The toughest decision one has to make...

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Armistead

It's tough, I tried to save my dog, small Yorkie oversize heart and her lungs filled with fluid. The meds made her better, but she got worse and even with more meds she died. I regret I didn't put her down and she suffered more for a week, so it's a hard decision that you made correctly.

It is a very hard decision. My wife stated 9 weeks ago, "Are we doing this for her or we doing this for us?" Meaning at the time she was diagosed with mast cells gone wild was she in any pain at that time and are we hanging on for us. At that time she was oxgenating very well. Pink gums and tongue. Still had spunk in her step. The predisone worked miracles. The cough stopped. Her allergy that made her lick her feet constantly was completely eliminated. She was finally comforable from the incessent licking of her feet. In hindsight it was a good decision to use the pills and provide her 6 weeks of good times and good eats. At 9 weeks in a matter of 2 days she had grown a mast cell in her mouth. Very large. Her breathing labored. It was every indication that life for her was getting unpleasant. The decision was easy at that point. Either way we has humans want to hang on. When she went limp in my arms after administering the desired amount I knew she was finally free. I felt much relief but still very down and miss her much.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

When she went limp in my arms after administering the desired amount I knew she was finally free. I felt much relief but still very down and miss her much.

Well in that respect your a far braver man than me Chris....I salute you and one day hope to shake your hand in person

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

It is a very hard decision. My wife stated 9 weeks ago, "Are we doing this for her or we doing this for us?" Meaning at the time she was diagosed with mast cells gone wild was she in any pain at that time and are we hanging on for us. At that time she was oxgenating very well. Pink gums and tongue. Still had spunk in her step. The predisone worked miracles. The cough stopped. Her allergy that made her lick her feet constantly was completely eliminated. She was finally comforable from the incessent licking of her feet. In hindsight it was a good decision to use the pills and provide her 6 weeks of good times and good eats. At 9 weeks in a matter of 2 days she had grown a mast cell in her mouth. Very large. Her breathing labored. It was every indication that life for her was getting unpleasant. The decision was easy at that point. Either way we has humans want to hang on. When she went limp in my arms after administering the desired amount I knew she was finally free. I felt much relief but still very down and miss her much.

Crap, I cried like a baby when mine died. She basically lived with me in bed when I went through several back operations, a week later my cat died that I had for 22 years, but I sort of expected that and don't much like cats although I like this one. Course with my mom dying a few months ago, nothing hurts worse than that, but the same thing. I have no doubt my mom would've preferred to die earlier but lived in suffering because of her kids until finally she died a harsher death than she had to.

Still, It's hard being a part of death, actually being there, but you want to be, but it's a hard experience actually watching something die human or animal if you love it.

I did a job this past spring for a very rich old couple..big rich, but the husbands an ass, wife basically bedridden. I got to where I would check on her and get her stuff. Her husband at 88 still works his business. She broke into tears and just said " my dog died" and I talked with her for about an hour as she showed pictures...finally realized the dog had been dead for years, but that dog became her life...she even said.."wish that bastard would've died instead of my dog." referring to her husband..

[AVGWarhawk]

No worries Armistead...I cried like a baby as well. It's hard man. It's even worse when you make that decision.

We picked up her ashes today. She is in a nice polished pine box. I was utterly impressed with the funeral home. Our house feels empty. That ever present noise of a bone being chewed or barking at a squirrel in the backyard is gone. My wife was bumming tonight making just one bowl of food for our poodle. Even our little poodle Dash is a bit lost at the moment.

[Lord_magerius]

After reading this thread my hay fever and aversion to onions is also playing up, who would have thought.

I was in a similar situation with my dog Misty, there's not a day goes by where I don't think about her. You've done the right thing doing what you did. Misty's last meal was beef in gravy with an extra long walk chucked in. Damn those onions and hay fever again...

[Hottentot]

Been there, done that. Multiple times with many different animals, not just dogs. Some as part of the job, some as personal losses. Ages old or just a few weeks old, males and females, sick, retarded or wounded. Anything.

And you know what: you get used to Death always being an employee in your crew. But you will never get used to losing. You can rationalize it all you want, but you won't. Heck, you without any doubt know that it was the only right choice. But you still won't. Emotions just don't work like that. It's humane.

All I can say is that your wife was exactly right. And so was the decision: it's the last service you can do to your companion. And you owe it to him/her.

My dog is at the moment 2,5 years old and I have already accepted that I need to face Mr. Reaperman once again. It may be in 10 years or more, but it could as well be tomorrow. The only thing I know is that the day will come and I can't prepare for it. I can't wish it to go away, but I can wish how it happens. And if my wish ever comes true, I get to take my dog into a forest he loves, let him swim in a clean lake for a while, do whatever he ever has loved doing. And after that end our journey with one painless and quick bullet.

I have seen enough vet clinics. It's no place for a dog to die, if I can help it.