When is it time to put your dog to sleep?
I have a 16 1/2 year old Queensland mix (pound dog) and am torn up by not knowing when it’s right to put her down. She does have arthritis, and will hurt her knee, limp for days, have to go on prednisone, I’ll be terrified that "this is it." Then she comes out of it and seems better for a while. She’s quite deaf but it doensn’t seem to bother her. She does have a little trouble laying down and getting up (and those are her two positions: standing or lying down).
She’s now peeing on the floor in little spots several times a day. She has good days and not so good days. But on the other hand, she still wags her "nub" when I come up to her, still begs for table scraps (when she was 14 I decided she could eat whatever the heck she wanted,) still drinks, still follows me and lays down next to wherever I’m sitting.
When not on the Prednisone, she’s on Rimadyl for arthritis pain. She’s on a hormone pill once a week for bladder continence, takes glucosamine every day, etc.
I know I don’t want her to suffer, and yet i don’t want to steal any of her lifetime away by putting her down if it’s not time. And she’s my girl; I had her before I got married, before kids. She’s been the most wonderful, loyal, amazing creature in my life.
Thanks in advance for any advice
Wow, thank you everyone for your kind responses. It’s only been an hour and I’ve gotten so many wonderful, supportive responses with great advice. Thank you so much.
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Tagged with: arthritis • arthritis pain • bladder • continence • drinks • glucosamine • heck • life thanks • lifetime • little trouble • prednisone • queensland • rimadyl • several times • table scraps • thanks in advance • wags
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Look in her eyes and listen with your heart – only you will know what is right for the two of you.
I have BLadder issues, take pain med for arthritis , am starting to go deaf, and sometimes have a day that I have a hard time getting around,
But I’m not ready to go quietly into the great night.
With all of my dogs I have wondered and wondered – and then I knew. What was right for me and the dog I loved would not have been right for some of my friends and their dogs.
it is very hard i had to have my 9 yr staffie put down due to cancer and i had her before my kids and was one of my children its been over a year with out her and still think there could of been more to do when really knowing there wasnt
i think when you know they are suffering more then what she has say a year ok my be then it is time if her life is just not the same
may be talk to a vet she has lived a very long loving life but i know ya wouldnt want her to get worse and suffer more
ask the vet about the pain she in will it get better how quick will she go down hill and all that sort of thing and then make your mind up with the family
good luck
First of all, I’m sooo so sorry. I know this must be heartbreaking in a million different ways. I have a Lab/Beagle mix who’s only 2 and she’s my entire world.
If I were you, I would wait a little while. She sounds like she’s happy and loving regardless, and if she’s not having really obvious trouble and pain, then I would give it a while. The peeing I’m sure is just cause she’s getting so old. 16 and a half is such an old age for a dog. As long as she seems to be doing well considering, I wouldn’t put her down yet. When you get the feeling that she’s just having a hard time and it’s starting to be too much, then I would. At this point, I’m not sure how much it might matter since she is really really old and does have these problems.
Whatever you decide, my heart goes out to you and your girl
I know where you are coming from. I have a 14 year old poodle. I believe that as parents we will know when the time is right. It is the hardest decision we will have to do but when you look at it this way, you gave her the best 16 years of her life, you dont want her to suffer. So when you think its time call you vet and let the dr help you…they will. Some vets will even come to the house if you ask or if thats what you want. Just remember she will always be with you and you will never forget her. And when it is her time she will be at peace and in no more pain. Im sorry. I hope when its her time everything goes well.
You will know when it is finally the time, the look will be in her eyes. As long as she shows she want to be here, do whatever it takes, I am going through the same thing with my little one. The eyes will tells you when.
If she is in obvious pain or needs to take numerous medications every day she isn’t enjoying life like she once was. When we put my dog down, he was 14, had hip dysplasia, a large non-cancerous tumor on his chest, and was peeing/pooing everywhere in our home. I felt horrible for him because he could no longer take his walks or run like he was before the pain started in his life. We didn’t give him medications because apparently his pain was never enough for the vets to prescribe them. Still, our dog never let on to his pain and would endure anything for us.
I would say your dog is close to her end. 16 is a long life for a dog and you have taken very good care of her and she is still happy. Trust me, you would not want to have to see your dog suffer like I did. As long as she is happy, though, keep her alive. She is still happy and doing well (much better than my dog). When she stops enjoying life, you will know.
