A sad post from me :(

littlemisslauren

littlemisslauren

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My 15 year old (Well almost) terrorist has been deteriorating health wise over the last few months.

In the last 2 weeks he had dropped a scary amount of weight and started to struggle to keep anything down. last week he started to show bood in his poo.

I am disgusted with the vets to be honest. They have been fobbing my mother off with 'we will run some tests' for months and then pumping him full of drugs for 20 different conditions, whatever tests theyt have done (if any) haven't shown anything not to be expected in a dog of his age.

My mum took him back in today (second time this week) and I called ahead of her going in and asked they took bloods. i dont understand why they didnt run them earlier.

My poor boy has liver failure. :(

He is being PTS tomorrow morning.

I am completely heartbroken. I know none of it is my fault but I feel so guilty. He is a family dog but was bought as a christmas present for me when I was 8, when I moved out he stayed at my parents house with our other old dog. I feel guilty for leaving him :( Like I have let him down.

I wish I had known he was so ill sooner, I would have never let him suffer like this if I had any idea :(

Those of you that have been there when your pet was PTS, did you feel it helped the dog? stressed them more? did it help you greive?

Sorry if this didnt make sense, I am in bits :(
 
Sorry to hear this, hardest part of dog ownership.

I have been there for all three as it was the right thing for me and helped the dogs keep calm as well I think. First two were family dogs and my parents didn't come in with me as they were both very upset and felt that this would stress them. Think it depends on how well you will cope with it at the time, I'm very much a hold it all in till I get home kind of person.

If it helps it has always been a very peaceful experience and I really don't think the dog has any idea of what is happening.

Hugs x
 
thinking of you at this sad time
a few yeras back my friends dog was poorly,and i'd said that the symptoms it was showing looked like that his kidneys were going,anyway their vet kept trying test of test and feeding this and that and other medictaion..poor dog
in the end the dog did have kidney failure and with £1000 vet bill and nothing to show for it as the dog was eventually pts

i had my dog pts 18 mths ago,she was on medication for an spinal injury,anyway one day she looked at me and i knew this was the time to let her go,she had been deteriating for a short while and i felt that i wasnt going to put her through any more treatment and she was pts
i was there with her..very peacefully and quick..yes very sad and lots of tears but i was glad i was their with her until the end,she had her mum with her,i couldnt not be there and have two strangers letting her go..in some ways my dog knew i was doing the right think and in a funny sort of way thanking me
some vets just think about the ££s not the welfare of the animal
 
I am so sorry to hear this, poor you. Please don't feel guilty for leaving your dog behind when you moved out, he no doubt was happier in familiar surroundings with his friend, even if he didn't see you so much, deep down I am sure you know that.
As far as being with him, until quite recently I have very rarely been with my dogs when they have been pts, because I have been such a mess I would have stressed them. I did make sure they were with someone they knew and trusted though. More recently I have stayed with them, and although it is so painful I have found it helped to know I was with them until the end, and I hope it helped them that I was stroking them as they went to sleep.
It is very much up to the individual, no one can tell you what to do for the best, but will be thinking of you tomorrow. x

ETS. Just to add, I ask my vets to give a sedative first, so the dog is relaxed before the intravenous injection is giving, it does take a few seconds longer for the injection to work but they are not worried at all by it.
 
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I wasn't with either of my last two girls when they were PTS, my oldest girl, I sometimes regret it because the vet came to the house but I couldn't be there, I gave her a custard cream and said my goodbyes out in the garden - mostly I am glad I wasn't there because I would have lost it and it would have stressed her...well, maybe it wouldn't, she was a tough old bird, I don't know.
It's up to you, do what you think is best.

He's a great age and please don't feel guilty - our last girl had a massive tumour and none of us had a clue until it was too late, she showed no outward signs until the end.
You've been a wonderful friend to him, all the best for you all tomorrow x
 
Oh how I feel for you. :(
Lost my dog Toby earlier this year due to liver cancer- he did not show any signs of illness until 2 weeks before we lost him. I was there when he was put to sleep as I was when I have lost previous dogs. I couldn't bear to leave them alone and felt it was something I just had to do.
It is so hard and I understand how you feel. Sending you hugs and although you are in bits at the moment you will in time be able to look back and smile at the memories of all the happy times you shared.
Will be thinking of you tomorrow. Xxx
 
Thanks guys, you set me off blubbering again!

