would any of you be able to make the choice of putting your pet to sleep?

You find yourseld in a situation that none of us as pet owners like to face. We all think of out pets as our family, and for some of us, our only family. When faced with this situation I asked myself, Is my pet enjoying life?, Will this situation have any positive outcome for her?, in otherwords will she ever get better enough to play and be happy? I had to answer these questions with a "no". I also asked myself if I would like to live this way. My pet looked to me for care and comfort. I could no longer offer comfort, like you, only through pain pills. I felt that it was my responsibility to make my dog comfortable. I miss my Pepper still yet, and it has been many years. I cried for weeks,(and I was in my 30's) and it is ok to miss and morn your pet because they are your companion. I look back on it and know that she is playing with butterflies, chasing balls and doing it pain free, and I look forward to the day when I see her again because I know she'll be waiting for me when I get there. It is not an easy decision for your vet either to recommend the proceedure to you. If you question your vets recommendation go somewhere else for a second opinion. I am lucky because I live in upstate NY near the Cornell University. I have always taken pets there for a second opinion when I needed to make a decision such as yours. Doctors exposed to different things sometimes see things other vets miss....just like people doctors. I can tell you that my vet let me hold my Pepper while he gave her a shot, and she just went to sleep as if she were laying on my couch. It was peaceful, and I felt better that a stranger was not the last memory she had. My heart goes out to you, And I know your anguish. Trust your self and your instinct as to what to do.

I have made that decision before and it was very hard, but I think it was the right decision. Is your dog still able to enjoy life at all? Does he still sometimes want to play and seem happy? If he does, then you have to think about how much time he is suffering and how much time he is happy and make the decision based on that, I think. If he is suffering terribly most of the time, it's probably kinder to put him to sleep.

First off I would like to say I'm sorry to hear about your friend not being well at all unfortunately the decision is yours and yours alone; no one can tell you what to do. I've had to have some pets put down in the past due to illness and it is never an easy thing to do but at times it is the kindest, gentlest thing we can do especially if they are ill or their quality of life suffers. If your dog is suffering very much and his pain is noticeable and gets worse then I would say you have to think of him. I understand completely about not wanting to make or taking time to make the decision believe me but I've learned in the past that keeping a furry friend alive when they are so ill is selfish on our part. 6 years ago I had a cat Smokey who was 8 years old. She ended up having a skull tumor. She was fine but then slowly went downhill. I spoon fed her everyday. I would wash her face because she could not. The tumor had eaten away at part of her skull down to the middle of her jaw. i had no choice and called the vet to set the appointment. On that Saturday morning I sat with Smokey for awhile before it was time. I was not going to be present; felt like it was too much for me to handle and couldn't go through with being in the room with her but in the end for everything she gave me and my life I decided that this was the final thing I could do for her; to be in the room at that precise moment. Believe me when I say it was the hardest decision in my life I ever had to make and being in the room at that moment is something I can't describe; it was too much but I had to be there. Listen to your heart and your mind. You will know when the time is right even if you think it's not and if his quality of life is not there anymore and he is tired everything will be said in his eyes. He will let you know. Look in his eyes. Again I am very sorry that you have such a difficult journey ahead of you but also please remember your furry friend and if he is in too much pain.

how you have my sympathy, i have had to have several much loved cats and dogs put to sleep.some go back years, but its still hurting deep inside to think of them. but on a positive note, please think how the pet feels. they cant tell us how they feel. but to be in constant pain , just think how much better it is to let them out of their misery. i must say, i always , always, go to the vets and go in with them . i stay with them while they have the injection and i dont leave until i really have to. with my old poodle ( and he was very old , nearly 20, my vet said he had gone through old age and out the other side !!) the vet was tremendous. she gave him a tranquliser to calm him down and sedate him slightly so he was relaxed. so instead of just shaving his front leg and sticking a needle in him , like my dear old alsation many many years ago. my little old boy went peacefully with his mums arms round him.peace to you and your beloved pet xxjust do whats kind

