How can I say goodbye to an old friend?

I am heartbroken, plain and simple! I do not know how to say goodbye to my dog. She is 19 years old and is struggling to move around. Her back and her hips crack when she walks and she is nearly unable to get up. She still has the spark in her catarac covered eyes and still wags her tail whenever I am around. She basically sleeps 20 or more hours a day now, usually right in the middle of wherever it is you want to be. I feel selfish for everyday I continue to let her suffer, if in fact she is suffering. How do I know? When do I make the final decision? I wish she would pass in her sleep. I dont know if I am a strong enough person to be able to have her put down.
Thanks for letting me express my thoughts!

thats a tough one been there done that. When there quality of life is not what it should be put them down ,shed some tears and then remember all the GOOD times!! good luck and sorry for your lose.

I had to let mine go over the bridge last year. He had trouble standing and when it was cold he could not move once outside. One day he came out to the garage and then tried to get back in the house and fell down the stairs and then just looked at me. I new it was time. but did not want to do it. Do miss him but he is waiting over the bridge to join me when my time comes. It is tuff, but you gotta do what ya gotta do.

Our family has had to put two chessies down way before their time. Bo the first, had some sort of intestinal disease that stumped some really good vets down this way…they actually said they wouldn’t let the dog leave without putting him down….it was that bad.
Bo the second, broke his spine running after a ball, swooped his head down to pick it up and his nose caught the ground and flipped him over. He couldn’t walk so we had to put him down. And the latest one happened last week, Jake our newest chessie, had is stomach flip around (I guess this is common..?) but luckily it was caught early enough that nothing was damaged…except the wallet at $2300.00…ouch.

Moral of the story…the only thing that I have found that helps is the memories and getting a new pup!!

Lou i had a brittney that was my right arm when hunting. Memories of her in the field are so vivid i don’t need pictures to remind me, what a dog she was. If it was a good day she would let me know the first 20 minutes how the birds were doing, if i didn’t get her signals we would try another spot. After putting my previous brittney down at the vets and not being able to bring him back with me i decided to let Sara stay at the house here and make her as comfortable as i could. She passed away fairly quick and didn’t suffer and is buried by our pear tree in the back yard. I don’t know what you should do because its your dog and your feelings, like mine. I thought about what to say to you, but because of the way i felt about Sara i decided to let her go naturaly like it would have happened in nature, hope this helps and i know these times are just about as tough as they come.

Toughest job I have ever had to do – but also one of the best things I have ever done in consideration of the animal. It had reached the point where it was not humane to prolong the life of a mostly deaf and blind dog… who I loved greatly and had spent thousands of hours with in the field… it isn’t easy – but it is the right thing to do if living is a burden for the pet. Best wishes to you and your friend,
Chuckles

Trust me Paul…You will know when that time is.
My first Viszla(Sam) got so bad that he finally fell over crying in convulsions and I knew then I would have to put him down…couldn’t avoid it anymore…
Our Vet and I both were crying as I held him and he went to sleep…he was such a loving dog.
Its a part of life that we all eventually have to face…

its OK to grieve the loss of an good friend. Especially Dogs that love you unconditionally…a rare commodity in some humans.

I have had one put down by the vet…never again, now, they get to go out hunting one last time. I put them down myself. A guy gets some strange looks coming back to the truck with out the dog and eyes full of tears. But they go out doing what you trained them and they had bred into them to love to do so much.

I had to have my 14 year old Lab put down last year, toughest thing I ever had to do. He was losing bowel and blader control and his back hips were hurting bad. Still reach down beside my chair thinking he’ll be there. Just remember all the good times you spent with your best friend.

Lou, Sorry to hear it. I dread the day I have to make that decision. I have never had a better buddy and I have had and still have some great ones. Good Luck and like some have said, get a new one to help out ease the pain. No easy way around this one for any of us.

Paul,
I know it is the toughtest thing I have had to do, and unforutnately, I’ve been through it 3 times. Putting a pet down is terribly difficult, but it is the best for the dog. You know when the the time has come. Let the memories of the good times get you through. As has been said a replacement puppy is often the only cure for the heartache. Please don’t allow yourself to be turned off of pets due to sadness. I did without a dog for over 17 years after the first time. My son never had a dog at home after he was one year old, and my daughter didn’t have a dog until she talked me into taking my Mother’s dog after my parents passed. My point is, you’re an animal lover, don’t allow that void in your life due to sadness of your loss. Good luck in these hard times.

