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Looks like our greyhound may be making his last visit to the vet's today.
He's quite old, frail and arthritic, but on Monday couldn't stand up or sit down (he did this once before; was cured with huge amounts of antibiotics). Vet prescribed painkillers and antibiotics which seemed to work until yesterday when he developed huge blisters on one leg and a stonking temperature. Vet said we'd probably have to get him put to sleep if he didn't recover.
The blisters have burst and he now has giant cuts (aided by his tongue) and is lying almost motionless in the sitting room. Even more motionless than usual, which for a greyhound is quite an achievement.
Children are pretty cut up about it. The youngest was reading to him; the second eldest who lives for him has gone very quiet.
EDIT: From a purely selfish point of view, we can't keep getting up in the middle of the night to change his dressings and clear up after him. Sounds awful, but there you go.
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Aaaaah, sorry to hear. Poor lad.
All the best - if it comes to it you will be doing the right thing.
Gutted for you...Hard decision but it sounds like the best one.
Poor old fella.
🙁 I really feel for you mate.
Be nice looking for a new pup when the time is right though.... 😐
Really sorry to hear that. They become a massive part of your life. It sounds like when the time comes it'll be best for him and for you. I'm not looking forward to going through similar with mine. Have to remember the good times though.
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Must be heartbreaking but at least you're doing the right thing.
🙁
Its hard isnt it. At least he had the retirement he deserved.
Nice looking dogmrgrim, pure deerhound or cross?
He can't even stand up now and barely has the strength to try to lick his bandages off. Pretty clear.
Nice looking dog MrGrim.
It'll be a difficult day, but not all Greyhounds have a great life, so try to focus on the great life you have given him.
anagallis_arvensis - No deerhound (that I'm aware of). She seems to be a cross of greyhound and Bedlington Terrier. I didn't get her in the best circumstances so don't have any history.
It's never easy. Try and make his journey as good as it can be, fill his heart with your love and thank him for all the happy days he has given you.
Putting him down is the right decision, but never an easy one, we dread the day we will have to do it for our Boxer (she has a large cist/growth on her leg that will one day burst and get infected)
However its the kindest thing for the dog because they are no longer in pain and suffering.
The right decision as you know but that doesn't make it any easier.
We had our 18 yr old cat put to sleep a few months ago, whilst right, I still cried in the vets but it was very very quick and painless for her.
The vet was excellent leaving me alone with her for a few minutes.
Hope you remember the good times he has had, it sounds like he's been in a great home and has had a great life and great owners.
I feel for you havibng been ther before. We now have 2 lurchers. The one that is very much my dog is 12 and now slowing down. I keep saying he is immortal and my wife keeps reminding me he isn't! You know yourself when the time is right, doesn't make it any easier though. Try and concentrate on what he added to your lives.
To the OP - feel for you. Can't even begin to imagine what it's like.
anagallis_arvensis - No deerhound (that I'm aware of). She seems to be a cross of greyhound and Bedlington Terrier. I didn't get her in the best circumstances so don't have any history.
Looks like there's plenty of Bedlington there (we've one, Stanley - mad as a box of frogs).
Sounds like its time for him to go, as if you keep him alive for much longer it will be for your comfort not his.
If he has had a good/happy life you have succeeded as his 'owner', as you have brought joy to his life, and he has done the same in return.... not that it isn't sad.
Whatever you chose to do, in my view is the right thing. Don't dwell on your choice. Revel in his life that hes had with you. 🙂
Difficult times, .. Had 2 cats last trip to the vets last month, one 16 years, ane only 8 months...
You gave him a great home by the sounds of things..
Feel for you. I remember the pain of my lab going and telling him he was a "good boy" as he drifted away. Choked up just thinking about it.
Its the right thing to do
Pretty choked just reading this thread to be honest , sounds like you are doing the right thing though. My lab will be 7 this year and you know they are not going to last forever , I think I will need a week off work when he goes .
I had to put my 18 year old cat down last year and sat bubbling for hours afterwards , Dogs really are 'Mans best friends' as they can gauge how you feel and know when you are down .
Remember the good times and take pride in knowing you have given him a great happy life.
Got goose bumps just reading this thread. Our King Charles Spaniel is 13 and had a stroke back in February, really did think that was her time. She's made a remarkable recovery though and is currently sat next to me sun bathing.