The hardest part of all is that he is still 'there' in his head. He will still bomb to the other end of the house if he hears a crisp packet, still stealing the puppies goodies and even tried to start a scrap with Caylas Regan. Just his body can't keep up anymore.

My dad is going to the vets. I was told that I was not allowed to go but my OH called my mother and had a bit of a go at her :o because I was in bits about not being able to say goodbye properly. I am apparently welcome to go but I really dont want to crowd him.

I think my plan so far is to go to the vets and see how I feel / how Charlie is and go from there. :(
 
Im so sorry to hear this and can understand how you feel, dont feel guilty you were not to know. Perhaps your family were protecting you and hoping for a happy outcome so felt there was no need to worry you.

I have been there for all my animals dog,horses,ferret,chinchillas etc and my mums cat and they have been reassurred by my presence. This was my decision and I would not blame anyone who couldnt for any reason be there. Being there did help with the grieving process and as it so quick they literally go to sleep.

My last dog Fred was 4yrs old when he was pts last year and I still havnt come to terms with it and the reason I changed vets. I too believe he was misdiagnosed and I hadnt slept prior to that for 3 nights with a tooth abcess. I feel I let him down as I wasnt completely with it but had taken him straight to the vets when he displayed his first symptons.

Your dog has had a lovely long happy life and it is very sad especially when he was an important part of your childhood.

I will be thinking of you tomorrow.
 
I am sorry - hardest part of owning a pet.

My last Border Terrorist suddenly went downhill over night. She was terribly sick all night and it smelt terrible. I took her to the vet with the thought that she had liver failure and said so. The vet said it was impossible for a liver to fail so fast and said she had been poisoned. That was impossible as I had no poison down and the old girl had given up hunting (she was in need of bifocals and a hearing aid) He said he could give her this that and the other but I just said to run a blood. He tried to fob me off but I insisted. He could not get blood from her leg so when he got it from her jugular it was a rusty brown. I pointed this was a sign of liver failure and he told me that venal blood was always darker to which I agreed and added that it was also red and not brown!
Cut long story short the next day showed that her liver was in failure so I took her back in and saw a different senior vet. I had her euthanised and went to pay the bill. It was £30 for euthanising, £36 for the blood, £5 for the jab to stop her vomiting and some electrolytes, most of which I had returned. There was a £65 fee for diagnosis which I refused to pay as the vet was wrong and I was right. My complaint was upheld by the senior partner.

Vets do try and prolong the inevitable, more with small animals than with horse though I have known both. I always query what they are saying and doing and when a vet asks if you have insurance - beware!
 
You are all so kind :o

I am having a bit of a wobble at the moment and thinking about going to my mums first thing to say my goodbye incase I lose it in the vets and upset him.

The last thing I want is for him to be upset when he goes :(
 
Thoughts are with you :(
have always been with my animals when they have been pts. Having to give tissues to the vet who put my old girl down as he had known her since a pup:o
If going to your mums and saying goodbyes is something you can handle then do that? dont go upsetting yourself even more because you think you have to be with him. He will see you with a biscuit or treat and a cuddle and wont think anything of it! Maybe thats a better way to remember him than sitting in a vets surgery dreading every second-where he might pick up on your mood?
hugs...and sloppy kisses from the reject dogs xxxxxx
 
Only you know it is the final injection,not your dog,to them it is just an anaesthetic and very quickly they peacefully slip away. Do not feel guilt if you just cannot stay..do you stay when your dog has an ordinary procedure ,like a spey? No of course not.Spoil your best friend as long as you can,don`t stay,even if you are very strong your dog will sense your distress,they don`t need your actual tears for that.Dogs are way too smart at knowing our vibes before we do.
Be so thankful we have this last gift to give an oldie,so they never have to suffer as people are made to do too often.
 