dave

Lou,
Sorry to hear about your impending loss. I am going thru the same thing as I write this. I have a Lab, that is 13 years old, is blind and stiff in the hips and legs. And reading some of the responses, was bringing a tear to my eye, just thinking about it. What you will do, will be your personal choice. While mine will be what Fishaholic has done. I had one put down before, and I know this time, that I can’t bring my dog to town, knowing what she is going there for, taking that 20 min. ride, go to the vet, and then bring her home to the final resting place. I am feeling this time, that that would be to hard on me. And in my eyes anyway, it would not be respectfull to my loving hunting and family companion, to let someone else do this job for me. I have 2 kids in college, and a 9 year old. This is going to be very tough on all of us. I have explained what was going to happen, and I hope all are ready for this, and it seems that my oldest son is having a tough time with enivitable. My youngest, has never been without her, and the two are inseperatable. Since we are going on Vacation for a week starting next Sat. this will have to be done next week.
The only thing that is going to heal us quickly, is I already have my new pup on order, and will be picking her up in the middle of June. The older 2 kids know about this, but it is going to be a suprise for my 9 year old daughter. The oldest 2 had their surprise 13 years ago, now it’s the youngest’s turn. The pick up day is going to be enjoyable. That’s how I am going to cope.
Good luck to you, and I hope that you get thru the pain of loss quickly.

Rivy

Lou- I feel for you. We had to put down our 12 year old lab last year due to bad hip problems. It was one of the worst things I have ever had to do. We have a great vet who will come to you home to put them down. She laid on her favorite bed with her head in my lap, the vet did his thing, and she went to the big duck pond in the sky. We sat there with our pooch for a while and then the vet took her with him and returned her ashes in a few days for her funeral. I know what you are going thru, but you need to think about how the dogs quality of life is. Good Luck. Love2Fish

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I have had one put down by the vet…never again, now, they get to go out hunting one last time. I put them down myself. A guy gets some strange looks coming back to the truck with out the dog and eyes full of tears. But they go out doing what you trained them and they had bred into them to love to do so much.

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I wish I could find the article that Gary Clancy wrote in the Outdoor news about this topic. Gary had a Brittney Spaniel named Meg that was deathly afraid of the vet and did not what his dog to go out that way. He put his dog down in the field also doing what she loved to do. I feel your pain Paul I have a 10 year old German Short hair and I dread the day that I will have to make this decision.

Today I put my best friend to sleep. I made the decision a few weeks ago and picked a date. Its never easy to say goodbye but as today grew nearer I saw how much it really was time. We had a good last few weeks together and she had a special dinner of chicken bones out of garbage can last night (her fav). Just wanted to say thanks to all for your kind words of support. I am including her final picture in the back of my truck at the vets office. I am heartbroken but glad she no longer is suffering.

Very sad. But you did the right thing. Awesome dinner she had last night..

I am so sorry for your lost. I know it is not easy what you did. But she is no longer suffering and she’ll be apart of you always. It must have been so hard to take that final picture of her – cherish all the good times you shared and know she will be waiting for you when your time comes.

Lou- I am sorry for your loss. I had to put 1 of my pets to sleep a few months ago and I know first hand, its not easy. You did the right thing and she will no longer be suffering. Just think of the good times that you spent together. Again…I am sorry for your loss.

I tend to think of it in terms of myself, I would not want to be alive in those conditions, and neither would my dog.

Sorry for your loss, I can’t imagine when I have to do it with my dog, very sad days Remember the good times, and all the wonderful times you shared.

Isn’t it truley amazing how we love our dogs? One of Gods greatests gifts of all is our loyal and trusted friends, our dogs. How can any kid grow up normal without one right?

As with most everybody else I too have had to make the terrible desicion of putting Kama down. She brought life to everybody she met. I didn’t want her to die on a cold stainless steel table. All tensed up and nervous.

So I decided to do it myself. I won’t go into the long and tearful story, but I won’t do it that way ever again. Man that was a [censored].

I think the next time we’ll see if the vet can come over and do the injection thing.

I’m surprised that nobody has put the Rainbow Bridge or the Dogs Prayer up on here yet. I would but I’m still new to the site and aint figured out how to paste. I right click and nothing prompts me to paste copied notes.

You did the right thing Lou. Its hard not to feel pretty bad about loosing a close friend like your dog.

Lou – I know yesterday was not an easy day and today to be without your friend is also tough. As so many others above have expressed, remeber the 19 years that you had together and the great memories that will be with you the rest of your life.

I only had 9 years with my first lab until the complications of cancer took over and we ended his suffering – that was one of the hardest days of my life. My wife and I waited almost 6 months before getting our next lab and we now have two young labs but I still think of Payton often.

Here’s two poems that helped me through this:
The Rainbow Bridge Poem
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….
——

A Dog’s Plea:

Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the living heart that beats inside of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you musk know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footsteps fall upon my waiting ear.

Please take me inside with you when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to the bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.

Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding; to walk by your side and protect you with my life should your life be in danger.

And, my friend, when I am very old and no longer enjoy good health, hearing, and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me with you. I am not having any fun. Please see that my trusting life is taken gently. I shall leave this earth knowing with he last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.

Lou
I certainly feel your pain, it wasn’t too long ago I made the same decision. Hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life (other then bury my mom). Dogs sure make our time here that much better don’t they.
Rich

Rich