Letting go

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   My neighbour and very good friend has a 12 year old gsd cross that is approaching the end of her life. She has had a recurrent medical problem for three years now and has been to several different vets etc but without a definitive diagnosis. Basically she gets chronic diorrahea. Anyway my neighbour has put absolutely everything into this girl. The past few weeks she has been liquidising her nuts with mince and gravy etc to get calories into her. I hadn't seen the dog for two weeks as we felt walking her when she had no interest was more for our benefit than hers so she doesnt come on our evening walk with the gang. Yesterday my neighbour called to say the dog couldn't keep anything down and also had bloody diorrahea and vomiting dark brown blood. I came out and got a fright when I saw her. She has lost a lot of weight and musclr despite getting such a high level of care. She drank water and it came back up in minutes. We have discussed bringing the vet out when the time comes to let her go but my neighbour is really struggling to do it. I have done it once before to my great cocker Sam so I know the guilt that comes with the decision. But I also told her that in time, I was proud I held him for it, gave him a kiss as he slipped away and ended his pain. I saw the dog yesterday and asked my neighbour if she felt that she should consider making the decision. She is very upset naturally but she is so reluctant to do it. I told her that the dog wont improve but could continue for weeks like this. I dont want to put pressure on her as such but I would like her to come to terms that putting our pets out of pain at the end is the worst decision we make but also the most loving gesture to our faithful animals. Any tips on how to say this to her?

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Canine81 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Top Dog Joined: 27 October 2008 Location: Limerick Status: Offline Points: 594	Post Options Post Reply Quote Canine81 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Letting go Posted: 08 January 2012 at 2:00pm
	My neighbour and very good friend has a 12 year old gsd cross that is approaching the end of her life. She has had a recurrent medical problem for three years now and has been to several different vets etc but without a definitive diagnosis. Basically she gets chronic diorrahea. Anyway my neighbour has put absolutely everything into this girl. The past few weeks she has been liquidising her nuts with mince and gravy etc to get calories into her. I hadn't seen the dog for two weeks as we felt walking her when she had no interest was more for our benefit than hers so she doesnt come on our evening walk with the gang. Yesterday my neighbour called to say the dog couldn't keep anything down and also had bloody diorrahea and vomiting dark brown blood. I came out and got a fright when I saw her. She has lost a lot of weight and musclr despite getting such a high level of care. She drank water and it came back up in minutes. We have discussed bringing the vet out when the time comes to let her go but my neighbour is really struggling to do it. I have done it once before to my great cocker Sam so I know the guilt that comes with the decision. But I also told her that in time, I was proud I held him for it, gave him a kiss as he slipped away and ended his pain. I saw the dog yesterday and asked my neighbour if she felt that she should consider making the decision. She is very upset naturally but she is so reluctant to do it. I told her that the dog wont improve but could continue for weeks like this. I dont want to put pressure on her as such but I would like her to come to terms that putting our pets out of pain at the end is the worst decision we make but also the most loving gesture to our faithful animals. Any tips on how to say this to her?

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Bartlett Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Top Dog Joined: 10 January 2009 Location: Kerry Status: Offline Points: 1326	Answer Post Options Post Reply Quote Bartlett Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 January 2012 at 7:26am
	Oh Canine you sound like you are doing all you can. Your friend sounds like she has been a great owner and now she is faced with the worst duty and in my opinion, one of the most responsible duty of dog ownership. If a dog is not even keeping down water its not good. When my collie x got sick I knew I could have kept for a few more days or even weeks but I knew her quality of life would just worse and I didnt want that. I ended up with a phrase that helped me make the decision. By keeping my dog alive I was just "walking her towards more pain" and why would I do that. By not bringing my dog to the vet I was just adding to her misery not alleviating it. You just have to keep stressing that she has to put the dog first and do right by the dog. Good luck.

Peter Banks Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Alpha Webmaster Joined: 25 January 2003 Location: Hill of Allen Status: Offline Points: 1636	Post Options Post Reply Quote Peter Banks Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 January 2012 at 5:34pm
	I'm sorry that I've only just read this post. Unfortunately, as many of you will know we too had to make this decision just after Christmas with our eldest dog, Milligan. Bartlett, you are absolutely spot on with what you say and, although a very difficult and heart wrenching decision, the need to do right by the dog is of paramount importance, and indeed secondary to our own natural reluctance or personal feelings. A great post ...