Just had my dog put to sleep

[Foster]

I was away on business for a few weeks and my parents were watching my dog for me.
When I got home Thursday night and went to go pick up Copper, my dog, and my parents told me that for the last week he was having trouble controlling is bladder and pretty much ruined my parents carpet.
He was a little over 13 yrs, and was always very good about that; I've been working long hours the past few years and can't remember him having one accident. My parents told me he was going right in front of them, he didn't even seem to realize he was going.
Friday I took him to the Vet, they did blood work and took a urine sample, the Vet thought he proberly had diabetisi, which could be treated. The results came in today and he didn't have diabetisi, but something else and because of his age I should think about putting him down.
So, I took him for a nice walk, gave him as much food and snacks as he wanted to eat and took him back the Vet. It was so fucking hard to hold his head as the Vet stuck the needle in him. One second he was licking my nose, the next he was trying to get away like he sensed what was coming. And here I am holding him down and crying my eyes out.

This really sucks.

[ahhdurr]

Oh - man ... I was with that story right up to where you took him for a walk - fuck.:glurps:

I'm sorry.

[Lady Resin]

I'm so sorry for your lose foster. I've never owned a dog. But my sister did. She was so heart broken when she had to put Ditto down. Tears came to my eyes when you took him for his walk and him licking your nose. Hang in there.

[DonInNC]

That's nuts, sorry to hear it. Take comfort in the fact that he had a good life for 13 years, which is a lot better than what most dogs get.

[Bossanova]

So rry to his this brother. I sadly know exactly what you went through. Different stories, but held a dog a few weeks aho while she died. Its the worst feeling in the world, because they sense it, but you can't explain why. Cooper lived a nice long life though. I wish I could say you will get through this, but I am still sad about my dog from a few weeks ago and she wasnt even my pet.

Stay srong man

[sr71blackbird]

Oh man, I am so sorry. I remember when my sister had to have her dog put down and she was like a zombie. The dog was really suffering and it was humane to put him down, but it was devastating for her to do. I went with her to pick up his ashes and she totally lost it in the street, seeing this small can that held his remains. Try and look at the best side of it and know you did the right thing. She got herself a new puppy soon after and that seemed to help. Good luck and god bless. Make a memorial for him, like a rock with his name on it and put it in the garden. It helps with closure.

[donnie_darko]

funny how a story about someones dog can cause you to tear up, but if you told the same story involving a hospice and a relative i probably would've stopped reading half way through.

[WampusCrandle]

hey man, im really sorry to hear that. i remember having my dog needing surgery and one week later, his stomach exploded, and i couldn't believe that the doctor would tell me this, the day after Thanksgiving, when he initially died. i was heart broken - i haven't been able to bring myself to get a new dog since 2001.

[Tall_James]

That's heartbreaking. You have my deepest sympathy for your loss.

[Ritalin]

My dog died on Memorial Day, and it helped a lot to remember that I had a great life with her, and I was privileged to share time with her.

The saddest thing is that they don't live as long as we do.

Remember the good times.

[Jujubees2]

So sorry man. It's been a bad weekend for pets. I woke up Friday morning to find our older cat (she was about 20) on the floor and she couldn't move. So I took her to the vet and he said that they didn't know what was wrong but the prognosis wasn't good. We ended up having to have her put to sleep later that day. The kids took it hard as she had been with them all their lives.

[ahhdurr]

this still sucks.

[Brad_Rush]

Had to put a few of my dogs down over the years... it sucks. Sorry bro.

[PapaBear]

Sorry, bro. I can't imagine having to do that to my Buddy, though I'm sure it will happen one day. My parents waited until I left for boot camp before they put down my childhood dog, Spirit. I didn't know they were going to do it, and I dreamed about him the night they did it. I didn't find out about it until they came to my boot camp graduation.

[jennysmurf]

I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Being a responsible grown-up really sucks.:glurps:

[spoon]

Wow that's freaking tough. It's literally holding a family member in your arms and watching them die. The only difference is they love you unconditionally and have never said one thing bad to you, ever. It's beyond tough and I don't look forward to the day either of my dogs get there.

When I was a kid (around 9) my parents took my sick dog to the vet and he never came back. I got the feeling something was up when they had my sisters and I give him big hugs, kisses and love before they go, and both had glassy eyes. I found that and the fact that my grandmother came over to watch us bc both my parents were taking him to the vet this time. I INSISTED on going and my father looked me in the eye and said no, in a way the said don't make this tougher on them and I got the hint. To this day it hurts to think about it, but I couldn't imagine actually being there as they lived with him for over 15 years. It's never easy, but sometimes you have to make those tough calls. What did they say was wrong with him in the end?

