My dog being PTS tomorrow

[Kim89]

Hi all,

I am new here and thought i'd seek some support

My dog suddenly took a turn for the worst Friday just gone, she has had joint issues most of her life in which we were managing quiet well with medication. I went away for 3 weeks and left her with my friend she had a great time - 1 week in being back with me she was still doing great being her old self. She is 12 years old we have been to the after hours vet twice over the weekend and her regular vet twice due to her distressed, being uncomfortable, in pain and crying. She was given more pain relief and we thought after the first visit she would bounce back to herself..(normally she would) but she didn't - My regular vet opted to try laser therapy Saturday to see if that helped (of course i was eager to try anything to help ease the pain) and also to visit the pain clinic to look at Nerve Blocking (I did not want to put her through this due to having to redo the procedure every 3-6months if it actually worked) i weighed the pros/cons and came to the decision its not fair to put her through that, and the laser therapy would take time but it wasnt time that my doggy had but we still tried to atleast give a little comfort. On Sunday we went back to the vet (4th visit) and i was a complete mess crying. The vet agreed with me when i meantioned to put my girl to sleep and that was hard to get the words out (my head tells me dont do it! but my heart tells me its the right thing) i cant have her suffer anymore, its not fair shes not getting better. all i can do now is try to keep her comfortable - today we went for another laser therapy session and i asked to book to put her to sleep tomorrow (Tuesday) that was really hard as all my emotion came out. Today i also took my girl to the beach one last time, gave her a plain sundae, potato and gravy (all her favourites!) but now, im just trying to comfort her and i just get emotional, im scared & im scared for tomorrow i dont know how i will cope - i have never experienced this before. i have my partner and hes been great, hes been in my girls life for 10years now so he's feeling the pain aswell. i know soon she will be at peace

[Guest5643]

Hi kim89

My utmost sympathy. What an amazing owner you are. Just from one post i can see how much you love your furbaby and how much she loves you. My dog is 91/2 and has lived with joint pain from day dot. Sometimes theres nothing that helps. Ive tried bowen, cbd oil, all the vet joint stuff, laser, massage ect none of it works except wild salmon everyday. But every dog is different and if your heart gut is saying that then your doing the right thing. Im so glad you have your partner so you wont be alone. What a fantastic thing you did for her today thats a beautiful memory to remember.

Kindest thoughts lynne

[Matchy69]

Hi i read your story and could feel your pain.I to had to have my dog best friend put to sleep.She was only 8 y.o.

She had tumour on her tail which the vet told me the best option was to remove the tail which i had done hoping that would save her life.I then noticed a big infection had started and a big hole developing where her tail was and i took her back to the vet who sugested opening her up to see if they could remove the cancer and i had that done and the vet rung me and said she needed to come in and talk to me.So i went in with my mother for support and the vet told me the cancer was to far spread and she was in a lot of pain and the best option was to put her to sleep and i just started crying and said ok it was the best thing for her and the vet said she could give her some pain relief and i could take her home for the night but found that to hard and had it done there.

It was the hardest decission i have ever made but the right one.I feel the pain you must be going through.

A friend took me a few days later to the rspca and picked out a new dog who became my best friend.

[Mistic]

I am so sorry to hear about your fur baby. Our fur babies are part of our family and we love them so much. A few months ago I had to go through the same sort of thing and its so hard to make that decision. My fur baby had stomach cancer that was very aggressive. The stress of the months before getting a diagnosis as to why my baby was getting sick all the time was one of the worse things I have ever experienced. One morning I got up and he was so sick and I just new it was time to send him over the rainbow bridge. This is what was best for him he wasn't going to be sick anymore. I cried so much and felt so lost even with some good friends and family I couldn't think of life without him. As the weeks went on I went into a depression of going through the motions of life but not enjoying anything and missing my boy so much. I went to my GP and organized some counselling sessions. I was told I was full on grieving for my dog and that it is ok to grieve for a pet as they are family. The way I got over this was strange as there was a dog in need of rescue of my friends facebook but I said No its way to soon, they did find a home for this new girl but that fell through I couldn't let this girl go to the pound. I agreed to give it a go and see how we went. I now believe my boy sent me this girl she was born around the time he was getting very sick, she was born on my birthday and I had tried to push her away and she still came back to me so must have been meant to be. I will never forget my boy and still have moments where I shed tears for him but this girl is so full on and keeps me very busy. My councilor even has said maybe was meant to be as I had done a 360 on the last time we talked and was starting to live again. Please Kim89 you know your doing the correct thing by not letting your fur baby suffer. Thoughts are with you.

[Sammy3934]

Hi Kim, I to had to put down my fur baby. She was 17 and had virtually everything wrong with her but it still hurt badly. The hug I received from the vet and vet nurse meant a lot and I still think about her often. You have done the right thing for him , no matter what you think.

Remember the good days and focus on your new baby.

Peace, Sean

[Tradie_Lady]

I also had to put my baby boy to sleep a week ago - he suddenly became ill after showing no symptoms. We had in emergency care for a week trying to work out what was wrong. It was only surgery that made the discovery that his pancreas was too severely infected and they had to put him to sleep. I hated having to make that decision as he was only 3.5yrs old and my rescue baby. He was my life and now I struggle with purpose and guilt that I couldnt save him. I am struggling to be in my home as he is everywhere I look and do not know how to cope with the feelings of loss.

[Matchy69]

It is one of the most difficult things you ever will do.I know how hard it is and how much you will miss him and there will be memories every where in your house.Give yourself timeto grieve and remember him in a happy way.It took time for me and still miss the dogs i have had and how much joy they gave me.Today i have a cat as it was a stray that adopted me when i bought this house.She gives me joy different then what my dogs gave me.

[Mistic]

Tradie Lady, I am so sorry for your loss. Our fur babies are family and we love them so much. Its ok to grieve your loss and don't worry about anyone that says its only a dog, its not its family. Please try to keep yourself busy and move on in life. When you feel the time is right look at rescuing another dog not to replace but in honor of the one you lost. I now rescuing another dog worked for me but I also understand everyone is different. So stay strong Tradie Lady your fur baby would want you to be happy, you have done the best for your fur baby try not to feel guilt your fur baby is no longer sick or in pain. My thoughts are with you I feel I know what your going through.

[Seacat]

I'm sorry for your loss. I can't imagine the pain of having to take a pet to be euthanised. Even if it's the right decision.

I'm a bit confused as to why you would take a dog to laser therapy one day before it was to be euthanised, unless I suppose it really helped with the pain in the short term. You're a good owner to go to that much trouble just for one extra day of relative comfort for your dog.

I don't know what else to say. In my opinion if the pet is a rescue, then every day you gave them was a gift to them. You gave the dog a good long life lived in comfort without anxiety. That is a luxury that many dogs do not have.