Pet Euthanasia

**Cyfan4good** · 10-17-2011, 08:55 PM

Only had to do this once with my first lab. She was 10 and had cancer. She was kind of skidish away from home and didn't like the vet's office. The last thing I wanted was for her last memory to be in a cold exam room at the vet. I talked the vet into putting her down on the seat of my truck. It went well. She was calm in my truck and just closed her eyes and was gone. That lab and I grew up together and i cried like a baby on the twenty mile trip back to our home place where I buried her by Wolf Creek. It was the toughest thing I'd ever had to do but was the right thing as she was going downhill fast and getting pretty uncomforatble.
Best of luck to you.

**digZ** · 10-17-2011, 08:56 PM

Having been through a similar experience about a year and a half ago, I can safely say I wish we would have taken our 14 year old golden retreiver to the vet to get her put down. Watching the dog suffer is probably one of the worst things I've experienced. In hindsight, although it would have been tough to take the dog to the vet for what you know will be their last minutes on earth, but it will be easier on you, your family, and the dog.

We hesitated too much, not knowing if she was going to get better, then one morning we woke up and she couldn't even stand up and was very woozy and seemingly in and out of consciousness all day. We did what we could to make her passing easier, but I wish we would have taken her to the vet instead of waiting it out until it was too late to do anything but watch.

Not an easy thing to deal with for anybody, and I feel your pain.

**fwiw** · 10-17-2011, 08:57 PM

Always remember that you don't want your pet to suffer, and you will know when it's time.

The procedure itself is pretty quick. They will shave an area on a leg and administer the drug there. It works fast.

They will want to know if you want to take your pet or cremate ... totally up to you, but you'll want to know what you want to do ahead of time. If you choose to cremate, they might ask if you want a paw print or lock of fur ... again if you choose this just decide ahead of time what you want.

One thing to help your pet through this is to just be there and keep them calm. Leaving the clinic sucks. You might ask to leave out the back, for us we just didn't want to see or talk to anyone. We had been going to our vet for years so they knew us and we didn't have to do anything with the bill until later.

It's hard, I'm sorry for your loss. Try and focus on the good times you've had together and over time that will help.

**CycloneRulzzz** · 10-17-2011, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by rebecacy

My first was when I was in 8th grade, Boxer my uncle gave me as a birth present.......Tawnie was MY dog. He went after strangers who came in the yard if I didn't tell him it was OK. It still bothers me today when I think about it, I loved that dog. I swear he knew what was up and he gave me an ear kiss good-bye just before the end. I took him and buried him on the farm and when I get back near Geneseo IL I still stop and say hi.........stupid I know but I do it anyway.

It's not stupid. Pets are just as much part of the family as people are.

**SC Cy** · 10-17-2011, 08:59 PM

Thought's and prayers cyclonefreak5...I had a hard time getting through this thread.

**timappelgate** · 10-17-2011, 09:03 PM

I can't make it through this thread. This will be happening to me very soon and I just can't deal with it. He has been my best friend since I was 5. Can't imagine my life without my Max.

**ISU_REV** · 10-17-2011, 09:04 PM

A little more than 5 years ago we had to put our 2 Beagles down within 6 months of each other. Simba was diagnosed with prostate cancer at 5 years of age. Six months later Nala was diagnosed with kidney disease at 7 years of age. We have not been able to get another pet since. There was no way I could be in the room when the time came. I balled for days.

Hang in there:

The Rainbow Bridge Poem - A Pet Loss Poem

**IcSyU** · 10-17-2011, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by ISU_REV

A little more than 5 years ago we had to put our 2 Beagles down within 6 months of each other. Simba was diagnosed with prostate cancer at 5 years of age. Six months later Nala was diagnosed with kidney disease at 7 years of age. We have not been able to get another pet since. There was no way I could be in the room when the time came. I balled for days.

Hang in there:

The Rainbow Bridge Poem - A Pet Loss Poem

Getting another pet was part of the healing process for me. Couldn't go looking where the food bowl should have been without thinking about Ebony and adopting Mandy helped the situation. She wasn't Ebony, but she focused my attention that longed for having a pet.

**CycloneRulzzz** · 10-17-2011, 09:11 PM

This thread hits home because our family cat is getting up there too. She is really thin despite eating regulary and goes to the bathroom very frequently. I would hate to do this but our first family cat I found lying dead in the basement which I won't lie really messed me up.

**SC Cy** · 10-17-2011, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by ISU_REV

The Rainbow Bridge Poem - A Pet Loss Poem

Duuuuuuude...now I have to explain why I have tears going down my face with the MNF game on.

**burn587** · 10-17-2011, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by ISU_REV

A little more than 5 years ago we had to put our 2 Beagles down within 6 months of each other. Simba was diagnosed with prostate cancer at 5 years of age. Six months later Nala was diagnosed with kidney disease at 7 years of age. We have not been able to get another pet since. There was no way I could be in the room when the time came. I balled for days.

Hang in there:

The Rainbow Bridge Poem - A Pet Loss Poem

That was the way my dad was with our first dog. It took him 15+ years to get another dog. He felt terrible about it for a long time. My family got a cat about a year after the dog had to be put down and I was pretty close with it. Even though I hadn't lived at home in years it hit me like a ton of bricks when I heard that she had been put down. I was a zombie for a couple of days.

To the op, it is god awful experience, but if you can stand it I would be in the room with them. I'm sure they would like to have their last moment with their loved ones.

**GoSTATE71** · 10-17-2011, 09:20 PM

this makes me sad, my dog is getting pretty old and isn't in the greatest shape, i got her as a birthday present when i was in 4th grade, i remember countless days running in the yard with her, talking her on walks around the lake by my house, all the stupid stuff she used to do that i still laugh about today, i remember when my grandma passed away she didn't leave my side for at least 2 days she followed me everywhere, and all the other little countless things, a dog is a best friend and its hard to say goodbye, replacing your first dog is very hard to do..sorry to hear about your loss

**Al_4_State** · 10-17-2011, 09:26 PM

I hate you guys for all the posts in this thread. Struggling not to tear up. All I can think about is knowing I'm going to have to do this with my dog someday. He's more or less a "pre-kid" for my fiance and I, so it will be really tough to see him go.

**jdoggivjc** · 10-17-2011, 09:29 PM

We had to have our 3 year old cat put down last summer. On of the most sucky things I've ever had to do, but it had to be done. What made it worse was she was the first birthday present I bought for my wife.

Unfortunately she had a corn allergy which went undiagnosed until it screwed up her ears, which also screwed up her equilibrium. We could never figure out why she never jumped on things until long after the allergy was diagnosed. And you don't realize just how many cat products have corn in it, and I'm not just talking about food, but also cat litter. Which, as far as we can tell, was a contributing factor to the blockage that she developed in her urinary tract that was the reason we had to put her down (probably also explained why she would always pee on the floor and not on the litter box).

Unfortunately she was never a healthy cat, and the most humane thing was to put her down. But we still miss her terribly.

**Cyhops** · 10-17-2011, 09:32 PM

This august had to put one of our dogs down, also Max. Vet was awesome and suggested that we stay with her as our other dog would know she had passed by her scent on us. He was right. Never easy, but definately stay with them.