"Bushka" - Put down last week
Discussion
I guess its too hard for some to stay, but as you say I couldnt leave a family member at that point.
Hardest thing I ever did, holding my last dog Poppy as she was injected
I still have her ashes 5 years later as I can't bear the thought of scattering them.
All this even though we have another family member, it still leaves a hole
Hardest thing I ever did, holding my last dog Poppy as she was injected
I still have her ashes 5 years later as I can't bear the thought of scattering them.
All this even though we have another family member, it still leaves a hole
I didn't have the choice as my cat was at the vet's being treated when he suddenly took a turn for the worse. I was at work and they felt it unfair to keep him alive for the 30 minutes I needed to get back 
sadly he'd been at the vet's two days and I thought I was going in to bring him home so didn't go to see him the night before.
sadly he'd been at the vet's two days and I thought I was going in to bring him home so didn't go to see him the night before. Having had one of our cats put to sleep on Sunday , it was my first experience of being present in such a situation. At first I must admit I was unsure if I could be present when the final act was to be carried out, because I had a fear, rather selfishly, that I wouldn't be able to hold it together. however I said I would stay which is what I did.
I found it to be a very sad but also a very dignified process. In a strange way, it was very beautiful seeing our pet leave quietly, with dignity. She didn't die in a gutter after being hit by a car, she didn't die after being attacked by a dog or similar- she died in a clean, controlled, and dignified way, and I don't think any of us, human or otherwise, could ask for anything more when our number is up.
I found it to be a very sad but also a very dignified process. In a strange way, it was very beautiful seeing our pet leave quietly, with dignity. She didn't die in a gutter after being hit by a car, she didn't die after being attacked by a dog or similar- she died in a clean, controlled, and dignified way, and I don't think any of us, human or otherwise, could ask for anything more when our number is up.
keirik said:
I guess its too hard for some to stay, but as you say I couldnt leave a family member at that point.
Hardest thing I ever did, holding my last dog Poppy as she was injected
I still have her ashes 5 years later as I can't bear the thought of scattering them.
All this even though we have another family member, it still leaves a hole
We still have the ashes of one of our dogs, despite the ashes of others being scattered on their favourite runs.Hardest thing I ever did, holding my last dog Poppy as she was injected
I still have her ashes 5 years later as I can't bear the thought of scattering them.
All this even though we have another family member, it still leaves a hole
Yale was a nine year old retired guide dog, black lab/retriever cross.
Not the most demonstrative of dogs but had a quiet dignity about him.
We had him just over 2 years and he went from being a bit off to being put down in the same day.
We had two other dogs, who we still have, but he left a massive hole.
Oh dear, it’s five years now and here come the tears.
RIP Yale and all the other furries that have changed our lives for the goog
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I once read a statement from a vet that said about this which really, really, really is upsetting to think of the animals in this situation, but it is not as uncommon as you would expect.We have had the vet come to our home the last couple of times for the dogs so they can look out into the garden and be in a place they know and feel happy. We keep stroking their heads until the vet gives the worst signal you ever see from them. We can also allow the others to come and sniff when it is over.
It is not easy to do but it has to be done and to me it is wrong not to.
As someone else has said, sometimes you don't get the choice. I have had 8 dogs put to sleep and 1 die following an operation.
I wouldn't ever take an animal into the vets knowing they will be put to sleep and leave them alone, but there have been 3 of my dogs who were in the vets for treatment and had to be PTS before I could get there. All were already unconscious (1 in a diabetic coma and 2 under anaesthetic who had terminal cancer). The first couldn't be brought round and we decided to let the other 2 go under anaesthetic rather than bring them round only to have them PTS later.
Being with them when they are PTS is horrendous but I regard it as my final duty of care. I'm not going to judge anyone who feels they can't cope with being there, though. There is enough guilt involved.
OP - very sorry for your loss.
