c.heifner
Mancos CO
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We are struggling with whether or not to put our beloved English Cocker Spaniel to sleep before we leave for the winter in about 10 days. I am wondering if anyone else has had to deal with such an agonizing decision like ours. Winston, is 11yrs. old and has been struggling with an auto immune disease involving very low platelets for a year now. Three weeks ago we saw the Vet about a skin infection and she said his immune system is just so weak he can't fight anything off. She felt the time to say good bye would be coming soon. His skin disorder has now cleared up although he is bald in those areas. His biggest problems as far as traveling are his weak back legs which makes it difficult to get up the steps in the 5th wheel and impossible to get in the truck w/o assistance. He no longer wants to go for walks and his potty trips are increasing. However, with all of this he remains in good spirits and still loves to eat, thanks in part to the Prednisone. His platelets remain very low so he could hemorrhage at any time. If we put him to sleep before we go he can be here at home with us when we do it as our Vet will come out BUT I feel guilty since he is not in any apparent pain. If we try and take him we will probably be dealing with the same issue sometime soon and under more stressful conditions should he become worse but maybe we could buy some time. I would appreciate any feedback. This is so hard.
Carol & Jerry
2004 Dodge 3500 4x4 AT
2004 Everest 323K
Winston, the black cocker wannabe
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dodgebob08
Mississippi
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i want to help you with your desision but am having a little trouble with part of it. to be perfectly honest, if it would be better on the dog, i'd stay where i was and postpone/cancel the trip but that's just me. our dogs are our "kids" and we take care of them that way. i'm not judging you if you or anyone else doesn't, but you asked so there you go.
more to the point of what you asked, we had a 16 year old Peek-a-poo that we had to put down several years ago. i tried to put myself in her place as best i could and decide what i would want if in the same condition. it got to where her good days were so few and far between, we felt it was time to do what had to be done. when it comes time, it's a hard choice to make, but it's part of taking care of your pet.
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aeohio
New Mexico
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Well I understand your tough situation. I was in this a few years ago, thought not leaving for a winter trip I had to put my German Shorthair down. While he was not in any apparant pain either. Issue that I had was he was 12 years old, and had a growth on his leg that I had to have removed about every year for the past 4 years, it would get to be about the size of a baseball. The issue was he still seemed find but everytime I had this removed I could tell there was something missing each time, he never returned to the way he was. He was having dificulty getting up and I sometimes needed to help him up. If it was up to me I probalby would still have him. I guess I am lucky that my DW and vet and a friend stepped in and told me that I was only keeping the dog around for myself. It was a tough pill to swallow. This was my dog, got him before I met my wife or had my kids, it was really tough. But in the end I think that I made the right choice in putting him down when I did. Could have kept him around longer but it would have only been for my benefit. Its like the Vet told me, we will never really know if the dog is in pain or not. Mine probably was and his quality of life was never going to get better only worse. You need to remember that you have to do what is best for the dog not for you and that is hard to do.
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Code2High
Ridgecrest, CA
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Ramps are available to help him in and out of the rig, and you can get a special harness (there are a couple of different kinds, actually) to make it easier for you to assist him. So if that's the big concern, I'd look into those things first.
If your concern is vet care, you might want to talk about where you're going, and see if our widely scattered crew here has any intel on good vets where you'll be.
If you have a decent vet to call on for emergencies or when that moment arrives, and you have a way to get him in and out of the rig, would it still be a stressful environment? I don't know, you'll have to decide that for yourself, and also whether the stress is in his head or your own, understanding that you still have to deal with what you can deal with. Seems to me the weather will be nicer where you're going, so things might be easier in some respects as far as caring for him. Is he a very fearful dog as far as going to a new vet or something like that?
susan
They didn't call her "Plain Gravy" for nothing.
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DraginRat
On The Road
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We had to face a very similar situation a few years ago. We had two very old and very pain filled dogs. We made the dicision to have both put to sleep. The mistake I made was making an appointment for a week in advance. The longest, saddest week in my life.
We did have them put down because they could not accompany us in our 5er because of their advance age, and condition. We really needed to make this move anyway, but kept putting if off for our peace of mind, and not the dogs peace.
I know it will be a difficult decision no matter what you decide, so go with what is in your heart.
Ken Gasbarri
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CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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My own personal criteria when that question comes up is #1, Does he still have control of his bodily functions? #2 Is he in obvious pain or discomfort? #3 Is he happy and enjoying life? I can only tell you that the euthanasia we've sought in the past that were for other reasons, such as convenience or to save money, still haunt me today. Sorry for the impending loss of your little buddy, whenever and however it happens.
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dogdiva
Houston, Texas
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Dogs are not disposable to suit our convience....
DOnt do something that you will regret the rest of your life
If there is a medical need that justifies ending the life of your faithful companion, so be it
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dturm
Munster, IN
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The fact that you are thoughtfully considering options tells me that you are considering Winston and not just the convenience aspects. I find that people error on the side of prolonging life past reasonable times for fear of euthanasia too early.
I've been on two trips with terminal dogs, both were great celebrations and each dog loved the time together with us. They each loved camping and their final days were as good as they could have been. Being a vet, I didn't have to worry about the "what if" during the trip. I'm sure you would be able to find a helpful vet during your trips if necessary.
The main thing to consider is Winston. None of us can tell you what to do or if it is time. We don't know what you and Winston have gone through and no one knows his condition now better than you.
Good luck with your decision.
Doug, DVM
Doug & Sandy
Megan (15 yr old Golden)
2008 Southwind
2001 Honda CRV
Check out blog.rv.net
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rocketmomkd
Chester County, Pennsylvania
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You have a really hard decision ahead of you. I think it may be helpfull to hear other peoples stories of similar situations, but ultimately you will be faced with the decision. I personally would not put my pet down unless it was apparent he was in distress or pain. I would make any accomodations I could to make him more comfortable and have more time with him. My own experince with losing a pet- our family had a three week trip to England planned. Our Edie was a 16 yr old diabetic cat, but was not in any type of distress and his blood sugar was under control. We made arragements for his care and took our trip. He died three days before our return. Not being there for him in the end was horrible for our whole family. Good luck with this incredibly difficult decision. I'm so sorry for the pain you must be feeling.
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c.heifner
Mancos CO
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Thank you all for taking time to respond. I have read each of your thoughts carefully and I conclude that all of you advise it is what best for Winston. That's where I have trouble, I just don't know. This morning he has a new, big lump on his throat. His enthusiasm is gone for everything but eating,sleeping and pettings. He just seems to want to get by with the least amount of effort. Because of his extremely low platelets he is always at risk of hemorrhaging which is scary when you are on the road and we have two days of being out in the middle of nowhere on our way to Mission, TX. He can't have any shots or Heartworm medicine, not even flea repellant b/c of the auto immune so I worry about that. He is deaf now too so he gets a little confused. We have to watch out for him. These are some of the issues we have to deal with and as I am writing all of this I realize how much he has declined.
My DH made a step for him to get in and out of the truck so that would help. He feels that is time to say good bye, I am the one struggling so with this.
aeohio, I think your situation with your German Shorthair and ours is very similar. I am so sorry for your loss and appreciate your sharing your story. And draginrat,we too have an appt. with the Vet for 3 days before we go if we go through with it so I can relate. Our Vet is wonderful and has advised me not to feel guilty.
Well, we will see how the next few days progress and weigh each of your thoughts as we make our final decision.
Thanks to all for being such caring "sound boards".
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