When Is It Time for the End?

I have had dogs all my life and have had to put down two that were my children before I had a baby. My promise to myself and my animals is quality of life for the animal. Animals are not cheap to own and it is the responsibility of an owner to know this when obtaining this new family member.

If you are asking because of the financial burden, then maybe you need to find the animal a new family. If you are asking for the betterment of the dog, then my way of looking at it was the day my beagle boy wouldn't take a cookie then he was ready to go. Otherwise, if they have mostly good days and the tail wags, it's not time. They are still happy to be alive.

You are that dog's parent and you have to determine what is best for your 4 legged baby boy.

GL!

I actually couldn't finish reading this. As a hormonal pregnant person right now I get so emotional and cried for a while just yesterday about my two dogs that I had for 15 years and had to put to sleep 2 and 1/2 years ago!! They were part of my family, and we went very much into debt trying to save both (one only lasted a couple of months after losing the first). So I had them for more than half of my lifetime. Putting them down was the absolute last thing on my mind, but the first went into respiratory distress and had been on oxygen for 4 days.

Both of them just got so bad, and I couldn't let them continue suffering out of my selfishness for keeping them with me if that makes sense. I think when you get to the point where you feel like it's more you being selfish not wanting to lose the dog all the while knowing it is suffering. That's when you should probably do it. It's so hard, I know. Just stay strong for your kiddos.

This is a tough decision to make. A little info about where I am coming from.....

I have had to put two dogs to sleep in as many years. The first dog was 15 years old, blind, deaf, incontinent, and had no real quality of life. Even though it was an emotionally hard decision to make, it was an "easy" choice. We knew it was time to let her go. With the second dog, we only had her 3 weeks. She was a pound puppy we adopted for Christmas. She immediately showed signs of illness but we held out hope it was something minor. When she stared having seizures we knew she had distemper. We chose to put her down because I have a niece with epilepsy and I knew I couldn't handle the emotional ups and downs and stress that goes along with seizures. I'm sorry if this offends anyone but, she was just a dog and I had to put myself and the kids first. We were very sorry to lose her, but I tell myself we gave her a good life with love and comfort in the short time she was with us.

All that being said, My advice is that you have to weigh the quality of life he has with the financial and emotional costs to you and the family. Can you even afford to continue his medical care? How much will losing the family pet upset the kids? If you can't bring yourself to put him down, but you need things to change, look into finding him another home. Talk to your vet, maybe they know someone willing to adopt "special needs" pets.

I don't know if this has been helpful, I hope it has. If not, just know that I feel for you and your dog. I wish you the best.

My husband is a Vet. and he has alway told me that when a dog is not able to the things they love to do then it is time. If they are happy and enjoy their days then keep them going. If they are so sick that they can't hardly even play anymore then for their sake let them go. I think we tend to keep them around for ourselves, but just ask yourself would you like to live the way he is? You know him best so I will be praying that you can make the right decision.

Ohhh, big hugs to you L.. I know how hard this is. I had to enthinize my wonderful cat when he got poisoned by the tainted food. While he was living, he was miserable and was not living a quality life.

However, fluid on the lungs seems rather serious, and vommiting and diarrhea are not good signs. Did your vet offer to do some very BASIC tests that showed precursors to other possible causes rather than doing expensive testing? Although it would cost to do so, you could try another vet.

I will say a prayer for you that you have the information necessary, and the wisdom to make the right decision. My rule of thumb would be whether he is miserable most of the time, and of course if he needs constant medication and care and it's not effective it may be time to let him have peace.