<p>Our beloved 13+ year old lab is nearing that time. We have seen a gradual decline in the past year and a rapid decline in the past week. I have filled out numerous Quality of Life forms and he falls into the same spot on all of them. I know this is the right thing and don’t have any reasonable reservations. </p>
<p>He is very anxious and his mobility is worse every day. I have found a mobile vet that will come to the house and euthanize him here at home. The idea of putting him in a car (and I would have to lift his 75 lb body) and taking him to a place that terrifies him seems cruel. For the most part, I am at peace though of course I am heartbroken.</p>
<p>We have two boys off at school, both taking summer classes. They want to come home to say good bye but can’t come until Father’s Day weekend. The mobile vet is coming later this week for a consult to discuss pain management and other things we can do to keep him comfortable. I thought I was okay with putting it off for about 2 weeks, but today I am struggling. Of course, if he gets very uncomfortable I will not wait and I told the kids that. I am not sure if it is reasonable to wait for the kids. He is the only pet they have ever had. </p>
<p>With so many of you with dog avatars, someone on cc must have dealt with this. Any advice?</p>
<p>I had friends come help me move my big dog when it was time (and one stayed with me at the vet). I knew it was time when he didn’t wake up when we entered the house and when he was “forgetting” to go outside to pee…or only made it half out the door. </p>
<p>One thing to consider is what will happen to the body. </p>
<p>I would not wait for the kids, personally. I have put down two old cats and an old dog and think I waited too long in almost all of those situations. If I asked myself “who am I saving him for? why am I prolonging?” Is it him or me?</p>
<p>I am looking at my two goldens. The older, 14 and 1/2 years is still in good shape. My “baby” is about 13 and we have had her for 8 years. She isn’t doing well. The operation that she would need would be uncomfortable for the rest of her life…if the liver cancer doesn’t kill her first.</p>
<p>Mr. Ellebud’s criteria on when to “do” it? When a dog stops eating…can’t walk and doesn’t enjoy life. </p>
<p>Whitepicketfence: My heart goes out to you and your family. Personally I would try and wait. Saying good bye is never easy. not saying good bye is, for me, more difficult.</p>
<p>You love your dog. You know in your heart that he is suffering and it’s time for him to go.</p>
<p>For that reason, I do not think it is right to make your suffering, anxious animal linger for a week and a half. If it’s time, it is time, and you have to do the right thing for the animal you love.</p>
<p>I had to put our beloved schnoodle down back in January while my son was away at college. Son knew when he left home to return to campus in January that he would most likely not see our dog again. We took lots of pictures of them together before he left and I sent him pictures constantly during those last few weeks. I would not wait. If it is time, then do what you need to do. Take some final pictures and then make peace with your decision. My thoughts are with you; it was a rough experience.</p>
<p>I waited too long when S1 was away at school. Pet wound up dying in my arms the day before I planned to bring him in. Pet suffered that morning - was horrible. I would not wait. </p>
<p>Our lab was 16. She had been going downhill for a while, but my mother had died 9 months previously, and I admit that as long as ( our dog) still had good days, I did everything I could to help her be comfortable.
But then when it was time, it came fast.
As long as he is eating and drinking and is able to go outside and pain is able to be managed, he may still be able to enjoy life, and I would wait, just like people, he could have a chance to go surrounded by loved ones.</p>
<p>I lost a dog this April. He was nearly 14 and had been blind for over half his life. I’d spoken to the breeder on Friday – who is also a friend and fellow agility competitor – that he was not going to go on much longer. On Sunday he went out (I’d been carrying him out for months and then tottering around and coming back to the house) and he didn’t come back in his normal 10 minutes. I found him in a place he never ever went (he never left the driveway, not to mention across the entire yard to the far corner) and he was stuck, and deceased. My boys were not home, but they knew the end was near for him. My younger son is sad – this was pretty much his puppy – but he knew that Shadow was nearing the end.</p>
<p>I had Pekingese that was old and got very sick when I was a college. My parents called and let me know. I came home that weekend. I really believe that the dog waited until I got home because she passed away a couple hours after I got home. Perhaps your dog is waiting for the kids to come home. As long as your dog is comfortable I’d wait for the kids.</p>
<p>First of all, whitepicketfence , I am so sorry that you are going through this. It has happened several time for us with family pets over the last few years.
We had a golden retriever that had hip dysplasia and seemed to be declining in overall health in the last 6 months of her life. The vet never confirmed anything , but I suspect she had something else other than just the frequent hot spots and infections on her feet. She was riddled with bumps, but he told us they were just fat filled.
Either way, I felt that it would be more humane to put her down, but my husband kept putting it off. Although she had lost weight , she still was a large dog ( compared to my corgis at least ) It got to the point where my husband had to carry her outside to pee. She need up dying peacefully here at home, discovered by our daughter while we were working.
I was upset and felt like we let her down , but a very compassionate, animal loving friend told me that it was better for her to go at home, where she was comfortable …it eased my guilt a little.
Also, while my oldest daughter was in the midst of her senior high school play , we had to put her favorite cat down and she was really upset with us.
