My dad’s dog- a very emotional question about euthanasia?
My dad’s dog is 13. She has been very sick with serious digestive problems. Her medicine is very expensive and isn’t completely effective as the dog still has many episodes of bloody diarhea. The vet has tried everything and my dad has gotten a 2nd opinion with the same recommendations for treatment.
The dog also has arthritis, which is hard to treat because the medicines complicate the situation with her digestion. She limps and is in obvious pain, even whining frequently.
My dad hasn’t chosed to put her to sleep because he thinks she is still happy, wagging her tail and playing with her toys and occasionally chasing a rabbit or two (even then these playful episodes cause her pain levels to increase).
I have lupus, so I know about living with pain and I wouldn’t want someone to kill me just because I have pain that doesn’t go away.
But what about this situation? what would you do and why?
Terrier Lady- Oh my! Now I am crying how sad and sweet! I have a dear little bichon-poo and can’t even stand to think of that day.
Answers below in Comments Section
If the dog spends more time being unhappy than happy, it’s time for her to go.
Bit if she’s still happy more often than not, I’d leave her be.
Mine always tell me when they are ready to go.
Last week i had my cat put down due to having bad joints, feline aids and leukemia. It is extremely sad because it’s almost like loosing a family member. I always think that if your animal is past being themselves and are coming across as they are in pain, and the vet has done all they can then it is kinder to have them put down. However, normally the vet will tell you if they think they need to be put down. Its very sad and i hope you get it sorted and that it isn’t 2 distressful.
Best wishes.
If she still enjoys playing with her toys and chasing rabbits, then she still has a quality of life.
IMO, it’s not her time just yet.
wow, what a thoughtfull and complex question. I usually dont see things at this level of seriousness on Yahoo! My mother is in a very similar situation.. It all boils down to personal choice. He knows the dog best, and I feel the dog will let him know if its ‘time’. I would simply respect your fathers decision, and give both of them love and compassion.
Good luck
I think that if your dad’s dog still has many happy moments, she should be allowed to stay as long as she’s having them.
I recently had to euthanize my dog, Dykstra. I’ve had him since he was a pup, and he was almost 15 years old. Quite old for a lab/chow mix. For a few weeks he had trouble walking (we would have to help him sometimes, he would lose his balance or his legs would lock), he was also deaf. But he could see, and he still played, ate well, and loved getting his belly rubbed. His quality of life was going down, but he was still happy enough. However, when it got to the point where he could no longer walk at all, and was peeing on the floor where he laid, we knew it was time for him to go. That wasn’t a life. It had no happy moments, he was simply waiting to die. That’s when I knew we had to let my friend go.
Since it is your father’s dog, I’d just wait for him to come to the conclusion that the dog’s quality of life is not so good, and take it upon himself to have her euthanized. Arthritis comes and goes with the weather, some what, and as the weather gets warmer and dryer she may feel a lot better from that. As for the digestive problems, if he’s willing to deal with them, so be it. He sounds intelligent enough to deal with the whole business. He will know when the time is right.
My border collie is 16 and there will come a day when her quality of life will decrease to the point where she shouldn’t have to go on.
Talk to your vet about signs of system shut down – such as labored abdominal breathing, inability to toilet – or uncontrollable toileting, signs of stroke, etc. etc. etc.
Look for them and be prepared to act. But until then, if she’s eating, playing (gently of course) and in general enjoying life – despite the pain – let her be.
If you are truly fortunate, you’ll wake up to a ball of cold fur.
That’s such a difficult position. I have always looked at quality of life with my dogs. I’ve been lucky because I feel that, except for a few cases where they died without much warning (example, one of heart failure), my dogs have let me know when it’s time. We can deal with arthritis. If there was frequent whining, that’s more pain than I’ve had to deal with in any of my past dog’s arthritis and I might start to consider whether it was time to say goodbye especially when coupled with the bloody diarrhia. To me, the quality of life has diminished considerably if the dog is whining all the time because they are in pain. It would depend, though, on if it was every time the dog moved every single day. However, you know better than I do about living with pain since you have lupus and you bring up a good point about the pain. It’s such a difficult decision to make. I have always second guessed myself after the fact (did I wait TOO LONG? did I do it TOO SOON?). I torture myself that way.
