Euthanasia and your pet

[IliketoPuck]

I woke up this morning to our female cat meowing and scratching at our bedroom door. She seemed quite insistent and I assumed that she was just hungry. I went to get some food for the cats, and since it is Saturday decided to give them wet food as a treat. Normally wet food brings both cats running, but Theo our other cat didn't come when I called him.

I looked everywhere for him, and eventually found him in the basement lying at the foot of the stairs by our TV where he and I always hung out.

Theo was my first cat, and he was an incredible friend. He and I watched countless Flames games together, and he would snuggle right up on my chest and purr for hours.

Theo has been fighting feline leukemia for the last two years, and has had to take steroids every day so that his blood count remains high enough. This week he took a noticeable decline, and we brought him into the vet on Monday for a check up. He had a 7% red blood cell count (normal count is 35%), and the vet suggested increasing his steroid dose to try and get his blood cell count up. We brought him back into the vet last night, and his blood cell count had improved to 10%, so we were optimistic that Theo would pull through and get back to normal again.

He was one hell of a tough cat, but his little heart just wasn't able to pull him through. He passed away right where he and I spent time together, which is a comfort I suppose.

Theodore Mancat, T-Brew, Man-Brew, Masterful Mancat, you were an amazing companion and I will cherish the times we shared while you were a part of my life. Theo was always there to greet me when I got home, or to let me know when I hadn't paid him enough attention.

While part of me had prepared for this, since he was so sick, it still comes as a shock when he was alive and fighting just yesterday. Just goes to show not to take things for granted.

We had one last snuggle on Thursday, and he fell asleep on my chest while I watched TV. I will miss the little man. We buried him out by Ghost Lake this afternoon, in a nice sunny spot with trees and birds, a great place for a cat.

[IliketoPuck]

[Robotic]

Sorry for your loss. It's tough loosing a loved one.

[IliketoPuck]

Thanks. It's been a tough day, no question. Our other kitten has been looking for Theo all day as well...poor little love.

[dissentowner]

Every time I see this thread bumped I say I am not going to read but then I do and I feel sad. Sorry for your loss.

[Jbo]

Sorry for your loss

[MRCboicgy]

Sorry for your loss. I'm still getting over a cat - that wasn't even mine. My roommate had to put his big, beautiful cat down a couple of weeks ago, and he cried for three straight days. I'm not that bad, but I miss the feller.

We get so attached to the animals in our lives because they really do make everything better.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

Sorry for your loss. I'm still getting over a cat - that wasn't even mine. My roommate had to put his big, beautiful cat down a couple of weeks ago, and he cried for three straight days. I'm not that bad, but I miss the feller.

We get so attached to the animals in our lives because they really do make everything better.

They are hard to lose, but they also can help you deal with loss. Since my nephew passed away last month, my niece has grown very attached to my wiener dog, and she has been staying with her ever since. Almost like a real life teddy bear noodle sort of thing, that can sense your not feeling well. She just has these big, beautiful, empathetic eyes, and you can tell when she knows you are sad. I really could use her myself every now and then to just chill with, and be my bud, but my niece really needs her right now. Our family is so appreciative of Molly's love and understanding. She will just sit there all day if she has to listening to you cry. People greatly underestimate the range of emotions dogs can understand.

[something]

I saw this thread bumped but had no clue what to say.

Sorry for your loss...

I just had my closest and best friend put down. Didn't manage to sleep for two days, aside from the occasional dozing off in a chair for a few minutes here and there. Managed to get some sleep last night but woke up promptly after in tears.

Still, I know that for all the tears that have come and will come, the smiles and laughs shared with our little guys still outweigh every ounce of pain we feel when we lose them.

Take care, hold onto your memories, and be happy for the time you had with Theo. I am certain it is what he would want for you.

[SeeBass]

Today is the second anniversary of the day I lost my best friend.

[IliketoPuck]

Thanks for all the kind words, I appreciate them.

I sure miss the little man, but I think I'm good now. It is very different not having him around, and it will take some time to adjust, but I am happy he was able to go on his own terms and not require us to make the difficult decision, which I think would have been ten times as hard.

[Suzles]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

Thanks for all the kind words, I appreciate them.

I sure miss the little man, but I think I'm good now. It is very different not having him around, and it will take some time to adjust, but I am happy he was able to go on his own terms and not require us to make the difficult decision, which I think would have been ten times as hard.

You know what, it is. But it is the last, greatest act of love you can perform. I am so very sorry for your loss.

[Bill Bumface]

My parents 15 year old cat is going to the vet for the last time this afternoon.