I wouldn't ever take an animal into the vets knowing they will be put to sleep and leave them alone, but there have been 3 of my dogs who were in the vets for treatment and had to be PTS before I could get there. All were already unconscious (1 in a diabetic coma and 2 under anaesthetic who had terminal cancer). The first couldn't be brought round and we decided to let the other 2 go under anaesthetic rather than bring them round only to have them PTS later.
Being with them when they are PTS is horrendous but I regard it as my final duty of care. I'm not going to judge anyone who feels they can't cope with being there, though. There is enough guilt involved.
OP - very sorry for your loss.
Edited by moorx on Friday 15th March 18:13
I would urge all to be a little tolerant of others here, some people cannot face the pain of losing one they love, being a party to the actual event. It is hard to bring any animal to us to be put to sleep, so some people don't want to stay. Does that mena they don't care? No of course not, it's just that some can't do what others do. If we didn't offer the choice someone would criticise. We do what we do because we care, but it is not easy for that to be seen sometimes.
I've put all my own dogs to sleep, it haunts me more and more, I'm sick of death, but it is something I can do for my friends in their most comfortable place. I still regularly get calls from those I know out of hours with obviously major or terminal problems, and without exception, I'll do what needs to be done whether PTS or arrange urgent care, and I will always try to fill that post, I understand how much it means to pet and owner, so do most vets.
My heart still misses my last friend
I miss them all really
I've put all my own dogs to sleep, it haunts me more and more, I'm sick of death, but it is something I can do for my friends in their most comfortable place. I still regularly get calls from those I know out of hours with obviously major or terminal problems, and without exception, I'll do what needs to be done whether PTS or arrange urgent care, and I will always try to fill that post, I understand how much it means to pet and owner, so do most vets.
My heart still misses my last friend
I miss them all really
Thevet said:
I would urge all to be a little tolerant of others here, some people cannot face the pain of losing one they love, being a party to the actual event. It is hard to bring any animal to us to be put to sleep, so some people don't want to stay. Does that mena they don't care? No of course not, it's just that some can't do what others do. If we didn't offer the choice someone would criticise. We do what we do because we care, but it is not easy for that to be seen sometimes.
I've put all my own dogs to sleep, it haunts me more and more, I'm sick of death, but it is something I can do for my friends in their most comfortable place. I still regularly get calls from those I know out of hours with obviously major or terminal problems, and without exception, I'll do what needs to be done whether PTS or arrange urgent care, and I will always try to fill that post, I understand how much it means to pet and owner, so do most vets.
My heart still misses my last friend
I miss them all really
Thanks for posting the above and showing what it is like from the other side.I've put all my own dogs to sleep, it haunts me more and more, I'm sick of death, but it is something I can do for my friends in their most comfortable place. I still regularly get calls from those I know out of hours with obviously major or terminal problems, and without exception, I'll do what needs to be done whether PTS or arrange urgent care, and I will always try to fill that post, I understand how much it means to pet and owner, so do most vets.
My heart still misses my last friend
I miss them all really
I have seen photos of your Rottie before and must say he (she?) was a fine looking dog.
Keep up the good work you do, both in your practice and on here.
Something else to consider is those (myself being one), who have had pets and not had the opportunity to be given a choice.
First cat was Duke, who developed a thyroid issue. While in for checks and investigations the vet found terminal cancer lumps. Given he was already 'under', our choice was to let him go, or close him up, wake him up and then make a call. We let him go, but we weren't there. He was an ex street cat, presumed to be about 10yrs old based on his teeth. We think we gave him a good home from what he used to have.
Our first dog was Cameron. We got him as a pup from neighbours who were known breeders. All above board. Unknown to anyone he had a congenital issue which was a hole in his diaphragm, probably pre-birth. This became apparent in the PM which we asked for after a day and a half of him being in absolute agony. Local vets didn't pinpoint anything specific when we took him down and talked to the out of hours vet. Turns out a typical physical checkover by the vet had moved some organs which got stuck in the hole. He was 8mths old and essentially died in our arms in pain and on the way to the vets in the back of my car. I've never been back to that vets again. Again, we had no choice.