Maybe , if you can, keep the plan for your sons to come home father’s day weekend so they at least have a chance to say goodbye</p>
<p>I know this is hard on you. Because it is only a couple weeks away and because the kids asked you to wait, I would try to honor that request. The dog will feel like a king that weekend and the kids will love brushing him, giving hugs and having their pix taken with him. </p>
<p>So sad for you. My buddy is going to 14 in July and has slowed down considerably in the last year. The vet says she is very healthy for her age though. I like the idea of the vet who comes to the house. My dog is absolutely terrified of the vet office and i just couldn’t do it unless it was an emergency situation. </p>
<p>As far as whether to wait for your boys, that’s a tough one. I think I would go day to day.</p>
<p>I agree with Mr. Ellebud (assuming that the inability to walk isn’t just temporary, with a possible positive outcome). After months of chemo, our rescue golden, who had at one point recovered well and then declined again, became unable to walk and was reduced to peeing in her bed. I was out of state, helping my sister, who had had emergency surgery. I had hoped that she would make it until I got home, but at that point I felt I was just being selfish. Her (wonderful and caring) oncologist thought it was time, so my H and he put her to sleep. </p>
<p>I think that if your dog is eating and walking, you can wait for the kids to get home. If things change, you may have to act, though.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your input. My sweet lab had a great day today…I posted during his long afternoon nap and when he got up, he was the best he had been in a couple of weeks. He ate on his own, barked at the dog next door, wagged his tail when my husband got home and responded to me each time I engaged him. This did not happen yesterday. Or for two days before. While I know he is still at the end of his life, this gave me some hope we can keep him happy and comfortable for a couple of weeks so the boys can say goodbye.</p>
<p>Knowing we have a vet to come to the house is a huge relief. My husband travels often and there is no way I could do this by myself if he was out of town. For a couple of years, this worried me. Someone upthread mentioned finding a way to deal with the body of a large dog. The service I found the mobile vet through also takes care of that and our sweet dog will have an individual cremation. Not fun to think about but none of this is. If you need this service, google at home euthanasia. It is actually pretty easy to find. </p>
<p>Hugs to all of you missing your dogs and cats and other furry family members. </p>
<p>Hugs to you. Keep an eye on the pup and see how he does - maybe he can have a few more relatively ok days. (Our dog walked over the rainbow bridge on Halloween almost 3 years ago, and I still cannot talk about him without tearing up. )</p>
<p>We had to say goodbye to our almost 5-year old lab on Monday. He had bone cancer, which we’d treated with leg amputation and then 6 months of chemo. He seemed to be doing well, but 3 weeks ago started coughing and lost his appetite (big signal for a lab). The x-ray showed a 3"x4" mass in his lung and 2 smaller masses. So we knew it was only a matter of time. Prednisone helped him do much better for almost 3 weeks. On his last day he was OK in the morning, but by early afternoon he was going downhill fast. My wife got him to the vet and I got home in time to be with him when our vet euthanized him, but he was clearly in great distress by then. My wife said he had gotten so much worse in the space of only a couple of hours.</p>
<p>So enjoy your dog while you still have him. He may hang in there for another couple of weeks, or he may go downhill quite rapidly. Don’t leave it too long - it’s very distressing both for the pet and the pet’s family. Our daughter got to see our sweet dog the day before he passed, as she lives close by. Our two sons didn’t have the chance, as one is in Minnesota finishing his senior year at college and the other is living in LA for the summer. Part of being a pet parent is doing the right thing for them, whether or not it fits into your human schedule or calendar.</p>
<p>Maybe you can skype with the kids so they can see the dog one last time? Its possible the dog may pass away even without your having to make the ultimate tough decision. Nice to be able to let the kids say goodbye.</p>
<p>dadx3, so sorry about your Lab. I completely agree with you. </p>
<p>When I had to put my much loved Lab to sleep a few years ago, he had been on prednisone for his lymphoma. When it was time, it was time. I knew. You will know too. I still think about him every day, even though Sabadog and Sabapup make it hard to feel sad. Please don’t wait until his condition causes everyone to suffer. </p>
<p>OP here. I am sorry for all you pet parents who have had to go through this. It is obvious how much you all care about animals and I assure you I would never let it go on too long. If I err, it will be on the side of too soon. I watched my brother die a slow, miserable death. The past few years, I have watched my mother’s quality of life waste away. I will do the right thing. It is not time yet. </p>
<p>He is eating normally and able to get outside on his own. HIs anxiety level has been low the past 18 hours or so. (We rescued him when he was a year old and he always was anxious. He must have gone through some real hell) After a few days of avoiding contact with us, last night he wanted to be in his usual spot between us on the couch. This morning, he has wanted companionship. Not in that “I’m scared, help me” way, but in that “sit next to me and rub my ears” way. </p>
<p>I will continue to watch him closely. I have heard of animals (and people) rallying and having some really good days before they die. I don’t know if that is what is happening here. I look forward to the mobile vet visit later this week so I can be assured we are doing all we can for him. Sigh. It is just so hard. </p>
<p>I think eating normally & going outside by himself are huge quality of life markers.
We would look askance at someone who said their elderly relative who did those things should be euthanized.
However, tramadol might help him.
Labs often don’t show they are in pain.</p>