When is the right time to say goodbye to an ailing pet?
Morieka Johnson offers guidance for some of the toughest decisions that pet owners can face.
Q: Now that she’s getting older, my dog’s health is really starting to decline. I discussed this briefly with my vet, but stopped short of talking about what comes next because I just couldn’t handle it. How do I know when it’s time to say goodbye and how do I help my family deal with the loss?If you decide to bury your pet, check local and state ordinances first, or call your county animal control office for advice. If you live in a densely populated community, drainage, roaming animals and the possibility of hitting gas or power lines make backyard burial a bad idea.
Comments
I just had to put my baby boy, Barkley, to sleep yesterday. It is very heartbreaking for me because I am in Japan on business and my mom had to text me to make the final call. He had gotten sick o few months ago, but with medication and special food he was beginning to be his old, perky, silly companioning self again. We would cuddle together at night and when I was feeling down he would always come and lat on my feet. I feel horrible not being there for him when he needed me. I couldn't hold.... More
My 14 year old male kitty, Teddy, has been on a special diet for more than a year. He has been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and is on a special diet and medication. He is peppy, alert, eats well and drinks his water every day. He lost a lot of weight last year, is still on the thin side, but has added quite a few pounds back. The only real problem, and, it is a big one, is that he tries to keep going in the litter box but sometimes he just doesn't make it. It's not that he.... More
You have a difficult situation being that Teddy perks up and seems to feel better. It is a very hard decision to make when considering euthanization for your pet. I want to know there is no other means by which to help my dogs. You will make the right decision when the time comes.
I had to have my little girl Gumby euthanized on June 17. She was like my child; it wasn't an easy decision but I know full well I did the right thing. Here's the story, for anyone interested.
So sorry to hear about Gumby, she was obviously very much loved.
The terrible thing about having to put a beloved pet to sleep is that you can never ask them if they are ready to go. I have had to make this terrible decision three times now and I don't think that I will ever come to terms with it and still feel sadness years and years later, still have dreams about my pets and cannot let go of the guilt that maybe they weren't ready to go, even though they were very ill and their quality of life would have deteriorated very quickly.
Jan, I tend to disagree with you as to your statement about your furbaby not telling you it's time for them to cross the Rainbow Bridge. If you do know your furry friend well, as I did my cat Clyde, they will certainly let you know when it's time to go. I know full well the feeling of having to let go of a beloved pet, as I have had to also do many, many times. It doesn't ever get any easier, ever, but it's incredibly selfish and harmful to your pet to allow him or her to suffer needlessly.... More
Dave thanks for those words. Thankfully at the moment I don't have to make any of those decisions as my two youngish cats are healthy, and would never let one of my furry kids suffer just so that I could have them a bit longer with me. I guess when I let all three of them go, in my heart of hearts I knew it was time and certainly had the love and support from my vets at the cat clinic who nursed them through their illnesses and loved them almost as much as I did. I still struggle though with.... More
My wife and I are facing the same decision and this article really helped. Our Chocolate Lab Louie is 14 and we know the time is within months or less. He is still eating, drinking, coming to the door and wagging his tail a LOT but there are times we can also see the pain. We've both already shed a few tears and realize that when this time comes it's going to be a HUGE heartbreak, especially for me since he's been my companion, friend, fishing buddy, for 13 of those years.
Our golden retriever, Sally, is 12 years old and is having bouts of dementia that started just a month ago. She has hip dysplasia, arthritis, kidney disease, torn ligaments in her hock (uses a brace), a small tumor at the entrance to her small intestine (have to grind her food) and Horner's syndrome (one eye). She is on narcotics to manage the pain. She still plays a little, loves food, and loves to go to the office with me to greet clients. It won't be long before she crosses the rainbow.... More
I very much recommend that if you have to put a beloved pet to sleep as I had to please consider having a Doctor or Tech come to your pet's home to send him or her over the rainbow bridge. I did this for our cat Clyde who I picked out of a litter just as he was weaned. My family was blessed with "The Grand Old Man" for 22 years when one day I found him in his favorite wicker basket and he was finally unable to get out of it by himself. I knelt down to pet and love him and I asked him "It's.... More
I have a 17 year old cat and I am having him put to sleep next week and I honestly don't know if I can do it. He eats a little still. Never drinks and is meowing all the time. And he was never a vocal cat so I know that something is up. I just feel like I am killing him but at the same time I know he isn't happy. Also, I had made the decision to put him to sleep a few days before I decided to move and now people are thinking that I just want to get rid of him. It's true that I am not able to.... More
Holly, please try not to guilt yourself over the inevitable. It is obvious how much you love your kitty; the timing of your move and the cat's passing, while unfortunate, are not within your control.
I wish you peace and comfort. I've had to put down two cats, both of whom I loved dearly, but I know that I did the right thing. I still feel their love, and I continue to love them for all that they gave me.
Oh Holly, I am so sorry to hear that. I had to put my childhood dog to sleep three days before my wedding. She was an 18-year-old German Shepherd mix and I still miss her over two decades later. The combination of her ailing health and probably things being amiss because of the upcoming wedding probably accelerated her illness to the point where she was miserable and unable to move, having seizures, incontinent, etc.
She had a horrible seizure and we ended up rushing her to the vet.... More
We had practically the same decline in our KC as LC. We did let her go too long-IV fluids, hyperthyroid etc. One morning I found her lying in her litter box and knew we had waited too long, which I will never do again. I really like the better one month too soon, than one day too late. I will pass that on to a friend with a failing 16 year old dog.
I had to make this very difficult decision one week ago. My beautiful dog Winslow was 17 years old. I found comfort in the comment that it is better to do this one month too early rather than one day too late. I will cherish the memories and photos I have of Winnie. God bless my "Bunny Legs."
I am sorry to hear about the loss of Winslow. I hope your good memories bring you much comfort in the days and years ahead.
I know how hard it is to make the decision to euthanise any pet, I was given this advice from an elderly lady who had recently said goodbye to her old lab.
She said about it: "Better a month too early then a day too late"
I yhink sje is right.
I know of ppl who have held on too long because they could not let go. Now they are racked with guilt.
They want to be with us. My tabby cat was trying to look down the hallway from the bathroom, where she pulled herself out, just before she passed away. I believe she wanted to be next to me. Forever missing her, and some day we will shall see.
I agree with Amy. As a heads-up to others who are facing this decision, I strongly advise asking a close friend to come-with, especially if this is your first time helping your friend pass over to the Rainbow Bridge. :) And, making financial arrangements ahead of time. The last thing you'll want to do is take care of money on that sad day.
We had to make the decision a few months ago to let our wonderful cat LC go. She had been battling kidney failure and hyperthyroidism for almost 3 years. I was her caregiver, and she was very patient with all the stuff I had to do for her (meds and subcutaneous fluids). But she had gotten to that point where it was obvious she was going downhill. She was eating very little, having trouble keeping anything down, and had lost a lot of weight. We could also tell by her attitude that she was not.... More
