tiercel Posted February 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 well i,m working up to it . i just wish i knew for sure what he was going through , how do i know when the time is right?? , i know i have to do it and i know it gonna rip me apart Believe me darren you will know. I hate to say this but the time is usually when we come to terms with the inevatable. Does not make it any the easier though, it is still heart wrenching. TC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 well i,m working up to it .it looks like my black lab Jack will have to be pts , its so hard to do , as he's not even 6 years old. he's been such a good lad and we love him so much . the vet says they cant find any cause for his lameness and all his muscle as gone from his shoulder now and struggles on 3 legs and his in pain ( when moving ). he's on rimadyl which helps plus it makes him sleepy and just keeps himself to himself lying in the corner of the room or utility usually snoring. i just wish i knew for sure what he was going through , how do i know when the time is right?? , i know i have to do it and i know it gonna rip me apart Take him elsewhere, there must be a vet who has experience of this problem. My old Springer lost a lot of muscle in her rear leg, it was put down to nerve damage/trapped nerve but she coped well with it for some time. Nothing wrong with getting a second opinion, it could be something that may well right itself with the correct treatment, hydrotherapy etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 If they can't find out and you've tried a few vets consider amputation first. The dog will be fine on 3 legs and condition will actually improve once he's not in pain all the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillaroo Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 Darren, Ask your vet to refer him to a specialist practice like Davies... (no personal connection by the way) http://www.vetspecialists.co.uk I hope this helps and wish you the best of luck! Gillaroo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokingdragon Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 Quality of life! When one of our dogs or cats get older we try to define a line where the quality of their is so bad that we have to visit the vet. Troy our first Doberman had spondulitis(?) in his neck for a few years and so we said that if he couldn't walk up the garden in the morning for his **** and **** then the time had come, he lasted 3 years and then one weekend collapsed on the floor and didn't move. I still waited until Monday to see if he would recover. I had to carry him into the car but when i got him out of the car to go into the vet he pulled on the lead like a trooper!! Unfortunately it was shortlived! I've had 3 other pets put down over the years and feel it is my duty to be with them when they die, the injection is so quick and it you can hold their paw until they go. It is traumatic but that is the way I would like to go rather than suffer years of incapacity. Go with dignity. This brings all the emotions back but I know I did my best for them. I always let the vet dispose of the body and pay before the event as it is easier for me that way. You have the honour of living with your pet in the good times and you owe it to them to have a good end. It might sound strange but I even paid for a pet rat to be put down, and I kill wild ones but couldn't do it for the pet. Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren m Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 If they can't find out and you've tried a few vets consider amputation first. The dog will be fine on 3 legs and condition will actually improve once he's not in pain all the time we have seen 3 vets and one specialist. the last vet said he had seen loads of lame labs , and there is usually a cause or a clue to whats happened , but in his cause could find nothing . after 6 months not even a hint of the lameness getting any better , in fact its got a bit worse. the specialist vet just said its likely nerve damage or a tiny tumour some where , but theres nothing that can be done. so far its cost over £1000+ and also the on going pain killers at £2.80 per day . we bought another pup ( a spaniel this time ) to kind of soften the blow , gives me something to concentrate on , but at the mo i just feel guilt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaserman Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 i have been there for a few dogs who have been PTS cos of old age or injury but had to PTS my big white lurcher a month ago a fit healthy 3 year old dog who had killed many a fox for me during his short 3 years but he became a liability with livestock/ other dogs the dog was rehomed but wudnt settle for anyone even lads who had plenty of work for him he just wudnt settle and was returned to me and i had to make the heart breaking desion to PTS and as i say theres no way i cud stand and watch that healthy strong dog die in seconds so my mate took him for me, sad to say but i wish he had of taken a illiness or injury as i wud of been there with him but cudnt face it as he was a healthy dog, just a pity he had to be so stubborn and a fighter with other dogs which he did real damage to once he had a hold of them, could/would you"s be there at the end for a healthy dog who had to be PTS cos of a issue as mentioned above IF YOU TRAINED A DOG RIGHT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM!!!! YOU COULD NOT EVEN BE THERE FOR HIM ................. SICKENING Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triscrx Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 My Springer was pts last week and it was a hard decision to make but the right one, he had a tumour on his chest and arthritus/Pneumonia he was on medication and still wagged his tail and tried to folllow the family about the house etc. But it wasn't fair on him he was struggling alot and it was sad to see him in so much pain. we had the vet come to the house, she was always good with him at the surgery,rather than pick him up etc to get him on the table she always came to him. He was always relaxed round her, strange thing was last Friday when she came he always gets up to greet visitors in the house. But this time he stayed on the floor and didnt even lift his head, it really was like he knew! Even when the vet trimmed his paw he didnt react or lift his head. Really hard but it was for the best and as people have said above he went with dignity. a couple of days before we knew it was time his walking was quite bad and I had to carry him out to go to the toilet, that was when we knew it was time really. whole process was very nice really, hit my dad quite bad as he built the box for him to be buried in the week before when he took a dive for the worse and I asked him to prep a box, he felt he had condemed the dog but it was time. Buried him under some Oak tree's where I shoot, lovely spot. We put some poem's and bits in the box with him to send him on his way. Some people may find this odd but he really was a family member. Some people have mentioned above about shooting their dog. This crossed my mind for a second but I couldnt do it, there is too much that could go wrong, what if he moved last second, or the shot wounded him etc. it would have been very distressing for me and him if anything like that happened. Much more humane being put to sleep. it was so peaceful just holding him as he went off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaserman Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 My Springer was pts last week and it was a hard decision to make but the right one, he had a tumour on his chest and arthritus/Pneumonia he was on medication and still wagged his tail and tried to folllow the family about the house etc. But it wasn't fair on him he was struggling alot and it was sad to see him in so much pain. we had the vet come to the house, she was always good with him at the surgery,rather than pick him up etc to get him on the table she always came to him. He