BS: When to Put Down Your Dog

Subject: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Sep 19 - 11:26 PM

As you can imagine, it's breaking my heart. I may have to give up my 11 year old Chinese Crested. About 6 months ago he started with all the signs of a collapsing trachea.

I took him to the vet several times for examination and they said then that his trachea had not yet totally collapsed but that it may be heading that way.

Leaping forward, he had a few weeks last June of separate episodes but seemed fine otherwise. Until today. Today, and for the first time, he had been napping when it began. A couple of hours later he is still fragile and still scared. Gentle stroking is the only thing that calms him.

If he continues all weekend I'll have to take him in Monday. I do not want him to die from not being able to breathe.

Has anyone else had this experience with their dog? Ellery is 11 years old, fit, not obese or even overweight, happy and alert, loves to run, in fact, runs like a deer.

Subject: RE: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 29 Sep 19 - 03:15 AM

"Has anyone else had this experience with their dog?"
Not a dog, but with two cats
Never thought I would in a million years but we felt exactly as you did
The thing to remember is that your pet does not understand what is happening and will become more and more distressed and confused
I watched our gentle, friendly 'Polly' (so named for her habit of sleeping on my shoulder), become so distressed and unpredictable that it would have been self-indulgent cruelty not to have had her put down;; I have always regretted we didn't do it earlier

At least neither of us went through the experience my partner, Pat's work friend did when his enormous Grey Dane died
He was walking it in the local park when it suddenly keeled over and died of a heart attack
The jobsworth Park Keeper refused to help him and insisted he removed the dead animal immediately, so the poor feller had to drag and half-carry the corpse home and keep what had happened from his children when he got there

- my sympathies
Jimm Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 29 Sep 19 - 09:09 AM

We've been there for 3 dogs and 2 cats, absolutely heartbreaking every time.

Subject: RE: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Sep 19 - 10:18 AM

The local Humane Society will euthanize animals for no charge, important for people with ailing animals who can't afford the expensive vet visit. "It's the last kind thing you can do for your pet," is the theory. When the day arrives is subjective - it depends on the owner reaching a point where they understand that letting the animal suffer instead of taking them in is trying to spare their own feelings, not that of their pet.

My pitbull had such a big heart, and though she had an enlarged heart in her last year, it was a form of cancer that was killing her. Once she reached the point when she wouldn't eat her normal food, and we had to persuade her to eat canned food, I knew it was time. I put leashes on all three dogs and we took a slow walk into the woods across the road, her absolute favorite place to walk. When I got back home I put the other two dogs (a catahoula mix and a chocolate lab) in the house, loaded Cinnamon in the SUV, and called ahead to tell the vet I was bringing her in for this purpose.

They were very nice about it, knowing how hard it is to make this decision. They came and got us in the parking lot so I didn't have to sit tearfully in the waiting room; they took her back to put in the IV and I stepped back into the room where she was ready. The vet said she was ready, and if I'd waited she probably would have died at home soon, but she would have been so uncomfortable that I didn't want her to suffer.

Her companion Poppy lived another year and a half (both dogs were about 14 when they died) - and she was slowing down and not eating but didn't seem to be in pain. She died in her favorite place in her sleep overnight. That's the death you hope for them.

It's a tough call. We're a dog-positive household, so after about six months I went to the local shelter and adopted another one to keep Zeke (the lab) and Poppy company, and she fit in quite well. Whey Poppy died in May the new dog (Pepper) was here to keep the old lab company. And last week I adopted a puppy from the same shelter, because the lab is quite old and I want Pepper and the puppy to learn his yard smarts while he's still out and about in the yard.

You're not thinking ahead beyond the death of this pet, and when they die they leave a dog-sized hole in your heart. But you can rescue animals later on and keep up the joy of having a dog in the house. It's good for you and good for them.

Subject: RE: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: Donuel
Date: 29 Sep 19 - 10:33 AM

Its not easy for a dog to feel guilty all the time
Praise to the end is best

Subject: RE: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 29 Sep 19 - 10:35 AM

Different cause but we had Misty, our last dog, put down following an attack of breathlessness. We knew she had a heart problem and she was on diuretics so it wasn’t a complete surprise to us. We also lost Whisky, a cat, in similar fashion. The attacks were so distressing for the animals.

