When is the right time to put down a pet?

The Coffee Shop
1

JFM225’s post just absolutely killed me like nothing I’ve read recently and here is why: my wife & I are having to face the issue on when to put down our 12 y.o. Malamute, Oz. We’ve had him since he was 1, and he was a rescue that a very kind-hearted meter reader for So Cal Gas stole from a drug dealer in South Central when he saw how he was being treated/kept.

He has been the best dog I’ve ever owned, and a complete member of the family up until recently. He had run of the house & my office (yes, he often went to work with me), including sleeping in our bedroom (or on our couches when we were on holiday). However, he doesn’t like our 18 month old daughter, and has made it obvious, so beginning about 8 months ago, for most of the day he has become an outdoor dog, with only the laundry room as his access to the house & shelter out of the elements. Our other dog, a 3 y.o. Leonberger, he never really clicked with—they play together (as much as he can), and are ok in sharing the same space on trips, but he doesn’t tolerate her antics inside and growls at her to stay away. The Leonberger, Jo-Jo, is great with my daughter and aside from outweighing her 130-24, and all the bumps and bruises that entails, they are fine together.

Oz was a brutal hunter when he was young–squirrels, rabbits, and his favorite, birds. He had a 5-6’ vertical leap & could get a bird in mid flight. Never got a cat though, much as he tried. However all that jumping & pursuing wrecked his front tendons & now he is pretty much hobbled, and all the weight of his torso is on his forelocks, not on his paws. We’ve got him on the max amount of Previcox you can give him, which is also slowly wrecking his liver, but at least he doesn’t seem to be in much pain. However the early signs of congestive heart disease are there, and he is beginning to pant pretty hard at times.

Overall his quality of life is pretty good—he & Jo-Jo hang out in the backyard quite a bit, he has his favorite spot underneath some palm trees, and he has a stream/pond that he likes to go water himself in. He is still up for a quick game of thump with Jo-Jo, and he gets around, albeit gingerly, pretty well. He doesn’t like it when we leave w/Jo-Jo on hikes w/o him, and he woos on a consistent basis when leave w/her on the leash, and he no longer wants to even try getting in the SUV (w/ramp) to goto the dog park or lake for a visit/swim. He is pretty happy & his spirits are good–basically he lives for his naps during the day, his dinner, and 1-3 hours with Mom & Dad (and requisite tummy-rubs) once the munchkin is down for the night. He still sleeps in our bedroom & all that–it is just with the toddler running around that we refuse to take any chances.

Our vet thinks we should consider putting him down sooner rather than later (like within the next week or two), as she is a big believer in letting the dog go while he still has some dignity. I would hate to have him break a leg, or suffer thru any sort of torsion or similar internal affliction that usually hits deep chested dogs, but I’m really having a hard time reconciling the thought of shortening his life if I don’t have to. As long as he isn’t in pain, and his spirits are good and he is happy, I don’t believe that I have the right to pull the plug and rob him of life.

All our other dogs went quickly–a stomach torsion, and another with cancer, and one with a broken back (puppy ran into a tree–that sucked); I’ve just not had a situation like this where the vet is arguing for euthaniasia & I, whether for emotional or logical reasons, can’t justify supporting her position.

Anyone else been faced with this or have thoughts on when is the proper time?

2

My call…if the dog is not in pain (and they will be in a TON of pain before you know that there is any)…

The day Shyanne looked at me, upset that she felt that she could not please me. I could tell she wanted to do better than vomit on the carpet and I was not mad. But she knew that it was “bad”. It was the hardest day of my life, but fair for her. If she felt like she could not please me that for a dog IMO is the worst thing ever.

I am sorry for you and your pup.

3

You will look in their eyes one day and know. Its pretty much that simple. Here is one example of when it has gone too far: 1) the dog wants to sit outside in the freezing weather and won’t voluntarily come in when it is shaking from the cold; 2) the Spousal Unit is carrying her around the house like a football because she now weighs about 40 lbs instead of 65lbs; and 3) We had to get a rug steam cleaner to clean up the constant accidents. It was sort of confusing because she was eating well and seemed happy when she was not outside turning into a piece of ice sculpture. I think she got dementia and was in constant pain from advanced arthritis. I wanted to pull the cord much earlier but the Spousal Unit said no. Two years later she admitted it was a bad call. Look at the eyes. Best.

4

That is so hard. Clearly Oz still enjoys life even if his body isn’t in the best shape.

I’ve got an old Golden, Fitz, who is getting to that stage and I think about it alot. I keep telling myself I’ll “know” when the time comes and I hope that I do. If I don’t, I’m hoping my husband will be stronger than me and make that decision.

I think that once Fitz reaches the point where his body no longer allows him to live comfortably and he loses the waggy tail that greets me when I walk in the door then it will be time.

5

I just had to go through this decision a week ago. I had a Great Dane who was almost 8. He recently chewed up his bed and ate some of the foam. He had never been destructive a day in his life. The foam got lodged in his intestines and stomach. The vet said he could operate and Aspen would fully recover. We found out that he had a degenerative muscle disorder. The vet said it progress slowly or very quickly but said Aspen showed signs that he definitley had it. Aspen would have a hard time standing sometimes and his back legs would fall out from beneath him. We chose to put him down. I did not want to see him in any pain. He was a great dog, except for the barking at 3 in the morning sometimes. It hurt at first but as each day has passed since last Friday I feel better about the decision. If I did opt for the surgery and he fell akwardly with those stitches in his belly and started bleeding I would never forgive myself if he died like that.

