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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / June 2004Euthanizing a dog
I know this is a cat group, but I don't want to join another ng. We have a 13-year-old cocker. He's been a good dog, but can no longer hold his bodily functions. We have him gated in the laundry room (it's 1st floor, sunny...not dreary basement) because he pees and poops on the carpet if he has free reign. He's also totally deaf. Sometimes he wanders away right as we watch, and we have to go after him. Sometimes we feel bad for him, and let him out, but he immediately eats the cat litter and the kids' crayons and poops on the floor. We've tried tying him outside in nice weather, with a nice long cable, but he just stands there and barks. We have no indication that he's in pain. He drinks as much water as we can give him, which could be diabetes and/or kidney failure. But as far as we know, no cancer or horrible disease. What criteria do you use for this horrible decision? His quality of life is zero! We try bringing him back into the normal family life, but he just squats down and relieves himself right in front of us! Do we just wait for him to pass away, or do we end it? It's so painful. He's such an old man. > Do we just wait for him to pass away, or do we end it? > It's so painful. He's such an old man. Mitch, you already know the answer. He's yours. It's your decision and it sounds to me like you have already made it. >Mitch, you already know the answer. He's yours. It's your decision and it >sounds to me like you have already made it. Not really. He's been in the same condition for months. I don't want to murder him out of convenience. Once it's done, it can't be undone. I keep looking at photos...he's in so many. I keep thinking that there may be so much regret if we do it. We honestly don't know if it's better to let nature play out, or if we should step in. Please..anyone who has had to make this decision, offer some advice. The vet just says "whatever you think is best." > >Mitch, you already know the answer. He's yours. It's your decision and it > >sounds to me like you have already made it. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Please..anyone who has had to make this decision, offer some advice. > The vet just says "whatever you think is best." Does he still wag his tail when you pet him? Does he seem to be in any kind of pain? It can be hard to determine just what quality of life he's still enjoying. So often pets will subtly tell you when they're ready to check out. Just don't miss the signs. My parents waited until their dog was deaf and blind and tumbling down the stairs. That was too long. If your vet is going to say that then I would definately get another vet to look at the dog. It is possible there might be an easy solution to this problem.  SignaturePanther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs! www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com > Please..anyone who has had to make this decision, offer some advice. > The vet just says "whatever you think is best." > If your vet is going to say that then I would definately get another vet to > look at the dog. It is possible there might be an easy solution to this > problem. You're just nuts. What the veterinarian said is exactly what the veterinarian should have said. Laura Laura, how many times are you going put out the wrong info? If a vet said that to me about my cats I would seek out another for a second opinion. The "that's up to you" response would be enough for me to have that doctor replaced with one who could potentially heal. You may think otherwise (your response certainly states that) but I don't believe in euthanasia unless the animal is truly suffering and there is no way to save them. SignaturePanther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs! www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com > You're just nuts. What the veterinarian said is exactly what the > veterinarian should have said. > > Laura >Laura, how many times are you going put out the wrong info? I suspect she's about to tear you a new a**hole. This should be interesting. BTW, here's a free clue: Vets can't judge the quality of life of a pet. They don't know whether they're sad, or happy, or enjoying life, or miserable. Only the owner can. The vet can try to diagnose illness, and treat it. To allow a pet to die with dignity *is* the decision of the owner. Sherry > >Laura, how many times are you going put out the wrong info? > > I suspect she's about to tear you a new a**hole. This should be interesting. Nah, not until I'm at home. :-D Laura > Laura, how many times are you going put out the wrong info? You are *such* a wingnut. What wrong info, doofus? Oh, why do I bother; you're constantly teetering on the line between incoherence and insanity, anyway. > If a vet said > that to me about my cats I would seek out another for a second opinion. The > "that's up to you" response would be enough for me to have that doctor > replaced with one who could potentially heal. You may think otherwise (your > response certainly states that) but I don't believe in euthanasia unless the > animal is truly suffering and there is no way to save them. You're a moron, and as always, totally missed the point. Laura Just what is your problem Laura that you have to resort to name calling and put downs? Can't you act like an adult here? I guess I'll just add you to the killfile list since I am actually asking the impossible. SignaturePanther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs! www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com > You are *such* a wingnut. What wrong info, doofus? Oh, why do I bother; > you're constantly teetering on the line between incoherence and [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Laura > Just what is your problem Laura that you have to resort to name calling and > put downs? Can't you act like an adult here? I guess I'll just add you to > the killfile list since I am actually asking the impossible. I'm crushed. Laura >> Just what is your problem Laura that you have to resort to name calling and >> put downs? Can't you act like an adult here? I guess I'll just add you to >> the killfile list since I am actually asking the impossible. >> >I'm crushed. >Laura not only are you a bitch, you're a sarcastic lying bitch. I'm sure you'll prove me wrong, that you're a sarcastic lying vindictive bitch. I take it you are talking about Laura here? SignaturePanther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs! www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com > not only are you a bitch, you're a sarcastic lying bitch. > > I'm sure you'll prove me wrong, that you're a sarcastic lying vindictive > bitch. > I take it you are talking about Laura here? No, it was talking to YOU! Sheesh. > > not only are you a bitch, you're a sarcastic lying bitch. > > > > I'm sure you'll prove me wrong, that you're a sarcastic lying vindictive > > bitch. > >> Just what is your problem Laura that you have to resort to name calling and > >> put downs? Can't you act like an adult here? I guess I'll just add you to [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > I'm sure you'll prove me wrong, that you're a sarcastic lying vindictive > bitch. And you are still stupid. Apologies to Churchill. >not only are you a bitch, you're a sarcastic lying bitch. My god, that's the best kind! > >not only are you a bitch, you're a sarcastic lying bitch. > > My god, that's the best kind! Hey, you wanna join our club? We're the Bitches! In article <slrncbepf9.t3o.The-Central- Scrutinizer@linux.client.comcast.net>, The-Central- Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com says... > >> Just what is your problem Laura that you have to resort to name calling and > >> put downs? Can't you act like an adult here? I guess I'll just add you to [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > I'm sure you'll prove me wrong, that you're a sarcastic lying vindictive > bitch. <stifles yawn> What is that whining noise? Laura >> Just what is your problem Laura that you have to resort to name calling and >> put downs? Can't you act like an adult here? I guess I'll just add you to [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Laura I thought he said he HAD killfiled you?!? eq, talking to myself.... circa Mon, 31 May 2004 18:48:03 -0400, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, equalizer <> (equalizer <>) said, > >> Just what is your problem Laura that you have to resort to name calling and > >> put downs? Can't you act like an adult here? I guess I'll just add you to [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > I thought he said he HAD killfiled you?!? He's killfiled most of Usenet. Guess he had to let some out so he'd have something to get all het up over. > eq, talking to myself.... Shhhhh....nobody knows! Laura SignatureI am Dyslexia of Borg, Your a.s will be laminated. Laura R. <lrobinson@technologist.com> wrote: >> Laura, how many times are you going put out the wrong info? > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > You're a moron, and as always, totally missed the point. Get back to work. Bloomberg isn't paying you to have insane Internet fits at people. > >> Laura, how many times are you going put out the wrong info? > > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Get back to work. You should talk. You left out a large fry on that last order. Snap snap! Bloomberg isn't paying you to have insane Internet fits > at people. > Get back to work. Bloomberg isn't paying you to have insane Internet fits > at people. You are really a sad little critter. Laura >>Mitch, you already know the answer. He's yours. It's your decision and it >>sounds to me like you have already made it. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Please..anyone who has had to make this decision, offer some advice. > The vet just says "whatever you think is best." What does the vet say is wrong with him? Hard to answer without knowing what the circumstances are. Have you seen another vet for a second opinion? CMM > >Mitch, you already know the answer. He's yours. It's your decision and it > >sounds to me like you have already made it. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Please..anyone who has had to make this decision, offer some advice. > The vet just says "whatever you think is best." End it as soon as possible. -SJimmy >Not really. He's been in the same condition for months. >I don't want to murder him out of convenience. Once it's done, it [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Please..anyone who has had to make this decision, offer some advice. Mitch, I am so sorry. It's tough. I can make a comparison to the cat I had to put down a few years ago....concerning the qualify of life issue. He was in renal failure. He was over 17 years old. But he still was happy to see me, greeted me. He purred and enjoyed a head rub. He ate ok. I judged from this that he still enjoyed life. He whizzed a lot on the carpet. Vet visits were frequent. I cleaned up the carpet, and just resigned myself to replacing it when he was dead. I had that cat before I had kids. I owed him no less, I thought. Then he started to cry in the litterbox. He hid. He wouldn't eat much. That's when, one day I said, no more vet visits. I can't put him through it anymore. He's old, he deserves to die with dignity, and it's time. Geez, I miss that cat. But I don't have any regrets. Sherry > He drinks as much water as we can give him, which could be diabetes > and/or kidney failure. But as far as we know, no cancer or horrible > disease. Diabetes and kidney