My dog got put down today

I've never had a a pet put down before, I've always sided on letting nature take its course. My mom took Maverick, a 13yo black lab to the vet this morning for his heavy breathing, they took some X-rays and told us that his lungs were full of fluid and restricted by a tumor, they gave him some drug that didn't help and suggested the best thing was to put him down. He was not doing good so they aggreed. I went there and stayed with him while they gave him the shot, $500 later I have no dog.

 

I am really bothered how the Vet does that, I tryuly believe he would have much better off if we never took him there.

 

it's ok, dogs die very peacefully in this manner. He is very beautiful. My pup is 12 years old already and I can not bear the thought of losing her. I am truely sorry for your loss.

 

So sorry for your loss.

 

I am so sorry. I am sure Maverick was like a child to you. All I can offer is my condolences. It is so hard to go through this. I hope your week gets better. This time of sadness doesn't take away all of your happy times with Maverick.

 

Thanks for your condolences.

We've had him since he was 1 and is a part of our family. He was a great dog, never growled, always friendly, and well behaved. While I am still depressed, I know he was not doing good and hope there is a an afterlife that he and my friends and family who have passed away are enjoying themselves.

 

If there is a heaven, then your baby is definitely there.

 

I am sorry you lost your pup.

I, however, am not. I think a dog (as well as human) should be allowed to die with dignity. Dogs are proud animals, when they have to lie in their own excrement, suffer horrible pain, feel they cannot help themselves, it causes them great emotional pain. It is better to allow them to die while they still have some dignity.

We have had to put down 2 of our dogs. (Bear my dh and I have had dogs for more than 20 years) one was 17 years old, she had health problems, and had probably broken her back in a fall. She could not get out to empty her bowels, and her arthritis was so awful. We put her on doggie morphine, but she was still in pain and SO SAD. It was time to let her go. She wanted to die. She had stopped eating and drinking, and Cocoa loved nothing more than to eat and drink. It was sad, but if she could speak, she would have said "Let me go over the Rainbow Bridge now. Please people."

Our Malamute (first one) Floozy, was about 13 years old. She had also had arthritis, you could see she was in pain all the time. She had a seizure and just gave up. On the X ray, we could see cancer all over her body. It had started in her liver, spread to her stomach, intestines, lungs and finally her brain. (The brain cancer is why she started having the seizure.) We took care of her for a few days, the Vet said, "When she stops eating, you know it time." So, the poor thing also "asked" us to do this thing for her. It was so sad.

An other Malamute, my baby, Akasha, was only 6 years old. One night, she ate a Woodchuck, in the fall on our acre area. In the fall, Woodchucks are ready to go into their hibernation. They are full of fat. The fat and the bacteria in the intestines gave my baby, Akasha, a terminal case of pancreatitis, which caused her body to put out massive amounts of digestive enzymes, which in reality ATE away all her internal organs. She then got peritonotis. Pancreatitis is one of the most painful illnesses you can have. It kills people, and animals. It is NOT an easy death. Imagine your body being EATEN by it's own digestive juices. We tried to treat her. We took her to two different vets, thinking two head were better than one (and our vet we love didn't have anyone to stay with her that first night, and she needed and IV, and we couldn't do it at home) we spent more than $2,000 trying to help Akasha. She suffered and suffered. After a few days, after blood transfusions, manufactured plasma, 10 differnent medications, they told us to take her home as she "seemed better." Our vet did not agree, she was home a few hours and screaming in pain. We took her to our vet again and he tried to help her. They gave her a pain killer patch and the IV. She finally fell asleep at about 6:00 that night. I woke up at about 2:30 AM and knew she was dead. The vet call first thing in the morning to tell us. He said, "I got the lab results back (she had been sick only a couple of days) and I said 'this dog should be dead by now." How she lived as long as she did, we don't know. We think she lived for us. If I ever have a dog with pancreatitis again, we will have the poor thing euthinized immediatly. It is too awful for anyone to die of.

My point is, dogs, in this way, have it better than humans. When my step dad was dying of Mad Cow Disease, I wish we could have gotten a syringe of that pink stuff the vet uses. No one, who is going to die, and is in terrible pain, should have to wait days or longer for Nature, which is OFTEN cruel, to "take it's course."

You did the best for you dog. He is grateful you didn't let him suffer. Don't worry that there was anything else you could have done. The HUMANE thing was done.

Blessings. You dog may come back to you in an other form. I've known this has happened to us. The pup we have now, I am pretty sure, is Cocoa.

 

We've had to put down two of our dogs, too. Don't feel too bad about taking that path, trust me, it's way more peaceful than letting them die in pain. They were both cocker spaniels (a breed well-known for poor health) and the first was my parents' first dog, my watchdog (he slept under my basinet when I was a newborn, under my crib when I was a baby, and beside my toddler bed and alerted my parents when I so much as made a peep). He had epilepsy and several other problems and my mom was pregnant with my little brother at the time and I was toddling around the living room and tripped and fell on him and he was startled and bit me, the biggest sign he was losing it. It was too much of a risk to let his disease progress with the possibility of a new baby around and he was beginning to suffer, so we had him put down. When I was 13, we had another cocker spaniel and she was about 7 and started throwing up constantly, so they took her to the vet. I already knew what was wrong, so I didn't go. They came home in tears, she had cancer of the lymph nodes and while she'd live for a few weeks longer, they suggested we keep her comfy for awhile until she started showing distress. When her breathing became laboured, we knew it was time to let her go. It's really really hard and I know exactly what you're going through...it hurts bad. I still haven't been able to get attached to another dog since. Man, I don't even know you, but I wanna give you a hug because it just hurts so much. I'm all teary just reading this thread and contributing. Just know you did the right thing...

 

Awwww sorry for your loss I hated it when my dog was put to sleep R.I.P

 

I feel euthanasia can be the kindest thing sometimes. I am very much against putting a healthy animal to sleep, or putting an animal to sleep simply because you don't want it anymore, etc.
My parents put our oldest cat to sleep. He could no longer control his bladder, he was 18, and the vet thinks he had a brain tumor or other problem. We all loved him very much. We felt that he should die in peace with his family, not somewhere in the yard unable to walk.
I wish euthanasia was offered to people as well. Anyone who has put an animal to sleep knows it isn't a light desicion. It is painful and very sad but sometimes it is the only kind option.

 

I'm so sorry about your loss

 

Aw. I'm sorry for your baby. I just lost a dog the other day, so I feel your pain.
Peace and love to you.

 

Awww..
You did the right thing keeping your little friend comfortable, & not dragging out a painful end.
It's wonderful your family that puppy hooked up, & got to love each other through those precious years. I'm so sorry for your loss. (((hugs)))

 

Really sorry for your loss..

 

What a wonderful life Maverick must have had to live that many years.
Sweet Dreams Maverick

 

Oh my goodness...I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't even imagine what you are going through right now. My thoughts are with you.

 

Healing thought to you and your family. I always keep a memento of any dogs we have lost. (My dh and I have had dogs for over 20 years.) A collar, or a bandana they liked or their favorite toy.

Blessings.

I agree totally with what Pamela said. Your pup will be over the Rainbow Bridge, chasing ducks and loving his new life. He has no more pain. He will thank you for your kindness throughout the years. You may even see him again, in an other pup you rescue.

Peace to you, brother.

 

I'm tearing up at this post, for you and with you. I love my pup like you couldn't believe. I dread the day, inevitable as it is, when I must face what you're now facing....godspeed to your bubby, and heartfelt sympathy & empathy to you...

 

I'm sorry for your loss..
I have dog ,and I love him verry much.I don't want to lose him.It's a nightmare to lose your pet.