Good luck to you.

6

I had to go through this a few months ago – our dog Alex had bladder cancer. Eventually, the cancer would have completely blocked his ability to urinate and obviously, we didn’t want to let it go that far. We diapered him for a few months. As time passed, his quality of life diminished. One day I woke up and just knew. He was uncomfortable, but wasn’t truly suffering yet. I took him to the vet and let him go. I was just awful (note to self, do not put dog down at the beginning of a work day when your husband is leaving town – all that sobbing was just unprofessional:), but it was the right decision.

The best advice I got was from a neighbor who gave me “permission” to make the decision. I was feeling a lot of guilt, wondering if any decision I would make would be colored by the fact that I was exhausted after getting up multiple times a night to let Alex out and change his diaper. Her telling me that if I decided to put him down, it was okay was such a huge relief because while I’m sure you’ll know when the time is right, it will never be an easy decision.

It sounds like Oz has a little more left in him, but when you decide it’s time, just know you’ll be making the right decision.

7

Within the last year, I’ve put 2 cats down (ages 15, 13). The first one I think I waited a little too long, and I felt horrible guilt for making her suffer. The second one had cancer in her jaw, and had a slow decline. I started to ask the question “am I keeping her alive for her benefit or for my benefit”. She was still very affectionate and loving and sometimes even playful when I put her down. But I was starting to feel like it was being cruel to her to keep her alive in pain so that I could continue to have her affection. Given the choice, I’d rather put her down a week early than a week too late (the end result is still the same).

8

12 is old for a Mal…but he seems like he’s in good spirits. IMO, when they no longer have enthusiasm for life, when they don’t (or can’t) take pleasure in the things they once enjoyed–whether that’s belly rubs or sneaking people food or whathave you. As others have said–when you look in their eyes, you’ll know.

We just put down our 18-year old cat this past spring. Although she was very thin, slept most of the time, and didn’t have much of an appetite, she was still as mean as spit and late at night would play (albeit much more sedately) quietly by herself. It wasn’t until the very end that she was “ready to go”. (She started having seizures)

From your description, it doesn’t seem like Oz is ready to go yet–and I don’t think I would have the heart to put him down “because something mighht happen soon.” But that’s MY opinion–and obviously, I don’t know him.

Hugs to you though. It’s never an easy time.

9

i’ve never had to decide to do this to a pet. they always got hit by a car or something which made the decision for us.

i still have my cats from college, and my pugs are relatively “new”. but i dread the day.

at one point though, i think you “just know”. you will get there, but try to enjoy the time you’ve got now…it sounds like there is a little left. and i feel it’s good to trust your insticts. in my case i feel i know what’s best for my kids and luckily my vet is generally of the same opinion as me. perhaps you could get a second opinion (i would).

10

I Have been a dog owner all my life and loved them all and I know you are faced with a tough decision - best of luck.

My view is that when the dog - or any other domesticated animal gets to the point where it needs human support to live a good life then for me it is time to make a hard decision. Again never easy but I always believe it is what is the best for the animal not the owner that counts.

11

How’s Oz?

12

Very sorry to hear about Oz. Really gets to me reaing about owners having to say goodbye to their good friend.
I put down a cat. Its been a while but the question of knowing when…others have already said you will know. I could tell with my cat…He wasn’t himself, didn’t pay much attention to me anymore and wasn’t showing affection or other signs that he usually did when he felt good.
I knew and was very very sad. He wasn’t able to walk well so placed him on top of his favorite towel,took him outisde earlier in the morning on the fateful day, held him and let him hopefully enjoy the trees, birds, and juist being in the sun for a little bit.
Time will pass it will get better but I believe you will always hold Oz in your heart and in a way he will always be with you.
Perhaps Oz wants to be around a bit longer. …

13

Sorry about your kitty.

We took Oz up with us to our place in Big Bear this weekend & it was definitely his last trip there–he didn’t like the cold, and even the 2-3 steps up/down into the house are too much for him.

His attitude is good though, and as long as he is comfortable & happy we are going to keep him going.

Thanks for the thoughts.

mdo

14

I have had a lot of pets. As a lifetime working with dogs and as a veterinary assistant, I have held far to many in my arms as they took their last breath. When it came to my own animals, I am always in doubt. I have had several dogs live to advanced ages (16+ years) and it is hard to say when for them. They can live comfortably long past that “light in their eyes”.

The decision is rarely easy when it is a degenerative/age condition. What day is the “right” day? The vets I worked for always counseled their clients, “when the bad days outnumber the good”, you know it is right.

(Not directed at anyone here! )When to put a pet down is a personal opinion. In my experience in both animal shelters and vets I do have a distaste for people who put their pet down for convenience. They get a new dog, they don’t want to deal with increased vet care, etc. They find some excuse just to be rid of the trouble. A dog has such a short life and devotes it to his owner’s whims. He deserves to live his “retirement”, even if he isn’t the pup he used to be.