The time has come. Helpful advice and experiences please.

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Cedars

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Too upset to go in to real details, but the end has come for my darling girl and we will be making the decision over the next week I imagine-a lot of people want to say their goodbyes.

This is the first animal that I have ever had put to sleep, and so obviously I have no experience of what happens and this is where I would benefit from your experiences.

There are things I will have forgotten to ask that I will remember later, but the starting points are.. How much does euthanasia cost for a 30kg dog? What options are available ie at home/at vet and which do you recommend? What options are available regarding body disposal and ashes (and what are the prices?). What memorials have you had for your dogs? I would love to have part of her with me always, and like the idea of keeping a small part of the ashes in a piece of jewellery, but dont even know where to start with buying something like this. And I suppose, what are your general experiences of PTS and if anyone has any helpful thoughts to help in this absolutely hideous time.

Thank you xx
 
Poor you. It's awful, but the responsible owner accepts when the time has come, and when for the sake of the dog, the time has come to part.

I've no idea of the disposal costs, I always perform the act myself, but in your shoes, I would have the vet come to you. It's the least stressful way of doing it, for the dog, and all so often for the owners. I always bury my dogs here, at home. Would that be an option for you?

I've never kept a keepsake, from a dog, but would a snip of hair, be an idea?

I've read through your other thread and believe you to be making the right decision. The time to let go, is when you have a choice, and before you have no choice. Be brave.

Alec.
 
This time last week I was sat in the waiting room with Will :( It was a horrible desicion to make and I almost walked back out of the waiting room.
Thinking of you at this what is a horrible time.


I didnt keep his ashes, they hold nothing for me tbh, if I could I wouldh have buried him here but im rented here and landlady didnt seem to happy.

It cost me £110 for him to be PTS and taken away by my vets. I only took him to the vets rather than the vet come here as he loves going to the vets, and it was cheaper but only by about £40 quid. If he was a dog that didnt like the vets there is no way I would have taken him in there.

Me the vet and nurse were on the floor with Will giving him cuddles and treats with his bloody tail still wagging until the injection went in. We are buying a plum tree on Friday to plant and we made a plaque ourselves to remember him by.

I received a card today from the vets, make me cry again.
 
So sorry Cedars, such a hard time.

Ok, practical stuff.

PTS (at my vets) is £80 - £110 if they are at the vets. This includes cremation but not the return of the ashes. If they come out, vet and nurse it's another £60 but needs a minimum of 24hrs notice. They will take C away afterwards. Return of the ashes is about £250 and I believe that is individual cremation. A casket is extra. This is in Essex and probably a low to mid priced vets.

If I have a choice I would always, always have the vet come out - just easier for all concerned IMHO. As far as a memorial is concerned, I always keep collars but I've never had ashes back but that is just me, I don't visit human graves either. Do whatever feels right for you at the time.
 
I am shocked that you are going to PTS a 2.5yr old dog because it is itchy, without trying anything other than steroids. Unless there is something else you are not saying on here, some crucial symptom you are missing out?
There is Atopica-was that even discussed? Further tests? To trust a new vet to advise to PTS on the first visit for such a young dog is an awful lot of faith to have in that new vet.
I am actually quite cross, there are many avenues to go down and just because you cannot have a guaranteed outcome with each avenue is not a good reason not to try it.
I know many will feel that this should be not mentioned and you only want advise on how to PTS but your poor dog is being given a very raw deal by what you have posted on here.
 
Susie, I am going to try and stay calm here because so help me god i could lose it at you right now. What we have found today is enough for us to call it a day.

Please, shut up.
 
What have you found today? You told us she was itchy and distressed by being itchy. That's all I'm going on and the inability to comprehend simple tests. As you said somebody has to stand up for the dog. Hence why I asked was there something you were not telling us.
 
To stop people posting on this if you have with held information which says she has a terminal condition you do need do tell us.

All we have wanted to do is help you and your dog ,why can that be wrong.
 
I know you are in a horrible place Cedars, and this decision is a seriously tough one, but you have to think how this post looks, without going into the detail

"we have made the decision, how much is it?"

Folk here only want to help you, not make things worse
 
I honestly can't believe what I'm reading!

Cedars has made a heartbreaking decision . . . whether or not you feel that she has or hasn't done enough to get to the root of Chloe's problems, the fact is that Chloe is HER dog and this is the choice she is making for Chloe's welfare. Chloe is a member of her family . . . Cedars has NO obligation to tell you why she is making this difficult decision . . . she asked for helpful advice on the practicalities of having Chloe put down - if you don't have anything constructive to say to answer that particular question, then perhaps you should leave well enough alone.

