Natural death or euthanasia? :(

[dainerra]

I've only had to put two of my pets down. And both times they were already dying and it was done to end their suffering as quickly as possible. So I think that is what my dad is waiting for, for my dog to give up. It is a small blessing when pets give up because you don't feel so guilty euthanizing them

It's their way of telling you it's ok. But he hasn't given up and I don't think he ever will. He's so strong willed. But I don't know how much longer I can handle seeing him in pain

Am I being selfish?

honestly, I won't wait until my pets have given up to put them down. THAT would be selfish.
Dogs live in the moment. Are they having more good days than bad? What is their quality of life? Are they still able to do the things that they enjoy, even if in a more limited capacity?

Keeping a dog alive because you can't bear the idea of being without them is selfish, not making the decision to ease their suffering

 

[GoldenFlight]

I'll be praying for you!

 

[chickluvinfreak]

I'll be praying for you!

Aww thank you so much

 

[chickluvinfreak]

honestly, I won't wait until my pets have given up to put them down.  THAT would be selfish.    

Dogs live in the moment.   Are they having more good days than bad?  What is their quality of life?    Are they still able to do the things that they enjoy, even if in a more limited capacity?  


Keeping a dog alive because you can't bear the idea of being without them is selfish, not making the decision to ease their suffering

Thank you I see your point

 

[GoldenFlight]

Aww thank you so much

I know you will make the right decision.

 

[Teila]

Hi there chickluvinfreak

I am sorry that you are going through this.

I too know how it feels to battle with this decision, having made the decision to euthanize my beloved fur baby of 13 years, Charlie-Bear.

Charlie-Bear battled with epilepsy her whole life but, with medication, she had a good life with only the occasional break-through seizure.

However, in the month of December 2010 she started having more frequent seizures and on top of her usual recovery time, she would remain blind for many minutes after the seizure.

In between seizures, she was fine but the blindness was scary for her and the seizures were increasing in frequency. As her Phenobarbitone levels were already high, an increase in medication was not advisable.

For a couple of weeks I pained over the decision I knew was soon going to be inevitable.

On Christmas Day she had a seizure and remained blind for over half an hour after it.
Obviously, Christmas Day, is not the time you want to say goodbye to a loved one but I truly believe both she and I knew it was time.

What I am trying to relay is that while you are thinking ‘should I’ / ‘shouldn’t I’ Leroy is probably still giving you signs that he would like to stick around for a bit longer.

I truly believe that when the time is right, both you and he will know it.

You are in my thoughts

 

[GoldenFlight]

Hi there chickluvinfreak

I am sorry that you are going through this.

I too know how it feels to battle with this decision, having made the decision to euthanize my beloved fur baby of 13 years, Charlie-Bear.

Charlie-Bear battled with epilepsy her whole life but, with medication, she had a good life with only the occasional break-through seizure.

However, in the month of December 2010 she started having more frequent seizures and on top of her usual recovery time, she would remain blind for many minutes after the seizure.

In between seizures, she was fine but the blindness was scary for her and the seizures were increasing in frequency. As her Phenobarbitone levels were already high, an increase in medication was not advisable.

For a couple of weeks I pained over the decision I knew was soon going to be inevitable.

On Christmas Day she had a seizure and remained blind for over half an hour after it.
Obviously, Christmas Day, is not the time you want to say goodbye to a loved one but I truly believe both she and I knew it was time.

What I am trying to relay is that while you are thinking ‘should I’ / ‘shouldn’t I’ Leroy is probably still giving you signs that he would like to stick around for a bit longer.

I truly believe that when the time is right, both you and he will know it.

You are in my thoughts

I'm so sorry about your Charlie-Bear.

 

[ejcrist]

@ejcrist
I'm sorry about your dog Chester

And you are right putting a dog down is the hardest thing

Me and my parents have a lot of praying and things to think about ahead of us. The fact that he hasnt given up is the only thing that keeps me from whole heartedly agreeing with euthanizing him. But he's in pain and has a difficult time walking. I'm pretty sure he has cancer too. If he was someone else's dog I would think he needs put down but he's mine which makes deciding that a lot harder.

Thanks neighbor. I didn't realize you were in AZ but after looking at your avatar with the saguaro cactus I should've figured it out - "duh" on my part.