I may be cowardly but i just can't do it.
My wife took our previous 2 dogs to the vets to be put to sleep.
I knew it was the time but i just wanted one more day with my friend.
Will the vet do a house call? Nothing worse than being last appointment of the day at the surgery. Saves you moving him too.
However its the kindest thing for the dog because they are no longer in pain and suffering.
I think it is the confusion it causes the animal that is the worst bit for them, when their back legs give way, etc. Pain is probably more understandable for them.
😥
Horrible feeling to go through, had to put one of our cats down last year, not nice. Although Rogue ( our pooch) is only three ATM I'm dreading "when the time comes".
Our old cat made his last trip 3 weeks ago. I was away so i couldn't be there so my wife had to do it alone, including dealing with the girls who were very upset. It was the right thing to do though, and sounds like it will be for you too.
Depends how old your children are, but i wrote a letter from Fat Jasper (who wasn't fat any more once his insides had given up working properly) to the girls. Sounds morbid but i think it helped. 'He' told them that he missed them and felt sad that he couldn't see them any more, but he'd always remember them and the nice times they'd had. He told them that it was kind of them to let him go when he needed to, and that the vet had been very gentle and he didn't feel anything when he left our world. My daughter has it in her school bag now, so when she misses him she can read it and she knows he is in a happy place, where you can have chicken every day and sleep on the beds. And there's no dogs allowed!
I don't believe in heaven myself, let alone a specific cat one with no dogs, but at times like this if it helps my girls get through, it's OK in my book.
Be strong; at this time it's the last kindness you can give to an old friend.
My mum was more upset when our cat was put down than when my father died...
Be kind, be strong. Do what's best for the poor little fella.
I've had to take two of our spaniels over the last 18 months - one was 13 and the other 16.
The thing to remember is that how you feel is irrelevant, you're taking this step for their benefit. The poor chap sounds like he's in a bad way and although the temptation to hold on a little longer may be strong you just need to do what's best for him.
It breaks my heart thinking about the friends I've had to let go but the memories will last my lifetime.
Give him a load of chocolate and a big hug from me 🙁
Thats a bonny hound OP
You know when the time is right, all the best.
We had the vet come to the house with smudge, similar situation to yours.
Was very peaceful and didnt fight the injection etc and "went" whilst holding his head on my lap. Arrange to take the body to the pet cremation place (if that is your plan) yourself if possible if you do have it done at home
Been there a few times and it does not get any easier. I console myself with the thoughts of the fantastic life we had together and that if I were in the dogs place I would want someone to do the right thing for me.
Heartfelt sympathies.
jeez, I've only been a dog "owner" for 2 months and I'm welling up.
Sounds like the right decision to make.
Agree with what others have said about arranging a house call. When our 17 year old retriever was put down we didn't want to go to the vets as we knew she hated it. Vet came out whilst she was asleep, gave her the injection without her even being aware that he was there.
Got some dust in my eye now....
Very sad news. I pestered my dad for years as a kid to get a dog and couldn't understand why he was reluctant as he'd been brought up with dogs. We got one for my 13th birthday and I was deleriously happy. Only found out years later he'd had to take the last two to the vets to be put down and didn't want to face it again. Hope all works out for the best.
Same happened to our Chester about 8 months ago now....he was 16 but it had got to the same situation, he was bed bound for the few days I guess. The wife slept downstairs with him the night before we took him to the vets. He now resides on our side board in a little ashes pot and in our hearts.
Sad times 🙁
Oh dear... this is sad.
I'm a grown man sat at my desk right now welling-up - trying not to catch the eye of any of my colleagues.
Mr Sparkle, that's lovely.
mustnotcryatwork
It's so hard but it's the right thing for him not to suffer any more.
I cried the other night on "Don't Blame the Dog" when they had to put down a dog at the shelter - God knows what I'm going to be like when it gets to my boy's time 🙁
I can't help but find such a touching tribute quite depressing 🙁
Thanks for all the comments; much appreciated.
Took him in this morning. Usually he jumps up in excitement at the chance for a trip in a car but this morning all he could manage was to lift up his head and then drop it back down again. Couldn't even stand, and the infection had spread further.
Maybe we could have kept him going a few more days, but it would have been fairly miserable for him; just not how a dog is supposed to be. So took him to the vet, where he slipped quietly away.
