Hard Choices

[Leo]

So, I have been faced with some difficult choices lately with one of my dogs. The big one I face, is it more humane to put an animal to sleep in the beginning stages of a fatal disease or wait until they get closer to the end?

I am wondering this because one of my dogs has a hard malignant tumor on his lung and ribs that the vet will not/can not remove because of the location (I have consulted 2 vets from different practices about this and they all agree). We have been told it will eventually be fatal (6 months-1 year).

He has also been acting strange lately... like growling viciously at the kids for walking past him. He used to LOVE the kids, one of the vets has advised me to have him PTS because of this (she thinks he will become more aggressive). He is no longer allowed to interact with the children, and has to be gated in a different room from them (and me) during the day so I guess that does compromise his quality of life in a way.
He has also done #1 & 2 in the house and is getting into the garbage and chewing things that aren't his... all stuff he has never done before..he has always been a calm, loving, attention seeking, people pleasing perfect dog who never got into stuff. Also He doesn't eat anymore unless I stand there and make him eat (which I do).

Overall he still has a good quality of life at this point (other than being away from us during the day) he is still strong and plays with the other 2 dogs, but it is hard knowing that he will soon get to the place where he is going to start to suffer.

I guess I just want to know if it is better for him, to wait until he gets bad or do it while he isn't suffering that bad yet? Would it be more loving to let him go in better health before he begins to suffer or wait until he gets worse? I just want to be the most loving dog mom I can be... I know having him PTS sometime this year is going to be the eventual outcome, I'm just really having a hard time with the when. I really need to hear opinions from other dog lovers on this issue. What would you do? What are your opinions?

[nikky]

i would not know what to do, I'd like more time on one hand oand on the other I would not want him to suffer at all. I'm so sorry that you have to go through this and sorry i could not be any help.

[Jade]

I can only tell you what I did ...

I had two chinchillas with ultimately fatal, painful teeth issues (it's a rodent thing). There's no cure and chins don't display pain well. I chose to let them go as soon as I had a definitive diagnosis because I would not know when they were in pain and didn't want them to suffer at all from something I couldn't fix. It's a very personal choice, and unfortunately one only you can make.

[corgimom]

Honestly, as hard as it would be for me to do, if I knew there was no hope, I think I would put him to rest before it became painful to him. I can't stand the thought of my babies in pain, so if I knew it was going to become painful for them, I don't think I could make the decision to wait until they were in pain to put them to sleep.

[Kendalle]

I think i would have to put him to sleep, with him becoming agressive it may because he is in pain already, and your kids probably love this dog i wouldnt want them to grow afraid of him just because hes really in pain, but its your choice

[Carissa]

I would have him put down as well...Im faced with the same sorrta thing (ecept with my ferret) and its really hard..but i fell its the right thing as shes in pain and isnt doing well..

[Scarlette]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kendalle I think i would have to put him to sleep, with him becoming agressive it may because he is in pain already, and your kids probably love this dog i wouldnt want them to grow afraid of him just because hes really in pain, but its your choice

I was thinking the same thing as I was reading the original post. I think he may be hurting and doesn't want the kids around him because of it. I think, if it were me, I would have him PTS now. I think it would be a different story if he wasn't showing aggression towards the kids.

It's a very tough choice no matter what and it's ultimately your decision. We're here for ya no matter what you decide.

[Kalilady]

I wish you peace in your decision. I know it will be a very hard one. I too would probably have one of mine pts if I knew there was no hope and these other issues came up. Sorry!

[Mel]

I cant tell you what to do. I dont know what I'd do. If my baby had something like that, on the hand, I'd want her not to suffer even the tiniest bit, but on the other, I'd want the most time with her possible.

God. This is an awful decision to have to make. Good luck.

[An1ma1Lov3r]

I'm so sorry to hear about this. And I know first hand that this is an extremly difficult discussion. I had to put my aussie down due to parvo ( but he was already a yr old and had all his shots) It's really hard. But you'll make the right choice when the time comes.. Sorry

[millie121]

I'm really sorry, and I don't know what to say. I do know that when I had to put Willow to sleep I felt guilt for not giving her enough of a chance at life AND for not doing it sooner. But now, almost 2 years later, the guilt for waiting too long when there was probably no chance to save her is overwhelming. I will probably never get over the fact that I made her eat when she didn't want to, and that I made her get subQ injections, etc. I should have let her go sooner.

It's just something to consider, because I really do have a tremendous amount of grief to live with over it. At the time we really didn't know what we were dealing with - we thought she might get better. Once we were pretty sure that she had FIP, we had to put an end to it. It was too terrible. I don't want you to have to deal with the same thing. You'll have grief and guilt no matter what - it's our nature. But if you feel you waited too long, it's a different beast.

When they don't want to love on you they way they did, and they don't want to eat, those are big signs. We tend to want to hold on because we love them so, but sometimes they are trying to tell us it's time to go.

I'm so sorry.

[Animal_addict]

Oh my! I feel so bad for you! Thats going to be hard .........................Yikes! Just do what you think is best for your dog.... I dont know what else you can do.........

[HappyDancer]

my heart goes out to you...I just had to make that choice and it was the hardest choice I ever had to make...I will keep you in my thoughts through this hard time