When is the right time to put your dog down?

crimzy

crimzy

Active Member
I'm going to have a tough decision to make pretty soon with my St. Bernard, Harley. He's almost 8 years old, which makes him ancient for a saint. He has always had hip displasia but it has never really affected him until recently. His hind legs have been giving out and he has trouble lifting his own weight off the floor. It's tough seeing him in a seated position, whimpering because he can't get up.
I know that I'm not going to have his hips replaced. It's not about the money. I've already paid $5K for a necessary operation once but he was 2 years old then. Now he's an old man and I'm not sure he would have the strength or time left to recover.
I can keep him pretty comfortable for a while with pain meds. He still loves the family and can even run for a while without falling. He loves our other dog and still plays so I know that he still enjoys life. But I don't know when the right time will come. Here are a few pics:




I'd also like to see pics from people who have made this tough decision before and hear their stories. Thanks.
 
shogun323

shogun323

Active Member
I am terribly sorry for your situation. I don't know what I would do in your position.
On another note: Your daughter is so cute!!
 
babyb

babyb

Active Member
we have a basset hound that my brother ran over with our really big truck ( not sure the power or anything its just really hard to get into) and broke both of her back legs and snapped her hip bone right in the middle, my father wanted to put her down but my mother wasnt hearing in, she has this thing that it wasnt the animals fault so it shouldnt have to die because of it , she is fine now, one of her legs she will not use she just drags it and se has lost so much muscle mass that she looks so sad
ill get a pic of her later
i love st bernards they are so beautiful, i want one its just a matter of time
 
crimzy

crimzy

Active Member
Originally Posted by BabyB
http:///forum/post/2514704
i love st bernards they are so beautiful, i want one its just a matter of time
Make sure its hips are guaranteed and get the x-rays early on... before you bond with the dog.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
If he is still healthy then it isn't time to put him down. My parents recently had the same decision to make with their 14 yr old German Shepard/Collie mix. Their dog couldn't get up and when he did he fell right back down. They took him to the vet. The vet said that all of his vitals were good and put him on some meds. He is still doing well. He can go out to the bathroom, but usually has to lay down for awhile before he comes back in. In my opinion there is no need to put an animal down unless it is suffering. Your dog sounds like he is still alright if he can run for short periods. The meds for pain will keep him comfortable. Your girls are beautifull as well!!!
 
kerriann

kerriann

Member
have you talked to the vet about it??
we just put my 14 year old beagle down a few months ago and it was the hardest thing we had to do. he had a number of problems but always had the spirit it seemed to go on. we didn't put him down until he stopped eating. we tried feeding him everything and anything and it worked for a bit (he was a big fan of the arby's roast beef sandwich) but eventually he just stopped eating altogether and that's when we figured it was time...
 
lexluethar

lexluethar

Active Member
I think the right time to put down a dog is when it can no longer 'take care' of itself. Things like deficating uncontrollably, or not being able to move. I think (and have seen) a lot of owners keep their dogs around because they didn't want to put it down, but in all honestly most of the time they keep the dogs too long for their own comfort - when the dog is suffering. I realize you can do just about anything (surgery, medicines, caring your dog, even getting a cart so that if the back legs don't work they cant move around), but at a point you have to say you know what, its better FOR THE DOG to put it down.
My boss just went through this with a weiner dog, the thing was half blind and couln't walk - always wined b/c it couldn't move and didn't know what was going on. Too many owners prolonge the lives of their dogs for their benefit, not the dogs. If your dog can still run around for a while i would say he's okay, but soon he won't be able to do that, when that time comes have one more weekend of 'play' with him and put him to sleep.
I have a little terrier and he's only 6 months old. I've only have him for like 2 or 3 months and I COULDN"T stand putting him down. So i'm not saying these words empty hearted, its just you have to do whats best for your dog and i know you will. When Becks (my little dog) gets to the point i'll cry my eyes out, but i know it will be the right decision. Thank god today isn't that day.
 
babyb

babyb

Active Member
its sad to put an animal down, they become part of the family
the last animal we had the vet put down absolutly crushed me, it was a cat that me and my brother got a few days after my biological dad died, we had her for like 13 years and two neighborhood dogs came and poped her eyes out, punctured her lungs, broke 5 ribs, and broke her jaw in 4 places, not just sad that that happened but when i went outside bk i heard all the noise the two dogs owners ( 2 kids about 10 years old) were there trying to get the cat out of there mouth and i ran over there and they started screaming " and they killed your baby goat to" i was hurt for months after that day
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
We had to put our 12yr old black lab down last summer. He had arthritis bad and had trouble getting up and laying down. He was also starting to go blind, and was loosing a lot of weight despite keeping a normal appetite. Very hard decision because we rescued him from a shelter and he was just the perfect dog.
Just to add, anyone looking into labs/retrievers or any other breed that is known to get hip displasia, have the vet look at them early and see if you can look into the dog's bloodline. We got a golden retriever from a breeder, and none of the dogs in all the generations she raised had it, but always check with the vet.
-Justin
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
I too just put my Beagle down a few months ago. ( I feel for you KerriAnn) And for anyone that has had to put their pet to sleep. This was my second time inside of a year for having to say good bye to one of my dogs. I found that the best advice you can give is to really think about quality of life. If the animal still has it, then its not time. If its a constant struggle, where there seems to be no comfort for him or her. Then IMO that is when it is time to say good bye. Good Luck.
 
crashbandicoot

crashbandicoot

Active Member
sorry to hear about this . I had to put my dog down about a year ago she had hip displysa and was just getting tired . I could tell she was un happy and so I made the decision to end her suffering .
I really am sorry to hear this buddy .
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Sorry to hear that man. I just recently went through this decison.
This is Dakota. Got him from the Dallas Humane Society in back in 96. This photo is my favorite, took it a couple of years ago.
Anyway, he got loose a few years ago (he loved to run more than anything. He was enclosed in half an acre and I swear sometimes he ran it like it wasn't enough). The builders left his gate open. He was such a friendly dog, wouldn't hurt a fly. Anyway, he ran down the street to a neighbors who kept a couple of Mastiffs that didn't like to play. He was torn up pretty bad. Vet kept him for a week and didn't think he was going to make it.
Anyway, since that fight, and as he got older, athritis began to set into his joints. This winter was especially difficult on him. Every day getting up and moving got more and more difficult for him. The meds just weren't working anymore. I know he was in pain, but I also know how much he enjoyed life and knew he would never give up or want to die.
A couple of weeks ago he just couldn't get up anymore. While I was at work he wandered into a sunny patch of the yard, laid down, and couldn't get back up. My neighbor called me to tell me. I rushed home and went out to see him. He started crying and howling like he always did when he saw me, but he just couldn't get up, no matter how hard he tried. I had my cell phone on me so I sat with him, put his head in my lap, called the vet, and waited until they arrived to put him to sleep.
We disagree about most things Crimzy; but my heart goes out to you and your family during this time.
 
crimzy

crimzy

Active Member
Originally Posted by Crashbandicoot
http:///forum/post/2514802

Thx for the wishes... and the comments re my daughters. Crash, that is a great shot. What kind of dog was that? Lab, mutt?
Journey, that's a sad story. I have a mastiff that doesn't like other dogs and I have seen what she is capable of. Beautiful dog.
 
crashbandicoot

crashbandicoot

Active Member
my little girl was two at the time and the dazye was almost 85 pounds . She was a chunky girl at the end . she got tired of exercise and just set around and ate treats .
 
scotts

scotts

Active Member
Crimzy, Sorry to hear you are having to make this decision. Our first dog had back leg problems and could not get around very well. I even carried him up the stairs and had to bring him food. He was my wife's beloved dog and the first one we had to make the decision on, so I would do anything to keep him going. One night he just lost it and we knew that was that. In hindsight we held onto him too long.
We have since had to put down three other animals and while it is still an awful thing to have to do, generally you know when it is time.
(getting on soap box) there is one thing you MUST do when it is time. You HAVE to be there with him at the end. It is a horrible time for you, but you are doing it for your dog and not you. If you don't do that I will track you down and tell all your friends that you secretly are a Kwame Kilpatrick supporter. (Off soapbox now)
Once again let me offer my sympathies. Now go give him a piece of cheese.
 
socal57che

socal57che

Active Member
I've buried a few dogs, but never had to make that decision. I agree that when it's the right time you'll know. Try not to feel too bad for the dog. No real good way to put it, but if it were a wild animal nature would have already taken care of him. Make his last weeks/months as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. You might want to think about what to tell your kids. This can be very hard on them. You've had Harley for 8 years, but they've had him their entire life. I feel for you. I really do. Saints are so loveable.
 
jennythebugg

jennythebugg

Active Member
so sorry to hear about your dog , we lost baxter (tobins therapy cat )shortly after tobin died. baxter just kinda gave up. i know you will probably feel guilty about putting the dog down but when you think about how much pain and discomfort the dog is in daily you will know its the right decision , and i know that tobin and bax will watch over him for you. my parents are in the same position with their dog right now and its tearing them up. i will pray for you
 
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