Putting Pets to Sleep

[Buffalo716]

10 minutes ago, Ol Dirty B said:

 

Lol no it's a reference to old dirty bastard of the wu tang clan. Don't think it's any better.

 

Odb before odb got hijacked by the wr was someone else.

 

A trainwreck, but someone with a unique personality that I for some reason like.

 

Edit- I changed it from thanks to laughing because your post is hilarious. 

You must be young brotha lol

 

Ol Dirty Chinese Restaurant, Dirt McGirt , ODB all Alias of the great Ol Dirty bastar* my friend ??

Edited March 31, 2019 by Buffalo716

[Ol Dirty B]

16 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

You must be young brotha lol

 

Ol Dirty Chinese Restaurant, Dirt McGirt , ODB all Alias of the great Ol Dirty bastar* my friend ??

 

Lol man you hit me with some stuff I didnt expect there. Idk why but dirt mcgert had always been my favorite. My original name was going to be Big Baby Jesus but I totally understand why it was getting blocked.

 

Thanks for all the words, you're a good guy. If you want to meet up at a game I owe you a few.

[Buffalo716]

16 minutes ago, Ol Dirty B said:

 

Lol man you hit me with some stuff I didnt expect there. Idk why but dirt mcgert had always been my favorite. My original name was going to be Big Baby Jesus but I totally understand why it was getting blocked.

 

Thanks for all the words, you're a good guy. If you want to meet up at a game I owe you a few.

Hahahahah Big Baby Jesus was blocked?

[Ol Dirty B]

33 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Hahahahah Big Baby Jesus was blocked?

 

Yep. Idk why I think the name is hilarious. I actually did a bracket and my dad is on some born again ***** he was pissed when that was my name. No surprise me and my brother also just trolled the ***** out of everybody in the competition. 

 

Never invited back, but I get big baby jesus being blocked. People are sensitive over that and i understand. I always said jesus gotta have a sense of humor.

[SoTier]

On 3/29/2019 at 9:46 PM, Reed83HOF said:

It's not easy. Lost my first cat 3 years ago, she was 18, lost her sister in October, she was 21 neither were easy, but they had good long lives.

 

Up until March 1,we had a 1yr old pup and 5 cats (2-7 year olds from the same litter, 2-1.5 yr olds and a 6 month old). 28 days ago we lost my favorite little cat man Butters, he was 7. The pup brought flea into the house on Tuesday that week, we had to give the cats a topical and he looked to be in rough shape, lethargic and not eating (which isnot like him and could be a likely side effect from the frontline). Took him to the Vet Thursday and they ran some tests, found out he had an enlarged heart and the cause was not known, but it looked like it might be lymphoma, nope it was FIP (an uncurable fatal disease) he was gone Friday night. We took him to the vet and honestly put him down just before it got real bad as his body was shutting down. I'm still torn up over it. The other cats are too - going around looking for him and staying very close to us.

 

You will know when its time. My 18 yr old had kidney disease as she aged and he had her on subcutaneous fluids, but she just wasted away until she couldn't walk and would fall over. It was time and she knew too. We spent about $3k and we got about 1 extra month out of her, but it was a selfish decision on our part. The 21 yr old had the same ending, but we ended it sooner for her and feel much better we didn't let it dragon...

 

I've had lots of pets over the years, and, consequently, I've had to put down several of them.  The above is so true.  It's better to put a sick pet down too soon, especially an older one, than to wait too long. It's all about quality of life for the pet.

[GaryPinC]

Sorry for your loss.  This story always brings me comfort, probably because I'm a bird hunter!  Hope it helps in some small way.        http://aarf.org/Memorials/NoDogsInHeaven.htm

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

I feel your pain, ODB. One of the worst decisions anyone ever has to make.

 

[dollars 2 donuts]

Brother, I and others have been heart broken over this before, as you are now.

 

I am so very sorry for this stress on you.

 

Your try to make your pets last days as pain free and as enjoyable as possible and never let on what is going to happen.  However, they know a little bit, but the vet makes it very easy on them.

 

...the pain is ours to endure.  However, it is worth it when you go back over how much joy they brought to the family...and you.

Edited April 1, 2019 by dollars 2 donuts

[Augie]

10 hours ago, Ol Dirty B said:

 

Wise words from a wise man.

 

No, just lessons I have learned the hard way. We have to keep moving forward, because we can never go back. Just take the best of what you have found with you as you move on. 

[Buffalo_Gal]

11 hours ago, /dev/null said:

When I was a kid we had a dog that was part of the family.  When he died we all grieved for him

My parents kept his ashes in their bedroom

When my Mom died, we buried his ashes with her.