[epo]

I remember being a teenager when my parents bought our family a cocker spaniel & the joy she brought us over the years. And I remember the sadness years later, even though I wasn't there when my parents made the decision to put her down.

Fuck that was a sad day. She was a beautiful animal that was in pain and they did the right thing....but it still hurt.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[Crippler]

Sorry for your loss, budday. Had to put down the family beagle a few years ago. He was nearly 18 years old & had definitely lived a good life, but rubbing his snout as he kissed my face & feeling him slip away after the injection was mentally toughest things I've ever been involved in. As it was said earlier, remember the good times & know you've got people here who feel your pain.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

Sorry to hear your loss Foster... had to put a pet of mine down earlier this year but the choice was "easier" to make because he had been paralyzed and clearly wasn't gonna live much longer.. and i still couldnt stand to hold him in my arms when the needle came... so you're a stronger guy than I am... you got my full condolences and respect. You're a good parent for that pup.

[tele7]

Sorry here too foster. Hopefully you can take some comfort in the fact that yours was the last face he saw as he passed on. Our Boxer had to be put down at 8 years of age. It was heartbreaking.

[Foster]

Thanks everyone for the condolences and sharing your stories, it definitley helps.
The thing thats going to haunt me for a while is the fact that he seemed pretty healthy.
He was 13, so he was having a harder time going up steps, and he was starting to lose his sight, but otherwise he was good. Except for the pissing uncontrollably.
The Vet said he blood work and his symptoms pointed to Cushing Syndrome,and the treatment would be difficult.
Last night a friend of mine looked up Cushings for me and he was definitely showing the signs; drinking a lot, bloated, hair falling out and of course urinating. As she read on about how bad things could get I felt a little relieved I didn't have to watch him go through the suffering, but I'm still having a hard time looking at myself in the mirror.

Once again, thank you all for listening to me and helping me through this.

[disneyspy]

this is the hard part of ownin pets,had to put down 3 dogs in my life time,it never gets easy,feel for you

[red_red_red]

my first cat Max passed away in the middle of the night, i am always grateful that it happened that way, i didn't have to make any decisions or watch him go :glurps: hang in there dude.

[fezident]

I've said many times here (and on my myspace) that I love animals more than I love people.

I know exactly where you're at right now. It sucks.


It gets better.

[Melrapuo]

Sorry for your loss, man. Hope you feel better soon.

[furie]

i'm sorry dude. it's always a hard thing to do.

[Sarge]

It sucks, I cried for hours when I had to put my boxer down. My condolences.

[WillfulBoy]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I know exactly how you feel. When I was 17 my dad had me bring our family pet to the vet to be put to sleep. This was a colley/shepard mix that we'd had since I was in a baby carriage. This dog went everywhere with me as I grew up. People always knew I was coming when they saw the dog a few steps in front of me. She protected me while I was doing my paper route, and went out collecting the money from customers. She went with me absolutely everywhere I went. I remember when I was in middle school walking out of school in the afternoon and she'd be sitting across the street from the school waiting to walk me home.

Here my dad was asking me to kill my best friend because I was a man, and he knew my mother wouldn't be able to do it, and he was away at work. I thought about it all day before our appointment. She was almost 17 years old and was suffering from severe athritis and was also starting to have loss of control of her bladder. She was having trouble standing up to even just to squat and pee.

The bottom line is that after hours of thought I realized she wasn't really enjoying life anymore and she had really lived a long happy life. 17 is like 119 in dog years. She had brought me a lot of love and companionship through the years and I had to do the right thing and prevent her from having to feel anymore pain. It was the most difficult thing I've ever done in my life, but it was the right thing to do. Just typing this has brought back a lot of those emotions. She really looked like she understood what was going on. She stared in my eyes while I hugged her, and held her head so she couldn't see what was happening as the vet stuck the syringe in her paw. I held her and tried to comfort her until the last breath left her body. I felt like I had done the worst thing you could do to a friend. Instead of protecting her, I was helping to kill her. Even though I knew it was really the best thing for her. It fucked with me for a long time after that day. My wife and I have two dogs now and I can't imagine going through that again. I don't even want to think about it.
I really do know what you're going through and I'm real sorry for your loss.

[WhistlePig]

So sorry for your loss, foster! What a heartbreaking story. Try to think about the happy life your dog had for 13 years and the fact you cared enough to end his life before it became unbearable. And it's wonderful that you were there with him in his last moments. He knew you loved him.