my dog Brett Brett

Stogies

Stogies

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He is still here for now but he is declining and I am taking it badly. He is about 14 years old and I know I need to accept he is old but my mind just keeps going back to his puppy days when he would come up to me and lick my face all over. He has always been an incredibly sweet dog.

On 08/30/19 has was diagnosed with a heart defect and on 09/01 he had a pacemaker fitted. We had just refinanced the house we could otherwise not have afforded the 4K that cost us. That gave him another rather good 1.5 years after that. A few months ago he started limping a bit on the walks and about 4 weeks ago it got to the point where he no longer could go on walks at all. Now he can barely stand up and move around to go potty and last night he had a number one accident in the house which has never happened since he got house broken. The arthritis is just doing a number on him.

His appetite is slowing down now and getting him to take all his meds takes a bit of doing. He is extremely stoic and does not complain or cry but it's obvious he is not feeling too good anymore. We keep him comfortable and help him as best as we can but the writing is on the wall. It's been a tough year and a half because we lost my mother in law to cancer April last year, our dog 56 to cancer last August and our dog Eddie to cancer this January.

Sorry, I had to get this off my chest, feel free to send some good vibes his way, he will appreciate it.
 
As someone who just buried an 18 yr old dog this morning, it is hard to watch the slow deterioration of your dog because of age and illness.

I did all I could to keep her from suffering and let nature take its course. In the end, it was medication and water from a syringe, a heating pad to lay on, and lots of love from me. Spend as much quality time as you can with your friend. You will know when it is time to to let them go.
 
chris69 said:
As someone who just buried an 18 yr old dog this morning, it is hard to watch the slow deterioration of your dog because of age and illness.

I did all I could to keep her from suffering and let nature take its course. In the end, it was medication and water from a syringe, a heating pad to lay on, and lots of love from me. Spend as much quality time as you can with your friend. You will know when it is time to to let them go.
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We always did know when it was time the last 3 times. Thank you.
 
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This may sound harsh, but I mean well. As the human it's your job to see to the dog being comfortable and having a good quality of life. When you can no longer be sure of that need being met, it's time. Don't let your feelings allow a dog you love to suffer needlessly. He's been there for you, you need to be there for him.
 
A heating pad can help make him feel cozy. Also one of your shirts or towels that you've used on his bed may comfort him too.

Be there for him. I'm sorry.
 
My uncle took care of my aunt for almost 20 years throughout her fight with cancer. She finally got pneumonia and that is what did her in. But she held on in the hospital till my uncle said it is time for you go, I love you and will see you again. She then took her last breath. When it is time to let your best friend go you will know..
 
Timfoilhat said:
This may sound harsh, but I mean well. As the human it's your job to see to the dog being comfortable and having a good quality of life. When you can no longer be sure of that need being met, it's time. Don't let your feelings allow a dog you love to suffer needlessly. He's been there for you, you need to be there for him.
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We are very familiar with handling that at this point.
 
I have been there............when i went through with it, i thought about if we were to trade places........i wouldn't have been mad if someone let me go it i was pretty miserable most of the time. Over the course of 4 months or so she went downhill. The last 3.5 weeks was noticeably worse and was losing strength in her back legs. She could barely walk a small loop in the back yard tondo her business. The last 5 days she was losing the strength in her front legs. She laid around most of the time and she would pee or poop while trying to get up, even when i helped her up. She was grouchy and miserable except for a few moments a day. It was a terrible experience, but it was time. Continue to think about quality of life and how would you feel.....and go from there..... You got to enjoy the ride of life together and gave a good friend a home and a better life. In return they make your life better.
 
BASIL said:
Just a few days past for me. I'm sorry for you.
I was glad that I found a great vet and she came to our home, so I didn't have to make that worst last drive.
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We were debating doing it at home when the day comes but we have 2 dogs and we didn't know how the other one would take it. We never could figure out what they were thinking when we left with one and came back without him/her.
 