Thankyou Prince, you may have been one of the most stupid, indolent, untrainable, short-sighted and downright disobedient greyhounds ever but you were also noble, gentle, soft-brown-eared, much loved and will be greatly missed.
😥
🙁
Feel for you and your family. I have hated having to make those decisions for ours in the past.
Looked like a lovely dog.
I'll throw a stick to the stars for you tonight.
🙁
You've done the right thing and he's in a better place.
Well done, sat on the sofa with my lurcher hoping I will have your strength when the time comes.
Well done fella. It's the hardest thing for sure.
I don't know what I'll do when the time comes to take my boy, but it'll be soon I think. I don't think I'd have survived cancer this long if he hadn't been a part of my life.
😥
You are doing the kindest thing you could ever do for your pet, you don't want him to suffer.
Ask the vet to come out to your house, ours did for us last year, when we had to have both our dogs put to sleep, Molly 7yrs old (2 days after my birthday) - liver tumour and Oscar, 15yrs in November - he'd outlived his body. We were being selfish with Oscar, we couldn't stand to lose him after unexpectantly losing Molly and I think we both agree now that we should have 'helped' Oscar a lot earlier than we did, I feel so bad at not being kinder to him and for being so selfish.................
Very sad, I have to go now, I think I have something in my eyes..
🙁
Bless him, he's fine now.
This is worth posting again.... Still makes me cry two years after losing Morgan (I really hope it's true):
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...
Well done. I hope you sleep soundly tonight knowing you've done the kindest thing you can for a friend.
Here's my letter from an old friend to a devoted 7 year old
Dear Polly.
I know you will feel sad today. I know a lot of people will be sad because I made a lot of friends in my life. That’s OK, I hope you will remember me and talk about me with them.
But I don’t want you be too sad. I want you to know that when it was time to go, Mummy stroked me gently and the kind Vet helped me so that I didn’t feel anything.
Although I am not there any more, I thought you might like to know that I am in a very happy place. Where I am now it is always warm, but not too hot. I don’t feel old, or poorly, or hungry or tired. I feel just like I used to when we were first friends; I can run fast, and climb trees, or if I want to I can sit on soft grass and think about all my friends. I am allowed to sleep on the beds if I want, and I have chicken every day. If I close my eyes and imagine I can hear you and Elsa playing and laughing. And best of all – NO DOGS ALLOWED!
Please tell Elsa that although I miss you both, I am very happy now. Thank you for being my friends and for letting me go when I needed to. That was very kind, even though it has made you feel sad. I will miss you.
Love from
Jasper xx
Sorry for your loss, always bad losing a pet.
Main thing is his suffering is over.
We lost our Rhodisian Ridgeback last year in October due to organ failure, miss her like mad. She was an awsome dog, due to the loss and the heart ache the family had we took on a rescue dog, never bring our Lilly back but atleast we stopped a dog being put down.
OP well done for realising when to bring him to the vet.
Its a horrible situation and one that I went through a few years ago aswell.
The great memories are what makes it all worthwhile.
Heres a puppy pic from more that 12 years ago of my little rottie:
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Well done for taking the brave step of ending your best pals suffering , their was a video posted on here of a guy putting his dog down. Sounds horrific and It was but ultimately compelling viewing as the dog had got his owner back on the straight and narrow with his undying love for his master. It truly was the saddest and most moving piece of film I've ever seen.
My dog is a large chocky lab and weighs almost 8 stone and is 7 years old , Im a 13 1/2 stone 40 year old and It seems weird that his lifespan is a 5th of mine ..
soz to hear about Prince m8 🙁 seen my tough old dad properly cut up about putting family dogs down in the past. One got put down cos it went mental and had a chew on me when I was 10 years old, got some nice scars. another got put down cos it developed nasty jaw cancer, another got put down cos it got knackered arthritic legs. Makes me sad thinking about 'em. theotherjonv - that's very moving.
Always a sad time but you did the right thing.
Nothing fills the empty void though like a new puppy.
Sad for you and your family but it sounds like he was lucky enough to have been part of you family for many years.
Hope you come to terms with it, sad as it is and get another at some point. The dogs homes are full * of nice dogs needing a nice family home such as yours. * ( there's probably some awful ones too mind)