Our next cat was one of two brothers we rehomed from CPL. He was knocked down on Christmas day round the corner from us. SSPCA got to him following a call. He was alive, but terminally injured so was given a jab at the roadside. Apparently. I say that because despite being chipped and correctly addressed, the SSPCA person didn't scan him. The SSPCA person was the manager of the local outfit. I found out 2wks later after a number of nights sat in peoples gardens calling him, using posters, walking the streets. Yet he was found some 75yds from our house by a "professional". I will never forgive SSPCA for keeping Erik in a freezer with correct ID and not considering us as the owners. He was 5yrs old. Again, we had no choice.
Our next cat was his brother, Magnus. Again, clipped on the road outside our house by someone ignoring the 20mph limit by quite some margin. I heard it happen as I was opening the curtains. I collected him and took him to the vets. He was already gone. He was 6yrs old. Again, we had no choice.
Both the last two were with us at our previous house and we had to move for other reasons. We had no indication that the road was particularly problematic, but clearly it is. We've decided not to have any more cats while we live where we do as it's clearly not fair on them, or on my kids.
We're now thinking that next year we may get a dog as my wife had dogs as a child and our two loved it when we had Cameron and the cats. But as you can see, we've not had an awesome run of it. If I'd been given the choice, I'd have been there, but I didn't have a choice.
First cat was Duke, who developed a thyroid issue. While in for checks and investigations the vet found terminal cancer lumps. Given he was already 'under', our choice was to let him go, or close him up, wake him up and then make a call. We let him go, but we weren't there. He was an ex street cat, presumed to be about 10yrs old based on his teeth. We think we gave him a good home from what he used to have.
Our first dog was Cameron. We got him as a pup from neighbours who were known breeders. All above board. Unknown to anyone he had a congenital issue which was a hole in his diaphragm, probably pre-birth. This became apparent in the PM which we asked for after a day and a half of him being in absolute agony. Local vets didn't pinpoint anything specific when we took him down and talked to the out of hours vet. Turns out a typical physical checkover by the vet had moved some organs which got stuck in the hole. He was 8mths old and essentially died in our arms in pain and on the way to the vets in the back of my car. I've never been back to that vets again. Again, we had no choice.
Our next cat was one of two brothers we rehomed from CPL. He was knocked down on Christmas day round the corner from us. SSPCA got to him following a call. He was alive, but terminally injured so was given a jab at the roadside. Apparently. I say that because despite being chipped and correctly addressed, the SSPCA person didn't scan him. The SSPCA person was the manager of the local outfit. I found out 2wks later after a number of nights sat in peoples gardens calling him, using posters, walking the streets. Yet he was found some 75yds from our house by a "professional". I will never forgive SSPCA for keeping Erik in a freezer with correct ID and not considering us as the owners. He was 5yrs old. Again, we had no choice.
Our next cat was his brother, Magnus. Again, clipped on the road outside our house by someone ignoring the 20mph limit by quite some margin. I heard it happen as I was opening the curtains. I collected him and took him to the vets. He was already gone. He was 6yrs old. Again, we had no choice.
Both the last two were with us at our previous house and we had to move for other reasons. We had no indication that the road was particularly problematic, but clearly it is. We've decided not to have any more cats while we live where we do as it's clearly not fair on them, or on my kids.
We're now thinking that next year we may get a dog as my wife had dogs as a child and our two loved it when we had Cameron and the cats. But as you can see, we've not had an awesome run of it. If I'd been given the choice, I'd have been there, but I didn't have a choice.
Hardest thing I've every had to do, have Ted (our old cat) put to sleep... but he was my mate and I did the best thing for him. The vet couldn't have dragged me out of the room if he wanted to - no chance I wasn't going to be there with him. 4 years ago and I'll still feel a bit sad about it every now and again.