 

I have not doubt the two of them are together

 

 

We had my dog's ashes in the curio in the living room for the last 12 years. When our pooch died last fall, we buried them together. I didn't want anyone just tossing the ashes from either dog.  If I planned on being buried (I don't), I'd have loved to have done the same for my dogs and me as you did for your mom and her dog.

@Ol Dirty B   I am very sorry for the loss of your much-beloved pet. ?

[Alaska Darin]

11 hours ago, Augie said:

The loss of a pet is the loss of a family member. People who don’t get that won’t understand. They are also missing out in many ways.. 

Well said.  Someone once said "Please let me live my life being the person my dog thinks I am."  That resonated with me.  My wife and I  have buried 8 dogs in since we've been together and it never gets easier but we always go right back out and get another one.  To say it's enriched our lives is an understatement of epic proportions.  No matter how horrible my day has been or what I've been through, my dogs are always thrilled to see me and let me know how much they love me.

 

Our oldest, Malcolm is a mutt from the streets who spent the first six years of his life living on the streets, never knowing kindness, love, or where his next meal was going to come from.  He still has significant PTSD issues but he now knows an easy life with food, a warm bed, and plenty of love.  He's almost 13 now and won't be with us much longer but I'm glad we got a chance to get to know him because he's a great guy.

[Augie]

6 minutes ago, Alaska Darin said:

Well said.  Someone once said "Please let me live my life being the person my dog thinks I am."  That resonated with me.  My wife and I  have buried 8 dogs in since we've been together and it never gets easier but we always go right back out and get another one.  To say it's enriched our lives is an understatement of epic proportions.  No matter how horrible my day has been or what I've been through, my dogs are always thrilled to see me and let me know how much they love me.

 

Our oldest, Malcolm is a mutt from the streets who spent the first six years of his life living on the streets, never knowing kindness, love, or where his next meal was going to come from.  He still has significant PTSD issues but he now knows an easy life with food, a warm bed, and plenty of love.  He's almost 13 now and won't be with us much longer but I'm glad we got a chance to get to know him because he's a great guy.

 

We have that carved in a piece of stone in our house. Words to live by.......

[Turk71]

So sorry for your loss ODB, my little buddy Harry is almost 14 and I feel crushed whenever I think about losing him. He is still active and happy but I know it is inevitable. I can only imagine what you are going through. Sucks.

[Tiberius]

On 3/29/2019 at 7:33 PM, Ol Dirty B said:

Hey everyone. I know I'm not the greatest poster at times, totally get any annoyance I might cause people.

 

I'm posting this not for sympathy, because I know a lot of you and a lot of people deal with way worse. Honestly feel kind of guilty for how much it is bothering. Really just searching for advice I've been googling for weeks and haven't really found any good advice on the topic. I don't live with my childhood dog, shes still at my moms, my mother lives just a few miles away so I'm always around.

 

Anyways, my dog, shes 16, and she has been a task to take care of the last year almost. Not that we mind, we all really appreciate and given that besides my step dad we all work random hours. I work retail as does my brother, my moms a nurse. It has been to the point where we always make sure someone is with her to make sure she, the dog, is okay. She's not in pain, still loves to eat and see people.

 

Anyways for months, I've been dreading going over because you never know if that's going to be the day. Well two Tuesdays ago was the day. I came over and she greeted me. My brother told me it was the first shes stood up on her own in 3 days. She walked into me and fell and I felt awful. I've been over everyday since, they thought she was getting better but my mom called me today and said it's time. It's been an awful feeling for two weeks. She can't get up, still eating and wagging her tail so we have no idea what to do. You know what I mean? If she's still happy despite being as disabled as she is, how do you do that?

 

Idk I'm not a huge pet person, just wondering how you pet people do it or have any advice on moving on.

 

Sorry for the LAMP post, but I struggle talking about it in person especially when I know people who have recently lost loved ones or fighting cancer. We're really generally blessed. Not sure if this is the right place for the thread, again just seeking advice from those who been through it.

 

Edit- sorry just saw a very similar thread only a couple threads down. Feel free to merge or delete.

My advice would be to get a new pet ASAP. 

[row_33]

The only slight consolation with cats is that they may reamin to the point where they no longer wish to continue, then you are compelled to put them out of their misery.

 

 

 

[dpberr]

I was told by my vet and have seen it published several times that even though the emotional pain seems just too much to humanly bear, you should be present when it's time.  You don't want your loved one to be left all alone, in the care of just strangers.  

 

 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

23 minutes ago, dpberr said:

I was told by my vet and have seen it published several times that even though the emotional pain seems just too much to humanly bear, you should be present when it's time.  You don't want your loved one to be left all alone, in the care of just strangers.  

 

 

 

Oh man, i get upset just thinking about that.

