Will vets put down for old age?

A sad thread but really highlights the importance of a good relationship with one's vet, preferably a longer-term relationship where possible.

I can pick up the phone and have this conversation with either my equine or my dog vet ... or go to the clinic, without the animal, to have the conversation in person.

I have every confidence my vets are both ethical and realistic. Their evaluation of physical and mental health aligns with my own and that's very reassuring.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
I have no problem putting an animal down that needs it but they are not disposable.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Along with Aru's comments about euthanasia of convenience, there are also cases of a dog suffering a minor ailment due to aging such as deafness, loss of full vision or slight incontinence which may require certain medications or for the owner to make adjustments in their lives to accommodate the conditions and it becomes an inconvenience and so, although the animal still has a decent quality of life, it is euthanised. Of course it is the owners decision and I would never interfere in a decision like that, but I just can't understand those that won't go the extra mile for their animals. If the conditions mentioned ARE causing stress and unhappiness to the dog, then fair enough.

What I absolutely can't stand though, and thought was a thing of the past, was those who in working spheres (usually sheepdogs or gundogs) who shoot dogs who don't work - without any effort made to find them a home where they could live happily as a pet. Just last week I was informed of a young (less than 12 month old) collie that was shot because she wasn't suiting her owner/handler and he has enough dogs who will work :( For a young and healthy dog to have its life taken in such a way is completely abhorrent to me. But sorry, that is going off topic.

If at all possible, I will always have my vet come to my house to have my dogs put to sleep.
 
Aru said:
Ycbm I think we proabley mean the same thing just phrased differently.

I have no issues pts animals that are suffering or will suffer and follow the above motto with no guilt...dogs with mental illness and severe anxiety causing aggression also count as suffering in my eyes btw.

I added the suffering comment as there is something called convenience euthanasia.....where an animal who is healthy becomes inconvenient to the owner and they want them pts.
The big one we see is when elderly parents go into a nursing home and none of the kids want to take on the dog...often middle aged and healthy...just unwanted and they dont want to rehome them as its hassle and difficult to do/they worry about being judged.

Or the people who want to euthanise an older cat as it isnt getting along with the new kitten and is mean....ie showing normal cat behaviour when you introduce another cat!
you occaionally see the same scenario with a dog and pup...but less often as dogs tolerate newcomers more frequently.

Or the moving house euthanaisa...without massive effort put into finding pets a new home.....

An elderly animal who wont cope well with change or an animal with underlying health issues...is an entirely different ball game to friendly dog whos only issue is having an irresposible owner....The friendly dog isnt suffering in my eyes so the day to early rule doesnt apply to them!

However if its a case that theres nowhere for them to go I would still say pts rather then have then languish in a kennel for the rest of their miserable lives...but thankfully most of the rescues I have worked with use a foster system....and in many convenience euthanising situations rehoming the animal hasnt always been tried with much effort.
Click to expand...

I know people move horses on more than we do other pets but I am curious about this given that we often encourage those with older horses that PTS at least secures their future and personally I don't think I take issue with the same view being taken on the equivalent in dogs and cats. Rehoming isn't just hassle it is very hard to do correctly with confidence if you cannot get the animal a place in a good charity.

The we got a younger version issue does bother me but having been through it recently dealing with an elderly parent situation can be stressful and upsetting enough and can happen very rapidly so that advanced plans for a pet cannot be made.
 
twiggy2 said:
Why is it a lot better for the animal?
Click to expand...

No stress, out with their owner, if they are a gundog they think they are going out shooting. Why would a stranger coming and clipping their leg and injecting them be less stressful? They know absolutely nothing about what is happening and if you have seen a horse shot you know how much quicker it is than injection.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
I have no problem putting an animal down that needs it but they are not disposable.
Click to expand...

But what is that even supposed to mean? If the animal doesn't care, and I don't believe they do, then what harm is done? A dog/horse/cat could live twenty years and only lives ten. So what?

I'm not talking about putting a cat down so you can get a kitten, but I certainly am talking about putting a horse down so you can get one that can be ridden, for example.
 
Last edited:
I went to a presentation by the Dogs Trust recently. I was unaware that they will take any old/ill persons dog in, either to foster or to rehome. You just have to call them. Hope that helps people in this situation.
 
ycbm said:
But what is that even supposed to mean? If the animal doesn't care, and I don't believe they do, then what harm is done? A dog/horse/cat could live twenty years and only lives ten. So what?

I'm not talking about putting a cat down so you can get a kitten, but I certainly am talking about putting a horse down so you can get one that can be ridden, for example.
Click to expand...

I am not going to get into this in a big way but horses I believe are somewhat different unless you have your own land and due to being less likely to cope with ongoing treatment/procedures. This is a thread about dogs though.

