Devasted I have to make a decision tomorrow.

claire1976

claire1976

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My Dobie had x-rays yesterday and its not good news. Her back legs have been giving away for a few weeks now and metacam didnt help. She was booked in for x-rays but a few days before she went terribly lame on her front leg. They x-rayed her spine and her front leg and discovered a large mass attached to her shoulder joint and destroying the bone. Ironically the spine xrays only show bony arthritic changes, its her shoulder thats the problem. A biopsy is pointless as they cannot remove the mass, its eating into the bone. She's 12 yrs old and I don't want to put her through chemo. She's in a lot of pain and the painkillers are not helping. She can hardly walk and spends all day whining and groaning like she's uncomfortable. The hard thing is that in her mind she's fine, she wants to go for walks and she's not lost control of her motions etc, her hearing and eyesight are fine.
This has all happened so quick and I'm struggling to come to terms with the prognosis. Vet has said that if painkillers help then she can be allowed home to enjoy a few short weeks but if not the kindest thing is pts. The problem is the joint bone is now so thin as the mass is destroying it that it could fracture at any point.
I have to decide tomorrow.
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What a horrible decision to have to make. If it was me in that position I would have her PTS as soon as possible to free her from the pain. It's the kindest thing for her.

*big hugs for you and gentle ones for your girl*
 
I can't understand what you are waiting for; sorry if that sounds harsh. Your dog is in massive pain. I would be asking to have her done now, not waiting until tomorrow.
I know it's hard on you but that's part of the responsibility of owning animals, you have to accept this will happen sooner than later and be realistic enough to know what is best for the dog, not you.
It might not sound like it, but I do sympathise with you, it's a horrid thing that needs doing.
 
You poor thing.....had to make the descision to have my dog pts last year and can honestly say it is one of the worst things I have ever had to do in my life.
She also seemed quite well in herself but had untreatable lung cancer. I persevered with steroids and heart tabs for a while but when the weather got too hot she really began to suffer.I felt it was cruel to let her suffer the bad days just to see the better days diminishing. She would never have recovered and I felt I owed it to her to let her last days be ones of relative good health and not pain and suffering.
Unfortunately only you can make the final descision (if your anything like me you would like somebody else to make it). Let your vet guide you.
thinking of you x
 
She only came out of the anaesthetic late yesterday and they said to give the painkillers 48 hours. She has a pre-op check up tomorrow which is when I have to decide. I understand what you guys are saying but the vet has said to give them chance to work and if they do - great.
 
OK. I can understand the thinking but to my mind, it is only postponing the inevitable which could be as soon as next week, perhaps only a little bit longer, who can tell? I still wouldn't put my dog through that but that is me; not because I don't care but because I do, too much.
 
My 14 year old collie, the absolute love of my life, was put to sleep peacefully at my home a month ago. No-one would ever have known there was anything wrong with her, but there was. Major surgery would have righted her however this was not the option I chose. I chose to let her go whilst she still had all her faculties and still looked as fantastic as the dog she always was.

It is difficult no matter how you do it, but I could never have allowed my beautiful girl to become distressed even through surgery, so she has gone in body, but most certainly not in spirit; she is still very deeply within my heart and always will be.

Hoping you have the strength to do the right thing for the love of your old girl.

Tia x
 
I had my beloved GSD put down last year. She too had cancer. We kept her going for a while on steroids but as soon as she started going downhill and showing severe pain I made the awful decision to have her pts. I can truly sympathise with you, it is a horrible thing to have to do but it sounds to me as if your girl is ready to go now.
 
just be aware that some vets think of the £££s they will make, ahead of the animal's welfare.
if the dog is in pain and distressed, have her put to sleep asap. that's what i did with one of mine, after 2 days of her being confused and having fits. the vet tried to persuade me to give her another week of a different treatment etc, because there might be an improvement in a few days, possibly.
i did what was best for my poor old girl, not for me, or the vet's wallet. sorry if that sounds harsh, it is a terrible decision, and i really feel for you.
 
