There is nothing wrong with my dog. She is a healthy 3 year old. but i do regret my last sheltie being in pain for so long before it died.
When is the Best time to put down a Dog ?
- Thread starter FedAce
- Start date
There is nothing wrong with my dog. She is a healthy 3 year old. but i do regret my last sheltie being in pain for so long before it died.
I agree that some pet owners let their pets suffer needlessly when it would be much more merciful to put them to sleep. I had to put my beloved cat Bailey to sleep after trying unsuccessfully to solve a mysterious illness that caused her to stop eating. You can't just rely on your vet to tell you when it is time, you need to be able to make that decision for your pet yourself, and trust that you are doing the right thing out of love and compassion.
I sure do miss Gizmo. :sadsmile: I wish I had gone to the vet and had him put to sleep. I just didn't want to believe he was getting worse. Everything went downhill fast. He just stopped eating all together. I kept putting it off, because what if he got better? I came home from work and he just wouldn't wake up. I ran into my mom's room (at 7 a.m. no less 
) in hysterics.
It's never fun when you have to let a pet go.
) in hysterics.It's never fun when you have to let a pet go.
sheltiemom
Forums Enthusiast
This is such a tough subject for me. I take in all the older and sicker puppers. One sheltie had GME (a very fatal disease) and because 6k worth of tests could not identify this (only at autopsy can it be diagnosed). I kept thinking it was his seizure disorder, or peripheral vascular disease and he would get better. I was wrong. He had to be put to sleep a month after it all started. The things he went through were horrendous. I had a little girl with holes in her kidneys after she came to me with severe pyometra. She lived 4 years longer but at the end she was suffering badly. I could not let her go. Because of me she suffered a horrible death. Another little girl had congestive heart failure and kidney failure. It took me 2 weeks to decide it was time to let go. Another little girl died from severe pancreatitis. Another little girl was 15 and had been attacked by 2 coyotes and left to die. When I got her I thought she was much younger (that was what I was told). At the end she was spiking a 105° temp and they could not bring it down. We had her put down. Right now I have a little girl who has severe pancreatitis, is partially blind and deaf. We have her tested every month. She is eating and drinking and doing ok, but I know her time is coming. She is 13.
I have gone through "is this right to do"..."if only I had" It is not easy and I am the worst person to make the decision to let them go. I want them around forever
I have gone through "is this right to do"..."if only I had" It is not easy and I am the worst person to make the decision to let them go. I want them around forever
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I am currently debating this very topic for one of my cats, Chancellor. He has been a total sweetheart. He does have a tumor which is undoubtedly cancer, as he has lost over half his body weight in just over a year. I talk to my vet weekly on his condition. We are watching until it is time. Despite the weight loss, he is active, plays, and eats and drinks. To me, this says he isn't in pain. The vet said to watch him and as soon as he goes off the food, we will know it is time.
FedAce, I've asked you before and didn't get a response - what is your dog's name?
FedAce, I've asked you before and didn't get a response - what is your dog's name?
Having just lost Katie 5 months ago to cancer....sadly you just know. That morning she would not eat at all, days before that it was a matter of finding things she would eat. That morning she also had a look in her eyes that was different, very blank. As much as I hated it I knew it was time, so I just spent most of the day with her laying where she wanted to and loving her for the time I had left. My husband came home and she greeted him at the door one last time. We took her out in the back yard for some pictures and then we went to the vet. I miss her so much and the tears still flow as it were yesterday.
elaine2004
Forums Enthusiast
This is a subject most of us know all too well .
It is a difficult decisionand one only you and your vet can make. When I had my first experience of have to put down an animal was with my precious Tasha. She was with us for 14 wonderful years and was a great Big sister, mommy figure to Jewel. Tasha had fatty tumors that were not concerning the vets there was 2 altogether. Then we lost Jewel unexpectedly while having dental work done . First you're told to pick her up at five all went well then 5 minutes later we have lost her the vet is doing CPR on Jewel .
The worst phone call of my life. I told them to just let her be at peace. From that time , which was Oct, 26, 2007 , till Dec. 2008 Tasha slowly went downhill. Some people don't believe animals grieve. Well I'll attest they do. Tasha's tumors now started spreading like wildfire. I was devistated. We bought her adult doggie dipers because the tumors were pressing on her bladder, causing her to become incontinent. I wasn't about to put her down for the lack of control she had . Then she started sleeping more becoming less active then refusing treats. Then I knew it was time. But Tasha went out in a style all her own. The vet gave me a bowl of her favorite dog food and allowed me to feed her while she was being sedated. Her final breath was with Tasha licking up the final pea in my hand. RIP Tash.
It is a difficult decisionand one only you and your vet can make. When I had my first experience of have to put down an animal was with my precious Tasha. She was with us for 14 wonderful years and was a great Big sister, mommy figure to Jewel. Tasha had fatty tumors that were not concerning the vets there was 2 altogether. Then we lost Jewel unexpectedly while having dental work done . First you're told to pick her up at five all went well then 5 minutes later we have lost her the vet is doing CPR on Jewel .
The worst phone call of my life. I told them to just let her be at peace. From that time , which was Oct, 26, 2007 , till Dec. 2008 Tasha slowly went downhill. Some people don't believe animals grieve. Well I'll attest they do. Tasha's tumors now started spreading like wildfire. I was devistated. We bought her adult doggie dipers because the tumors were pressing on her bladder, causing her to become incontinent. I wasn't about to put her down for the lack of control she had . Then she started sleeping more becoming less active then refusing treats. Then I knew it was time. But Tasha went out in a style all her own. The vet gave me a bowl of her favorite dog food and allowed me to feed her while she was being sedated. Her final breath was with Tasha licking up the final pea in my hand. RIP Tash.Her NAme is Nessie. It is a Biblack sheltie from a Show home. both parents are Champions. they sold her to me cause she was too small to show. but they said she had the best head piece in the Litter.
Are you the owner of the Duncan Shelties by any chance ??
That is an adorable name. Very, very cute. And no, just the owner of Duncan the Sheltie, who is just a pet dog (but also has a nice head in my opinion - perfect parallels when you feel in the fluff) who will be getting into Agility once he is old enough. His biggest feat is climbing stairs! Untaught, mind you. And he has little clue how to get down them save for whining pitifully to push-over mom.
I bet it's because he can't see the steps for his snout. Seriously.
Smudge had the same problem. I put a treat on the very edge of the step and tapped the next step with my finger. It takes a little bit of work, but he got it eventually. 