I can relate to your story. My parents had a cat that had pretty used up 8 of it's 9 lives. He was a tough one and had weathered a lot. After losing an eye he was never really the same again. When we noticed a lump starting to grow above that eye we went to the vet. She wanted to keep him there for observation. Turned out it was just an abcess and it was drained. Now we don't know if he contracted it there or if he already had it but not too much after that he also had some kind of feline disease (sorry forget the name it's so long ago now)and he was really very poorly. He went back for observation and the vet said she'd call. Well I took the call and was asked if he should be put to sleep or not. Without even consulting the parents I said to do it. Luckily they agreed. In the end it's kinder for the animal because they really do suffer so much. I know I felt really, really bad about making a decision like that. But it's even more heartbreaking to have to watch them suffer and know you are helpless to do anything for them. It's really worse to have to watch them die in such pain. If I were in a similar situation again I know I would still say the same thing. I wish you strength and hope that whatever decision you make you will be okay with it.

It's very sad. I know it's hard to let go of your loved one. But your dog is in pain and I know you don't want him to feel that pain. I think, letting him go will be the bravest decision you make. I know you are a loving person. Whether you make this decision or not, I think you dog knows you love him and will stay by his side no matter what.

It's all been said before and by now you may well have had the courage to come to the best decision. I've had to do the same many, many times and it doesn't get easier! My thoughts are with you.

I had this decision to make a few years ago when my cat was dying with a tumor that kept him from eating. The vet said he could operate but even then he wouldn't live more than a few months if he even made it through the operation. I had to think about how he was suffering and how I could stop that suffering, putting him to sleep was the best thing I could do for him. To make your pets suffer is cruel and I would rather any animal that has no chance of getting well, be put to sleep. It will be your gift to him. He has been your good friend and now it is your turn to be his. God bless

Please believe me that no one loves their dog or pet any more than I do mine! As a matter of fact I happen to love animals more than people because they are so loyal and loving along with their total innocence. However,I had to put my big adorable black lab to sleep years ago and I cried rivers also.BUT I did it for him because my vet told me the exact same thing yours did. So for me,you,or anyone else to FORCE an animal to endure pain and suffering is the worst form of animal abuse. To comfort you though,it is a very decent procedure.As I was cuddled around my Big Sam and telling him how much I loved him my vet slipped quietly into the room with a very small needle and injected it in Sam's leg.Sam didn't even feel it and went calmly to sleep. May God Bless You and help you through this ordeal. Philip Jacksonville,Florida

Oh.. I'm sorry, this is so, so, sad. I had to make the same decision with my cat some years back. She had kidney failure and was soooo sick, she couldn't move, or eat or even drink from a dropper. It was like the day before my daughters 10th bday party and she really wanted Tramp to be there for it. It got so bad I had to heartbreakingly explain to her how much pain she was in and we really had to put her to sleep, but I told her if she really, really wanted her at her party we'd wait. She made the right decision to put her to sleep that day, and boy how we all cried. To this day I cry when I think of it,or see her picture. After we left the vet, we went to a shelter and adopted 2 black kittens who were brother and sister-they usually have a 24 hr waiting period to take the animals, but given our sad situation, they let us take them that day. It helped us all deal with Tramp being gone, and my daughter had 2 kittens to show her friends at her bday party instead of a dying cat. It sounds like you know in your heart that you need to put your dear doggy to sleep. Its without a doubt one of the toughest things you'll ever have to do, but it must be so hard seeing him suffer. hugs

why cant your dog be on pain killers for more than 3 days? i dunno, if your pet does not post a danger now that he is sick, some animals when they are realy sick changed behaviour, they become fierce, i hope your dog in that condition still knows who you are, i say see if you can push the pain killers for more than 3 days, i would suggest not to kill him but let him die by himself, i think its more respectful to something that you realy love so much, i hope he can be on pain killers for the rest of his life, but if it realy cant be done, for me you know, i will not put it to sleep, but you know let him pass away on his own, i think its crues to watch a pet suffer, but i dont like the idea of killing my own pet, its up to you

