Anyone ever have to put their pet down?

[chasinthesun]

Its a decision I might have to make here soon and Im not looking forward to the trip to the vet if thats what they suggest.This all stems from me being a nice guy and helping a friend in need who wanted to keep his 2 big dogs over at my place for 4 months that turned into now 8 months.She maybe a 20 pd dog but shes got alot of spunk for a terrier and can be barkative sometimes.It all happened over a game of toss which I do late in the evening after arriving home with the mutt.The other dogs stay in the yard until the last minute till I let them out for the duty and thats when it happened.The vet visit this morning gave me no promises but said if multiple breaks are present it could be a very expensive undergoing to fix .They should have word later on .Ill give her every opportinity I can financially but Im by no ways rich and hate to think of this as being the outcome.I put the call to the owner of the other dogs and had a not so nice ruling over their eviction ,now its a waiting game.

[Aquaticedge]

We've had to in the past... It's never an easy decision, and it never will be.... If your dog is suffering, and in pain with not a lot of hope then the kindest thing you can do is set them free from their pain It sounds harsh, but doing surgery can rack up thousands of dollars worth of bills on a chance of a maybe is hard to do.. Listen to what the vet says, and make a decision is all I can say.. I wish you the best in this trying time

[davidmash]

I am probably not the right person to ask this because I put out over $1k to have one of my cats eyes removed when he got a tumor. Could not afford it but I took out a loan and paid it back. We have no kids so our animals are our kids.

Having said that, I do not begrudge you for your decision. I have lost 5 our pets and I was by their side for each one. It is the hardest thing I have ever done and I hate it with a passion.

Something I was told and that I pass along is this. You are the voice for your pets because they do not have one. You have to do what is right for them, not what makes you feel good.

I have seen to many people who force their animals to hang on because they are unable to make the decision to let go. Animals should not be forced to suffer. I suspect that since you are asking that you will do the right thing when the time comes.

Good luck.

[cscmc1]

Sorry to hear this, man. Did the bigger dogs go after her, I assume? I didn't see what actually happened. I guess it doesn't matter -- in any case, the choice is a tough one. I have been there. I spent a weekend with my schnauzer as his health failed rapidly, and by Monday I had a pretty good feel for his condition. I took the day off work to be sure, and to spend some quality time with him, and with little doubt knew it was time. It helped immensely that I was with him, holding him, to the very end. I would have had a much harder time if he'd passed at the vet's without me.

That's all I can offer. Nothing much that I can say will make it any easier, but please know that many of us have been there and know what you're going through. I hope your decision is as clear as mine finally became. Do what's best for the dog above all.

[MagnumPI]

What kind of breaks are we talking here? Limbs? My grandpa had at least two cats live to 15+ years old with broken legs, one even crawled into the wood stove when it was a kitten. Dog will be fine.

[elchivito]

I've gone through it many times and have even had to take care of it myself. It's hard, but is the greatest gift we can give a devoted friend. The process itself is painless for the animal. They simply drift away. We are facing it again with our oldest and dearest cat. She isn't ready yet, but will let us know when it's time.
Having said that, hang in there and maybe it won't be necessary. Good luck

[The Clk Man]

A few months ago we had to put our 17 yo cat "Jones" down it was a very sad time in our lives.

[Air&Road]

Originally Posted by davidmash

I am probably not the right person to ask this because I put out over $1k to have one of my cats eyes removed when he got a tumor. Could not afford it but I took out a loan and paid it back. We have no kids so our animals are our kids.

Having said that, I do not begrudge you for your decision. I have lost 5 our pets and I was by their side for each one. It is the hardest thing I have ever done and I hate it with a passion.

Something I was told and that I pass along is this. You are the voice for your pets because they do not have one. You have to do what is right for them, not what makes you feel good.

I have seen to many people who force their animals to hang on because they are unable to make the decision to let go. Animals should not be forced to suffer. I suspect that since you are asking that you will do the right thing when the time comes.

Good luck.

The above are the words of a loving and responsible pet owner.


I've done things such as this over the years and I've had to put several down. I've always tried to take into account the suffering of the animal and put myself in their shoes.

Best of luck with this.
Larry

[Dirtyboy]

when I was a kid we had a horse that pulled up lame. Dad had to shoot it.

I wish he would have let me get off the horse first.

[Air&Road]

What? Did he miss his aim?

[Stoney]

My wife and I had to make the decision to put down out cat, Wiskey, whom we had as a family member for 14 years.

We made his last week a treat. Any food he wanted, any place he wanted to lounge, what ever he wanted was his to do.

On the day, the Vet had given us a mild tranquilizer to mix in his food so he would be calm and a little drowzy. It made it a little easier but still it was rough.

I insisted on holding him in my arms when the Vet needled him and felt his life force ebb away.

I lost a good friend that day but he had serious liver cysts and this was a decent way out with dignity.

[Txjake]

It's a hard thing to do when it has to be done, but one takes that responsibility when one takes responsibility for an animal.

If only we would let humans make that same choice for themselves, to not live on in suffering or misery.

[aklim]

BTDT several times. Never is easy. You have to realize that the pet gave you years of their life so this is your duty. To stop their suffering.

[Air&Road]

Originally Posted by Stoney

My wife and I had to make the decision to put down out cat, Wiskey, whom we had as a family member for 14 years.

We made his last week a treat. Any food he wanted, any place he wanted to lounge, what ever he wanted was his to do.

On the day, the Vet had given us a mild tranquilizer to mix i his food so he would be calm and a little drowzy. It made it a little easier but still it was rough.

I insisted on holding him in my arms when the Vet needled him and felt his life force ebb away.

I lost a good friend that day but he had serious liver cysts and this was a decent way out with dinity.

Another of many good pet owners in this thread.

[lutzTD]

I had to put down my malamute when I was younger. he ate some packing peanuts and they destroyed his liver. the poor guy was a trooper but the damage was extensive and to hold on was just for me not for him. I stayed by him and buried him in my back yard.