Thanks Tia - I think its more of a case of me coming to terms with it happening so quick. I've just returned from working overseas for a few days and its like she's a different dog. I feel very sad that I won't get to give her a good send off. I wanted to take her to the beach for a day and give her a fantastic meal before saying bye but I won't get too do that as she's deteriorated so quick.
I can't put her through surgery because its unlikely to improve her life and she's such a stresshead it won't be pleasant for her.
She is my first dog since leaving home so I'm especially attached, she was a rescue dog with many problems that I overcame so I've invested a lot of emotions into her and its hard to let go.
 
Kerilli - in fairness to the vets they have discouraged me from biopsies etc as they feel it will only give a diagnosis and won't change the prognosis. They are certainly not putting £££ before welfare, quite the opposite really.
I will do whats right for her.
 
The night our Windsor was PTS (we made the decision in Jan this year) we helped him to eat a steak and wrapped him up in big towels. My uncle (who owned him) then took him to the vet and held him close while the vet injected him. He was already sleepy following his big meal and Mark said it was just like he fell asleep in his arms.

It was very hard to let go of him as he was such a wonderful dog, but his quality of life was gone. We wanted to do what was best for him even though it broke our hearts. He was my uncles first gundog and hence him being so attached to him.
 
Claire, hard as it may seem to you, your girl doesn't need a good send off. You've given her a life that has fulfilled her. I'm sure she loves you in the same way as you cherish her - she KNOWS you love her; a trip to the beach and a yummy meal won't change that. Honestly, the time is now; show her your greater love which is to do the right thing for her and not yourself.

I'm really sad for you
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; I know exactly what you are going through, but it isn't about you; it's about giving your loyal and trusting girl the one last gift available to you.

Tia x
 
Oh I know - everything you are all saying is true. I'm at work at the moment and my OH has rung to say she's not a happy dog, she can't walk or sit or stand. I can't leave her any longer, I have to let her go, soon.
 
Having lost my dog over a year ago, I can only agree with the others, let it be sooner rather than later.
Your beloved dogs passing will be lovely and although you dont realise it now you are doing her the biggest kindness you can. Most people when at the stage of - when? probably know themselves the answer is now.
Believe me your heart will ache but it will ache more with the regret of having her go through more pain.
Hope this helps, I feel so sorry for you as we've all been through it.
x
 
She s lovely
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I think in your heart u know whats best for her....your just naturally terrified of the grief ahead....I would let her go sooner rather than later...my thought are with u
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xx
 
She looks gorgeous. Have you ever lost a dog before? If you need any help with what happens feel free to PM me and I'll talk you through it - its very peaceful. x
 
Not really, out family dog was pts when I was a teenager but I just remember coming home and she was gone. I've not experienced my own dog being pts and yes, I'm terrified.
 
Totally agree with everyone else.........it's a crap decision to have to make but at the same time there is no decision to make. I had this very same thing with my dog. Initially it was thought to be a surface tumour but on the xray it had eaten into his bones and was inoperable. It sneaked up on me so quickly I had no time to adjust but one night of him crying was enough and I had him pts the next day. It totally broke my heart but not as much as keeping him in pain would have.

It's the worst part of owning a dog but the best way of thanking her for the joy she's brought you is let her go peacefully and as soon as possible. As someone told me once 'better a week too soon than an hour too late'.

Good luck tomorrow. Thinking of you xx
 
Thats crap hun
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....I had to take nights off as I was ill after losing my whippet, but it was a complete shock to me, as I was not expecting her to be PTS, she went in to have a broken leg mended, she was put to sleep under the anaesthetic, OH drove me to work to be with her and I brought her body home to take to the pet crem the next day....I was on heavy meds though... due to illness...so that didnt help me
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Hopefully if u feel to bad....they will send u home.
 
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