first of all i am very sorry for your father. i know how hard it is to put someone in your own family to sleep. my horsehad digestive problems and had to go to the hospital. after about 2 weeks, there was no chance of him living so i went down there to say goodbye but he had already died. no euthanasia. i also had a cat with cancer and it got ugly. we had to clip his ears but it still spread. one quarter of hie skull was a bloody mess and he lost his eye. He still loved to be near us even though he lost his sight and hearing. still rubbed us and looked for a good hand to stroke him. after a while the vet said it would be best to put him out of his pain. I didnt want to but we had to put him down. Now we have his ashes and my dadis going to bury him today. I would say, that is he cant hold on, as much as you want him to, its okay to let him go because he will be in a better plae. I will pray for him and goodluck.
I went through a similar situation in 2005 when my 9 year old golden retriever had to be euthanized. He developed very severe arthritis and was extremely sensitive all over his body. He whined a lot in pain and was on all kinds of meds. I spent thousands trying to save him but the pain just wasn’t going away and he wasn’t getting any better. I know your father may love this dog, but trust me, the dog is not happy if she’s in pain. It’s the hardest thing he’ll ever have to do but there comes a time when you just have to end the dogs suffering.
This is a hard question to answer, but it is even harder when you are so close to the animal. We had a cockapoo who was 19. She still seemed happy although she was sore most of the time, and she had started to really show that she was old. We held on to her for a long time until we finally decided to let her go.
When the vet gave her the shot, it was the hardest moment of my life thus far, but then she sighed, and relaxed and I realized that maybe she had been in more pain than I ever thought. When she was gone, it was pure relief. She was no longer hurting and I believe that we did the right thing.
If the dogs quality of life has decreased quite a bit, then it might be time for them to go. Remember that dogs can’t tell you when they are done, you have to be their guardian and and make the decision
to me when a dog has
a illness that doesn’t
live without med-
and is 13 years old, the
vet should tell your dad to put him down.
also my sisters dog was sick like that the vet, gave him steroids which is a steroids.. he is
still living and fine.
maybe ask the vet to try steroids.
laney
sorry to her that pet
are important to owners.
my dog figero had a large tumbor he was 13 and had to be put down.
i miss him so.
laney
This is a very painful and personal decision to make. I can only say that I’ve had to do it twice and should have probably done it when my last dog died but my son wouldn’t let me. I think your dad will know if and when it comes time. When the bad outdoes the good times and there is pain and no dignity left, then I would start to consider it but that’s me and I can’t speak for you or your dad. I’m so sorry for your family’s troubles. God bless!
I’ve always found this poem both moving and helpful (a wee bit sentimental – but who isn’t about a loved dog)
If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this last battle cannot be won.
You will be sad – I understand,
But then don’t grief let stay your hand,
For this day more than all the rest,
Your love and friendship stands the test.
We’ve had so many happy years,
What is to come holds no fears.
Take me where my needs they’ll tend,
Only stay with me until the end
And hold me close and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you too will see
It is a kindness that you do for me
Although my tail it’s last has waved,
From pain and suffering I’ve been saved.
Don’t grieve so that it must be you
Who has decided this thing to do
We’ve been so close we two these years
Don’t let your heart hold any tears.
EDIT – I’m sorry – I didn’t mean to make you cry……hugs
I’ve had to do it for a dog. This GSD that I had was extremely ill and had immune system problems from when she was a puppy. She was sick for a long time before we got to that point. It is a very personal decision best made by the person closest to the dog along with the Vet. Sounds like the Vet has not yet recommended euthanizing the dog.
Your dad is going through what he needs to for the dog. He is trying everything to save her and comfort her and eventually she will either pass, or he will come to that discussion with the Vet about euthanization. It’s a very emotional decision and I can see why your dad is not ready to consider it yet.
I’d probably be doing what your dad is doing.
It’s what I did with my GSD. Until the pain and illness was constantly present and there was no quality of life- I could not stand to see her suffer any more.
But I had to try everything I could to save her, first.
It is so sad to read the condition of your dog. Better consult a veterinarian.
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