Why are you making this very painful time worse for her?

P
 
I think you're doing the right thing, from previous problems etc it's kinder to let her go now before as someone else has said, you have no choice.

She'll go happy (as can be) and having had a life full of love and affection albeit a shorter than average one. It's *****ty but you know you need to do it...

Re keeping ashes etc I couldn't help, IMO buried or cremated with a tree planted is how I'd do it when mine get called up (or down knowing them!!)

Try not to let it eat you up too much.
 
I don't know the full details of Chloes complaint so luckily I can't get drawn into the the debate but you sound genuinely upset so I'm sure you're not just having an 'itchy' dog pts.

whether to take the dog to the vet or have the vet come out depends on how the dog is at the vets. It makes it doubly sad for the owner but I always hold my own dog and hold the leg for the vet to inject as I find it soothes the dog and makes me feel like I've seen them off happy.

Costs of euthanasia vary vet to vet and cremation here is £127 for an individual one and less if the body goes in with lots of others, which means you can't really have the ashes back. I've buried some with a nice big stone on top, or planted trees and had one cremated and keep her ashes in a pot but nothing really makes you feel any better so it's an individual choice. It is quite nice though to sit in a quiet spot in the garden under a tree where a favourite dog rests.

Hope the day goes as well as possible x
 
SusieT said:
I am shocked that you are going to PTS a 2.5yr old dog because it is itchy, without trying anything other than steroids. Unless there is something else you are not saying on here, some crucial symptom you are missing out?
There is Atopica-was that even discussed? Further tests? To trust a new vet to advise to PTS on the first visit for such a young dog is an awful lot of faith to have in that new vet.
I am actually quite cross, there are many avenues to go down and just because you cannot have a guaranteed outcome with each avenue is not a good reason not to try it.
I know many will feel that this should be not mentioned and you only want advise on how to PTS but your poor dog is being given a very raw deal by what you have posted on here.
Click to expand...

Sorry but I really have to agree with this. Something just does not seem right to me.
 
I am horrified about people querying the decision to PTS. It is a hideous decision for someone to make and the OP is clearly making an extremely hard decision. Her vets would have helped her reach that decision and I am sure they would not do something as unethical as PTS on a whim. SusieT you are extremely accusative and I was exteremly upset by your comments when my old dog was very ill. There is being concerned and being extremely unfeeling and downright antisocial, you have just stepped over the boundary again.

Cedars, I had my old boy PTS at home with my other dog there so she knew what had happened to him. I called my vet out at 7.30 am, she arrived at 8.10 and Bosworth was PTS in my arms in the kitchen. Once he was PTS I carried him out to the vets car and she took him to the surgery to be collected by the cremation company. I received his ashes back in a beautiful marquetry box, with a lovely brass plaque with his name engraved on it. It was inside a beautifully printed carboard box and I also recieved a personalised certificate and a small bunch of dried flowers from the cremation company along with a handwritten card from my vets. The total cost of the emergency vist, PTS, cremation and return of ashes was £190. I asked for the ashes back, but was expecting them in a small cardboard box. i kept Boz's collar, and at the moment I still cannot scatter his ashes. I bought a beautiful engraved slate memorial stone on ebay, which cost me £15 which is in my garden in the pets graveyard.
 
No they cannot refuse, but they will make it pretty obvious they do not agree. This dog has had a multitude of problems, what is wrong with it being PTS. Far better it is PTS in a home that loves it that live for years in rescue or with an idiot owner or in rescue. There are far far worse things than being PTS. Do you know the dog personally, do you know this person. Stop being so judgemental from the safety of your armchair. I hate with a passion this 'keep alive at all costs' sometimes it is a far far far braver person who decides to PTS to stop suffering to the animal, than keep it alive from a selfish need.
 
God, how awful, i didn't realise the dog was so young. I can't imagine what you must be going through - it's hard enough to make that decision with an old dog.

I have never personally made this decision as all our dogs have been family dogs so my parents have ultimately made the decision. However, we have always had ours PTS at home (bar one who was very badly injured in a RTA and was PTS after vets said there was nothing they could do). We have the PTS at home as generally this is less stressful (for us and the dog I guess) we have then buried all our dogs in our field - along with several horses.

It's a very personal choice. Our current oldie with be PTS at home too as he really hates the vets. I am dreading the day we have to make the decision with him.

My thoughts are with you.
 