failure can be treated but it takes a bit of money and effort. Have your vet find out which it is, or if it is both. If it is diabetes you'll need to buy a blood sugar test kit and learn how to use it. You'll have to get the right insulin and learn how give him a shot once or twice a day. It isn't that difficult to learn. If it is kidney failure you'll need to learn how to get fluid into him every night or every other night. Your Vet can show you how. The fluids bags, tubing kits and needles can be purchased inexpensively online for a fraction of what your Vet will want to charge you. If you are willing to treat what is ailing him, then you won't feel guilty when he does finally reach the end of his life. Best of luck. My personal feeling on this issue is that if the animal isn't in physical pain, don't euthanize. The caveat here is that often humans project their own psychological pain of losing their pet onto the animal itself and believe their pet is in psychological pain of some kind. After many many years of owning pets, I've come to believe that they don't feel fear and psychological pain the way that we do. Your distress at your dog's loss of excretory control is probably not shared by your dog -- he could probably care less. How about putting him in a fenced yard and letting him potter about until his time comes? My sister and her husband had a brittany spaniel that lived to be about 16, and he basically hung out in the back yard for the last year. He was blind, deaf and incontinent, but he died naturally, and I think he enjoyed just having consciousness up to the time nature took him. It's much harder on you that it is on him -- try to make his last days comfortable and let nature take it's course. -- M9 > I know this is a cat group, but I don't want to join another ng. > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Do we just wait for him to pass away, or do we end it? > It's so painful. He's such an old man. Have you seen a vet about the dogs health. If he is not in pain , then there is a lot you can do. > We've tried tying him outside in nice weather, with a nice long cable, > but he just stands there and barks.>> A lot of dogs that are house dogs would do this if left outside on their own. he is an old dog but spaniels can live a lot longer than this. Alison > I know this is a cat group, but I don't want to join another ng. > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Do we just wait for him to pass away, or do we end it? > It's so painful. He's such an old man. > I know this is a cat group, but I don't want to join another ng. > > We have a 13-year-old cocker. He's been a good dog, but can no longer > hold his bodily functions. They make doggy diapers. > He's also totally deaf. Dogs live their whole lives deaf. ;) > We have no indication that he's in pain. Then I wouldn't put him down. > What criteria do you use for this horrible decision? His quality of > life is zero! We try bringing him back into the normal family life, > but he just squats down and relieves himself right in front of us! If the only issue is incontinence, use a doggy diaper. If he is really sick and in pain, that's one thing, but it sounds like the only reason he's got bad quality of life is because you don't want to clean up after him. Which, having a dog myself, I totally understand. It's gross and it makes the house stink. But you can prevent these problems by making sure he doesn't have to go (go out WITH him, schedule his water and food, etc), using a diaper just in case, and/or using a crate. You can get an extra large pet crate, put newspaper or towels down, and bring him in the room with you so he still interacts and feels like part of the family. I mean, what did you do when he was a puppy and not potty-trained? Do ask the vet if he has something treatable, assuming you have the desire, patience, and money to treat him. It may be fixable. Signature-- ~kaeli~ User: The word computer professionals use when they mean 'idiot'. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace > I know this is a cat group, but I don't want to join another ng. > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Do we just wait for him to pass away, or do we end it? > It's so painful. He's such an old man. Use a small caliber hand gun maybe a .22 or a .38 to splatter his brains on the concrete, or you could use a 12 gauge point blank, to paint the walls with his kidney failure. James Marz Born in lust, turn to dust. Born in sin? come on in! - Stephen King >I know this is a cat group, but I don't want to join another ng. > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] >Do we just wait for him to pass away, or do we end it? >It's so painful. He's such an old man. Thirty-nine years ago I made that decision regarding my 18 yearold cocker. Today I am still wondering if I did right or wrong. It is not easy. Purrs for you to feel good about whatever you decide. > What criteria do you use for this horrible decision? His quality of > life is zero! We try bringing him back into the normal family life, > but he just squats down and relieves himself right in front of us! > > Do we just wait for him to pass away, or do we end it? > It's so painful. He's such an old man. My friend's vet gave advice on the same question, about her elderly cat. He said when her cat no longer seems to enjoy anyone's company, no longer enjoys eating, and quits grooming, that would be the time to consider euthanasia. Dogs don't do much self-grooming, but I think you can get pretty good indications on the other two, and whether he appears to be suffering. It sounds as though you already sense that it's time, but need some assurance that it's okay not to wait until he dies. Signaturejamie (jamiemck@newsguy.com) "There's a seeker born every minute." |
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