I think those decisions are probably easier to me that the ones where you just know an older animal is just fading away and nearing its end and you are trying to work out the point where you, while probably wishing they would die peacefully in their sleep, have to call it a day. At least one way, your hand feels a little forced.

It’s never easy however you lose them.

Subject: RE: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: JennieG
Date: 29 Sep 19 - 07:56 PM

Never an easy decision, Ebbie......my heart goes out to you. Not dogs in this household, but we have had to do the same for one of our cats in the past, more than once.

We're down to the last of what was once four, and although she is old (nigh on 17, we don't know when she was born as she was a rescue) and getting skinny she seems happy and otherwise all right.

Subject: RE: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 03:20 AM

We abandoned having cats when we realised that the road we live on was not 'pet conducive' thanks to the boy racers who used it for sport - that seems to have died down now, I hope not because they have.
Our then newish neighbour won my respect forever when he knocked at the door cradling a dead Betsy (replacement for Polly) in his arms, top tell us she had been 'knocked' by a hit-and-run, ton-up youth
Seeing our reaction, he said, "Tell me where you want her and give me a spade"

In those days, rural Ireland regarded cats and dogs as working animals for controlling vermin - they were seldom allowed in the home but kept in the garage or barn - we were considered a little weird for allowing them indoors
Many of them feared and mistrusted cats - an Irish Traveller once told us "A cat has no conscience" and we never saw on in any of their vans
Irish lore was crammed with stories of malignant and dangerous animals \nd superstitions backing up this
A little different now - you can actually buy a selection of pet food in the local supermarket
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 03:50 AM

Ellery is feeling better today although he is eating very little. He keeps looking at me with those big almond eyes and stays close by my side. But he did a little running outdoors today so he is feeling better. Last night at bedtime he was exhausted after his bouts of choking and asked me to lift him onto the bed. Normally, he takes a running jump.

I'll take him in to the vet this week in any case for examination.

I understand that a collapsing trachea is far more common in little dogs (Ellery is just over 12 pounds) but it does happen in some large dogs. It is alarming for both the dog and the observer.

Subject: RE: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 04:04 PM

Ebbie, you must do what is best for Ellery even if it breaks your heart.

Subject: RE: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: Mrrzy
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 06:39 PM

Thanks for the update, Ebbie. I wish you and your doggie-woggie well.

Subject: RE: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Oct 19 - 01:51 AM

Rap, I know. Thank you.

Subject: RE: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 01 Oct 19 - 10:49 AM

Time to consider putting down a pet is when vetinary treatments and bills increase,
as vets take advantage of distressed loving pet owners
doing all they can to prolong a much loved ailing animal's life...

My mum was ripped off for years buying exorbitant monthly meds and inhalers for her old 'asthmatic' cat...

I'm sure vets used to be an honest trustworthy profession...???

Like dentists may also have been decades ago...

Subject: RE: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 19 - 10:58 AM

PFR, I have to disagree, my vet has been very understanding about my reluctance to do things that prolong life when it amounts to torture for the pet. We try to keep them comfortable until the time is right. I don't have the money to spend on fancy surgeries, so if a dog develops a limp, they continue to limp, etc.

Maybe because I spent enough time around farms, and have farm friends with a more practical view of animals that live alongside a family. I do not talk about "furbabies" and such. I'm not a pet "Mom." I am the mother of two children and the owner of several pets. I make the distinction.

Subject: RE: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 01 Oct 19 - 12:26 PM

Stilly - obviously.. I'm guilty of over generalising...

In the UK I tend to be suspicious of local private practice vets...

But I fully acknowledge the integrity and idealism of vets who work in animal shelters,
and those selflessly providing care for pets of low income families,
and dogs of our homeless...

It's one of my pet theories that I can't prove,
but I reckon private practice vets have tended to raise prices
and become more profiteering since the big boom in pet insurance policies..

Tuff luck if a family can't afford the monthly insurance...

Subject: RE: BS: When to Put Down Your Dog
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Oct 19 - 09:12 PM

pfr, I too have had good response and treatment from my local vet office. It is expensive- doubly so in Juneau, Alaska, a northern small city with few alternatives- but caring vets and staff whom my animals love are worth a lot.