Just wanted to mention the vet may or may not suggest putting him down. My experience with the good vets at Arrowhead Animal Hospital has been they'll suggest courses of action and let you make the decision, and even if they lean toward euthanasia, it's totally up to you if and when to do it. I had two dogs put down there and in both cases they were very supportive of my decision. The first was a Springer Spaniel (Opie-my best hunting buddy) that had stomach cancer just before he was 5 years old. We found out on my birthday of course - these things never seem to happen at an appropriate time. Anyway the vet suggested putting him down but also told me the alternate course of surgery and chemo which only had a small chance of success and virtually no chance of a decent life afterward. So of course I fell apart and my wife had to do the honors. I'm glad she was there or the vet wouldn't have known what I wanted done. Went to the same place for our cat and had a similar experience, but our cat was 21 years old and had only been having problems finding the litter box about a week before I took him. And then with Chester the vet suggested we run some blood tests to see if he had cancer, which the vet suspected in his throat, but I was the one to recommend putting him down. The vet said I know my dog best so he agreed that was probably the best course of action. I think the vet was more sad than I was. Anyway I'm going the long way around the barn but the point I wanted to make is not to fear the vet because you're in complete control of your decision. He/she will lay out your options and he might make a recommendation but it's totally up to you. And with Chester, he had arthritis pretty bad toward the end but the vet put him on a pain med as needed and Chester really perked up for a good 6 months before the end. Your dog sounds like he might benefit from a similar treatment assuming no other major issues, so I'd at least take him to the vet for that issue and you can feel free to discuss everything else while you're there. That way you likely won't have the pressure of having to make a major decision just right yet.

 

[chickluvinfreak]

Thanks neighbor. I didn't realize you were in AZ but after looking at your avatar with the saguaro cactus I should've figured it out - "duh" on my part.

Just wanted to mention the vet may or may not suggest putting him down. My experience with the good vets at Arrowhead Animal Hospital has been they'll suggest courses of action and let you make the decision, and even if they lean toward euthanasia, it's totally up to you if and when to do it. I had two dogs put down there and in both cases they were very supportive of my decision. The first was a Springer Spaniel (Opie-my best hunting buddy) that had stomach cancer just before he was 5 years old. We found out on my birthday of course - these things never seem to happen at an appropriate time. Anyway the vet suggested putting him down but also told me the alternate course of surgery and chemo which only had a small chance of success and virtually no chance of a decent life afterward. So of course I fell apart and my wife had to do the honors. I'm glad she was there or the vet wouldn't have known what I wanted done. Went to the same place for our cat and had a similar experience, but our cat was 21 years old and had only been having problems finding the litter box about a week before I took him. And then with Chester the vet suggested we run some blood tests to see if he had cancer, which the vet suspected in his throat, but I was the one to recommend putting him down. The vet said I know my dog best so he agreed that was probably the best course of action. I think the vet was more sad than I was. Anyway I'm going the long way around the barn but the point I wanted to make is not to fear the vet because you're in complete control of your decision. He/she will lay out your options and he might make a recommendation but it's totally up to you. And with Chester, he had arthritis pretty bad toward the end but the vet put him on a pain med as needed and Chester really perked up for a good 6 months before the end. Your dog sounds like he might benefit from a similar treatment assuming no other major issues, so I'd at least take him to the vet for that issue and you can feel free to discuss everything else while you're there. That way you likely won't have the pressure of having to make a major decision just right yet.

Hi to you too neighbor

Than you, and I'm sorry about your dog and cat I talked things over with my mom earlier and we both agreed taking him to a vet to be put on stronger medication is our best option. And we'll go from there depending on if it does or doesn't help him.

 

[chickluvinfreak]

Hi there chickluvinfreak

I am sorry that you are going through this.

I too know how it feels to battle with this decision, having made the decision to euthanize my beloved fur baby of 13 years, Charlie-Bear.

Charlie-Bear battled with epilepsy her whole life but, with medication, she had a good life with only the occasional break-through seizure.

However, in the month of December 2010 she started having more frequent seizures and on top of her usual recovery time, she would remain blind for many minutes after the seizure.

In between seizures, she was fine but the blindness was scary for her and the seizures were increasing in frequency.  As her Phenobarbitone levels were already high, an increase in medication was not advisable.

For a couple of weeks I pained over the decision I knew was soon going to be inevitable.

On Christmas Day she had a seizure and remained blind for over half an hour after it.
Obviously, Christmas Day, is not the time you want to say goodbye to a loved one but I truly believe both she and I knew it was time.

What I am trying to relay is that while you are thinking ‘should I’ / ‘shouldn’t I’ Leroy is probably still giving you signs that he would like to stick around for a bit longer.

I truly believe that when the time is right, both you and he will know it.

You are in my thoughts 

Thank you very much and I'm sorry about Charlie Yeah, I think he is happy to stick around but watching him suffer isn't an option for me I'm going to be taking him to a vet to be put on medication and discuss my options as a last resort. And hopefully that will help him get by a bit longer so I don't have to have him euthanized.