How do you know you did the right thing when it comes to putting your don’t to sleep?

[Stoner710]

He was a old dog this picture was taken back in March. Over the last few days me and my brother have been hand feeding him but he was getting worse he hand because of a big lump on his throat. So he could eat anymore or drink anymore it’s been over 100° out he had gotten delirious unresponsive and it was clear he was in great pain. I took him to the vet they told me this time last year he had 6-9 months it’s been a year. He’s has been having these episodes for a few month now where he couldn’t move or eat kept barfing every time he recovered but it’s got more and more frequent so I made the decision and talking to the vet to let him go. I wonder if I made the right decision to recover what if I just got worse it’s been one of my best friends for 13 years I don’t wanna see him suffer anymore but I don’t know if there’s something I could’ve done to save them this time I don’t know if I made the right decision or not I know he’s no longer in pain right now I’m torn up about it I hate losing dogs The last dog that died and I had I was 17 and made the decision I made at this time how do I know it’s the right one?

[lightbulb27]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. It's a difficult decision to decide. I think the Vet helped you make right decision as did the dog, he was suffering and there wasn't a path to get life back. Saving him meant he'd suffer more.

If it was a young pet, I've invested to keep them alive and it worked. Older pets I view as giving them a good life as possible until they aren't going to get better.

I had to do the same with my cat recently when he became paralyzed by a probable blood clot. Vets are not perfect in their diagnosis but they see these issues and have best guesses. Have to do what's best for that animal. I think when you can to be there for them in their final moments is best even though it's hard to do.

you made the right decision. To be honest I lost my mom few years ago, watched her slowly fade and could only give pain killers. If I could have put her down with injection she and I both would have chosen that to end it fast.

I know it's hard to lose your best buddy. Space is made for new life and love in time.

[mike5150]

For me it was knowing there was no getting better. A few years back I had a 12 year old lab collapse and not be able to stand up. The vet said she had a seizure and likely wouldn't recover. I didn't believe it was the end but after a month she no longer would eat which was very unlike her. I tried getting her faviorite things to eat and even invited people over she loved to visit. She wouldn't even lift her head. I knew it was wrong for me to want to keep her to put off the pain that would come. It was hard man but I had to do what I felt was right.

One of the things I was happy I did do was on her last day we traced her paw prints and made a painting out of it which now sits in the living room.

[Stoner710]

Right fortunately they remember at the last minute to ask for a paw print of him. He was a good old man irony exactly 9 years after his “brother” died who was a Newfoundland lab mix. He was in so much pain with barely able to breathe he was dehydrated and hungry because he couldn’t eat any more, wouldn’t eat ham or hot dogs or his favorite taco dog treats. Also with it being 109-111 this week he would have just suffered from dehydration and died anyway suffering. I miss him but I think it was the right thing to do to end his suffering

[mike5150]

It's a tough choice no doubt but you hate to see them suffer.

[Stoner710]

Very true, it’s a sad thing letting a family member go either way

[Guy13]

I' m sorry... been there... it's devastating.

[Stoner710]

Yea it’s the morning process it’s hitting me in many different emotions like I don’t want to think about it and try to distract my self then get to thinking start tearing up and getting that quiver voice and then I try to ignore it. I got 2 other dogs to take care of. I wonder if they understand what’s going on

[Guy13]

Mine was a cancer eating away and hand feeding. She died on her Queenie Couch suddenly went to sleep...

[Stoner710]

I’m sorry man that’s rough (no pun intended) cancer gets a lot of dogs unfortunately. Hans was old 91 in dog years. Plus he was suffering and it would have been more suffering were suppose to get to 109°-111° over the next few days without being able to drink he probably would have died anyway due to the heat. I’m glad I got to spend one more night with him before he passed

[Cubus]

I'm sorry to hear so. Stay strong dude.

I know how it feels. I lost two cats in my life.

[Stoner710]

Yea it’s my 6th dog death first 3 I was way to young to understand (between 2-5 ironically dachshunds) In 6th grade I had another dachshund who got hit by a car I was able to find him and rushed him up to my mom and we rushed to the vet but he did the last gasp and died in my arms in the car. 4th was a Newfoundland lab mix I left him with my brother and we use salmon tea for weed plants and I was in South Dakota at the time and titan drank the salmon tea we gave him an entire blood transfusion but unfortunately he had a stroke during the night and there was nothing they could do after that and my mom saw him out down. So this was the first one i made the decision myself. It was hard but he was in so much pain and dehydrated and delirious. I think I did the right thing especially since he ways having these issue every other week at this point and was suffering and with how hot it is going to be this week I think he would have died anyway do to dehydration and starvation over the course of the week. I think it was right but I’m still sad