Im so sorry to hear this LML you are doing the right thing. I have always stayed with my dogs infact any animals because i feel it calms them and your the last person they see. I even try not to cry but that dont always work because they pick up on things sometime i go into nurse mode. Its very peaceful they just drift off to sleep.

Its really up to what you think you can cope with but in a wierd way once its over you get a rush of its over now no more pain.

For me I would never leave a animal at the vets to be with people the animal does not really know, i even take my families animals because they are not up to it, but as i said its about how you feel.

Think of you xxxxxx
 
definately stay with him, I didn't have any choice with my GSD he went at the vets overnight so couldn't be with him and I feel sick that I even left him. My mongrel was 16 when I had her pts, she just fell asleep, very peaceful, my vet was really nice and left me alone with her for a while after
 
I lost my young dog to leukaemia last summer, I was with him till the very end TBH I don't if I would have felt worse or better if I hadn't been there but I couldn't let him go on his own I had to be there... Even if I didn't see anything for tears.
 
Oh, sweetheart! I'm not ashamed to say I'm in buckets here.............:( I expect by the time you get to read this, it will all be over...........:(:(

I feel for you so terribly as I've been there, so to speak. There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said, except rejoice in his 15 years with you, remember all the fun and the good times you had together, and do not, for one single moment, feel guilty about any of this. YOU (sorry, don't mean to shout!) did your very best for him, entrusting his health to so-called professionals, and when push came to shove, they appear to have done less than their best..........:mad:

Here are a few (((((hugs))))) from me, and a few sloppy wet slurps from Bear. He's lying at my feet as I'm writing this, and I swear he knows something aint right.........:confused::(

Take care now, and don't be afraid to grieve - it's perfectly normal...........

:( Thinking of you all. :(

C xx
 
Huge hugs LML, everybody else has said everything, I cant elabourate more other than to repeat that you must not feel guilty. XXX
 
I'm so sorry to read this LML - whatever you decide will be right for you and him at that time. Don't blame yourself - he had 15 years of love from you - not many dogs are so lucky :)

Don't worry about upsetting him, I was in pieces when I told my Caffrey that I loved him for the last time but i'm glad I was there for him. Wasn't for my first boy as I found it too hard to say goodbye - something I have regretted ever since :(

{{{{hugs}}}} for you today, thinking of you both x
 
Thank you so much everyone. I am ovrwhelmed at the support on here :)

I arrived at my parents before they were even awake this morning. I snook Charlie out and we had a little toddle around the garden together. He stook to me like glue so I guess he could tell something was up with me.

He was always a brilliant dog when I was upset / ill. Like my very own little nurse.

I gave him a treat and a big fuss and my dad took him to the vets. His tail was wagging when he was allowed to get in the car.

He went very peacefully. He still tried to start a scrap outside the vets though!

We are having his ashes sent home and they will be scattered on Kizzys grave and then we have a lovely piece of marble we are having engraved for both of them.

I feel like I should tell you all a little bit about his younger years. But he was so amazing I don't know where to start!

He was just a proper little terrier. Hard as nails and was always ready for more.

RIP Charlie Dog, the best friend a little girl could ask for.
 
Huge hugs for you, bless trying to start a fight:).

They leave a huge hole in your heart when they go and when you feel emotionally stronger you can post on In memory of. I intend to do that with my Fred a tribute but I cant at the moment.
 
Oh bless:(, Im so sorry to read this L, he was such a little character and looked in fab health when I was there last and what a fab life he was blessed with , sleep tight little charlie xx and hugs to you xx
Ps, I can well believe he has the last word at the vets too, probably some humungus beast in his way:D
 
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CAYLA said:
Oh bless:(, Im so sorry to read this L, he was such a little character and looked in fab health when I was there last and what a fab life he was blessed with , sleep tight little charlie xx and hugs to you xx
Ps, I can well believe he has the last word at the vets too, probably some humungus beast in his way:D
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Thank you. He just deteriorated so fast its scary, he went from being a normal old dog with minor problems to his organs shutting down in afew weeks.

For all the hassle his dog agression caused me on walks I love that in his old age he still thought he could take down a huuuuuuge rotti:rolleyes:

I need to call you / message / text / send you smoke signals at some point with more dates from my mother bear :)
 
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