I need some guidance....she's going down hill... - Paw Talk

weasie20 · #1 02-18-2007, 01:56 PM

How do you decide when it's time to let go? My weiner dog Ginger is apparently nearing the end. As she was a "found" blessing we, including the vet we initially took her to, can only guess that she's about 13 years old. We've had her for 11 years now and she has been the light of our lives. Especially my husband's.

She's been battling the effects of old age, cataracts, hearing loss, lost teeth, tumors, etc. None of the tumors have been malignant but I stopped having them checked after the first few came back as nothing more than fatty tumors the vet told me she would then be prone to.

For the past week, she has been turning her nose up at her normal food. I even went out and bought a new batch thinking maybe that one was a little off. She's still begging for people food from us but the only people food we ever toss her way are a few french fries here and there. She's not eating them though when we give them to her. She wines like she's hungry. I scrambled an egg and put some in her regular food last night. She ate some of the egg and nothing else. Her poo has been less solid too. I bought some of her favorite treats yesterday and she ate a few but today when I gave her some she vomitted them back up.

It's time, isn't it? This is the time the vet told us to watch for? Her sleeping a lot, not eating, these are the clues that would tell us her body has given up right? That time has taken it's toll on her sweet little body and is shutting down? Then why doesn't God take this decision out of my hands? Why can't I wake up in the morning and find out she hasn't? Why do I have to play the grownup and take her in and have them put her out of her suffering? We're too emotionally attached to her to do this.

Someone help me decide!

millie121 · #2 02-18-2007, 02:12 PM

I'm very, very sorry. This is the decision only you can make, and as hard as it is, you CAN do it, because you love your girl and you want to do what's best for her.

About the food thing: I noticed this same sort of thing for a while when my cat was really ill and facing the end. Our vet said the drive to eat is pretty strong...they know they should be eating, hence the begging for your food, but they are just not feeling well and don't WANT to eat. I had the same trouble with my cat, and actually force fed her for a while when I thought there was a hope of her recovering.

This is my opinion, based on my experiences; if you wait too long to make this hard decision, you could face guilt and regrets for not making the decision sooner. I have too many sad memories to focus on over my kittie's inevitable worsening.

A lifetime is never enough with as much as we love them, but I hope you can get to the point where you can treasure your years together and not be saddened so much by this.

I'm sorry.

weasie20 · #3 02-18-2007, 02:31 PM

Thanks Millie, it has helped tremendously hearing about your experience with losing your cat. I think what I need the most is validation. I really do know what's best, I just kept hoping for her to turn around. It sounds like she won't though.

tarita2004 · #4 02-18-2007, 02:33 PM

When my mom's one cat was getting sick, we just looked into her eyes and she seemed to look at us differently... (she had lost her appetite, etc. too) and it was like she was saying "please, just help me go...it's my time and i'll wait for you in heaven" but i agree only YOU can know when ur animal is telling you this, as you know them best. Good luck with your decision

DorkyChantelle · #5 02-18-2007, 05:44 PM

I'm very sorry to hear that your dog is not well

Last month, we had to make the decision to put our 12 year old Great Dane, Charlotte, to sleep. On one hand, it was very hard for us to decide to let her go but on the other hand, it was easy to see why we had to do it. Like you, I just wished that she would go in her sleep so that we didn't have to decide for ourselves. It just wasn't meant to be that way, I guess. I still think about her every day. I'm crying right now because I know what you're going through. As the others have said, this is your decision. I hope you find peace in whatever happens.

Carissa · #6 02-18-2007, 06:01 PM

I agree, only you can choose, but when my cat i had since I was 8 wasnt feeling well..he had a sad look to him, stoped eating and he just wasnt himself, I knew it was time for him to leave me. But only I made the disission.. this was 2 years ago. but I knew it was time for him. Im very sorry about you're doggy.

Doris123 · #7 02-18-2007, 07:39 PM

I'm so sorry, we had to go through that a few times with our shepherds. If she definitely isn't in pain you could wait a few days, but if she starts having accidents she will feel degraded and not enjoy life. As was mentioned before, you will know when you look into her eyes, almost like they ask for mercy. Just be there to hold her when it's time and hug her, she'll know that you are releasing her and will be happy.