when to put your own animal to sleep?

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Karen S — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:46:11 GMT

I am so so sorry :( I lost my precious GSD girl yesterday... going to post about that now as i am lost and dead inside. My thoughts are with you. X

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Rachel Jayne — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:31:15 GMT

Thanks everyone. x

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

loopylou711 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:49:16 GMT

aw hope you are ok.

hugs

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Saskia Quinn — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:43:53 GMT

Aw Rachel, glad it went smoothly. Letting your other pets see was also a good idea as they will understand.

Thinking of you xxx

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Rachel Jayne — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:22:08 GMT

Thanks Vicky. x

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Vicky RVN — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:18:26 GMT

You def have done the right thing by her. I can understand exactly how you feel after loosing Poppy on monday, i can feel my emotions welling up just thinking about it and thinking how you must feel right now. I'm so so sorry for you loss xxx

R.I.P little girl, sleep peacefully x

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Rachel Jayne — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:12:20 GMT

Thank you everyone.

The vet just left about 20 mins ago.

She wend quite peacefully (altho she jump of the needle initially, so had to go in tehother leg) up in her favourite spot on the foot or our bed on Nath's side where she always used to sleep.

The vet cried too! It was all very emotional, I've never seen Nath cry so much before

Her friend Sooty was in the room at the time & we've let Spot the dog & Boots the bunny (who always liked her) see her since so they'd understand.

I feel sad, but relived too, as I know she's not suffering anymore.
Afterwards, the vet felt her belly & could feel a thick hardened mass in her intestine, I felt it too, felt like a pebble & her stomach was really hard too so know it was the right decision.

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Saskia Quinn — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:57:42 GMT

[quote user="Vicky C"]

Rachel, i have been thinking of you today. I hope it went smoothly.

xxx

[/quote]

same here

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Vicky RVN — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:32:52 GMT

Rachel, i have been thinking of you today. I hope it went smoothly.

xxx

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Maisy — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:16:12 GMT

to Kaz and Rachel

I had our old family dog pts in September, and my family kept asking if we were doing the right thing and wanted to know what would happen if we kept going a little longer. Truth is you know when the time is right, it's never easy to decide though it does sound like it is the right time for Zoey.

Will be thinking of you all this afternoon and I hope it goes as well as it possibly can, I'm sure it will help a lot that Zoey is at home with her family.

Take care.

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

kaz84 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 03:41:36 GMT

thank you.. it was an extremely hard decision to make. what sucks even more was the fact that i had to do it myself, as a nurse i dont think ive ever been put into such a difficult situation. but as soon as it was done, so much weight was lifted and i could actually breathe.

if i could turn back time, i would have treated her differently. firstly i wouldnt just jump into surgery. i would just do an FNA, see what the lab has to say. chest rads first up if all was clear then i would go through with surgery. but what is done is done. i still find myself thinking about her from time to time and get rather upset. i thought i always had a great understanding of what our clients go through but i truly didnt.. during euthanasia procedures i would detached.... but until it happens to our own, i now have a much greater respect for owners/euth situations and the grieving process. but at the end out the day only you will know when the time is right to PTS and QOL matters.

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Rachel Jayne — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:37:11 GMT

This really couldn't have come at a worse time, as I start my new job on Monday morning....

It's a sorry way to look at it, but in a sense I think it's a good thing as my mind will be taken off wallowing too much.

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Rachel Jayne — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:35:43 GMT

Thank you.

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Vicky RVN — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:30:30 GMT

Oh hun i'm sorry, i'll be thinking of you tomorrow

I can understand you taking her to the crem yourself, that is what i'd do with Jack. Then you know they've been handled with love.

I wish i could say more to help but there is nothing more to say really. Other than she is a very lucky kitty to have been so well looked after and loved, and you are doing the right thing for her. but you already know that.

xxx

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Rachel Jayne — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:07:03 GMT

Thanks for all your kind words of support.

Spoke to the vet earlier after writing post - she's gonna come out to my house tomorrow afternooon to do it

Is very good of her as she lives a good 30 miles away from me, but she offered & would be nicer for Zoey.