 

 

[mrags]

3 hours ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

Oh man, i get upset just thinking about that.

 

 

 

3 hours ago, dpberr said:

I was told by my vet and have seen it published several times that even though the emotional pain seems just too much to humanly bear, you should be present when it's time.  You don't want your loved one to be left all alone, in the care of just strangers.  

 

 

When my 16 year old pup went a year and a half ago I made sure I was not only there,  it held her in my arms when it was time. My wife was there in front of us. So not only was I holding her to make her feel safe, she was looking at my wife as she went. It was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. And to this day I don’t regret it. We loved her so much, we wanted her to feel loved and as safe as she could be when the time came. I think she appreciated it. Honestly, she might not have even known we were there, but I felt like I owed it to her to be with her. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. But I did cry for days after. 

[Augie]

39 minutes ago, mrags said:

 

When my 16 year old pup went a year and a half ago I made sure I was not only there,  it held her in my arms when it was time. My wife was there in front of us. So not only was I holding her to make her feel safe, she was looking at my wife as she went. It was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. And to this day I don’t regret it. We loved her so much, we wanted her to feel loved and as safe as she could be when the time came. I think she appreciated it. Honestly, she might not have even known we were there, but I felt like I owed it to her to be with her. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. But I did cry for days after. 

 

I was not there when my first four Goldens were put down, for a variety of reasons. Obviously chief among them was how horribly difficult I knew it would be, but there were also practical issues (work, etc.). For my fifth Golden I was there holding her as she quaked in fear. It was every bit as hard as I expected, but I’m so glad I was there for her. She deserved it!

 

If I could go back and do it over, I would have been with the first four. I can’t go back, but I’ll learn from it and do everything possible to be there when it’s Gracie’s turn (assuming I outlast her. - take nothing for granted!). She has been an immeasurable comfort to us during some very difficult times. She deserves all the comfort I can give her. 

 

.

This does NOT mean I’m saying everybody should do it. Everyone grieves in their own way, and it’s not my place (or anyone else’s IMO) to tell other people how to grieve. It’s rough either way. 

Edited April 1, 2019 by Augie

[dpberr]

I get to practice what I preach tonight and it's going to be terrible.  

[Augie]

2 minutes ago, dpberr said:

I get to practice what I preach tonight and it's going to be terrible.  

I’m so sorry to hear that, but you know it’s best. Good luck. 

[Reed83HOF]

31 minutes ago, dpberr said:

I get to practice what I preach tonight and it's going to be terrible.  

Sorry to hear that man; hang in there

[Misterbluesky]

2 hours ago, dpberr said:

I get to practice what I preach tonight and it's going to be terrible.  

Sorry that it's time.Peace to you and your family during this tough time,God Bless.

Kevin

Edited April 11, 2019 by Misterbluesky

[Golden Goat]

On 4/1/2019 at 12:58 AM, Turk71 said:

So sorry for your loss ODB, my little buddy Harry is almost 14 and I feel crushed whenever I think about losing him. He is still active and happy but I know it is inevitable. I can only imagine what you are going through. Sucks.

 

I'm in the same boat. My beagle, Radar, will (hopefully) be 15 in October. He still eats like a horse, but he can't hear or see well anymore. I'd say I'm bracing myself, but I'd be lying. I have no idea how one goes about doing that.

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

I can't even imagine. I've never lost my own dog, but my aunt and uncle had a dog I was close to that they had to put down, and my cousin has had to put down three of his dogs in the past four or five years, all of whom I've been close to, and it still hurt. 

 

The dog I have now is the first dog that's truly been my dog. He's about 12. Still active so I know he's got some time left. But I know when he's gone, I'll be out of commission for a week. 

[Chef Jim]

This is the problem with having pets instead of kids.  You tend to outlive your pets.  We're on our third cat.  The first one got pretty sick. We got him before we got married when we lived in Miami.  He traveled with us to WNY on our way to Chicago to get married and then off to California after the wedding.  He was part of our family.  We he was sick we tried everything to help him.  We fed him intravenously.  It was so sad watching him just waste away.  We took a weekend trip to SF and got a call from our friend who was popping in to look after him.  He had died.  I swore I was never going to let a pet suffer like that again.  Our second cat developed throat cancer.  We made the decision with the help of the vet to put him down.  Vet said his throat could be restricted and he may suffocate.   I dreaded that drive to the vet to have him put down so I researched and found a vet that would come to our house to put him down.  It was nice to have him go sitting in his favorite perch.  On our third cat.  First female cat.  She's a b**ch and can't wait until we put her down.  I kid I kid.......  She's my favorite of the three so far.  It's gonna suck when we put her down but again that's life with pets. 

