Putting Your Pet To Sleep Options

[Codey09]

I lost my Codey on Wednesday night. Codey was only 9 years old. For the last year, Codey has had severe hip problems, they got really bad when it rained. He would then get upset and get reallly bloody diarrhea. I took him to the vet and they did x-rays and blood work, but said everything looked normal. Well, Wednesday he had another episode where he couldn't get up. He wasn't wagging his tail or moving his head, he was lifeless. I figured it was the end, so I told my 6 year old to say good bye to his buddy because we had to go. Codey got lifted into the van and cried on his way to the van. When we got to the vet, he said that he had an abnormal heart rate, and he was in a partial coma, and that he couldn't hold his temperature. The vet said he could put the dog on IV but didn't know what it would do. I decided at that point that I didn't want to put him through all that and decided to have him euthanized. I was adamant about being in the room for his last minutes, he cried as the final breaths came out of him. It was the worst experience of my life. Now I am so racked with guilt that I can't eat or sleep. What did I do to my best friend!!

[jenn]

You gave your best friend relief.. you helped him in his time of need and made the absolute best decision for him.

I also have horrible memories of my dogs last moments. He hated needles and he yelped with it when it, and he continued until he fell to the table and died. I do not think it's something I will ever truly get over. I'm not sure I could ever do it again.

Guilt is rather normal. We have to make these decisions to do what's best for those we love the most. We take on the hurt for ourselves so that they don't have to hurt anymore. You can't expect yourself to feel that way right away. Those final moments are nothing short of a nightmare, especially when we can't view it as being peaceful. From your story though, I do believe you made the right decision. Your boy was suffering, and it was time to ease the pain and let him travel on to the other side where he was made whole and healthy the second that he arrived. At the bridge, our pets do not feel time. It will feel like mere seconds of seperation to them before we arrive to take our rightly place by their side.

It does get easier with time. Let yourself feel the pain, cry, scream, write, whatever you need to do. I'd like to say let go of the guilt, but I know that that is nearly impossible. All I can say is that talking does help, talk to whoever will listen. And write as often as need to. There are many many suffering souls here who completely understand.

[BooBoo's Mom]

My 14 year old dog was in pain the whole night before the day he was put to sleep. He was moaning and couldn't sleep and was laying down and getting up all night long. He was miserable and I promised him that I would end his pain for him. He was vomiting blood and hadn't eaten, etc and it was really time. If he could have talked, he would have asked me to put him to sleep and end his suffering. If you have ever been in bad pain, you know how awful it is. Our pets are lucky that they can be put to sleep and go to eternal happiness, while humans have to suffer pain before they have to die naturally. After he died, I had a vision of him in a sunny, flower filled meadow. He was laying in the grass and looked so happy. He thanked me for taking such good care of him all his life. The kindest thing we can do is release our pets from the pain and into a wonderful afterlife.

[Codey09]

Thanks for your thoughts. I feel like a piece of my heart has been taken! Everytime I think of Codey, I want to curl up in a ball and go to sleep. At least in sleep there is no hurt. I keep thinking if only I let the vet give him the IV maybe it would have given him a few more months or a few more years. He loved to play and even though he couldn't run after a ball anymore, he was always willing to give hugs. He was a big 80 lb Collie. I have his collar by my bed, and I think...why do things like this have to happen. This is not making me a stronger person. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up from this horrible dream and Codey will be beside my bed waiting to give me a hug and a big slurpy kiss.

It helps to know that people understand. After reading some of the posts, I know I am not alone in my feelings.