My in-laws just left after visiting her for the last time - tears all round, and questions as to why I can't leave it till after christmas, but I managed to make them understand why.

Nath said he doesn't want to have to look at her afterwards & doesn't want her buried, so will wrap her up & take her down to the crematorium on monday morning hopefully.

I don't really like the idea of cremation (after reading an article about the physical process of it) but I have to respect Nath's wishes.

I want to take her down myself, as having seen part of the disposal process myself, I can't bear to tie her up in a plastic bag & have her thrown into the back of a van....

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Saskia Quinn — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:09:28 GMT

Aw Rachel, so so sorry to hear that

However, I echo what Sal has already said - there is a fine line between ending their suffering before it gets too much, and letting them go too far.

As I said previously, as pet owners, we always know when the time has come.

If its any consolation, I think you are doing the right thing - hard as it may be xxx

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Sal the 1st — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:10:01 GMT

the thing to remember from this is that you have done everything you can for her - she has been loved and cared for all the time she has shared your lives and that appointment on Monday although it will be very sad will be an act of kindness.

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Rachel Jayne — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:51:55 GMT

Thanks for your comments guys,

Have chatted to Nath (hubby) quite a bit #& have decided that she's not got the best QOL at the mo, have appointment with vet on monday morning & will be probably be having her put to sleep....

She doesn't come running down the stairs to greet you when you come home anymore, in fact she hardly ever comes downstairs, she doesn't want to eat, (I brought her some of those little gourmet cans of food today and she just turned her head away, which is totally not like her) & she doesn't fuss around Nath anymore, wheras she was always his shadow.

It's so sad.... there's a real somber attitude in our house at the moment, the other animals are picking up on it too we think.
Nath's sister is coming round to see her & say goodbye this evening...

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Saskia Quinn — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:06:56 GMT

aw Rachel, I am really sorry to hear that

As for when the time has come, I echo what others have already said. In your own heart of hearts, you will know when the time has come. It may be something simple, like not wagging their tail anymore, not barking and acknowledging when they see you - those are little things which my Rosie does - and when she ceases to do those things when she sees me, I will know her time has come.

It is never easy and I dont envy you - however, it is very likely I will have to make a similar decision in the near future. All you can do is have quality time until that time comes.

Thinking of you xxx

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Vicky RVN — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:55:19 GMT

I second what Sal has said xxx

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Sal the 1st — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:37:44 GMT

trust your own judgement - you will know when the time is right

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Rachel Jayne — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:34:35 GMT

[quote user="Vicky C"]

I have commented on facebook but will here too. I am so so sorry to hear about your kitty. You have given her her best shot and she's had a good 8 years being loved by you and your hubby. Thinking of you all x

[/quote]

Thanks Vicky,

She's still ok atm, just really quiet & not really eating much... :(

It's difficult to know when to call it....

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Saskia Quinn — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:57:17 GMT

What a lovely story Emma! That has really made me smile! Thank you for sharing it with us

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Emma Bartlett — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:55:10 GMT

My female rott had her leg amputated after being diagnosed with a high grade osteosarcoma, as it was such a shock to us ( i was convinced she had a ruptured cruciate!) i decided on the amputation as palliative care, after having her chest x-rayed to check that there were no obvious signs of spread, to keep her comfortable while we came to terms with the fact that we would only have her a few more months. I felt guilty at the time for keeping her for selfish reasons but she wasn't using the leg and was getting around easily without any distress.......well i'm so glad i took that route..............i still have her 2 years and 7 months on......without chemo and when i see her disappearing across the fields after rabbits it makes me smile. I am still prepared for losing her but we take each day as it comes and i will always have lots of really happy memories as she is such a happy dog

I think with having rotts we always have to be prepared for the problems, i know i am but i love them and wouldn't be without one...or two!! We see quite a few RWA rotts and i remember we gave a puppy with an, awful heart, to a client who said she would give her a home until she became unwell..........she still has her 5 years later it still makes us all laugh as she is showing no signs of slowing down!

Re: when to put your own animal to sleep?

Lolita — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:20:21 GMT

So sorry for your loss Kaz