What are your thought's on euthanasia

[Ironhead]

I just had my chihuahua to the vet due to the fact that she just had'nt been herself lately. She is the small brown one in the pic.
I was told that in all likelyhood that she has liver cancer. They ran blood test's and some other test's that Im not sure of exactly what they were. The prognosis is not good according to my vet, but they could not really give me a time frame on how much longer she would live.
She will be 10 year's old May 4th. Much to young for a small dog to die of health problems in my opinion, but I have no say so, I leave that up to a higher authority.

My question is....What are your opinion's of euthanasia? Would you go ahead and have it done now, or would you wait until you believe she is in to much pain to have a good quality of life? She does not appear to be in agony, but you can see it in her eye's and the way she act's that she is just not feeling good. A once very active and cheerful dog is now not much more than a brown ball curled up in her bed wanting to sleep all the time.

I have nothing against euthanasia if it is for the best, but when?
[img]https://ball-pythons.net/albums/album19/Monty_and_Friends_082.jpg[img/]

[Ironhead]

Well, I messed up the pic, it didnt show up. But if you want to see her she is in my album on page three I believe.

[Marla]

Here's the pic for you:


Deciding whether and when to put a family pet down is a very difficult and personal decision. I have a friend who's a vet tech who waited too long, IMO, with a cat who'd been in kidney failure for 3 years and was in pain most of the time, but she did eventually make the decision. Personally, I think it's a matter of trying to balance quality of life for the animal with not prematurely ending its life and I wouldn't put it down if there were a good chance of recovery but if it has an incurable condition that causes significant pain I would try to put it down before the pain became a constant or nearly constant factor for the animal.

When it all comes down to it, though, it is you and your animal and your family that have to live with the decision that you make and no one else should make the decision for you. I am very sorry that you are in a position to feel this is a decision you need to consider.

[RPlank]

Carl,

I am so sorry that your family has to deal with such a tough issue. I can only imagine the pain you are dealing with in making these decisions.

Personally, I would put my pet down if it was in constant pain, but that can be hard to tell sometimes. You are the best judge as to if your pup is happy. Keep in mind that your pup has had a great life with your family, and has no regrets about her life. Do what you think is right, when you think it is right, and no one can fault you. Certainly everyone here will support you in such a tough decision!

Your pup loves you unconditionally, and would thank you if she could for the great life you have given her.

Peace be with you, my brother....

Randy

[Wizill]

Man, i don't even know what to say. Situations like this are impossible to avoid, yet so hard to overcome. I agree with Randy, if your dog is in constant pain then a humane euthenisation is best. My best wishes are with you and your doggy .

[wolfman38]

I feel for ya Carl. I know what you are going threw. My family and I once went through the exact same samething. It was one of the hardest and painfulest decisions that we have ever had to make. But in the end I believe that we did the right thing. I also would have to agree with Randy. If you can tell that she is in constant pain and there isn't any hope of her recoverying to lead a normal (or a close to normal life) then I would do it. Again man I feel for you and your family, and if there is anything that we can do for ya let us know. we are here for ya. I will keep y'all in my prayers.

[steelsack]

When I was young we had a great collie. The best. Eventually he got old and sickly. The hardest decision about owning a pet is when to have them take the journey.
Two trains of thought on euthanasia. One: the good days are over, now the pain and suffering have moved in with bags in hand. Letting the animal drift away peacefully may be the last act of love and kindness you can bestowe on your friend. No pain, just a sleepy trip to the sweet bye and bye. All things considered, not a bad way to go. When I was a boy I had another dog get smeared all over the highway. That was not a good way to go.
Two: The "don't pull my plug, I'll die when my body gives up on it's own" mentality. Usually held in regard by people who are either doing just fine or actually are attached to machinery that keeps the juices flowing and the will to live at all costs (surprising how tenacious that will can be when the chips are down) keeps them from stepping out.
Once I used to bartend and this older guy who was a regular just up and sold or gave away all his stuff and moved to florida. Didn't say why other than he needed a change of pace. Well about two months later we all heard that he had arrived in florida only to park his car on the highway and call the police to report that someone had committed suidide in thier car. He then reportedly hung up his cell phone and ate the barrell of a 38.
Now that's pretty horrible, but considering he had found out he had an inoperable brain tumor, I almost have to give him credit for knowing when the game was up and having the insight to take care of it before it took care of him. Kind of giving the finger to fate.
Don't know if any of this drivel helps your dilema, in the end you're the one who'll have to give the word.
If my story has any meaning I guess it's that sometimes we have to do what's tough to put an end to suffering.
Did'nt George Carlin once say that when we buy a pet we are in fact purchasing a future tragedy?

[emroul]

Oh man, that's really too bad to hear, Carl. About the euthanasia, I would really say just use your own judgement for something like that.

I had a cocker spaniel from the moment I was born until I was 15. He grew up with me and all that. Well, for a couple weeks straight he completely ignored his food bowl. He would go over there for water, and that's it. The weird thing was, he would still ALWAYS get so excited when we would go outside to put more food in his bowl, almost like it was just a routine for him, but he didn't really know why he was getting excited over it. Sure enough, we took him to the vet and he had progressed stomach or colon cancer. I knew what had to be done, and my dad gave the vet the okay, because he knew he would just end up dying in our backyard from the cancer; and I didn't want him to suffer.

So, like I said, just use your judgement. To be perfectly honest, I see it all to often a dog that looks half dead (I'm not saying that's what your's looks like, I haven't even seen it), but the family is keeping it just because it's their "family dog". That's when it's sad to me.

Good luck on your decision, Carl.
Jennifer

[Ironhead]

Thank's everyone....It will be a hard decision especially due to the fact that she has been with me her entire life. I had to put her Mother down because of a sever head inury from a truck. That was not a hard decision because she was in sever pain and was deffinetly dyeing.
Thanks again...

[CTReptileRescue]

Hi Carl,
I am so sorry to hear about your chi. I will say that I agree with the above statements. The only thing that I will add, is it may be an option for you to get a second opinion.
The last DVM I worked for was not a very good one. Not so much in my eyes (I can't judge a dvm as I am not one) but he even kept saying he thinks his "glory" days are over.
One thing I learned when I was a vet tech was always get a second opinion (at least with the larger issues as the one you are facing) a good DVM should always accually recommend that you do. Sometimes different doctors can have different outlooks, maybe on lifespan or treatments etc.
Just maybe something to think about.
I send my best wishes to you and your family, and I'm always around if you ever want to talk
Thanks
Rusty