Guest guest Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 I always try to think "would I want to live that way?" when making a decision about whether to put an animal down. Exactly. Euthanizing a pet is one of the greatest acts of pure love. We have to step outside of ourselves and, no matter how much pain and grief we are in and no matter how much we don't want to let go, we have to think solely of the animal and give no thought to ourselves. I've been there done that many times and it is an act of total unselfishness. Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 In a message dated 07/22/2004 12:18:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time, suziesgoats@... writes: Helena, welcome by the way... This sounds like something my husband would say I would do... He always acuses me of caring about animals more than people... lol... Suzi Hi, Well when it comes to do what is right or necessary my dh leaves that area to me It is never easy no matter how many times ya go thru it for yourself or with someone else. I was really surprised when my father-n-law had the dogs creamated, guess i didn't really see a softer caring side of him till then. Some times men can really surprise u Helena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 .....but this was the toughest and will make me think about the next time a pet is suffering whether it is the right time or not.....(even though I don't want them to suffer) I don't think that we always know for sure if there is any hope and more we can do in every single case. We do the very best we can and the animal senses that we care very much and wouldn't want to hurt them. I had a 75 lb. dog who became paralyzed in the hind legs. He was alert and spunky but literally couldn't walk anywhere (even to eat) without my help. I could not bear to put him down, even though many people would have at that point. He urinated all over himself, at night, I washed a dozen sheets a day and gave him a bath everyday. I had wheels made for him and, with my assistance, he could take a walk. He was in no pain (from what I could tell), but just paralyzed. Eventually the front legs started to go. Still quite alive, seemingly happy and vibrant but had basically no use of his legs. When he began to get bad bed sores from not being able to move around (unless I moved him or put him in the cart), a friend took me aside and told me "it"s time". I didn't want to hear it but I knew she was right and I made the vet appt.. I had to have 2 people go to the vet with me, as I was bawling my eyes out the whole time. I slept on the couch with him the final night he was with me and talked to him and told him how much I loved him. Throughout his illness (almost 2 years) we'd been through a lot together and had formed a strong bond. It makes me cry, even now, 8 yrs. later thinking of it. But I still thought, even right before the end...maybe more or different compresses, poultices, more herbs etc. would have worked. Coulda, shoulda.... all water under the bridge. We do the best we can at the time and we have to find our own peace with the decision we made. Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 .....but this was the toughest and will make me think about the next time a pet is suffering whether it is the right time or not.....(even though I don't want them to suffer) I just went thru this in May with my Malamute. What we thought was a sore shoulder from being kicked by a horse turned out to be cancer and a nasty one at that. She started limping one day and in a week's time, it had burst open overnight and was a gory piece of meat. I doctored her with everything I've learned here - TN in her food and cayenne on the wound and some of the other formulas. The whole time she's running around with her tongue hanging out her mouth grinning like a typical goober Malamute like nothing was wrong at all - so I fought for her. I left her with the vet and they amputated her front leg and shoulder and found out that it was cancer. She almost didn't survive the operation and they were shocked that she did, so they let me take her home immediately following the operation so that I could be with her at the last. The next morning she was actually up and limping around the yard and having a good time. By the end of the week, she was back to running around the yard and used to no leg. Lots and lots of TN with extra astragalus and cayenne in her water, plus electrolytes. The vet came and put her under to lance a swelling and we're thinking it killed her liver. She never came back out of it right and was in horrible shape - the first pain I had seen in her. She lasted an hour. From what I understand of the cancer, there really was no hope but she outdid most of the other dogs I've since learned about. With a lot of critters, you face that decision a lot and I've never run from it. And maybe I should have done something for her instead of the amputation since it was cancer, but when I looked into her doofy grinning eyes, I couldn't do it yet. Sorry to ramble, but it still bugs me. Becky The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2004 Report Share Posted July 23, 2004 Holly, I like that the web of love.... gotta remember that one. Yes, you can never replace the one you lost.. but as you have found, others need love too. SuziHolly Cratty <hcratty@...> wrote: I offer my sincere condolences on the loss of your canine friend. We knowthe pain of the loss of a dearly beloved fur-friend. We lost our 17 and onehalf year old feline companion (whom I'd raised from five weeks old) earlythis year. (Since we live in a rural area, we were able to bury him in thebackyard.) The story of the Rainbow Bridge (a beautifully expressed belief- already cited on this list) had helped us through the ensuingweeks/months...as we felt that our cat was a truly integral part of thefamily. We thought we would never ever wish to get another pet. Althoughwe clearly realize that our belated feline companion can never be replaced,we did eventually adopt four new young cats (our limit! - and have grownto love each of them for their unique selves. I see all of this as anextension of the 'web of love'...Regards,HollyFrom: doodle bug <doodlebugboodles@y...> Date: Wed Jul 21, 2004 5:58 pm Subject: Dog UpdateShe died this morning. I think she suffocated. She was 13. I don't knoweven if Mom would have let me work on her it would have made a difference,at least that's what I keep telling myself.Becky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2004 Report Share Posted July 23, 2004 I agree Gloria. I once had to put down a 1 1/2 year old cocker spaniel. I loved that dog and cried my eyes out, but he was suffering and would have just gotten worse and lingered horribly. Janet ----- Original Message ----- From: MorningGlory113@... health Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 8:28 AM Subject: Re: Re: Dog Update I always try to think "would I want to live that way?" when making a decision about whether to put an animal down.Exactly. Euthanizing a pet is one of the greatest acts of pure love. We have to step outside of ourselves and, no matter how much pain and grief we are in and no matter how much we don't want to let go, we have to think solely of the animal and give no thought to ourselves. I've been there done that many times and it is an act of total unselfishness.Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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