Stogies said:
We were debating doing it at home when the day comes but we have 2 dogs and we didn't know how the other one would take it. We never could figure out what they were thinking when we left with one and came back without him/her.
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For us it was much easier, if I can say, for everyone. It still sucks. But I would do it again.
 
The day has come. His mobility is down to zero, he can't even stand up long enough to pee anymore. He snarled a bit when we held him up this morning so he was hurting just standing up with help.

He still has a little bit of an appetite but the vets say don't get fooled by that because a dog is fairly robust machine that will keep going.

Consulting the end of life matrix the picture is fairly clear:

topdogtips.com

Checklist for When to Put Your Dog Down

When to Put Down Your Dog checklist and survey, alongside the more scientific Dog Quality of Life Scale from vets, will help you with this tough decision.
topdogtips.com topdogtips.com

He is now checking almost all of the bad boxes. His presumably last vet appointment is today at 3.40 PM.

Thanks to all of you for your kind words.
 
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Sorry to read this. I hope you and your family are consoled by his passing being a relief of his pains. You'll see him again, just the other side of the bridge.
 
I am so sorry. When I decided to have Lucy euthanized, I called my wife and daughter say goodbye. They came by the vets office and said their goodbyes. I sat with her while the vet put her to sleep. I cried like a little baby on the way on the hour drive home, but needed the time by myself to deal with losing my dog. We all know what you’re going thru and I cant tell you how sorry I am. Just remember all of the good times.


CDJ
 
Sorry, man😟

I’ll tell ya this…I would rather go back through the physical/mental pain of the past year (cancer treatment/surgery) again than to endure what I did when I had to put Sampson down…it’s been 1 1/2 years and I still ain’t got over it. I loved that dog.
 
Deepest condolences, I had to put my last dog to sleep in 98, cried like a baby. It took me 24 years to get another.
 
Stogies said:
We were debating doing it at home when the day comes but we have 2 dogs and we didn't know how the other one would take it. We never could figure out what they were thinking when we left with one and came back without him/her.
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Maybe keep them pent up for the actual procedure, but bring them out afterwards.

While I've not had any dog put down at home, I let all of my other dogs visit the corpse when I bring them home to bury them and they come watch the burial. They know. I think dogs have a concept of closure.

I saw firsthand what happens when dogs don't get to see death; my mother and father's dogs (and mine) looked for my pop for close to a year since he essentially drove to work one day and never returned in their mind. One would sit and whimper in the window seat from 5pm to 630pm daily. I can only imagine what they felt.

Sorry your buddy was hurting and for your loss. Somewhere, he's a young, healthy pup, enjoying all the things he loves, waiting for the day he sees you again.
 
That's a very hard gut punch when it's time. I'm sorry.
 
My sincerest condolences, it is not easy, but it is the best we can do for them.
 
Very sorry for your loss. Cherish the memories and know that you gave him more joy then he gave you.
 
premise said:
Maybe keep them pent up for the actual procedure, but bring them out afterwards.

While I've not had any dog put down at home, I let all of my other dogs visit the corpse when I bring them home to bury them and they come watch the burial. They know. I think dogs have a concept of closure.

I saw firsthand what happens when dogs don't get to see death; my mother and father's dogs (and mine) looked for my pop for close to a year since he essentially drove to work one day and never returned in their mind. One would sit and whimper in the window seat from 5pm to 630pm daily. I can only imagine what they felt.

Sorry your buddy was hurting and for your loss. Somewhere, he's a young, healthy pup, enjoying all the things he loves, waiting for the day he sees you again.
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We never had that experience with ours, strangely they seemed to not react whenever one didn't come home the last 3 times. We believe they knew that death was coming and they had already made their goodbyes. It is just now that the last one (ironically the certifiably oldest of the crew) did seem to go looking for the one we just put down, even though she rode with him to the vet but back home without him. When we came home she laid down in the spot he had been sleeping lately.
 
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