Good friends often come at a cost... and pets don't ask much of us really, considering what they give. The least we can do is to do the best by them.
Sorry for your loss.
Good friends often come at a cost... and pets don't ask much of us really, considering what they give. The least we can do is to do the best by them.
Sorry for your loss.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I'm not going to derail your thread, so I'll keep it short to answer your question. Also, I wasn't trying to be pointed, and if it came across like that then I apologise. The cat that wasn't scanned was found alive but injured. The SSPCA determined the injuries to be terminal and Erik was dealt with at the roadside. He was then taken back to the SSPCA facility and placed in their mortuary. Nothing was done for or with him for another 10days or so until I managed to speak to the right person who described the cat they had, and then scanned him. Why they didn't do this before, I don't know. In fact, I think it was a call from a poster I put up that nudged me towards the particular SSPCA depot as being Christmas, their normal coverage areas had been adjusted.
We had our dog put to sleep on Wednesday, we both stayed with her until the end, and it must be said a decent age at 16.
We decided we're not having anymore, it's very hard and for 38 years we've never had a single day without a dog in the house, up to 3 at one time.
I don't know if we can stick to our decision though, this afternoon working in the garden and no dog trying to help is really tough, I come downstairs in the morning and no friendly face looking at me and wanting to go out for a wee.
We decided we're not having anymore, it's very hard and for 38 years we've never had a single day without a dog in the house, up to 3 at one time.
I don't know if we can stick to our decision though, this afternoon working in the garden and no dog trying to help is really tough, I come downstairs in the morning and no friendly face looking at me and wanting to go out for a wee.
Edited by netherfield on Saturday 23 March 18:09
Edited by netherfield on Sunday 24th March 06:35
netherfield said:
We had our dog put to sleep on Wednesday, we both stayed with her until the end, and it must be said a decent age at 16.
We decided we're not having anymore, it's very hard and for 38 years we've never had a single day without a dog in the house, up to 3 at on time.
I don't know if we can stick to our decision though, this afternoon working in the garden and no dog trying to help is really tough, I come downstairs in the morning and no friendly face looking at me and wanting to go out for a wee.
I know exactly how you feel . We have always rehomed another Dog after losing one but we never put a time limit on when it happened.We decided we're not having anymore, it's very hard and for 38 years we've never had a single day without a dog in the house, up to 3 at on time.
I don't know if we can stick to our decision though, this afternoon working in the garden and no dog trying to help is really tough, I come downstairs in the morning and no friendly face looking at me and wanting to go out for a wee.
Edited by netherfield on Saturday 23 March 18:09
When I lost my Mate Billy the BullMastiff 5 years ago I thought I could never bring another Dog home but 9 months later we did.
So many Dogs and Cats need good homes and I always think it is the best way to honour your friends passing by eventually giving a good home to a needy Animal
netherfield said:
We had our dog put to sleep on Wednesday, we both stayed with her until the end, and it must be said a decent age at 16.
We decided we're not having anymore, it's very hard and for 38 years we've never had a single day without a dog in the house, up to 3 at one time.
I don't know if we can stick to our decision though, this afternoon working in the garden and no dog trying to help is really tough, I come downstairs in the morning and no friendly face looking at me and wanting to go out for a wee.
Sorry to read about your dog.We decided we're not having anymore, it's very hard and for 38 years we've never had a single day without a dog in the house, up to 3 at one time.
I don't know if we can stick to our decision though, this afternoon working in the garden and no dog trying to help is really tough, I come downstairs in the morning and no friendly face looking at me and wanting to go out for a wee.
Edited by netherfield on Saturday 23 March 18:09
Edited by netherfield on Sunday 24th March 06:35
Our experience is similar but only for 28 years.
We now have two dogs in the house and wouldn’t be without them.
My sister decided when her last one died that that was going to be her last. Her resolve lasted all of three weeks.
They bring us such joy
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