Advice on euthanasia please

[Losd22]

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Hi, I’m so sorry I’ve just joined this forum and this is my first post but I’m so unsure of what to do. Any advice gratefully received.
I have a 16 year old lab/staffy cross who was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy around 6 months ago. It’s not bad, he just trips over his feet occasionally and I know it doesn’t cause him any pain. He also has mildish arthritis in his spine and hips, and dementia. I’ve been keeping track of good days and bad days and he’s still so happy and loving life most of the time, but he’s up all through the night panting heavily with his ears back and tail tucked. He still wants to play and brings me all his toys but less than a minute of tug or throwing a ball and he’s licking his front legs and lying down. He still loves walks to the park and runs riot chasing sticks, but I have to cut walks short as he starts to trip and I know he’ll be sore if we walk too long, so I think he’s getting bored/depressed but I don’t know what else to do. I walk him on grass and sand to help the impact on his hips and spine, and he still loves his food, but I don’t know if it’s kinder to let him go now, while he’s still pretty happy and not suffering too much or if I would be playing God and cutting his life short too soon? He’s on tramadol and metacam, milk thistle for his liver and recently tried mild sedatives at night time but it didn’t help too much. He used to be on gabapentin but it upset his stomach. Vet has said it would be up to me to decide when his bad days outnumber the good but I’m finding it harder and harder to decipher as he seems to be great so much of the time. Any outsider advice would be amazing as friends and family all trust me to make the decision and I feel totally lost Thank you

 

[Kara 1]

You have to decide if he has a good quality of life....the good days have to outweigh the bad ...i think in your heart you know its time for your boy ....dont feel guilty ...its the kindest act we do for our best friends ....
I always where possible have my dogs put to sleep at home ....huge hugs for you xxxxx

 

[JoanneF]

I am so sorry, it really is such a tough decision.

There is a scale used to assess our pets' quality of life when they are seriously ill. I understand it was developed for cancer care but the principles apply to any life limiting condition. What is their quality of life in relation to Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility and More good days than bad days. You can find more detail here

Pawspice and Animal Oncology Consultation Service - Veterinarian in Hermosa Beach, CA US :: Quality of Life Scale

There is a saying, better a week too soon than a day too late. It's a terrible decision but one that responsible owners have to face. If it helps, the Blue Cross has a pet bereavement counselling service.

 

[JudyN]

I'm so sorry you are having to make this decision.

If his play and exercise is limited, but when he gets home he'll just crash and sleep, or maybe feel a little sore, I'd say he still has good quality of life. There will be other ways of entertaining him if he's simply bored, e.g. teaching him to touch your palm for a treat, bark on command... anything that isn't going to be uncomfortable for him. But it sounds like he's quite distressed at night. Have you spoken to your vet about the difference between day and night?

They do say that a day too soon is better than a day too late. Dogs only live in the here and now, they're not thinking of what sort of day tomorrow will be.

((((Hugs)))) from me too.

 

[Ari_RR]

When he licks his paws, I would check the paws, and if they are cold - this may mean that the heart is not pumping blood, in which case, I am very sorry to say, it's not long until your boy will leave you.
When he finds a remote corner and just lays there - I think this is a sign that he's had enough, and it's time to let him go. This is the final and hardest act of kindness.
Hard times ahead... My beloved boy passed away 2 months ago, and I am still not at peace, still dealing with the loss. Hugs. Telling the stories of happy days together seemed to be of help.

 

[Janer]

No advice I’m rubbish at it but (((hugs))) I’ve been in your position x

 

[merlina]

So very sorry. This is the worst. I lost the boy I've loved most in the world three years ago. I talked it over with a friend and she said: if not now, then very soon: to him there's no difference between these two. So we gave him the best day out we could and that night our lovely vet came and we let him go in his own home with us there. We might have hung but that was for us not him. And every day I wish he was still with us.

I know this is the most terrible advice and the last thing you want to hear...and I can't tell you how horrible I feel for giving it.

 

[JoanneF]

I can't tell you how horrible I feel for giving it.

Oh, please don't. You did the hardest thing for you but the best thing for your boy. Hugs to you too.

 

[merlina]

Thank-you. Every time...the tears. He was worth it though, as they all are.

 

[Edie]

I think as a caring dog owner we know in our heart when its time to let go but its a tough step to take. I have been there with cats and our dog i once left it to long and had many many regrets but i have never made that error again, we had our labrador euthanased at home she licked the vets hand just before he put her to sleep bless her. My thoughts are with you x

 

[Barleybedlington]

So sorry for you and your dog , but you have to be strong for him , you'll know when enough is enough , and make sure you are there at the end .

