Putting a pet down

[Havenostaples]

This has to be one of the toughest things I have had to do. I have a 9 year old American Bulldog that I adopted as an abuse rescue 2 years ago. Tests just came back from the vet showing that she has incurable chronic kidney failure. I made the decision today to put her to sleep on Monday morning. The only other option is to put her on 4 or 5 different medicines and a specific kidney diet. This option is not a cure and is just a prolonging/maintaining effort. I think the reason why I decided to put her asleep was because I know she was abused and treated so badly before her rescue. I feel that her end needs to be peaceful and pain free. Is it wrong that I am possibly forfeiting a few months of her life where she may be feel decent and still be happy living? Why do I feel so guilty?


Joe

[tupper65]

It sounds like you made the right decision. If you're prolonging the her life of pain, that would really be better for you and not your dog. Sometimes it's better to let her be at peace. Try to be there with her at the vet to ensure her passing is as calm as possible.

[cupcakelove]

I'm sorry to hear about your dog. Its the right decision to let her go. You should not feel guilty for making either decision, you are not responsible for her kidney failure.

[buzzard]

This has to be one of the toughest things I have had to do. I have a 9 year old American Bulldog that I adopted as an abuse rescue 2 years ago. Tests just came back from the vet showing that she has incurable chronic kidney failure. I made the decision today to put her to sleep on Monday morning. The only other option is to put her on 4 or 5 different medicines and a specific kidney diet. This option is not a cure and is just a prolonging/maintaining effort. I think the reason why I decided to put her asleep was because I know she was abused and treated so badly before her rescue. I feel that her end needs to be peaceful and pain free. Is it wrong that I am possibly forfeiting a few months of her life where she may be feel decent and still be happy living? Why do I feel so guilty?


JoeWhat you're doing takes a lot of guts and plenty of Love,you shouldn't feel any guilt!Though this may seem easy to say,I've been exactly where you are friend,It Sucks! try to remember that the sifting process of our lives will remove the guilt and leave you with a special feeling knowing that she'll be in a better place and that she ended the cycle of abuse via your compassionate decision to Love and take care of her needs first. I wish you both well.

[A.J.]

This has to be one of the toughest things I have had to do. I have a 9 year old American Bulldog that I adopted as an abuse rescue 2 years ago. Tests just came back from the vet showing that she has incurable chronic kidney failure. I made the decision today to put her to sleep on Monday morning. The only other option is to put her on 4 or 5 different medicines and a specific kidney diet. This option is not a cure and is just a prolonging/maintaining effort. I think the reason why I decided to put her asleep was because I know she was abused and treated so badly before her rescue. I feel that her end needs to be peaceful and pain free. Is it wrong that I am possibly forfeiting a few months of her life where she may be feel decent and still be happy living? Why do I feel so guilty?


Joe

When I was a kid we had to put our dog down. The poor thing was in pain and an expensive surgical procedure wasn't going to make its quality of life much better. It was awful thing to have to do but it was the right thing to do.

Pity we can't do the same thing for people when they're suffering.

[Skellington]

Euthanizing a pet is heartbreaking, but you did the right thing. Look at the positive side that you rescued this dog and gave it the best 2 years it has had it's entire life. Guilt is just a part of grieving. It will pass. Just focus on the good.

[MadBiker]

This has to be one of the toughest things I have had to do. I have a 9 year old American Bulldog that I adopted as an abuse rescue 2 years ago. Tests just came back from the vet showing that she has incurable chronic kidney failure. I made the decision today to put her to sleep on Monday morning. The only other option is to put her on 4 or 5 different medicines and a specific kidney diet. This option is not a cure and is just a prolonging/maintaining effort. I think the reason why I decided to put her asleep was because I know she was abused and treated so badly before her rescue. I feel that her end needs to be peaceful and pain free. Is it wrong that I am possibly forfeiting a few months of her life where she may be feel decent and still be happy living? Why do I feel so guilty?


Joe


This post is making me teary-eyed. You are making the right decision. Stay by her side, rub her belly or behind her ears, and make her last moments soothing and peaceful.

Diabetes is robbing my cat of a normal, pain-free life and I am faced with the same decision. It is never easy, but I would not want to live in pain just for the sake of seeing a few more months go by, and I would not expect any animal to have to do the same.

The guilt comes from the fact that you have a conscience, period.

[Chigworthy]

As everyone else has said, it is the right thing to do. I've held two of my dogs in the past two years as they were put down, and it was very hard, but the alternatives were inhumane. As pet owners, we take on the burden that we will most likely outlast our pets.

[boeman]

Of course you feel bad about it... There's nothing wrong with that.

You made the right choice... Deal with the grief and move on to another cause... There are plenty of other abused animals that really deserve your love and care.

[Bulldogcakes]

When it comes to expensive end of life medical treatments, I usually think they're excessive. I know you want to provide for their needs, because you know how much they depend on you. But when it comes to end of life care I think its even a bit selfish on our part to keep them around longer than they're meant to be. When its they're time, let them go. Its a shame to try to make one dog live longer when thousands are euthanized daily for lack of good homes. Your job is to give a dog a home, food, and all the love you have in your heart every day for as long as you have the lil guy/gal.

If you want to make yourself feel better about this decision, adopt your next pet from a local rescue/shelter and maybe make a donation which is some portion or percentage of what the vet bills would have been, and make the donation in the pets name. Saving some of his buddies will make him very popular in Doggie Heaven I'm sure.

[Fez4PrezN2008]

It is quick and painless and the right thing to do when the times comes but damn does it tug at your heart afterwards. I had to put down our 12 yr old yellow lab a few years ago and I cried like a baby for a day and a half. We've had some fun with other threads talking about saving a stranger or a pet from drowning and I am sure we're really value human life more than a dog or a cat but they really do become part of the family and it hurts when they have to go, no way around it but it will get better. I wish the best for you.

[King Imp]

I definitely feel for you Havenostaples. I have had to put two pets to sleep and it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I absolutely love animals and it completely broke my heart to do so, even though I knew it was for the best. Reading your post actually brought a tear to my eye.

Even though you do feel guilt, know that you did the right thing. She was not going to get better and eventually she would have gottten worse and been in terrible pain. Better to spare the poor animal that grief and let them go peacefully, no matter how hard it is. Jesus Christ, I'm tearing up again typing this.

[Havenostaples]

Thanks everyone for all the sincere thoughts and kind words. Hearing other peoples thoughts helps a lot.

[MadBiker]

Thanks everyone for all the sincere thoughts and kind words. Hearing other peoples thoughts helps a lot.

Don't worry, she will be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge (http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm).

All the best of luck and strength to you on Monday.

[Febreeze]

We just went through a similar situation with a 3 year old cat. Last week it had a stroke, and lost the use of its back legs in 24 hours. I felt worse for my son who loved the little gal. We now officially have a pet grave yard out back.

Its always brutal, but its the right thing to do.