Putting down my dog

[lazy farmer]

not sure if this the right place to put this so mods please move to the relevant section.

This week I will be putting down my 14 yr old Labrador friend smudge. The balance of quality of life has now tilted the wrong way.
I have tears as I type this.
Any words of wisdom the collective can give me on the run up to this event and the days to follow will be more than gratefully received.

In case the above does convey the fact enough I am a sentimental fool.

 

[spin cycle]

you're doing the right thing...'smudge' has had a lovely life.....thats the truth....ATB

 

[Paddington]

We all are sentimental fools when it comes to dogs.

 

[JP1]

not sure if this the right place to put this so mods please move to the relevant section.

This week I will be putting down my 14 yr old Labrador friend smudge. The balance of quality of life has now tilted the wrong way.
I have tears as I type this.
Any words of wisdom the collective can give me on the run up to this event and the days to follow will be more than gratefully received.

In case the above does convey the fact enough I am a sentimental fool.

You're no fool and nobody who's never owned a dog can feel what you are feeling now

Go with your gut instinct about when the time is right. My last two I probably let them run on too long under a welter of medical conditions.

I would keep things calm, make one last fuss, book an appointment at the vet, let them put in a cannula away from you. Be there in the client room when the dose of anaesthetic is given and see your dog right at the end. I've always taken my dogs straight home and buried them in one of their favourite items of bedding

I know it sounds easy but I would then go out and find another dog.

I know how you're feeling right now , I was there twice last year and it was heart breaking

 

[gone up the hill]

Very sorry to hear this news lazy farmer

You are doing what is right for your dog and that is what matters.

You will always have a lifetime of memory's with you and Smudge will always be with you in spirit.

 

[RushesToo]

Dig the hole where you are going to bury him before the vet arrives, it is a dreadful job to do afterwards.
Get the vet to your house and have him do it there. Feed favourite titbits as the vet puts the canula in and pushes the dose.

It's all pretty sh!t TBH, but make it as good as possible for Smudge.
Remember you have done the right thing, not the easy thing.

 

[milkloss]

Sorry to hear this. As farmers and dog owners our job is to give them the best life we can irrespective of what their ‘job’ is. Remember the good times and, when you’re ready, see if you can give another young dog the opportunities and life you gave Smudge.

 

[JP1]

Sorry to hear this. As farmers and dog owners our job is to give them the best life we can irrespective of what their ‘job’ is. Remember the good times and, when you’re ready, see if you can give another young dog the opportunities and life you gave Smudge.

^^^ this

 

[unlacedgecko]

Terrible news. You are definitely doing the right thing.

6 months too soon is better than 6 days too late.

Method is up to you, but I've always put down my own dogs with 12 gauge. All my dogs hate the vet and I see it as my duty to see them out, not let a stranger do it.

 

[David.]

An unenviable responsibility, sorry.
May I suggest you have the job done at home, in the old boy's own environment?
Most dogs associate vet surgeries with stress, and the unpleasant things that happen there, and I would not willingly take a dog of mine there for his final journey. A nice ear rub in the garden whilst the vet takes care of things seems much kinder.
If an owner can stomach it, I believe that a last walk in the fields, from which only one of you will return is the kindest way of all; bullet through the back of the head that they have not seen coming, fast asleep. If this seems callous to you, I apologise.
You have a miserable week facing you and I gave been there several times, I take comfort in the fact that they dont mind being dead, but they mind suffering a great deal.
It is the price we pay for the few short years of unquestioning friendship and devotion.
Nothing remotely foolish about having to wipe "dust out of your eyes" as you bury a dog.

 

[yellowbelly]

Sorry to hear about this @lazy farmer . As farmers we deal with life and death on a daily basis but there's just something about dogs that gets to even the most hardened, grizzled, old bu66ers amongst us.

I've some good dogs buried about the place and often remember them with a smile when I walk past.

Take some comfort from all the good times you've shared and the fact that you are now doing the 'right thing'.

I'd recommend finding a young dog ASAP.

Nothing remotely foolish about having to wipe "dust out of your eyes" as you bury a dog.

Very true.

 

[Pan mixer]

I had to make this choice just the other day as it may be remembered from another post.

I am now content that I did the right thing by the old boy although I still miss him.

I was surprised to receive an 'in sympathy card' from the vet surgery signed by everyone in the practice.

I am still not sure what to make of this - this is a different vet than the one we use for the farm animals and the card only came after I had paid the bill for them to come out and put him to sleep on our lawn in the sunshine.

Perhaps the farm vet should start this sort of thing too?

