Julesnalpine

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-29-2003
Julesnalpine
5
Thu, 12-22-2005 - 8:21am

I responded to your email message, but somehow it 'bounced. I just didn't want you to think I didn't try! I will try to re-send it, though.

Shels

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
In reply to: shels2003
Thu, 12-22-2005 - 11:53am

s'okay. I was going to do a shout out to you today anyway. About my dog ...

He seems to be going downhill a little more each day. Part of me thinks it's time to say goodbye -- he is not doing so well physically, but his brain just isn't giving up yet. It's hard to say if he's in pain or not; he's a pretty stoic old guy, but I kind of suspect his teeth, ears and shoulders hurt him a lot, if not all the time.

Last week he really wanted to go for a walk. He stopped three times to rest and we were just on the next street over. The last time he stopped, I sat there with him on somebody's grass for over 15 minutes and he would not get back up. Good thing for me, the house had one of those security signs posted close by, I hooked his leash up to the sign, ran back home to get my car then drove down to get him. By the time I got back, he was standing up and barking up a storm and ready to get in the car. Okay, he weighs over 100 lbs, so it's quite an ordeal to get him in the car by myself.

He woke me up THREE times last night wanting to go outside. He just went out, got a drink, stood there sniffing, then lay down on the patio for a while. He isn't having any accidents in the house or anything, and I don't know if he went to the bathroom when he was outside ... but I was NOT happy with him! I ended up just sleeping on the couch because I kept getting up and down so much. Now it was very warm yesterday (high 70's) so the house was warmer than it has been for this time of year and he may have just been hot, BUT -- it was not a good night for me!

And, he doesn't run to his food bowl when he sees me get his food out. Breakfast and dinner used to be his favorite time of day -- he'd come running when he saw me make a move toward his food. Now, he just lays there and stares at me. When he finally does get up to eat, he leaves half the food behind. I've even started pouring a little canned chicken broth over top of his food to entice him. It works :)

But on the other hand, the kids were outside playing frisbee in the street yesterday and he was in the house with me and GOING CRAZY because he couldn't get outside. Whining, barking and standing at the door with his nose pressed against it, willing it to open on it's own.

I just don't know what to do! DH said this morning he would make an appt with the vet for Monday if I thought it was time to say goodbye. We are leaving Tuesday for a short trip and we will have to board him for nearly a week. I imagine the boarding fees will be more than the cost of putting him down.

I think he's got SOME life left in him, and this is going to sound terrible, but it doesn't seem like a very smart thing to do to pay boarding fees for a week, and turn around and pay to have him put to sleep. BUT ... I think it would be hard to enjoy myself on our trip if I've just said goodbye to him the day before.

Help! I remember you saying that 'you'll know when it's time'. Because I'm not sure, does that mean it's not? I have to consider his quality of life over how I'm going to feel saying goodbye.

Jules

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-29-2003
In reply to: shels2003
Thu, 12-22-2005 - 12:26pm

Awww, Jules. What a sucky thing to have to cope with right now.

There is no easy answer. You are where we were with Sunny right before her eye ulcer opened up...........there are no easy answers. And do NOT feel bad about the whole boarding issue. We were also dealing with that---do we board her and pay for it then turn around and have her put to sleep? Would she SURVIVE being boarded? Would the vet even take her in her fragile state? Now, luckily (I can say now) her eye problem got so bad that it made the decision FOR US---but had she stayed in the state she was in, I don't know what we would have done. I don't mean it was lucky that she was in pain and sick, but it was lucky for us that we didn't just have to decide that 'today is the day'.

I will give you some advice if you should opt to let him go before your trip. I don't mean to sound harsh or make you sad, but it is just part of the realities of euthanasia.....this made it easier on me. IT isn't required.......first, ask your vet to sedate him before the procedure. He'll just go into a deep sleep---the sedation may make him throw up, but it didn't seem like it was painful to Sunny------but anyway he'll go into a deep sleep. I petted her, and the vet looked at her eye while she was sleeping. She then did the shot to euthanize her. Because there was no difference in her looks (she was sound asleep) between sleeping and passing, it seemed SO much easier than if she were sitting up or whatever, then suddenly pass away.
I didnt have anyone go with me, so the vet stayed with us, and was very kind.

As far as 'when' I would be willing to bet it isn't quite time for you yet. I'd be suspicious since he isn't eating well, that the time is quite near. You just have to decide with your family if boarding him and within a few weeks having him put to sleep would truly add to his quality of life. Or if his life is complete and happy right now. It's a horrible decision and an almost impossible one to make. And in my opinion, either way you go will be right......because it will be right for YOU.

Julie, I won't be around to check my email. We are headed to Des Moines in a matter of hours. I will try my best to check it before we leave town----post if you can, and I'll try to shout back if time allows. Otherwise, I'll be home late Sat night. I'll check in then.

Good luck, and hugs to you. It was not nearly as devastating for us because of the ulcer in her eye that ruptured---she was in serious pain and could not have withstood any surgery to remove the eye.......so it was time. I mean it was devastating to lose her, but we knew it had to be done for her sake.

All the best.

Shelly

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
In reply to: shels2003
Thu, 12-22-2005 - 1:21pm

Thanks, Shels. I will see how he does over the next day or two and ponder what to do.

Have a safe trip and a wonderful holiday!

Jules

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-29-2003
In reply to: shels2003
Thu, 12-22-2005 - 2:28pm

I hope you have a wonderful holiday, despite the decision that lies ahead for you. I know I probably wasn't very helpful in my post, but sometimes, there is just no way to know for sure. No matter what decision you make, it will be for the best for you and your family.

Merry Christmas, and have a safe trip.

Shelly

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
In reply to: shels2003
Thu, 12-22-2005 - 2:39pm
That's so sad.
A tough decision. It's so very hard to let a pet go.