A difficult discussion - when is the right time?

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

 

This article was on FB - something I don't want to think about but with 3 dogs I know there will be a time that I will have no choice.

 

http://shine.yahoo.com/pets/know-time-euthanize-pet-162100593.html

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thank you for sharing this, Andy....tough thing to think about, but definitely important.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Very important. I do not look forward to these decisions with Peri and Tacky.  Our family cairn was 10 and diagnosed with mouth cancer.  He had a rapid decline - it was 4 summers ago (we had just gotten Peri).  I remember my mom struggling with the decision.  It got to where he stopped eating, stopped chasing squirrels and didn't get up for his morning walk.  Mom scheduled the appointment.  The morning of that day, Mr. Jake had his best day in weeks. He chased squirrels, he smiled.  Then he laid down and slept next to my mom. Mom almost called off the appointment but knew that this was one day in the past 10 that was good. He needed to end on a high note. I am crying while writing this as he was such a good dog and that was such a hard decision. But it was the right one!

[Pam & Trixie]

Such a very hard decision it is. Humane...we keep our family member from living in pain.
That was a very good article. Like others- it sure made me cry.

Of the 4 dogs I have owned, all were euthanized : ( Well almost all.
My 1st dog was 16.5 years old...She had not been doing well for a year. But was still happy & not in pain that we coudl see. She bloated out for the 4th time, I knew that it was time to say goodbye. I knew in my heart she held out those last 4 months after my Mom passed away...just to help me through.

my 3rd dog (My Angel dog) had a very short life- diagnosed with cancer before her 4th birthday. We treated her with Prednizone & Pill Chemo...6 months later she had a bad day & we thought that was time...But she perked up & shared another wonderful week with us. We found her laying near her water dish- to weak to get a drink...This time we knew. Our family all went to the vet to say our goodbyes.

My 2nd Dog was about 12 3/4...She became very sick one day. Could not walk the stairs & was throwing up a lot of liquid. I called my dds & dh...We all headed to the vet...thinking that we would have to put her to sleep. The vet ran some blood tests...She had Pancreatitis....The vet said we could treat this but it would be hard - we might be able to save her. While we were in the room with her contemplating treatment or euthanasia...She had an Aneurysm & died : (...How sweet of her to let us know it was her time.

My 4th dog was diagnosed with Cancer...I forget the name- the kind that hits the Spleen often or the Heart.
When she was very sick one day & could not breath we rushed her to the ER to learn of this cancer...We had them drain the fluid around her Heart & brought her home to spend as many days as we could with her...The vet said it could be a day- it could be a month. We had to keep her calm for a week after her ER visit...That was hard- she loved to play. But we did it. on day 7 we took her for a walk & she loved it.
Two days later she came up to me, laid her head on my lap & gave me that look, She told me it was time. And then she fell to the ground. My dd came over. We did not know how we were going to get her to the vet. We got her in a blanket & carried her upstairs. dh got home & we drove to the vet. My oldest dd met us there. How will we get her in the vet?? Well, She got up & walked in on her own with her tail wagging.
This one I think was one of the hardest to say goodbye too : ` (

I have said Goodbye to all of my dogs on a Thursday...

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Thanks for posting this article.  Like Lynda, we too have had to make that decision many times in the past.  The most recent about 18 months ago when our beagle Sherlock was diagnosed with inoperable cancer.  For us the decision was made to say goodbye when the bad days out numbered the good ones.  When the day came we did all of his favorite things and had the last vet appointment of the day and stayed with him while he quietly slipped away to the rainbow bridge.