 

[Losd22]

Thank you all so much, I think I just needed someone else to say what I was already thinking sadly. My last dog was put to sleep 5 years ago, she was so healthy and happy but had a dental problem, surgery wasn’t an option (she was 18 years and 11 months old) and I couldn’t bear the thought of her being taken away for surgery distressed at me leaving her, and then not surviving anaesthetic. It destroyed me but I know it was better letting her go happy and loving life than letting her suffer. I took her to the beach, got her all the doggy forbidden food-KFC, ice cream, sweets etc and then went to vet when she had had the best day of her life. Thought it would same for Nero but I just keep thinking he’s fine he’s fine...everytime I decide it’s time he gallops in with a toy in his mouth or jumps around like a hyperactive puppy and makes me doubt myself 100% It’s brutal

 

[Losd22]

Sorry forgot to say, Vet says dementia issues are often worse at night. It may be because I’m not awake and can’t reassure him before he gets worked up into an anxious state I wake up the minute he starts to whine but it takes me a few mins to reorientate him, it’s hard xx

 

[Losd22]

I know this is the most terrible advice and the last thing you want to hear...and I can't tell you how horrible I feel for giving it.

Please don’t, it’s the advice I know I needed and I’m so sorry for your loss, it’s the worst feeling when I had my last dog pts I read somewhere that euthanasia is taking your pets pain and making it your own, I found that comforting. Just wish this boys case was easier for me to make a decision on

 

[JoanneF]

I don't know about canine dementia but some human dementias cause disorientation in time. That can lead to night time restlessness.

 

[Ttaylor45]

Please don’t, it’s the advice I know I needed and I’m so sorry for your loss, it’s the worst feeling when I had my last dog pts I read somewhere that euthanasia is taking your pets pain and making it your own, I found that comforting. Just wish this boys case was easier for me to make a decision on

I am so sorry to hear your dilemma I lost Rusty taller one in the photo last May and Pepe last year in November. I had to make that decision for both as Rusty had a growth near his liver and was in pain fortunately for only a day or two as we had been to the vets the previous week and he was not in pain then he was just off his food which was not unusual he was always a fussy eater he was 13 and a half. Pepe had kidney problems and was also nearly blind with cataracts and glaucoma which was treated with eye drops for many months prescribed by a specialist eye vet but he too lost his appetite which was more noticeable as he was always a good eater. He lost a lot of weight even though I tried my best cooking for him when he wouldn’t eat dog food anymore. In the last week or so he would only eat after I gave him appetite stimulants prescribed by my vet and then he would only eat a small amount. The vet said they could give him something else to keep him going for a few more days but I didn’t want him to go on like that just for us so with a very heavy heart we let him go. He was 12 and 4 months. I miss them both so much so I know how you are feeling at the moment.

 

[Losd22]

Aww I’m so sorry, I know the pain of losing them, it’s absolutely soul destroying You definitely did the right thing, but it doesn’t make it hurt less. Nero still has a huge appetite, in fact I would say his appetite is even greedier now than years ago, he squeals for food and runs back and forth between me and his food bowl until I give in and feed him, regardless of the time! He’s drinking well, there are so few symptoms that’s the problem I’m having, I mean he still loves to play, walk, eat, wants petted and cuddles...he can’t jump into car anymore and trips over his feet sometimes but otherwise to see him he’s a healthy happy dog, it’s making me so confused! I think I’ll take him to vet this week for a chat and see what she says but I know she will say it’s up to me to decide x

 

[JudyN]

I'd be thinking about how much of the time he is miserable/distressed for. You notice the outward signs like the wobbles, but wobbles don't matter to him, and older dogs, like older people, live good lives despite aches and pains and not managing to do what they used to.

How you balance the good & bad times I don't know, but make sure that you're not too influenced by what is painful for us to see and focus on what it is like for him - his good/content times vs his bad times.

 

[Ttaylor45]

Aww I’m so sorry, I know the pain of losing them, it’s absolutely soul destroying You definitely did the right thing, but it doesn’t make it hurt less. Nero still has a huge appetite, in fact I would say his appetite is even greedier now than years ago, he squeals for food and runs back and forth between me and his food bowl until I give in and feed him, regardless of the time! He’s drinking well, there are so few symptoms that’s the problem I’m having, I mean he still loves to play, walk, eat, wants petted and cuddles...he can’t jump into car anymore and trips over his feet sometimes but otherwise to see him he’s a healthy happy dog, it’s making me so confused! I think I’ll take him to vet this week for a chat and see what she says but I know she will say it’s up to me to decide x

I also found Pepe was forever drinking in the last week or two and I expect that took away his appetite as well the vet did suggest about restricting his water intake which was very hard knowing he was so thirsty due to his kidney disease.

 

[Flobo]

Tough times when they are like this, I spent a huge amount of last year thinking this decision was very close with Jake, I feel I have had to come to terms with his losses (sight,hearing,mobility,continence and mind) and I found myself grieving for the dog he was...he has similar issues to your boy, I rarely have a night where I'm not up with him on and off as he needs to go out and yes it is tiring as I'm sure you know, but he's loving his food, has very short bimbles some days but more often he wanders round(and round!)the garden, occasionally he still has a mad moment where he runs in and out the house and I hold my breath because I think he's going end up in a heap on the floor, he is on gabapentin,(tramadol wiped him out) and loxicom. For me I feel he's doing ok and seems quite happy in his 'mad, wobbly, vintage' zone, so for now we take each day as it comes, for the time doesn't feel quite yet... We all know our dogs, trust yourself with this hard decision and know when the time comes you are making it with a heartful of love and a bucket full of tears, but with no regrets. Thinking of you and your boy...going off to get my tissues now..