I know this has been done so many times......but how do you know(Will)???

Toffee44

Toffee44

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Never had to put a dog down but Will is definately heading this way now :( (for those that dont know him, hes a 15yr old lab I have had since Feb)


I thought I was putting him down this week, as last week he just slowed right down, lost weight, had a few bald patches.

He put some weight back on over the weekend and looked happier/better again. Today hes a bit sicky (hes not actually sick but clears his throat lots) he just looks like an emaciated old boy but hes coming over, tail wagging, nudging with his nose and pawing my knee........



Really lost on what to do :( I don't want to post a picture but bascially he looks a bit of a rescue case hips sticking out, ribs, spine. He so wanted to go out yesterday so I put a t-shirt on him to hide the fact of how skinny he was under it, shameful I know.
But he was happy pottering the hedge row while I played ballies with the loons. He managed to find a manky tennis ball in the hedge him self.


I am also meant to be going on holiday end of month, my mum is coming to mine for the animals but I would a)hate to leave her the responsibility of it b)leave her in the fear that she will find him c)that I wont get to say good bye and potentially deprive this dog of some dignity in his last hours. I have a plan for his last hours which involves the stream, back home with the squeeky ball time and then a marrow bone (which will prob come to vets with us).









Lost :(
 
(hugs) Its a horrid situation to be in :(

With Bear (15yr old goldie) it was when she lost her love for food. She was still eating but she just wasn't happy anymore. She was struggling to move and was developing a tumour in her throat. We had the vet out and she agreed that Bear was staying alive to please so we made a huge fuss of her and the vet came out again the next day to put her to sleep :( The vet did offer medication to keep her going longer (tho adivsed against it) but tbh she'd given us 15 years and we owed it to her.
 
i always say its better to be a day too early than a day late !

We had to make a decision on one of ours where he had a tumour (he was almost 14) he would have gone another 2/3 weeks painfree but we didnt see the point in stringing it out for his sake...... we let him go under anesthetic....

Our other dog who we lost 2 years ago had a stroke...she just gave up, the sparkle left her in her eyes and she had a problem which would have left her paralysed.... we gave her one last good run then had her pts.....

both my dogs went happy/with dignity :)

Do what you think is best for your dog.... not you..
x
 
Oh Im so sorry you are going through this its heartbreaking.

With Leo our old brown Dobe he had Wobblers and I made the phonecall to the vets 3 times and 3 times I cancelled because I swear he heard me and perked up.

One morning I got up and put my dogs out and he really struggled so made the decision and put him down that day. Its the worst decision ever but when you have an old dog that decision is easier, you dont feel you are robbing them of life.

If I was you I would have it done before you go on holiday because if it happens while you are away you will feel guilty for evermore.
 
This is going to be hard to type. I am awaiting the vet to come this afternooon to pts my Buffy. How do you know - well I'm still not sure, after some really bad days they old b****r brought me a ball after I had phoned the vet. But that was a rare good moment amongst the bad, and I have always believed it is better a week too soon than a day too late.
I feel so much for you, but in your position I think I would let him go before your holiday so you know you have control over his final hours. It actually is slightly easier once you have made the awful decision.

Ets. Don't want to hijack this thread, I will post a separate thread for Buff later.
 
When they stop eating happily i.e. struggle to stand and eat, or struggle to get up....and then they give you that look - the eyes are a give away....

Never easy - and you can bet your bottom dollar that on the chosen morning
Will will bounce around like a puppy..... One of ours had bone cancer and we left it as long as we dared and on the day, the vet arrived and our boy went hobbling out to her with his tail thrashing.......even the vet and her nurse was in tears.

It is always terribly difficult but I would say do this before you go away. From your point of view you can say goodbye in your own time and recover whilst you are away on holiday rather than worry whats going on at home if you left him. You being away may put extra stress on him too and I am not sure it is fair on your Mum....

Def get the vet out to you - your plan is spot on. We have had 3 pts over the years (the 4th died in his sleep so made it easier on us, bless him). Because 2 were very ill, we had no choice but to do it at the vets where they were receiving care, the other was at home and that was so very much better for him. It was, however, all very peaceful and dignified for all of them.

Thoughts are with you... never easy, always upsetting, but the very best thing us humans can do for our beloved pets when the time comes...
 
As people have said the eyes are a give away...
Adrenaline always overcomes the pain - we made the decision for our old Goldie years ago and I'll never forget how we got the lead out to take the other dog out and she got up and ran to the field like a puppy - there was a slight flicker of hope for us, but it was a case of the minds willing but the bodys not able.
Better a day too early than too late, you will know when the time comes for him. Its an awful decision to have to make, but its one that we, as pet owners, owe to our pets.
Hugs.
K x
 
For big dogs, mobility is a big deal for me and for all dogs, general wellbeing/happiness and as others say, they normally let you know when it is time and you can see it in their eyes, hugs for you x
Our vet came out to do our old girl, he had treated her all her life and saved her on many occasions and it was very dignified.
 
My old dog was of the "never give up" variety and I swear she would have gone on until there was just a skeleton sitting in the basket, still wagging her tail and eating her dinner. She was really difficult to make the decision with as just as you thought it was time, she would perk up. However, the look she gave me when she had to be carried back in from the garden a few times told me that I had to make the choice for her, even though she was content enough when she was back on her bed.

Old bugger wagged her tail furiously at vet when we got there, just to make me question myself further, but am pleased I allowed her to go whilst she still had some dignity.

I don't envy you but agree that before your hols is probably best. Big hugs x
 
Does he still want to go for walks and eat his dinner? If not I think the answer is the end will be soon. If so, has he had any health tests? I appreciate he is 15 but my decision would also be based on whether I could treat whatever is slowing him down. A simple blood test would probably give an indication as to what might be underlying the illness, hair loss and weight loss (super skinniness) could be indicative of a thyroid problem which can be easily controlled.
 
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