I also don't believe that animals 'know/care' about their own mortality. So no harm might be done to that animal but as soon as people/society believes they are purely disposable then society has a problem imho. go to those countries that believe dogs are purely disposable and then come back and tell me its fine.

We all draw our own lines do we not?

its also not the job of a vet to put to sleep your animal on a whim. And if you are putting to sleep an animal that you took on because you can't be bothered with a little inconvenience then its a whim. I've probably been with more animals being PTS in one way or another than many people on this forum. I've heard all kinds of lame excuses as to why they don't want that animal anymore and I've heard some perfectly reasonable ones.

And shooting is all very well if you can but thats out of reach for most (thank god!). Its much harder to kill an animal than some might think so I'd rather the general public didn't just give it a go with any old firearm they can get hold of. Bar one rescue (who I sedated for the vet to PTS), all of my dogs have loved the vets-its not difficult to get that bit right when they are young.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
I am not going to get into this in a big way but horses I believe are somewhat different unless you have your own land and due to being less likely to cope with ongoing treatment/procedures. This is a thread about dogs though.

I also don't believe that animals 'know/care' about their own mortality. So no harm might be done to that animal but as soon as people/society believes they are purely disposable then society has a problem imho. go to those countries that believe dogs are purely disposable and then come back and tell me its fine.

We all draw our own lines do we not?

its also not the job of a vet to put to sleep your animal on a whim. And if you are putting to sleep an animal that you took on because you can't be bothered with a little inconvenience then its a whim. I've probably been with more animals being PTS in one way or another than many people on this forum. I've heard all kinds of lame excuses as to why they don't want that animal anymore and I've heard some perfectly reasonable ones.

And shooting is all very well if you can but thats out of reach for most (thank god!). Its much harder to kill an animal than some might think so I'd rather the general public didn't just give it a go with any old firearm they can get hold of. Bar one rescue (who I sedated for the vet to PTS), all of my dogs have loved the vets-its not difficult to get that bit right when they are young.
Click to expand...

We need a LIKE button.
 
Clodagh said:
No stress, out with their owner, if they are a gundog they think they are going out shooting. Why would a stranger coming and clipping their leg and injecting them be less stressful? They know absolutely nothing about what is happening and if you have seen a horse shot you know how much quicker it is than injection.
Click to expand...

My dogs were all put to sleep by people they knew in a farmers field in the sunshine, you and I have to realise how privileged we are with our options at such times.
I have seen horses go both ways and because they are so big the drugs can take time but we are speaking momentary and of course unexpected reactions to drugs do occur, I would always choose a bullet for a horse if I knew the person welding the gun was efficient. I have however seen it go horrendously wrong with a horse and a bullet.
I would not and did not choose a bullet for my dogs as the target is smaller and they move so much quicker I feel the margin for error is too great. I know many people who do their own this way and likes yours they are used to guns so less stressed, the best thing is very individual.
 
twiggy2 said:
My dogs were all put to sleep by people they knew in a farmers field in the sunshine, you and I have to realise how privileged we are with our options at such times.
I have seen horses go both ways and because they are so big the drugs can take time but we are speaking momentary and of course unexpected reactions to drugs do occur, I would always choose a bullet for a horse if I knew the person welding the gun was efficient. I have however seen it go horrendously wrong with a horse and a bullet.
I would not and did not choose a bullet for my dogs as the target is smaller and they move so much quicker I feel the margin for error is too great. I know many people who do their own this way and likes yours they are used to guns so less stressed, the best thing is very individual.
Click to expand...

Agree with you there.
 
go to those countries that believe dogs are purely disposable and then come back and tell me its fine.
Click to expand...

I think you are referring to countries which mistreat animals? I don't think those countries are relevant to this discussion.

My view, which I'm happy to accept is different from yours, is that we owe animals a well cared for life and a swift death. I don't accept that my mother was right to refuse to have her poodle rehomed. But I do accept that it was her right to refuse to have her poodle rehomed. And I don't think the poodle cared one way or the other. I struggle to understand what is supposed to be so beneficial to the dog to live another five years he didn't know he had. If I die suddenly in my sleep tonight, I'm not going to be worrying about the years I have been robbed of. For animals, I think death is like that. The only animal really affected is the keeper.

It all hinges around an individual's view of the sanctity of life, really.
 
twiggy2 said:
Why is it a lot better for the animal?
Click to expand...

Others may have dogs which enjoy a trip to the vet. Over the years I've never yet had a dog which has enjoyed it, one bit. My current vet is what I'd call a dog-man. He shoots, trains his own gundogs and understands the animal. He's 'good' with a dog too, if that makes sense. Just as we wouldn't expect our GP to understand the vagaries of the human brain, so it would be rare in my experience for a vet to even recognise a stressed dog.

