pet dilemma , what would you do?

[nwcove]

my 13 year old german shepherd isnt well, vet says an operation may help, but at his age, its iffy. hes a wonderful dog, and still has a bit of pup in him now and then. should i put him through surgery, or do the "other" thing, so hes not suffering?

 

[sam60]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

View attachment 213261 my 13 year old german shepherd isnt well, vet says an operation may help, but at his age, its iffy. hes a wonderful dog, and still has a bit of pup in him now and then. should i put him through surgery, or do the "other" thing, so hes not suffering?

That is a very tough call to make. We lost our not quite 10 year old German Shepherd suddenly last week so we went through something completely different than you are experiencing.

I have a friend that put his dog down recently after a lot of suffering. He sent me the this after his Pal was gone...

View attachment The Last Battle.pdf

 

[southkogs]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

That's hard. And so personal. Not quite a kid ... but not always too far off.

As much as I love my dog(s) (I've always had Goldens), I'm not always inclined to spend thousands on vet bills. I don't think I'd let a dog suffer (pain, anyway) - but I may not necessarily fix everything that comes up. I'd most likely let them live it out as long as I could until I felt they were suffering, and then make decisions accordingly. Then probably cry like a schoolgirl with a skinned knee.

Hope the right decision become apparent quickly for you nwcove.

 

[nwcove]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

That is a very tough call to make. We lost our not quite 10 year old German Shepherd suddenly last week so we went through something completely different than you are experiencing.

I have a friend that put his dog down recently after a lot of suffering. He sent me the this after his Pal was gone...

View attachment 213262

you are so right sam! this is one tough decision. ( geez he just found a tennis ball and dropped it by my feet.) now im dripping more tears on the keyboard than i was after reading your attachment. guess im stuck wondering if the surgery is more for his benefit or mine.

 

[nwcove]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

That's hard. And so personal. Not quite a kid ... but not always too far off.

As much as I love my dog(s) (I've always had Goldens), I'm not always inclined to spend thousands on vet bills. I don't think I'd let a dog suffer (pain, anyway) - but I may not necessarily fix everything that comes up. I'd most likely let them live it out as long as I could until I felt they were suffering, and then make decisions accordingly. Then probably cry like a schoolgirl with a skinned knee.

Hope the right decision become apparent quickly for you nwcove.

thanks for the input sk. and i fully agree, not one of my kids so to speak.....but i would donate a kidney if i thought it would make him outlive me!

 

[rbh]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

Ours hit 14 and his hips where done for, hated to put the old guy down but for us it was time.

Damned if you do damned if you don't.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

That's hard. And so personal. Not quite a kid ... but not always too far off.

As much as I love my dog(s) (I've always had Goldens), I'm not always inclined to spend thousands on vet bills. I don't think I'd let a dog suffer (pain, anyway) - but I may not necessarily fix everything that comes up. I'd most likely let them live it out as long as I could until I felt they were suffering, and then make decisions accordingly. Then probably cry like a schoolgirl with a skinned knee.

Hope the right decision become apparent quickly for you nwcove.

I would have to agree. We had to put a dog down that at the time was around longer than my daughter.... It's tough, very tough, but part of pet ownership.......

 

[snowforfun4]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

We have a female Beagle who is about 11 years old. We spent about $1,400 having anal glands removed about 6 years ago and just last year about $900 to have bladder stones removed. She is still pretty alert when not sleeping (which is about 20 hours per day). The bladder surgery was required to keep her alive. It doesn't sound like it is a question of the cost as much as the quality of life for the pup, but if finances are a factor, it was money well spent in our case. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Volphin]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

Ugh. Tough one. I'd skip the doc and let him go until his quality of life was compromised.

I had a doc tell me once that one of my cats (now long deceased) needed a skin graft on his back pad that got badly infected and raw. It was $2000. Now I loved all my pets, but I looked the dude in the eye and said to his shock... Doc, kittens are free.

It healed on it's own in 2 weeks of hard mousing outside.

 

[bassman284]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

Aw geez that's tough. Hardest thing there is. Sounds to me like your vet is giving you the message that the surgery is not necessarily the way to go, You want to keep them around forever, but t's just not in the cards.

I had to put my old kitty cat down about 3 years ago I'd had him about 16 years and we were pretty good buds even though he was fairly antisocial. He had liver cancer and there was no way to go but end it but it hurt anyway. I knew he was suffering but still waited a few days too long to face reality.

It's really hard to decide what to do. I'm pretty much a country boy and not inclined to spend large amounts of money on medical treatment for an animal. I'm not judging what anyone else does, that's just me. I know how miserable I've been after surgery and try to imagine what a dog or cat thinks about it. I just don't know.

 

[southkogs]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

thanks for the input sk. and i fully agree, not one of my kids so to speak.....but i would donate a kidney if i thought it would make him outlive me!

Yeah, like I said, it's pretty personal. Tough to put a price tag on, and hard to know what to do. It's not just a dog ... not even just a good friend, really ... they're part of the family.

You may opt to try some other changes too. Change to a more holistic approach with the dog, and use some more natural remedies. You may find you can accomplish quite a few things from home. Diet can do wonders for a dog.

 

[64osby]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

nwc - It is never an easy decision. Last week I had to do the "other" for our dog.

It's always hard, but I know there is no more pain and suffering.

Now thinking of him brings a smile, recalling all the joy he brought our family.

 

[Volphin]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

I hope to see all my furry friends again when I pass. That would be great! And I have a few questions for my old beagle Snoopy. Like, why did you choose to chew up my Italian dress shoes when the Chinese ones were right next to them? WHY! LOL

 

[drrpm]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

Its a judgement call depending on how big an operation, how likely it will be successful and how the dog is doing without it. A 13 year old German Shepherd isn't likely to live well more than another year or 2 so spending a lot of money doesn't make much sense.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

Tough decision and there is no "right one"
As said earlier. As pet owners we all have to go through it but dread the day coming.
Thoughts are with you.

 

[jkust]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

We've gone down the road of spending a lot to prolong a pet's life. In the end we should have really put him down but just couldn't get ourselves to do it. When we did, it was hard on us and the kids given he was nearly 20 years old. We got two more a year later and love them now. The worst part of having pets is knowing when to do it...especially when you know what needs to be done.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

I hope to see all my furry friends again when I pass. That would be great! And I have a few questions for my old beagle Snoopy. Like, why did you choose to chew up my Italian dress shoes when the Chinese ones were right next to them? WHY! LOL

Fearing copywrite infringements, search "Rainbow bridge poem".

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

Never an easy call to make. My last dog I had from birth to death. There were 14 years great years between. Your buddy will let you know when its time. Thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[garbageguy]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

I'm welling up just reading the posts. These times are no fun. I've been through this numerous times and have approached it both ways. But I can't say what I'd do in your case (only you really know the situation). I read something recently suggesting one consider the fact that pets likely have no recognition whether their owner is trying to help them out or not. But they do know that strange places, people, procedures are stressful.

My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: pet dilemma , what would you do?

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....
Author unknown...