Really stressful night

Penny Less

Penny Less

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I had to take my dog to the vets at 1 a.m. to be pts. She was nearly 14 and had been up and down for some time, but last night I heard banging and when I got up she had collapsed and couldnt get up I tried to get her up but her back legs had no strength in them. This has happened before on odd occasions but after 5 mins she recovered. This time it was half an hour and I still couldnt get her to stand up so thought she had had a stroke. The vet said not but thought it was a spinal problem and could try painkillers. I was so upset at the time I said no as I thought it would only prolong the inevitable. Now I feel terribly guilty that I should have given her a chance for a few more weeks. She had v weak back legs. was deaf and was covered in cysts and lumps, but enjoyed short walks and was still eating well. I know its too late now but feel awful. The house is terribly empty without her.
 
So sorry for you and you girl. From what you said I think you did the right thing for her - they know when its time to go
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. Big hugs xx
 
Don't beat yourself up about it. It is always better to let them go before they are distressed and in pain. The vet would not have put her to sleep if he thought it was too early and there were things that could be done. It sounds as if her quality of life was not too great and it was the right time to say goodbye.
It hurts to let them go but it sounds as if you did the right thing by her and gave her the chance to leave this life with her dignity intact.
 
I am so sorry to hear about your girl.

I don't think you have any need to feel guilty. Her quality of life was clearly deteriorating. Some may say you could've prolonged the inevitable...but I would say you'd have just been prolonging the agony (in terms of her and yourselves becoming distressed at her decline).

Animals have no concept of whether they live for another five minutes, five weeks, five months or five years. She went peacefully and loved.....that's all any animal could wish for, humans included!
 
Agree with the others, I think you made the right choice, there is a good chance this could have happened again in a short space of time, and she may not have been herself when you got her home, and may not have been able to tackele those short walks anymore, you let her go because you saw her distress and pain, and did not want her to feel this way any longer, she was a good age.
R.i.p little dog
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hugs to you (((())))
 
Just think how you would have felt if you had got home one day and found her struggling to get up.
You have done the right thing by her and she went knowing how much she was loved.
Hugs coming to you.
 
Hugs for you - the first day we saw our 14-year-old dog unable to get up, we rang the vets. She was a big girl and lived a very full and active life and had also broken her front leg as a youngster so we knew it was the end for her.

You have done the best thing for her x
 
Please don't feel bad, you did the best thing for your dog.

We had always said that once our lab went "off his legs" he would be pts. He had a couple of instances as you described and started to get incontinent too. We booked the vet to come to our house and have him pts. Typically, that day Henry seemed quite perky and I really felt we had made the wrong decision. However, about an hour before the vet was due, he tried to get up from where he was laying and couldn't get his back legs underneath him. He struggled and I helped him to his feet, I knew at that moment that is was the right time for him. He went with the dignity he had always lived his life with.

You made the right decision, but huge hugs to you, I know how hard it is
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x
 
So sorry, but also feel you did the right thing. Unfortunately I have had more than one dog go off their back legs, when that happens I think their quality of life has gone and it is time to put them before your own feelings and let them go. Sending you hugs, it is never an easy time. x
 
Thanks everyone, youve made me feel better. My friends have said the same thing but Its a guilt thing, being in charge of another life and making decisions.
 
You have absolutely made the right decision.
We went through the very same thing with our old GSD, Kayleigh. She was 13, fit, healthy and well - but one night she lost her back end completely, and it frightened her. She spent the night on the sofa, and in the morning she was PTS. It was the only thing we could do for her.

I'm so sorry about your girl, but you must not feel guilty. You put an end to it before she had the chance to go really downhill, to be in pain and frightened, and for that you should be proud xxxx
 
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