At home, with sheepdogs, and when their time has come, I generally take them to sheep so that they're focussed, stand the dog still, walk up bedside it and with a glove on my left hand to save me getting burned by the muzzle flash, I stroke the face and cover the dog's eyes. I use a humane killer (a captive-bolt pistol), place the gun on the poll directing the rod towards the base of the tongue, and press the trigger. No needle would be so instant and the dog is saved from the visit to the vet and the attendant fear.

A C_B pistol is very quiet, more of a pop than a bang, sometimes the dog will bleed from the nose, but that's about it. I've never known the procedure to be anything other than simple and importantly, stress free.

Though the description may sound rather ghoulish, I suspect that it's a bit like when we go to the dentist, it's never as bad as we imagine! The important point though, and back to your question, the dog is totally unaware of what's going on, and I'd suggest that my route is more humane and to be preferred. As with most things in life, I suppose that we do what we feel most comfortable with.

Alec.
 
You mostly seem to be suggesting the why is because of a vet trip, I've not known a vet yet not do home visits and I think that was what twiggy was getting at? As she says all hers have gone in field.
 
We have a captive bolt for putting sheep down but, personally, I could never consider using it on one of the dogs (also there is no muzzle flash with a captive bolt Alec). My vet is happy to come out to our cottage and euthanise in a place of choice - my 14 year old GSD was pts in the field overlooking the reservoir on a sunny day whilst being fed sausages and roast beef. There was no stress involved and it couldn't have been more peaceful.
 
Alec Swan said:
Others may have dogs which enjoy a trip to the vet. Over the years I've never yet had a dog which has enjoyed it, one bit. My current vet is what I'd call a dog-man. He shoots, trains his own gundogs and understands the animal. He's 'good' with a dog too, if that makes sense. Just as we wouldn't expect our GP to understand the vagaries of the human brain, so it would be rare in my experience for a vet to even recognise a stressed dog.

At home, with sheepdogs, and when their time has come, I generally take them to sheep so that they're focussed, stand the dog still, walk up bedside it and with a glove on my left hand to save me getting burned by the muzzle flash, I stroke the face and cover the dog's eyes. I use a humane killer (a captive-bolt pistol), place the gun on the poll directing the rod towards the base of the tongue, and press the trigger. No needle would be so instant and the dog is saved from the visit to the vet and the attendant fear.

A C_B pistol is very quiet, more of a pop than a bang, sometimes the dog will bleed from the nose, but that's about it. I've never known the procedure to be anything other than simple and importantly, stress free.

Though the description may sound rather ghoulish, I suspect that it's a bit like when we go to the dentist, it's never as bad as we imagine! The important point though, and back to your question, the dog is totally unaware of what's going on, and I'd suggest that my route is more humane and to be preferred. As with most things in life, I suppose that we do what we feel most comfortable with.

Alec.
Click to expand...

That's gruesome Alec!

Guess it's you and the RSPCA that does it this way.
 
Going back to the original dog, whilst I agree with a month too early being better than a day too late, have you had any checks to see if there is a simple reason why he has aged so rapidly? I've been thinking my boy was just getting old, similar symptoms to you plus coat changes and spookiness (which I had put down to eyesight changes, he's always been deaf) but blood tests showed he was rock bottom for thyroid function. 2 weeks in to a very simple treatment and he has picked up remarkably, and much of the old age stuff has disappeared. You may already have done so, but it might be worth a simple blood panel to check there isn't anything simple going on that isn't just "age".
 
Thank you for all the replies.
I wouldn't rehome her as she is a very quirky dog to start with especially with men (we got her at 4 as a failed gundog). It won't be an act of convenience when I do make the decision I can promise that, she's been there for the last seven years through divorce, a new relationship, 4 house moves, twice in labour (including once coming all the way to the hospital door with me. I am at home most of the time so she's not left for more than an hour at a time (if that) so frequent loo breaks etc aren't an issue.
She was out in the garden playing with the children today. Standing at the bottom of the slide steps (she's convinced it's not safe) in and out of their den they've built, rolling in disgusting things and you think 'ye she's slower but seems fine' and she came in so stiff my OH had to carry her upstairs and put her in the bath and carry her back down and she didn't come up for the kids bedtime and your heart sinks again.
It's her MOT next month so I'll speak to the vet but last time they handed me doggy ibuprofen tablets for after long walks- and they do very little. They didn't seem keen on further investigations. I'll push more this time as I would be chuffed if it was that straight forward.
Thanks again all.
 
Is she on anything for her joints? I have a just turned 14yro cocker and for a number of years have had her on Vetvits flexi joints and I honestly think they keep her mobile - not saying she hasn't slowed down and she can't make our full flight of stairs, but that's only because they are wood and she slips, (she made her way up to my mums bedroom when she was dog sitting recently) but she still loves a decent walk round the cross country course at the yard.
Hope you get some answers, it's so hard trying to judge what is best for an older dog.
JDx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top