She was the tiny little kitten puff-ball that saved my ass when my dad drove all the way up to Red Deer to watch me play in a high school volleyball tournament, only to find out we'd been kicked out of the tournament and suspended from school. No one even paid attention to me when I got home because they were all playing with the new kitten.

She hated every single person in this world besides the 4 of us. She was a completely different animal when we had guests (hissing machine) and when we were alone (cuddle your face off). I liked that, it made me feel like I was part of an exclusive club.

See yah Katie, it was a pleasure growing up with you.

[manwiches]

I have lasted since this thread started up by not navigating to this thread.

Needless to say, my heart breaks every time I read about any one of you who has to make this incredibly difficult decision.

My condolences to you all. I'm not religious, but I truly believe each and every one of our little guys are watching over us still, and patiently waiting to be reunited with us.

Rest in peace to all of our best friends.

[TSXCman]

Sad news from my home, my little pup Jade needed to be put down on the weekend due heart palpitations and other issues. I was hoping she would be okay for long enough for me to get home to say goodbye but she was too uncomfortable so my family had to make the call.

She was a great dog, 13 year old that helped lead our nearly deaf/blind 15 year old dog, Shadow, get around for the past few years. Lots of energy, very funny, and smart.

My family gave her a nice last day, got to go for a car ride to the airport to drop off my dad, had a walk/carry around Glenmore Park with my mom and her friend, had both of my brothers drive in to stay with her, and then the veterinarian came to the house for the procedure.

I last saw her in January before leaving for school, but always made sure to give both of my dogs a big hug and kiss on the nose when leaving.

My mom took this picture of her when she got back from the walk and was pretty worn out. She had a great life and will be sorely missed.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

Terrible news.

My condolences on your loss.

[#22]

My condolences to all of you who have had to go through the loss of your pet. 12 years ago I too had to make the difficult decision to put down my faithful dog of 17 years, and I still get all kinds of choked up when I think of it. I was 13 when I got Max, and he was by far my best friend. I grew up with him, got married with him by my side, and had kids over which he kept a careful eye. Bringing him to the vet was by far the hardest thing I have ever done. Years later I ran across this poem which I would like to share with all of you. It has really helped me deal with the guilt that I felt about having to put down my dear friend.

If it should be that I grow weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep
Then you must do what must be done
For this last battle can not be won

You will be sad, I understand
Don’t let your grief then stay your hand
For this day, more than all the rest
Your love for me must stand the test

We’ve had so many happy years
What is to come can hold no fears
You’d not want me to suffer so
The time has come, please let me go

Take me where my need they’ll tend
And please stay with me ‘till the end
Hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see

I know in time that you will see
The kindness that you did for me
Although my tail its last has waved
From pain and suffering, I have been saved

Please do not grieve, it must be you
Who has this painful thing to do.

[pylon]

The last dog we had to put down was a little Yorkshire Terrier named Pebbles. Yeah, I know, nice dog, does it come in men's? Anyway, we got her when I was 13 or 14, and for some reason, she really bonded with me. She was in such bad shape when we finally had to set her free. She was having seizures, was blind, her windpipe had collapsed. Everything was a mess. The day we took her in there, and put her on the table, I am convinced she knew it was her time, and she perked up as best she could, and started giving us kisses as fast as she could. It was like she knew, and she was thanking us for letting her misery end. And interestingly with her, my parents had a younger dog that would also lead her around the yard by bumping her with his body, to keep her from losing her way. He was a total spazz alone in the yard, but with her, he was patient as a saint, like he was respecting his elder.

I have always been convinced dogs are more emotionally connected to people than they are given credit for. Almost like they have some sort of telepathic connection with their owners. My parents who are looking after my Daschund right now, says she runs to the door and stares at it and waits 5 minutes before I even show up... even if it is completely unannounced. My mother texted me last week, and asked if I was on my way over, because the Molly was at the door... I was 2 km's away, on my way to pick up my chop saw. I have a recurring elbow problem from dislocating it a couple times when I was younger, and whenever it flares up, she will always try and lick the exact spot where the pain is.

You cannot explain things like this, and it makes you wonder how truly special dogs really are, beyond what we know.

And my condolences, I am sure Jade is sniffing only the best leaf piles and telephone poles in Doggy heaven.

[Bill Bumface]

Katie got to come home last night as she had a very bad UI infection that they thought might be responsible for her symptoms. I was lucky enough to get to spend the evening at my parents and say my goodbyes in case she didn't have anymore fight in her. She even made her last trip ever down the stairs to come and be with everyone, otherwise just lying still with half open eyes all night. The blood work came back and she's in severe kidney failure. Its a nice sunny morning for her last ever car ride, at 10:15 she won't be suffering anymore.

[Suzles]

So sorry for you. But always proud of people that can make the right decision.