was always relaxed round her, strange thing was last Friday when she came he always gets up to greet visitors in the house. But this time he stayed on the floor and didnt even lift his head, it really was like he knew! Even when the vet trimmed his paw he didnt react or lift his head. Really hard but it was for the best and as people have said above he went with dignity. a couple of days before we knew it was time his walking was quite bad and I had to carry him out to go to the toilet, that was when we knew it was time really. whole process was very nice really, hit my dad quite bad as he built the box for him to be buried in the week before when he took a dive for the worse and I asked him to prep a box, he felt he had condemed the dog but it was time. Buried him under some Oak tree's where I shoot, lovely spot. We put some poem's and bits in the box with him to send him on his way. Some people may find this odd but he really was a family member. Some people have mentioned above about shooting their dog. This crossed my mind for a second but I couldnt do it, there is too much that could go wrong, what if he moved last second, or the shot wounded him etc. it would have been very distressing for me and him if anything like that happened. Much more humane being put to sleep. it was so peaceful just holding him as he went off. im sorry mate i feel for you, all the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechessam Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 IF YOU TRAINED A DOG RIGHT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM!!!! YOU COULD NOT EVEN BE THERE FOR HIM ................. SICKENING Not always a training problem. I had a beddy/whippet fantastic dog took anything and everything, but as she got older turned to sheep, they were slower and easier. I gave her a second chance and she let me down again. She could not take being kennelled and lead walked and would get out or away and kill something whenever she could, she did not care what as long as she killed. I made the decision that she had to be PTS as not working and being kennelled made her pine and waste. She went in my arms, I loved that dog and as she went I kissed her head for the last time as the tears rolled. It was hard but the right thing to do for her, as soft as she was with me she became a liability. Whenever I see a dog like her it brings a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev 1 Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 (edited) Yes it is an awfull feeling but it has to be done,my old lady's dog was put down last week and she cryed like a baby...... Edited February 24, 2009 by kev 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crookie Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I have a question, i know of owners who dont like taking their dogs to the vets to be put to sleep, and they say they prefer to take the dog somewhere it knows and put down a little food for it, and then humanly shot the animal, what do people think of this ? Is it legal ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crookie Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I have a question, i know of owners who dont like taking their dogs to the vets to be put to sleep, and they say they prefer to take the dog somewhere it knows and put down a little food for it, and then humanly shot the animal, what do people think of this ? Is it legal ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I hate to bring up a old topic, but I wanted to tell you a little story. Anyhow, The chap I work with is an Keeper, who dosn't trust his dogs to be put down, I've watched him put down a dog with a .22 before, and it was quiet a hard thing to watch, I'll admit. Now, the problem he has with taking the dogs to the vets, was when he was young his beloved dog of his youth had gotten far to ill, and he had to be put down, taking to the vets, the juniour vet gave him the injection but something went wrong and the dog had a stroke, resulting in the injection not circulating correctly and the poor animal hollering for it's life for a good 40 mintues as the vet did the only thing he could, and gave him another 6 injections. And in all honesty, the time I watched the .22 job, the dog didn't know what hit him, he was panting one second, and lying dead the next - it's not pleasant I know, but it's still a hell of alot quicker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronster Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 i know what you mean....if the injection goes ok then everything is fine but the option of blowing my pets brains out just doesn't come into it for me and plus my missus would go mental Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz2202 Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I hate to bring up a old topic, but I wanted to tell you a little story. Anyhow, The chap I work with is an Keeper, who dosn't trust his dogs to be put down, I've watched him put down a dog with a .22 before, and it was quiet a hard thing to watch, I'll admit. And in all honesty, the time I watched the .22 job, the dog didn't know what hit him, he was panting one second, and lying dead the next - it's not pleasant I know, but it's still a hell of alot quicker. I just couldn't do it. Its hard enough to walk them into a vets knowing you are taking them for the last time. I know i would not be mentally strong enough to pull the trigger on my best mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libs Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 The horror stories of pts are hopefully very isolated incidents. The vets I am doing my uni work exp in normally sedate the dog very heavily before actually injecting the barbituate. If the animal doesnt go quickly then an injection directly into the kidney will finish them off in short order. This of course happens when the dog is unconcious are halfway gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crookie Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 I dont know if i could do it, but at the same time if i have had the dog from a pup, it has been with me all its life through good and bad times and after every avenue of treatment has been tried. Do i let a stranger in a strange place end the dogs life or do i as a responsable owner do it myself in a quick and non stressful way (for the dog, but not nessesarily me though)? I still dont know if it is legal ? can anybody give me an answer with regards to the law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBerry Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 I Know a person that shoots his dogs if there ill he says its easier and cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mec 9000 Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 My ten year old Black Lab Chance looked as fit as a fiddle and was giving me the high fives before bedding down for the night, next morning he was looking guilty as he did if he had been up to no good. I noticed a little bit of sick near his bed, cleaned it and kept an eye on him, within hours he was becoming distressed to the point that a visit to the vet was arranged, examined,given medicine and taken home under the impression that he had a tummy upset. My dog never stood up again just lay as if dying but tried to offer a tail wag that would bring a tear to your eye. Back to the vet who operated and found that a stomach tumour had ruptured causing peritonitis with metastasis in the Liver. I asked the vet to not wake him and to do what had to be done, took him home to let my other two Labs see him and made arrangements with the local pet crematorium who were great and returned his ashes for my disposal. What a good dog he was, what great memories he left me and I miss him so much. Shoot him,never, he was worth more than that, worry about cost, my God he gave more back than any money I ever spent on him and leave his body with the vet to be sent for dog food or whatever,no chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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