 

[Boysground]

An unenviable responsibility, sorry.
May I suggest you have the job done at home, in the old boy's own environment?
Most dogs associate vet surgeries with stress, and the unpleasant things that happen there, and I would not willingly take a dog of mine there for his finance journey. A nice ear rub in the garden whilst the vet takes care of things seems much kinder.
If an owner can stomach it, I believe that a last walk in the fields, from which only one of you will return is the kindest way of all; bullet through the back of the head that they have not seen coming, fast asleep. If this seems callous to you, I apologise.
You have a miserable week facing you and I gave been there several times, I take comfort in the fact that they dont mind being dead, but they mind suffering a great deal.
It is the price we pay for the few short years of unquestioning friendship and devotion.
Nothing remotely foolish about having to wipe "dust out of your eyes" as you bury a dog.

I couldn’t do it but that is what a friend of mine does. Last time we did it had the vet come out to us which was a very good decision.

Bg

 

[neilo]

Sorry to hear this @lazy farmer , but it’s our duty as animal keepers to see them right. I get quite angry when people keep them going, dogs especially, despite their quality of life being miserable. It’s a crap job, but it is our duty to them.

I’d agree with above about getting the vet to come to you, assuming you’ve to get a vet to do the deed. I can put most animals down but I think shooting a loved dog would have me miss through too much dust in my eyes.
Have the deed done quietly, somewhere he’s happy. My last old lady went to sleep in her kennel with me stroking her and chatting with a very gentle vet.
In the past, i’ve Taken my girlfriend’s dog to be shot by the huntsman at our local kennels, as that was his favourite place in the world. He was wagging his tail as the deed was done. I should perhaps add that she had asked me to do it and she has since become my wife.

Good luck.

 

[Walton2]

Well put David....had it done at home twice now.Heartbreaking for whole family ,of course, but we all agreed it was the best way afterwards. I think you know the time is right, when it happens.

 

[wrenbird]

We had Sky put to sleep at Easter. She had been diagnosed with an aggressive type of cancer back in January. It was terminal,nothing could be done except palliative care as the disease progressed. The diagnose was hard to understand because she was still zooming around ,full of life and keen to work. We were worried that because of that,and because she was always such a hard little devil anyway,would never back down from anyone or anything! we were in danger of prolonging her life beyond the point that we should. The vet treating her told us not to worry,nobody knew her better than we did and we would know when the time had come.
She lived through lambing,although it was clear by then that she was not well, she was still keen and,as far as we could tell,not in any great pain, still spending hours staring at any ewe in the adopter crate and just loving doing what she had always done.
On Easter Sunday,something made me wake up early.Our dogs have always lived outside but Sky had been brought into the kitchen as she became more poorly. I let her out,she went and sat on the lawn for about 10 minutes,came in and lay in her bed. She never moved from there again,one of the large animal vets that she knew came out and put her to sleep at home. It was peaceful and quiet, and tears are welling up again as I write this. They are our dearest companions and workmates saying goodbye is never easy.

 

[nick...]

Some good points mentioned but get the vet to your home to do the inevitable.less stress on you and your best friend.im really sorry for your situation and it’s the worst thing in the world.my last collie died in my mums arms whilst I was calling the vet.still upsets me now that I was not with her when she went.i wish you well
Nick...

 

[Lili]

When the vet came out to put my old collie down, I just hugged him, talked to him and held his leg out while the vet slipped the needle in. He'd gone before the syringe was empty. I took comfort that he was at home and that I was able to be with him. In a way it was a relief because I think I'd let him go longer than I should have. It's a very difficult decision for you to make - balancing quality of life and your own love of the dog. I had a young dog already at the time and she's helped but I do miss him a lot.

 

[muppet]

So sorry to hear about Smudge, but you’re definitely making the right decision even though it’s heartbreaking.

I had the vet come out and do a home visit to put my boy down. He was in his bed by the aga, led across my lap. Still makes me cry.

 

[MrNoo]

Had it here with a Lab, he had cancer and was unsure as to how long to leave him, speaking to the vet, he said that he will let me know when the time is right. One morning he was below par and that was it, I then made the decision and called the vet out, lunchtime he was due. Took the old boy for a nice long walk, vet arrived and that was it.
I would agree with digging a grave before the deed is done, much easier. I have had to bury numerous friend's dogs as they have not been in a fit state to do it themselves, especially with children involved.
I couldnt bring myself to shoot my own dog, my father has no qualms but I am afraid I couldnt live with myself if it wasnt done cleanly.
I also find that once done, it helps if you clear out all things associated with the dog, beds, bowls etc as they are reminders that you can do without when feeling raw after the event.
Then going forward, you just have to remember the good/funny times that occurred, it does get better after time.