiting until the cancer took more of a toll on her health, but given that it was on the bottom of her foot, it was torture to keep going.... malignant tumors don't heal.

Such a beautiful cat. You did the right the right thing for her. Sorry for your loss.

[Engine09]

I've always avoided this thread, just too sad to be reminded that you'll eventually have to say goodbye to your own pets. I have to say though, reading a few pages tonight made me feel a bit better about losing my ferret buddy Nash two days ago.

I was pretty embarrassed about crying at the vet's when they put the needle in his paw and he drifted away. And really embarrassed about how sad I've been feeling over the past few days, I kept on telling myself he's just a little animal and it's a part of life but god damn I miss that guy. Ferrets don't have a long life span but I got really attached to him over the past 6 years.

During an annual checkup the vet discovered cancer which was quite advanced, spread to his lungs and heart, was bothering his prostate also and made it hard to go to the bathroom. Over the holidays I knew it was just a matter of time, he was in bad shape. Still feeling really guilty about making the decision though, even though the vet stated the meds wouldn't work immediately I keep thinking he would have been fine for a few more weeks if we went ahead. I just didn't want to risk it and have him go through a painful night.

I don't think there is ever a right time, either you feel bad for being selfish and making them hang on, or you start to feel horrible because they seemed very alert and active in moments on the day they were put down.

[Barnet Flame]

I'm really sorry for your loss. Nash looked absolutely gorgeous.

I honestly believe the most loving and caring thing you can do for your pet is to make the right decision for them, even though it is the most painful and heartbreaking decision for yourself.

[Suzles]

So sorry to hear your very sad news. Two of the nicest animals I have ever known were two ferrets called, Alf and Julia. They are the most amazing animals and their hearts are full in an even mix of joy and cheekiness. You will be sad and don't be ashamed that you cried at the vet - those tears were just from love - just be proud that you made a very brave decision to help a creature you cared very deeply for.

[WhiteTiger]

I'm sorry for your loss. Ferrets are such great pets.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

I don't think there is ever a right time, either you feel bad for being selfish and making them hang on, or you start to feel horrible because they seemed very alert and active in moments on the day they were put down.

That's exactly how I felt with my cat. It was no win; you feel bad either way.

My sympathies.... he looked like a very cute little fellow.

[REDVAN]

I feel the pain everytime I open this thread.

I have an almost 2 year old dog who is my number one friend in life... I know one day I'll have to make "the decision", but I am trying to live everyday with her to the fullest because you never know if it'll be another week or another decade.

RIP to all the pets we've loved. And best wishes to those that are still with us.

[Cowperson]

FYI, you might remember the doom and gloom around our place a few months ago when we lost Abby & Keeper, our two 12 year-old Golden's, only 26 days apart, both to cancer. Very tough time.

Just to lift the spirit of this thread, I'll let you know we added Marcie today, an eight month old Golden female. We will be adding Ruby, a 1.25 year-old Golden female from Lethbridge, on Sunday and we are hoping they are fast friends like Abby & Keeper were.

Marcie's first day . . . . lots of zoomies . . .



. . . . and some posing . . . .



. . . . and already wondering what's on the other side of the fence . . . . but there are a lot of years ahead to figure that out.



And so . . . . . it begins again.

Cowperson