I thought I would pass this on, as it seems appropriate:

The Dogs 10 Commandments.

1. My life is likely to last 10-20 years. Any separation from you is
likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment.
You have your work, your friends, your entertainments, but I have
only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand
your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt
you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself
if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right
food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting
old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say
you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything
is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

 

Steve...Thanks for sharing that with everyone. I came across it about a year and a half ago when I took my fathers dog on his final ride to the vet. He was Dads' dog...but he was my buddy!!! Reading that again brought a tear to my eye!!!

 

As far as the CareCredit goes, my buddy took this out for his pet bills. Seems pretty good; interest is at 0% as long as you make the payments on time. Many vets take it now as health costs for animals are also on the rise.

 

Boy I don't envy you as I know how tough that is. My father brought home a German Shepard puppy, in 1964, when I was 11. As is typical with pure breeds she had hip dysplasia as she got older. You could see that she wanted so hard to get up and go with us when she was 14 but just couldn't. Her legs just fell out from under her and it was painful to watch her eyes. It was decided to put her to sleep but who was going to take her down. Ended up being my mother after two tries in 1978. Haven't owned another dog since then...

 

The dog ten list was very touching. I feel good about the decision to see if the surgery will work, she has been a good dog for a lot of years and we do owe it to her to make the time she has left as good as possible.The main problem with the routine maintenance to keep this ok is that the tumor that opened up is about three inches by three inches and she bites and licks at it to the point that it has festered and was really oozing blood bad yesterday. I can't do it justice describing it. it's bad. We cleaned it out with hydrogen peroxide and bactine. put on gauze and a self adhering bandage. She tore them off three time before we got one of those funnel things you snap around their heads that looks like a lamp shade. She's leaving her bandages alone, but now she's bumping into everything and having trouble eating with the head gear. We've moved all the furniture out of the way and I cut a much bigger dog door for her. If we can't get the hole to close up, I can't see keeping her in the head gear for the rest of her time.-that would cut into her quality of life too much in my opinion.

 

As has been said before....she will let you know when it is time. I have a vet who comes to your home (if he takes care of your pet) when it is time to let them go to puppy heaven. He will not charge for this and you will get a sympathy card from his office. If you have to put her down, ask the vet to come to his home so she can leave on her journey with familiar surroundings. I have had to go thru this many times over the years, it is never easy. I am tearing up just thinking about it. I love my dogs.

good luck,
ck

 

You guys are jerking my tears and I 'm not even in the same boat with rhw yet. But I can imagine how he feels. Hang in there buddy if I could help out I sure would.

 

thanks for the eyes swelling up steve at 10:10 am on wed morning

im going to get my dog a walmart steakhouse steak tonight

 

We had a Mutt when i was a kid. An Australian Shepherd mix named Bernie. We got him when he was a little puppy and kept him for about 4 or 5 years untill he bit someone (dont ask, i still dont belive them). He was sent to the pound and didnt take to it too well. He didnt like small rooms and they kept him in a kennel. He went kinda nuts and tried to bite my dad when he came to visit. I belive that the decision to put him down was the hardest thing for my dad to do. We all really loved him, and miss him alot.

 

Man I wish I had stayed in the Excursion or 73 - 79 forums where I belong. This thread is killing me I have always had dogs and they have always been family. I don't envy you your position RHW.

 

When the dog is in pain and clearly not enjoying it's life anymore, and there's not much hope for fixing the problem, it's time.

If it's something bleeding, cauterize it, or remove it, or whatever, but if the dog is still getting up and wanting to be with you, it's not time. If they can't get off the floor, can't do what they want to do (follow you around) or in general, their quality of life is so bad they are "better off dead", it's time.

My mother had a dog that lived for something like 16 years or so. He got so old and cranky that he growled at my mother one day. Now, keep in mind that this dog was HER dog, not anyone else's in the family. The day he growled at her because he didn't know her anymore, it was TIME.

I put him down myself when my mother stayed over my sister's one night.

20 years later, I still think I made the right decision. He was dangerous to the one person he had always, unconditionally, loved.

Now with my Boxer, like I said, when he's in pain and there's no hope of getting rid of it, then it's time.

I hope someone has the courage to do that to ME when it's time

 

we had a rottie similar to that... she was only 12 or 13[which is a pretty old age for them from what ive read] and i had her from when i was 2 or 3 years old when she was a pup[i was 2 or 3 and got her when she was still on her moms milk] she tore a ligament in her hind leg, jumping off of our 3 or 4 foot retaining wall.. then a few months latter tore another one in her other leg doing the same thing... but she would still run around[despite she was fat] she was still very active for the most part... and would use our FAT kitty cat as a pillow.. she wouldnt whimper she would whine all you could see at first glance to tell she was injuried was a bad limp on the first leg... but if you looked close at her face when she was walkin you could tell she was in pain... finally she stoped doing anything except walking to get food and going to the other side of our deck to use the rest room... that was about the time my dad desided to put her to sleep...

we also had her puppy who was a half breed about 5 years younger... she was bigger though... mixed with part horse is our joke.. and the younger one and my step sisters 2 black labs had no problem making a bear back right into a corner... lol she ended up with with the torn ligiments in the hind legs also... but she could have just been imitating her moter... from what weve figured out was she was posined by our neabhor cause she was WAY to young to die =[

 

maybe we should start a dog pic thread???has it been done before?

 

About 11 months ago we had to put down my horse: she was my very first horse (a rescue as well) and we got her when she was just a little over 6 months old and watched her grow for the next 4.5 year to a very nice Percheron mare. She had about 100+lbs of rocks in her stomach...the surgery went well, but being 4hr upside down caused her lungs to collapse about 1 hr after it. Watching her pretty much suffocate and almost bring down the entire stall left me really shocked. They cut a hole in her neck and that helped her out breathing wise (she sounded like Darth Vader...and she was all black as well). Although, she soon got a lungs infection and fever: she kept going for 2 week and she probably lost 100-150+lbs...we pretty much spend from 6pm to 9pm everyday with her. One day the vet said that she was suffering too much and her chances were very slim: we cut part of her mane and tail and signed the paperwork and left: couldn't bare to watch (especially since horses always stand and all of a sudden collapse)...cried the entire night.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
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The bill was well over $14K…but money aside I don’t know if I could do it again, especially under an emotional stand point: something you just have to listen to vet and let it go. Eventually, there is always another healthier pet out there that needs to be rescued or saved from euthanasia: ending one life might save another one<o></o>

 

Man! I agree, this thread is a tear jerker! The story of the horse sounds like it would make it hard for me to adopt another horse/ dog/ hamster ever again. my heart goes out to you.I think it is a very good attitude to rescue animals, all three of our dogs were rescued from the shelter or adopted from family that could no longer take care of them. Our vet had to go out of town suddenly so he moved Princesses operation up to this morning. I was a nervous wreak all day. The tumor was so bad it was festering and stinking even though we were keeping up on the bandages. Surprisingly, her blood work all came back good and her kidneys were good - no blood infection. The operation went well, except the tumor was so invasive that they had to remove the whole tail. She is up and walking around and eating good.We replaced the lamp shade with a blow up kind to keep her away from her stitches, seems easier for her to eat with and she hasn't been getting stuck on furniture and things. -Plus she's all safe in case of a water landing! I'll try to post some pictures in my gallery. Thanks for all your kind thoughts and support. P.S. Princess had some t-bone steak for dinner last night just in case! Don't let the opportunity pass to do something special for your pet/ best friend, you just never know.