Saying Good-bye

@dsrtrose (166)
United States
April 3, 2009 11:12pm CST
My Giant Schnauzer recently diagnosed with bone cancer of leg found out today, spread to lungs and probably other places. She is 10 years old, 100 lbs and has been a great friend. I have 4 dogs and 2 cats BTW . Anyway, she has a fair amount of pain that for now seems controlled with medication. I imagine that she will just stop breathing from the lung invasion or the pain will become too much for me to let her bear, and I willhave to put her down. How many of you have had to watch your "babies" suffer and make that ultimate decision to free them from their pain?
3 people like this
7 responses
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
4 Apr 09
I'm sorry to hear of your furbaby's problem. I had a Golden Retriever/German Shepherd mix that followed me every step I took for about 10 years. He had hip dysplasia & became so crippled he couldn't walk. Yet, he continued to try & follow me every step. In doing that, he was scrubbing the skin off his back legs as he had to drag them in order to follow me. When I took him to the vet to have him put down, the vet assured me that he just wasn't letting me know the actual pain he really was in. He promised me that I was doing the most humane thing possible. That was almost 10 years ago & I still miss that dog. I also had a cat that became very ill at about 15 years old. The vet said she just needed a blood transfusion. After the transfusion, she was had the energy of a kitten. After about 3 years she began having seizures just every so often. She would be fine one second & barely able to walk a few seconds later. Every time she would get bad, I'd comment to my hubby that If she's still bad in the morning, I'm taking her in to be put down. She always had these episodes at night when everybody was closed. I'd get up the next morning & she'd be running around the house like nothing was wrong. That went on for 3 years. I got up one Sunday morning last year & she could barely stand up. I told myself, I'm taking her in tomorrow (she was 21 by then). I really thought I'd wake up to her running around as usual. Well, she just grew worse & worse as the morning went on. I picked her up & held her until she finally passed. The last thing she did was raise up & lick me on the chin. I guess that was her way of saying goodbye. You will know what to do when the time comes. When you see them in pain & weak, you no longer doubt what you should do. You find the courage to give them your ultimate love!!! It is not easy, but it is much easier than watching them suffer!!! I'm sorry for what you're about to go through. I'm here if you need someone to just listen!!!
• United States
5 Apr 09
my doberman had cancer as well, we didnt know what was wrong at first, but his eyes turned red, he started yelping whenever he tried to climb in bed with me or when he tried to get on the couch so my dad took him to the vet and his cancer was already spread through the body, I went out got him a big ol hershey bar and let him enjoy the forbidden food of dogs before we took him to the vet and had him put down he was only 2 yrs old so it was extra sad he didnt even live that long...and he was my first dog
1 person likes this
• Philippines
5 Apr 09
You may visit a veterinarian to have him diagnosed and given proper medication, hope he/she will get well soon.
1 person likes this
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
5 Apr 09
i think i can't put them down. i will rather put them in medication to lessen their pain. cause i would hope still that something will happen for the dog to overcome the pain and will be able to heal. but if it is not possible then i will want them to die naturally with medication to help them to ease the pain.
@Caugh56 (58)
• United States
6 Apr 09
All I can say is watch the movie Marley and Me... It's funny and witting and just plain sad. I have to say that I've been I quess lucky enough that when my animals know it's time to go that they leave and I never see them again. SO I quess at least you can say good bye and truly know what has happen to her. Rather than never knowing.
@dsrtrose (166)
• United States
6 Apr 09
I read the book, so the movie should be a killer. Yes, is nice when u live out in country, animals tend to go off on their own to mate, have babies, and die. It is the natural way, I guess. Is not an option here, so will continue to watch her QUALITY of life and try not to get bound up in my EMOTIONS and do what is right for her!
• China
5 Apr 09
I had a cat when i am a little girl,the lovely cat only follow me one year and I gave it to my brother as there were too many mouse in his house,I grudged it very much the night it would leave but now I think I am fortunate, as I have not seen her suffering,If it always follow me,when it suffer,I will be sad and can not decide how to do. Bless your dog!
1 person likes this
@dsrtrose (166)
• United States
5 Apr 09
Thank=you for your blessings and concerns!
• United States
4 Apr 09
I had a cat that was a part of our family. To me she wasn't just a cat she was my friend and when I was upset I always talked to her and I always felt better after talking to her. Three years ago I had to put her to sleep and it tore my heart out. But she was 17 years old and the vet told me that even if they did surgery she would not make it through. She would die on the operating table. The vet said that beside being a old cat that she had a lot of health issues that couldn't be fixed and her not be in pain. That was the hardest decision of my life. She was in a whole lot of pain and I couldn't stand to see her suffering. So with tears streaming down my face I told the vet to go ahead and put her to sleep. I went in and said my goodbyes to my special mittons and walked away with my heart torn out.
@dsrtrose (166)
• United States
5 Apr 09
I have been there with you, with my 18 year old friend. It is so hard to let them go. I guess, Phoebe is my first big dog and even though I have 3 other dogs and 2 cats, she has always had a larger portion of my heart,and she will leave an even larger hole behind.
1 person likes this