Mercy Killing - to put down or not?

[Daisysmom]

I have two dogs, Daisy our 3-yr old lab, and Trixie, a sheltie/shepard mix who is 16 1/2 yrs old. Trixie is going blind, is deaf and has a leg injury (which after medication, she is dealing with), has trouble with the steps and getting up and down from a sitting and lying position. I don't know if we should put her down :( She is such a good dog. We love her dearly, but wonder if it would be better for her? Also, I am very concerned about Daisy... How will this effect her? Is there anything we can do to help her get over the death if we do put Trixie down? Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[bk_blue]

Daisymom I feel for you and can understand what you're going through to an extent, as my family has been debating whether or not to put Rinny, our GSD-X who will be 16 in Feb, and is also deaf, partially blind, severely arthritic, had a stroke back in about April and has gone downhill from there. It's your decision entirely... but... if she SEEMS happy- eating, drinking, not incontinent, still interacting with others- then just keep an eye on her and see how she goes. If you do decide that she is not coping well with the discomfort/suffering and will not eat or drink, it's probably time for the end. :cry: Your other dog Daisy will, naturally, miss her and wonder where she's gone, but in a way I think dogs can also sense when their mate is sick and has to go, and they cope with it just like we cope with it. It might take a week, or maybe a few months, for her to get over it completely, she might paw around in the usual sleeping spots, roam around the house/yard looking for her, or whinge a little more often, but she will adjust. :angel:

[Guest Anonymous]

Hi It is a very difficult decision to make but never have a dog put down because it isn't doing the same things it did when it was young. Is she eating well and does she seem happy enough? One of our dogs has nearly lost the use of her back legs but she's still eating well and still enjoys her walks even if they are slow. I think you will know when the time comes, she will just loose interest in everything. Is she in any pain? As for Daisy, when the time comes she will miss her but it isn't the sme sort of grieving that we experience. Last year we lost one of our Labs to cancer and decided to get another one for Lucy's sake(the one with the bad legs) At first she didn't like this new little lively thing but after a week they were inseparable, they adore each other. After a month we decided to get another pup because we thought Lucy wouldn't go on forever but she's still going strong, the pups have given her a new lease of life. Any way the best of luck as I say you will know when the time comes Pat

[Guest Anonymous]

Having had to make this dreaded decision several times over many years, no one can tell you when. It's your decision. My decisions have been when the spark has gone out of their body and they no longer have an interest or they are in pain. I made this decision one yr. ago. with my beautiful white boxer girl who was 11 1/2. She suffered from degenerative myelopathy. She was no longer able to walk or get outside by herself. We helped her move about by supporting her w/a big towel. She was not incontinent, but she couldn't get up to let us know. We made the decision to send her to the bridge, because she had such a hard time going to the potty and especially with ice and snow, and became very upset by this and very ashamed when she pottied in the house. It didn't bother me, and I spent my entire time at home playing w/her and taking care of her which even made it harder to let her go, the last week she seemed to have lost all her spark and interest, and I knew it was time for her because she wasn't happy. It was so hard, and my male grieved for her in a subtle way. In January, we adopted a 4 yr. old female boxer, and she was a godsend for all of us. You never forget one that you lose, you just make a place inside your heart next to the one gone to the bridge. I did stay w/my dogs when PTS. It wasn't easy, but the face that loved her was the last face she saw. This, too, is not for everyone, but it was my choice. Wishing you well with whatever decision you make.

[Daisysmom]

I am having such a hard time with this :cry: Espeically after reading everyone's replies. I know she is in some pain, but to what extent, I do not know... She is only just beginning to become incontinent, but can't tell for sure because my other dog, Daisy is sick (but pretty sure it was Trixie... just don't want it to be). She is still eating and seems pretty happy at times, but mostly just lays around and sleeps. We got Daisy because we thought Trixie wouldn't last forever, and thought it would be easier on my children to have another at the time.... but Daisy has kept Trixie young. I have told myself that it will be after the holidays, I don't ever give the "girls" table food, except for the holidays, and they love it and look forward to it. So, Trixie has had her Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner, and she will enjoy a Christmas feast too.... and then we shall see :cry:

[Carolk9s]

I agree with the above responses, this is such a personal decision, and there is no easy answer.
When you look deeply into your beloveds' eyes and their soul speaks to you, you will know it is time. My old sheltie told me when she had had enough of this life. Her physical self had deteriorated long before, finally her soul was just too tired to continue.
If your dogs eyes still light up when you enter the room, if she's not in unrelenting pain, if she still finds joy in her day, then you are not wrong in waiting just a bit longer. Again, I feel that she will tell you when she has had enough and is ready to move on.

[Guest Anonymous]

the mantra I was told is, "when she no longer enjoys life and you no longer enjoy taking care of her" I am coming up on this decision which I dread and fear--my golden is getting into her "golden" years and has had a few very bad days which always cause me weeks of sleeplessness...I feel (when she is healthy) that I could let her go with all the dignity and kindness she deserves...but when she is sick I am selfish, childish--I do not want to let her go! I would say that if you were to "hold onto" your old girl until the very end, she would not hold it against you--it is up to you to decide when your love can only do so much.
I had a lab that illness snuck up on--she was old, arthritic and she tended to gag and cough (but so did I) until one day her breathing, out of the blue, started sounding forced, almost mechanical. This was in the middle of the night, so I rushed her to an emergency vet clinic, and they looked down her throat and told me she had a tumor that would slowly suffocate her over a course of six weeks. They said it would be painful but there was medicine I could give her to dull the pain. I asked them to leave while I thought about it. I figured six weeks of suffocating was inhumane, cruel, no matter how much I loved her. Euthanasia truly was quick, quiet, and peaceful--she truly looked as if she were going to sleep. She laid down her head, closed her eyes, and knew no more--it took less than a minute. Most vets advise that you are not in the room when it happens--owners have changed thier minds seconds too late, but I had to know what I had chosen for her--if I had left the room I would never have forgiven myself.
It IS a big decision, you cannot be rushed into it. Remember: "when she no longer enjoys life OR you no longer enjoy taking care of her"

[Hobbit]

[quote name='reedpuppy']Hate to say it, but the best choise is to probly put her down :cry: .

It is probly very painful for her, and she`s probly not having a good life. I can see she is old, and she may be about to die anyway :cry: .
Sorry.

She`ll be happy in doggie heaven though :wink: !


Can you be any LESS sympathic? If you can't tell, I was being extremely sarcastic.

[Hobbit]

Daisymom -- only you can make that decision. Please don't let anyone make that decision for you, because you may regret it. You know in your heart that you don't want your beloved dog suffering and having a dimenished quality of life. I know you love her and will know in heart when the right time comes to ease her pain, permanently.

My best friend is 11 yrs old and her health is failing. She was my right hand gal for so many years while working cattle & goats. She has always been next to my side. She saved my butt many, many times from taking a hit or getting hooked by rank cattle. I owe my life to her. My heart is hers. I, too, will have to make that decision one day --- it is not and never will be easy. I will, as I know you will, make the right decision when the time we feel in our heart comes.

Take care ~~~

[Bensam]

The others have said it all. It's the hardest decission to make, but be guided by your heart.

Thinking of you.

[Guest Anonymous]

I can't imagine what you are going through.

I dred even thinking about the day I will have to make that same decision. I swear, it must be the hardest thing to do.

Thinking of Trixie and wishing her the best.

[mouseatthebusstop]

:cry: we are in the same position with Poppy. We count the good days and bad days, when the bad ones out-number the good ones we will have to let her go. I do understand how you feel :cry: