[Mr Carrots]

RIP Dave, he looked really sweet.

I'm at the point of replacing our hardwood with something grippy so our dogs don't ever have a freak slip while excite, they're so vulnerable when over excited

[Violator]

Originally Posted by Peasley

That's terrible I am so sorry for your losses. When the time comes for our other two I don't think I could put myself through this again

I totally understand, we didn't expect to be going through it again so soon ourselves and weren't prepared for it.
We are taking our time to grieve and consider if we want to get another one or when to if so.
Again, sorry for your loss, we mourn with you.

[wrickem]

Originally Posted by twin fed

So sorry to hear. My 15yo Beagle is on his way out and it is so hard to watch. He had a great life, but the thought of letting him go is tough. He is getting worse and my wife and I know that he is going to have to be put down soon, we are just hoping he goes in his sleep on his own time.

Feed him ham and scalloped potatoes, and throw a party for him.

Our 17 year old Cocker Spaniel's time had come and I made the horrible appointment for Friday.

Wednesday, he wasn't eating so I made him his favorite food, Ham and scalloped potatoes and invited some friends that also loved him over to say good bye. He ate good that night.

Thursday morning, I took him out before I showered and carrying him back up the stairs he let out one tiny little yelp and died in my arms. It was actually a perfect ending for a pretty perfect dog.

Nobody will eat my ham or scalloped potatoes anymore though.

[Delta0311]

Maltese in my pic dies 12/07/2016 in my arms after a 4 month (costly as fuck) battle with autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Believe me I feel your pain.

[twin fed]

Originally Posted by wrickem

Feed him ham and scalloped potatoes, and throw a party for him.

Our 17 year old Cocker Spaniel's time had come and I made the horrible appointment for Friday.

Wednesday, he wasn't eating so I made him his favorite food, Ham and scalloped potatoes and invited some friends that also loved him over to say good bye. He ate good that night.

Thursday morning, I took him out before I showered and carrying him back up the stairs he let out one tiny little yelp and died in my arms. It was actually a perfect ending for a pretty perfect dog.

Nobody will eat my ham or scalloped potatoes anymore though.

Such a hard thing to go through, sorry for your loss. I'm really hoping for the same result. It is so difficult watching him decline. I know the end is coming, it is just so difficult to imagine.

[///M Power-Belgium]

I've been there as well . And know how the pain feels like..even today !
I lost my *Dina* she was 12 ( Black Riesenschnauzer )
I will NEVER forget her. May she RIP in dogs paradise !

Here is my Dina in better times while she slept , damn I loved my Dina

[rlmesq]

There is a big empty spot in any house after a beloved pet passes away. The pictures of Dave with the pitty pup remind me of some of the sweetest moments between my dogs (and, occasionally, my dogs and my cat, who all love each other).

Here's a suggestion, if you're up for it: Call your local animal shelter and ask if you can volunteer for a few hours this weekend. They can usually use help to walk some of the adoptable animals that would usually spend their weekend locked in cages.

Careful, though... you will want to bring them ALL home.

[Poiseuille]

The one on the right is almost 12, the one on the left is two. I actually had a hard time getting through this thread.

[Poiseuille]

This may be of some use to you:

[irishbimmer]

This is the saddest thread and of course,the worst part of being a pet owner. There is no way to communicate the sorrow of losing one of your buddies who has given you unconditional love. Its during the tough times they are there for you, taking your mind off the other stuff. I cry when reading the various contributors because it brings back so many memories of the love given from many.

[MojoRider]

So sorry. Rest assured you did the right thing by Dave. We had a doxxie in the very same situation.

It gets easier with time , we've found other dogs to rescue who needed our help.

That said, four years later this week, he still goes with me everywhere.

Best.

[MojoRider]

Originally Posted by Poiseuille

This may be of some use to you:

Agreed. It's a good read.

[bimmette]

My condolences. Don't feel guilty. In my lifetime, I've had to make the decision to put down three dogs. Two lived long lives and one was a puppy with a virus. Each of those days were the hardest days of my life. Time will heal. Take care.

[Peasley]

Thank you everyone for posting your condolences and stories of your beloved dogs. When my wife got in from work yesterday she read all the comments and we feel overwhelmed by the fact that people we have never met from all over the world have reached out, share our pain and can relate to what we are going through. It has helped us try to remember the happy and free days Dave had running around and playing, not just the horrible decision that we had to make on Sunday.

The internet can be a horrible place but this thread certainly shows the best side of it.

[Peasley]

Originally Posted by MojoRider

So sorry. Rest assured you did the right thing by Dave. We had a doxxie in the very same situation.

It gets easier with time , we've found other dogs to rescue who needed our help.

That said, four years later this week, he still goes with me everywhere.

Best.

Thank you, thats so lovely I have just spotted him in your avatar. Would you feel happy to elaborate on Harley and what happened to him?

I think one reason I feel so devastated is that I collected Dave as a puppy when I was going through a very dark time in my life. I was suffering with severe depression and anxiety and I thought that by getting a dog it would force me to get out and have a purpose. Dave did that for me and really helped when I felt at my absolute lowest. I feel that I owe him so much and feel devastated that I couldn't repay him in giving him a long happy and joyful life.

[F32Fleet]

Your feelings are normal. I'd say everyone who has to put down a family pet goes through this. Nobody wants to have the guilt of ending the life of a family pet. We'd all prefer that our pets just died in their sleep.

Think of it like this. You guys gave your dog the greatest gift. You gave him the gift of a good life and more importantly the gift of ending his suffering.

The cruel thing would be to force an animal, who can't really tell you what it's thinking, to continually undergo procedure after procedure.


Try reading "The Art Of Racing In The Rain."

[///M Power-Belgium]

For this thread...The truth !

[Poiseuille]

The picture below is from Belgium's post above. Sometimes I watch the dogs for extended periods of time just doing their thing, and I marvel that two completely different species, with obviously no common language and, you would think, no ability to communicate, could have such an instant and indelible affinity for each other. I have been around cats, horses and birds and, with no offense to the owners of those animals, it's my belief that only dogs do this.

[a4nut]

So I've been keeping tabs on your post, and I am truly sorry to hear about Dave. I love dachshunds, and currently have 2 dapples one of which is 8, and has had 3 back surgeries. They are full members of our family, and I will be crushed when we find ourselves in the same posotion.

I wasn't sure I was going to respond, but since I believe I will always have Weiner dogs due to how much they are real dogs, just in miniature, I suspect you will be the same way soon enough. So, idecided to relay a little of how we "manage" her...

In reality, it's not about managing how she behaves, rather managing how she recovers. And I agree that I want her to be as much of a dog as she can be but I always worry about her hurting herself again. I've found that water therapy halos a ton in getting mobility back, and I'd expect that you already know this. But another thing we've done is to take her to an accupuncturist and chiropractor, and it's made a big difference. Her back end is a little out of alignment, so regular visits to the chiropractor helps keep her in line, so she can be happy and comfortable. The accupuncturist I suspect is more for pain, and she hasn't needed that for a while now.

Like I said, I only share for future reference. But it's worked well for us. Good luck getting through this, I know it's tough.

[unluky]

It is by far the worse part of owning a pet. I bought a JRT for my GF when I was younger and he absolutely hated her. I trained him and he bonded with me so much that he would growl at her if she touched me. I should have listened to him. We broke up and he stayed with me and I had him for 13 years. My current GF was the first girl I dated that I felt he loved and would even occasionally leave my lap for hers.

He was diagnosed with renal failure when he was 10.5 and told usually 4-6 months is about all you get. My GF loved him with all her heart and since she was a PA she could not accept that. She would put an IV of fluid in him a few times a month and researched and changed his diet and got me almost another 2 years with my buddy. 95% of that time he was still acting normally even though he looked a little older and had lost some weight.

I had those same arguments with myself - when is he done? I would get it in my head he was then 5 minutes later he would grab his toy and play like a puppy. It is very hard to know and you will beat yourself up about it. I woke up one morning and he was acting funny and I realized he could not see. The vet said he must have had a seizure over night which caused his blindness - I put him down that day. I often wonder if I waited too long.

I think you went above and beyond what 99% of pet owners would have done. You know he was in pain and you reacted accordingly. I think you made the right call. It does take a while to get past them amazingly (especially if you don't have children) but it does get easier - which of course is no help to you now.

I am sorry for your loss.

[Rampant]

Originally Posted by Peasley

Thank you, thats so lovely I have just spotted him in your avatar. Would you feel happy to elaborate on Harley and what happened to him?

I think one reason I feel so devastated is that I collected Dave as a puppy when I was going through a very dark time in my life. I was suffering with severe depression and anxiety and I thought that by getting a dog it would force me to get out and have a purpose. Dave did that for me and really helped when I felt at my absolute lowest. I feel that I owe him so much and feel devastated that I couldn't repay him in giving him a long happy and joyful life.

Mate

The plain truth is that you *DID* gift Dave a long happy and joyful life. That much is clear and obvious from your OP. I salute you for this, and wish you all the best in recovering from your heartbreak. My eyes are moist right now typing this and I feel the pain of the moments in which our passed dog family members were sent over the rainbow bridge.

It does get better, but takes time.

All the best

Mark H

[cxp213]

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I've not had to experience this for myself but just thinking about what you guys have been through, I can almost feel the pain. My dog comes before most things in my life and I just can't imagine what it must be like to go through such a tragic experience.

Honestly, it was difficult to read through some of the posts, but at the same time it's a relief to read so many people truly care and love their pets as you all do. I think you did the best that you could for your pupper and I'm sure he knows it, too. I think I'm going to go hug my baby extra long and hard tonight when I get home.