 

So my condolences.  It's kind of like when you lose a close family member or friend.  It's sad and it's hard but here's the best thing you can do. Is focus on all the love and joy the brought you.  Save all the photos/videos mementos you have.  I videoed our first cat as he was dying to Pink Floyd's Pigs on the Wing (Part 2).  To this day it still gets me every time I hear that song.

 

 

[Augie]

When our last dog was put down, it was a complete surprise. She was fine....until she wasn’t. A tumor in her chest (we had no idea existed) broke loose and was pressing on her heart. She was so scared. I was glad I could be with her at the end. 

 

We had to explain to my son when he got home from school. His first words were “I wish I had played with her more”. So true. Gotta go now, taking my Gracie for a walk. 

[PromoTheRobot]

My daughter keeps rats. They are actually very nice pets, very bright and playful if you socialize them early. The downside is they die in 2-3 years, often from cancer. So my daughter has to put them down often. She just did the latest one yesterday. 

 

She said she had to bring the deceased rat home so the other rats could see that their cage mate died.  First they prod and jostle the body to wake them up and then go off to a corner to mourn for a while. Rats depend on having rat buddies. Keeping a single rat is cruel.

Edited April 12, 2019 by PromoTheRobot

[Misterbluesky]

1 hour ago, Augie said:

When our last dog was put down, it was a complete surprise. She was fine....until she wasn’t. A tumor in her chest (we had no idea existed) broke loose and was pressing on her heart. She was so scared. I was glad I could be with her at the end. 

 

We had to explain to my son when he got home from school. His first words were “I wish I had played with her more”. So true. Gotta go now, taking my Gracie for a walk. 

It's cold here tonight,but I'm going with my bride and Ellie soon.She loves to look at the deer that surround the park.I wouldn't have went out with them tonight if it wasn't for this thread.

Edited April 11, 2019 by Misterbluesky

[Augie]

38 minutes ago, Misterbluesky said:

It's cold here tonight,but I'm going with my bride and Ellie soon.She loves to look at the deer that surround the park.I wouldn't have went out with them tonight if it wasn't for this thread.

 

This is what life’s all about. It’s easy to do the “easy thing” and lose track of this! 

 

My girl is fixated on a cat in the backyard thru the screen door. She wouldn’t know what to do with it! She just wants to play, they cat would probably take her eyes out! These are the little things in life we need to cherish. 

[dpberr]

Thank you all for your thoughts.  It felt good to read them.   

 

It was very difficult to do.  She was a 16 year old cat who was in a lot of pain from a likely kidney tumor.  I felt some peace as she passed because she didn't want to lay down because of pain, and had stopped eating and drinking.  She was pretty dehydrated.  

 

We learned a lot about ourselves and our thoughts about death from our other cat who passed away at 16 from cancer.  In hindsight, we extended his life probably a little longer than we should have. We pulled out all the stops in a desperate attempt to stave off the inevitable. 

 

This time around, we didn't want to extend life simply to extend it or to make ourselves feel better if it meant she'd just experience more pain.   

 

I think we all do the best we can in the moment.  

Edited April 12, 2019 by dpberr

[Wacka]

I mentioned my brother's 19 year old dog in this thread (we put him to sleep in 2015). Today my brother said he will probably have to put his 18 year-old  cat  to sleep this week.  She  is barely eating eating anything,   is getting thinner , won't touch her treats (which have catnip), and the ed her a piece of ham this morning, She threw it up this afternoon.

[RaoulDuke79]

21 minutes ago, Wacka said:

I mentioned my brother's 19 year old dog in this thread (we put him to sleep in 2015). Today my brother said he will probably have to put his 18 year-old  cat  to sleep this week.  She  is barely eating eating anything,   is getting thinner , won't touch her treats (which have catnip), and the ed her a piece of ham this morning, She threw it up this afternoon.

From my experience cats seem to have a pretty long shelf life. I had two growing up that lived to 17. My wife had one that was 20 and I saw someone at the vet last week who had a 22 year old cat. Mine will be 12 in August. He's a fat heap,  so I dont know how far he'll make it, but he's grumpy and tough and those type seem to stick around.

[The Senator]

 

Putting a dog down is like your best friend begging you to pull the plug ‘cause he’s terminal and suffering.  You just want them around longer, and it hurts like hell.

 

I’ve had to put 3 down, one was a tiny puppy with distemper, totally blind but still trying to find the newspapers we had spread for her. Another was a giant St. Bernard with mange - it was the only way the vet could relieve her misery.  The third was just old, could no longer stand or walk, and had to wear a diaper.

 

It sucks.  My sympathies.  If I have any worthwhile advice to offer, get a young puppy to replace your old friend.  Do it soon. You’ll never really replace your old friend,  but caring for and training a young puppy will help take your mind off the sorrow.

 

JMO

.