Bosworth said:
No they cannot refuse, but they will make it pretty obvious they do not agree. This dog has had a multitude of problems, what is wrong with it being PTS. Far better it is PTS in a home that loves it that live for years in rescue or with an idiot owner or in rescue. There are far far worse things than being PTS. Do you know the dog personally, do you know this person. Stop being so judgemental from the safety of your armchair. I hate with a passion this 'keep alive at all costs' sometimes it is a far far far braver person who decides to PTS to stop suffering to the animal, than keep it alive from a selfish need.
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I'm the last person in the world to query whether animals should be pts or kept suffering. I do not agree by any stretch of the imagination in keeping an animal alive at all costs or prolonging suffering as many on here know. This however, I'm sorry to say I am querying. Because I would feel awful myself if I sat back and said nothing.
 
I can speak from experience of having a dog with bad skin problems. the op is talking about the tests the dog needs as being horrific. They are not.
The only treatment the dog has had is steriods which if it is mange would only make things worse.
There are many ways of keeping skin problems under control, but the main thing is find out whats wrong in the first place.
If the op does not want peoples advice and opinions she should not post about it.
Imo something here does not add up sorry if you dont like it but I wouldnot give up on a young dog so easily.
 
Oh Cedars, Im so sorry. FWIW I think you are making a very brave decision with Chloes best interests at heart and Im sorry some of the other posters are being so judgemental. I know you have been agonising over what to do and fully respect your decision to call it a day, Im sure it hasnt been an easy choice. I have 4 dogs and 1 cat buried at home, they were all PTS at the vets surgery and on each occasion the staff were extremely helpful, sympathetic and professional. I stayed with each one until they had passed away, sitting on the surgery floor with them in my arms. Afterward they were wrapped in a blanket and we were helped out to the car through the back door (once I had stopped blubbing enough to walk). We buried each one with a toy, a biscuit and their own collar. I like knowing where they are, I had them all from babies and was with them at the end of their lives. I hope the next few days go as smoothly as possible for you, stay strong for Chloe and be very proud of yourself for putting her first, sometimes it is just the right thing to do x
 
Thank you to some of you for all your kind thoughts - they are most appreciated at this horrid time.

The others of you are ****ing sick.
 
Sorry to hear this :(.

As long as you can sleep at night knowing you have done everything you can within your financial means for this dog, then you are doing the right thing.

I don't envy you, it breaks my heart every time I've had to put one of my animals to sleep.
 
I haven't seen the original post so can't comment on that. Re costs of PTS & the options available for cremation you really would be best off discussing this with your vets if your are wanting an exact figure as it can vary from practice to practice and area to area and different practices will offer different options according to which crematorium they use. Again your vets would be best able to advise you about what they offer in terms of home visits (a lot of practices only offer pre-booked home visits at certain times of the day and these may differ from their normal consulting times) and what the cost of this would be. Personally I plan to take my dog to the vet when the time comes as she is not distressed by this but it is a personal choice and depends on the feelings of both you and your dog.
 
Something about all this does not ring true at all, nevermind how nothing can be clarified now it is questioned.
Let's hope your new pup doesn't get anything difficult to resolve. Itchy skin is something labs are prone to, she could get it too. What will you do then?
Maybe in case she ever stands on a sharp stone you should PTS her too, save her any 'suffering'.
Or maybe now that pup is here it would be nicer to just have one easy dog?
Maybe I'm wrong, maybe your dog has an incurable condition, in which case I am very sorry for you, but either you're not telling us everything(which would be odd as every other detail is on the posts..) or you're prematurely PTSing an 'itchy' dog. That's all I have to say on it. Call me whatever you like. The fact it's not just me thinking hang on, something's not right tells me all I need to know.
 
Cedars I'm sure if you click ignore user you can no longer read the posts of some of the b idiots on here.
If she likes the vets take her there, if not get it done at home. If you own your house you can bury her in the garden (not near a water source) but it needs to be deep and labs need a big hole. Cremation probably easier.
I think you are doing the right thing, you live with her and it sounds unbearable.
Take care.
 
SusieT said:
Something about all this does not ring true at all, nevermind how nothing can be clarified now it is questioned.
Let's hope your new pup doesn't get anything difficult to resolve. Itchy skin is something labs are prone to, she could get it too. What will you do then?
Maybe in case she ever stands on a sharp stone you should PTS her too, save her any 'suffering'.
Or maybe now that pup is here it would be nicer to just have one easy dog?
Maybe I'm wrong, maybe your dog has an incurable condition, in which case I am very sorry for you, but either you're not telling us everything(which would be odd as every other detail is on the posts..) or you're prematurely PTSing an 'itchy' dog. That's all I have to say on it. Call me whatever you like. The fact it's not just me thinking hang on, something's not right tells me all I need to know.
Click to expand...

I can only agree, however its the ops choice just a shame for the dog.
 
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