It is definitely the worse thing that we have to be faced with. You actually have been very blessed to have had her in your life as long as you have. My animals always seem to make it to the 12 to 13 mark. As long as you are able to supply her with these medications that you have been giving her so far, and they are helping her, why not just continue to do so. Talk with your vet about it. I have had to have my dogs all put to sleep, because unlike you, I could not afford to keep them going with the different medications that they have available today. I believe that if I were able to afford these expensive meds, I may have had mine around a bit longer than they were.
i have to start by saying i know exactly how you feel…i just put my cat down 3 weeks ago…its a hard hard choice …between keeping them alive and putting them down….my cat had to go due to breathing problems and failing kidneys. but it was hard cuz he still purred and still talked to me..( meowed) he was only 14 but he couldnt even get up on the couch anymore…so we had to the vet told us she thought it was time….and i agreed i loved my cat so i did the best thing for him…he was my boy and always will be but …the suffering is too much….atleast i would say take her in to the vet and tell them that you cant decide…the vet will let you know what he thinks… its hard to say good bye but harder towatch them suffer. i hope you make the best choice for her…she loves you i can tell by the fact that she still waggs her tail and that she hasnt given up …and 16 years is a long long time for a dog to be alive…you and your pet are very lucky too have each other… but id have to say it sounds like its time… but ask a vet for sure. ps know that she will never forget you! my best wishes and my heart beats for you and her!
Sometimes you just know when it is necessary, alot of the time you can see it in their eyes. I had to put my beloved baby girl down this past saturday and even though she was only 7, she was telling me that she needed to go. It is the hardest thing to do to decide to end your pets life even if it is for the better. But take consolation in the fact that even though what you have to do hurts, she will be waiting for you on the other side when you cross that bridge and she will have that favorite toy for you to throw. I am deeply sorry for the pain and anxiety that you must feel while pondering this decision. May you be blessed in your decision and know that you are NOT alone.
When you are ready… is the best answer. You and your girl have developed a bond that nobody can tear apart. You know your dog better than anyone else, your dog will tell you when the time is right. I once had a dog that developed cancer and that was the truth for me. Queeny and I had a bond and one morning she woke up and came by me and gave me the look I dreaded and I knew she was telling me she was ready. So I took her in and made sure I was there until she was gone. It was a bittersweet moment. I knew she went in peace. Follow your heart and good luck .
This is of course the hardest decision to make with pets. It’s something your vet can discuss with you to help you decide.
Generally quality of life is judged on the following things; how well animals can eat/drink for themselves, if they are able to keep themselves clean, if they’re able to move around, pain levels and if they still seem to get enjoyment out of life. If they haven’t got an imminently terminal illness then judging when their quality of life has become too poor to go on can be very hard indeed.
You know your dog best. Do you think she still gets enjoyment in life? It sounds as tho she does still have a fair bit of life in her, no small thing for such an age!! You said she has good days and not so good days – it’s when the not so good days start to outnumber the good ones and become bad days that her quality of life might be considered to be severely affected.
It’s also very hard to find that line where it’s not too soon but not too late. It’s up to the individual whether you want to wait until her quality of life starts to go down or if you what to end it before it gets to that point.
You’ll know when it’s time. Generally I find owners who have had their animals such a long time and know them so well get an instinct for when their dog has had enough.
Whenever you decide, whether it’s tomorrow or in a years time I think you can be confident that it cannot be too soon for your dog at this fine age, that your dog will be grateful for the excellent care she’s received from you and that you have had the consideration to end her life peacefully and with dignity rather than make her go on right to the end like humans have to.
Chalice
First off, I am very moved by you story and my heart goes out to you.
I have had to put down 3 dogs in my life and every time it was one of the hardest things I have had to do in my life. There comes a time when you have to balance your dogs quality of life.
The first dog I had to put down was our family dog. We got her when I was about 8. She lived 14 years (German Shepperd named Sheba) I grew up with her and when I moved out of the house she came with me. Finely, her hips got so bad it was more painful for her to be alive. She could barely walk or control her badder.
I hate to say this but I feel as though you already know the answer to this question and are looking for support. Totally understandable.
Best of luck to you….My heart goes out to you.