Not a day I'm looking forward to

[joeywa]

Today has been on the horizon for some time. We have two German Shepherds; you've prob seen pics at one time or another. We have a 10 yr old mama dog, and her only daughter, an 8 yr old white shepherd, Gabi.

Gabi has been fighting some major spinal issues, and the neurologist said she has some sort of infection in almost every disc in her back. Anti-fungals and antibiotics Have not been able to fight off the infection. It has made it extremely difficult for her to get up from a laying down position. For the last few months, once she was up and moving around, she seemed OK. This week she took a turn for the worse. She is losing mobility in her rear legs.

Were she a younger dog, I'd probably entertain the options of surgery to correct this, but at 8, I don't feel that putting her through surgery to give her maybe 2-3 years of life is the right/humane thing to do. Not to mention the toll that surgery/recovery would take on her.

I'm going to try and get her into the truck and get her to the vet later today. She'll be going to Dog Heaven.

Gotta tell ya, this is never easy. Quite frankly, it sucks.

She's like most dogs, a part of the family. This isn't the first time I've had to put down a pet, but it never gets easier.

Sorry to be a downer right out of the chute this morning.

 

[UTK66]

That sucks Joey. Losing a pet is indeed losing a family member.

 

[HornEsch]

It really is something that I hate. We had to go through something similar a few years back. We had a Yellow Lab mix that was 12 and had gotten pretty bad with cancer. She was in pain all the time and we had to make the tough decision.

What really made it tough is we took her up to the vet and they gave her a shot and sent her home with us for one last night. The shot made her feel great and so she was playing and excited like she hadn't been in years. We knew it was only temporary, but it still made it that much tougher the following day when we took her up there to be put to sleep. That dog meant a lot to my wife and I. It was incredibly tough.

 

[joeywa]

Wow HE. I can't imagine sending the pup home for a last night. Definitely had to make the process harder.

 

[Matthew1967]

It is amazing how a pet can become a part of your family.  I never had a pet growing up so I never understood this.  I have known my wife for 6 years (married 5).  She came with a 9 year old Maine coon - Ginger.  It was a package deal.  I tolerated the cat at first, but came to love the little buggy (my nickname for her).  I work from home and travel with my job.  Ginger was my office manager.  She also kept me company when my wife went on her once per quarter overseas trip.  On Thu 06-Nov, she became very ill (out of the blue).  She spiraled down FAST (triad disease), and we put her down on Mon 10-Nov.  I was surprised how upset I was, and I am a 47 year old man.  My condolences, Joeywa.  It sucks!  We will get another Maine coon after the holidays.  My first reaction was NO.  I told my wife I did not want to go through that again. 

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Dang guys...sorry to hear about the losses.

 

[monarch]

joeywa, you and i are always arguing with each other.. and in and out of some form of tit for tat scenario upon this forum.  however, at the very end of the day.. we are all family here!  if we can accept the good, the excitement, the frivolity of being LONGHORN FANS... then we can definitely accept the "downers". 

although, i have never ever been a pet person myself (due to my constant travel in and out of the country with work).  i can only imagine the pain that this particular circumstance is causing you and your family at this time.  please my pal, always remember that... GOD CLOSES A DOOR.. BUT HE SHALL DEFINITELY OPEN ANOTHER ONE IN TIME!  (keep faith upon your equation)  put the pet to sleep, and get her out of this misery, pain, and infection.  hug your family.. and keep your chin up.  tomorrow brings forth another day.. and life goes on...  god bless!

 

[Johnstark23]

Jeff, I'm incredibly sorry for your loss.

 

[joeywa]

Thanks guys.

 

[Shevis Irons]

Guys, I'm so sorry for your losses.

I'm staring down the Barrel of the same decision. My seventeen year old Border Collie is really showing her age. She has gone totally def and can no longer hear her commands. I've tried to teach her hand signals but she has to much doggie ADD and grew up accustomed to voice commands.

It's amazing how attached we get to our pets.

 

[streettopeschel]

Sorry Joey. Been down that road twice and it's horrible. My best friend these days is a choc lab named Boo and I told my wife if we ever have to put him down, they should just do me too.

 

[drgilbert]

I am sorry for your loss. I have had the joy of having pets since I was little. I still think of the Doberman I grew up with for 13 years. Good luck and I will raise a toast to your lost friend tonight.

 

[drgilbert]

I am sorry for your loss. I have had the joy of having pets since I was little. I still think of the Doberman I grew up with for 13 years. Good luck and I will raise a toast to your lost friend tonight.

 

[echeese]

Sorry to hear. . . .these are great dogs. . .we threatened to kidnap them when we were up ther. . . 

Wish I had the words. . . .

 

[Donald Boyles]

JoeyWa

I currently have 3 dogs.. each dog is as different from the other.. One, is my running mate, she is the reason I get up in the mornings to go for my run. One is the queen bee all 8LBs of her-the true lap dog.. the other one is the one that wants to lay around all day..

Nothing better then walking in from work and All 3 running up to you to greet you..

So, I understand the pain that you are going through.. My Wife and I, in 27 years of Marriage have put 3 other dogs down.. these 3 will be just as difficult..

Prayers for you and your family!

 

[java]

I have a 14 year old Australian Shepard. Luckily she was trained to both voice and hand commands. She grew totally deaf about a year ago, and we have had to rely on hand signals since that time. Unfortunately, her eyesight is beginning to fade badly. Her vision is very bad when the lighting is low. She is still ok with bright light.

I am hoping to avoid that decision for quite a while because she has been an incredible dog. She did everything with us and would have done anything for us. They are so incredibly loyal, devoted, and loving. People could learn a great deal from their dogs if they would simply give them credit. Ironically, scientists are beginning to do so.

 

[joeywa]

Vet said we made the right decision. Almost as difficult as the process, was calling my daughter this AM in her dorm room 6 hrs away and telling her. GULP. Not fun at all.

 

[Aaron Carrara]

Sorry for the loss brotha.  I remember facing the same thing with my childhood dog who lived to be 19 years old (into my adult life).  That dog had better healthcare than me, ate better and definitely exercised more than me!  He had cataract surgery when he was 16....  Had arthritis so bad it hurt him to move and he had to be put down.  We still have his ashes and will be spreading them around his favorite walking spot - a lake in Fort Worth, Texas whenever we get back there next.

Hang in there.

 

[JimR]

thinking of you, jw