I am sorry to hear about your sick doggie. I have had to put my cat to sleep as well. The vet did all they could to save him and in the end he couldnt be helped anymore. He could of had surgery for $1, 200 but the chances were slim to none. We may have if we had the money, but we already put in what we had. I had the choice to bring him home , or put to sleep. As hard as it was we had to put him to sleep. He was suffering so much the last few days of his life. There never is a good time to do it and there never is enough time to say goodbye. I hope you can find peace soon .Do what is in your heart. If you want him to die at home let him, but make sure he isnt in pain . See if the doc can maybe give him something else if possible

I had to put my cat down and it was pretty hard because I have her for a very long time. About twice as long as you have had your dog. I knew it was the best thing for her because again she was like your dog, and I couldn't allow her to suffer since she had been so good to me all those years. I couldn't ask my pet to live for my happiness when they were so miserable. It is a very hard thing to do buy your have to think about your pet and what is best for him.

I know this is a hard decision. My family just had to deal with this as well. My moms dog Rock had been her baby for about 11years. He loved her dearly, never leaving her side for longer than he had to. My dad had to spend time in the hospital and my mom decided to stay with him, only coming home once a week. We believe Rock got heartsick and lonely and just stopped eating, morning for my mom. All this made him gain 30lbs in water weight and just be really swollen, barley able to walk, or eat. We could tell he was dying. So while my mother was in the hospital, we took him to the vet and he told us we needed to put him down. So my brothers and myself had to do it. It was extremely hard and very hard on my mom not to be there with him. I know its hard to let your best friend go, but if he is suffering he needs to be let go.

I am sorry, this is a very sad situation you are in. I had to make that decision, not once but twice when my two pomeranians became old and sick. I'd had the one for 14 years and the other for 15 years. It was horrible and I waited too long to have them put to sleep because I couldn't let go of them. It was selfish of me not to end their suffering sooner but I just loved them so much. It's been two years and I still miss them, sometimes quite desperately. I cry a little as I sit here writing this but if your dog is in pain, you have to be the responsible one and make the decision that is right for your dog. If that means putting him to sleep.... It is a very difficult decision, I do know. Now, I feel so much guilt for holding on to my dogs and not having them put to sleep sooner. It got so bad that my one dog was having horrible seizures all night. The other dog's body functions shut down on her. It was terrible and the most merciful loving thing I did was to have them put to sleep. I still hate it but I had to do it. I think I'm rambling now so I will stop writing. But my heart goes out to you and I hope that you will be strong and make the best decision that you can.

Read your Post over again slowly! You say you love ur pet, and you say he's suffering terribly. Think about this. Would a person who truly loved a pet be this selfish? Put yourself in your pets place. The only humane thing to do is Stop thinking about yourself and think about your suffering dog! Put him out of his misery for God's Sake!

My heart breaks for you. :( That's an impossible decision for anyone but you to make, and I know how very, very hard it is to even consider it. You boy will love you, regardless, and I think he'll understand it if you need to take time to make the decision. I've had to make the choice a handful of times, and it's never easy. Listen to what your heart and your buddy are telling you. Whatever you decide, I hope you find peace with it. I'll be thinking of you and your friend.

No one can make the decision for you. I think you probably already know what your decision is, but what the decision is who knows. All I can say is put your feelings out of it- how YOU feel doesnt factor in this only how HE feels. And yes I can quite honestly say when the time comes for my dog Iwill make the decision without hesitation I will KNOW when the times right. It is the last thing we do for them and it should be done with love, and out of THEIR best interests.

I've had to put a pet to sleep, so I know how you feel. I know you love your pet but If your pet is in that much pain you need to let it go. As much as you love your pet you are not dong it justice by letting it suffer in pain. Would you like to suffer in pain your last days? Your pet has feelings and you should not make it suffer.

it's pretty hard..if you love him so much u just let him live because u say u like him but if u really like him u should sleep it because he would suffer terrible and he will die anyway..