I have to have my dog put to sleep :(

[I love Tiggy]

Hi

I have made an appointment to have my 15 year old collie but to sleep next week which i am absolutely dreading. I can't get the idea out of my head that i'm killing her.

She is on both Rimadyl and Tramadol for pain relief and has the maximum dose available. She seems to have built up a tolerance to the pills now and spends a fair amount of her time whining. She can't walk that well and has lost a fair amount of weight.

This sounds so silly but would she understand that we were doing whats best for her?

How do you cope with this kind of thing?

Will she feel pain?

If i can't be in the room when the vet administers the injection does that make me bad?

I can imagine that my question smay sound immature and childish but this is the first time that i have ever had to do this, i feel so sick inside and wretched at the thought. I do have another dog a Staffie and i'm wondering how she will adjust.

Any thoughts, feedback would be appreciated

[I love Tiggy]

Doggy heaven :)
She'll see her old boyfriend Sam - a labrador, he wouldn't go past our house and like wise with Tupps until they had had a kiss.

[pastafreak]

For you. I Love Tiggy...

http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm

[tigerlily11]

Tiggy and Pasta and anyone else out there who has had to do this to a well loved family memeber ((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))).
Thats all I can give you. It is one of the hardest thins you will ever have to do.
I don't know what I will do when my lovely pooch is to ill to go on.
I hope I have the strentgth to do whats right for him.

[Mctavish]

I would go along with Gelda and try and get your vet to come out to the house - OK it is probably going to cost a little more but at the end of the day they are worth it for all the loyalty and love that they have given you over the years. I have had to go through this twice, first with a collie and then more recently wityh a cavalier and that nearly broke my heart. But it made all the difference to be able to sit and hold them while they go to sleep - just think that that is all that it is - just having them, go to sleep.

[Mctavish]

But please do think about doing this sooner rather than later - don't let her suffer any longer than is necessary.

[echokilo]

Tiggy - I am in tears here .... I have two staffies and one is very old, while he is well at the moment, I dread this day too ..... but know I would have to do it as soon as it's advised ...... it might be good for the vet to come to you and it might help you Staff to understand where her friend as gone too ............. rather than you just coming home without Tupps .................... I know you need to say goodbye but please do it as soon as you can.... she will just go to sleep, that's all, no sound, no panic, no pain .............. perhaps think of what you will afterwards in advance as the vet will want to know .... might be nice to have her ashes home and create a special place in the garden for her??? Then you can always feel she is near ........... she knows you love her, so don't worry about that ..... perhaps one day you can get a new friend for your Staff too.
Be strong ......... you are doing the right thing
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[888sally888]

Oh dear - am in tears now just looking at Pickles xx

[SHELLP]

My heart is aching for you. I had to have my beloved dog put to sleep and it broke my heart I understand what you say about not wanting to be there when they give the injection I felt the same but at the last minute changed my mind and stayed I hugged him while they put the needle in and I am really glad I did. I feel sure that he knew I loved him.

I vowed I would never have another pet would never put myself through the pain again and didnt for ages but then took 2 cats in and they know rule the house and am so glad I have them.

[blackcat77]

So much good advice and help for you here already Tiggy - I only wanted to add that I know how you are feeling and be brave - don't go into the vets' with her if you feel you can't, but my old girl (16 and a half labrador) looked so much as if she was just sleeping peacefully and I was able to say goodbye and wish her a safe journey. Lots of hugs to you.

[tiggerblue10]

I know exactly how you're feeling right now Tiggy. I had to have my cat Snoopy put down several years ago. He was 15 and had kidney failure. I'd had him since he was an 8 week old kitten and it hurt so much. He was put down on my birthday of all days and I had to take the week off work as I was so devastated and I couldn't stop crying. As soon as the vet said he had to be put down I knew immediately that it was the best thing for him. I would rather of suffered my loss than let him suffer his pain. I still can't think of him now without welling up :-(

As everybody else has said be strong and you will get through it eventually. Sadly its a cross we have to bear as animals don't live as long as us.

Take care Tiggy xxx

[bushcombe]

I am so so sorry we all know how you're feeling. You are doing the kindest thing you can do. Three years ago we lost my dad two cats and three dogs in a year we had the vet come to the house which was far less stressful for them. They feel no pain they just drift away.Try to think of all the years of happy memories you had with her.
thinking of you and your family x

[bensmum]

I am so sorry to hear your news. Like most pet owners I have been in this position a few times and it doesn't get easier. I can understand what you mean by thinking you are killing her as I have felt like that but look at it from her point of view. She is old and in pain and has had a good life with people who love her. What better thing could you do for a beloved pet than to let her go peacefully and with dignity. Try to be with her at the end as I think it will help you but don't feel bad if you can't face it. She knows you love her. My thoughts are with you
XX

[lankeela]

Something you need to think about is whether you will have her cremated and whether you will want to have her ashes back. If so she will need to be done individually, and it will be easier to arrange this before the trip to the vets. Personally I never have the ashes back, so my animals are cremated with others, but I know many people do want them back, either to scatter or to keep in an urn, or bury in the garden.

If you have room, you could bury her in the garden, but not everyone is able to do this, or even want to.

On Christmas day one of my oldies died at home (the first dog I have ever had die at home) and she was taken back to her breeder to be buried in the field she used to run in as a tiny puppy.

[~Wingnut~]

So sorry to hear about this I Love Tiggy. My pet ferret was pts tonight (Not half an hour ago) She was old and sadly the time had come (very quickly).
I couldn't take her to have it done, my husband did which I am glad about as he loved her (although prob wouldn't admit it) and cuddled her whilst it all happened. He did the same last year when I had my other ferret pts (again old age) and he was so caring about it and buried him straight away even tho it was dark and raining. I don't regret not being there as I would have prob been too distraught. It is a personal thing and I think that if you don't feel you can do it so long as she has someone there who she knows and loves her then please don't feel bad if you can't bear to watch it happen.

Thoughts and hugs to you xxxx

[alfieblue]

Dear I love Tiggy - so sorry to hear about your wee girl. But please try to be with her at the end - she has had love all her life - it's hard i know, been there, as hav so many other animal lovers on this site.

My beautiful collie died many years back now and he still has a big place in my heart - we had so many years of companionship and my goodness yes - it was hard. A friend gave my daughter this wee verse and i will try to type it here, but br with me cos i am not that good on the computer. Going to start it on new threadxxxx

[brenda]

I feel so sorry for you and your dog, I had to have my beautiful German Shepherd , ex police dog put down 2 years ago, due to cancer.The vets came to my home and explained how it would be , and I held him in my arms on the floor until all had taken place.I talked to him and told him I loved him at the same time.I was devastated but had written a poem for him which the vets took away with him.He was taken out in dignity in a purple cloth and I cried my eyes out for him.
It was expensive mind , but at the end of the day it is only money and I wanted him to die with some dignity , not be dragged out of my van and hauled on to a table , frightened out of his wits.I have not regretted what I did but still miss him so much.
Good luck and stay as strong as you can.

[garner]

My thoughts are with you, you must be in a awful state of mind.God bless you and your lady.g