Putting a Dog to Rest Forever, our journey will come to a close this month

[alarmguy]

He has been our world for 15 years. Amazing dog in every way imaginable. Lost both his eyes at the age of twelve and overcame that disability like we could never expect. We actually learned from him over the last 3 years. Less than a few weeks later he was chasing a ball and retrieving like he always loved to do, and was able to completely blind. HE would listen the sound of a bell inside the ball and zero in on it.

Made his way around our 3000 sq ft home like he always did when he could see. He knew the texture of the floors of different rooms.
We had a rubber matt (so his paws could feel he was at the top of the stairs) at the top of the staircase and he knew how to go up and down the stairs as fluid as a dog who could see.

Anyway, making his final arrangements, now on a heart failure scale of 5 out of 6 with 6 being the worst. He sleeps most the day but still will play in short bursts. We didnt want to bring him to his Vet office and have his last moments on earth being terrified as the vet office terrifies him. Keep in mind he is blind but yet, we pull in that parking lot of the VET and he trembles as soon as we get in the parking lot, even with the AC on he must pick up the scent
.
So when we place the call, a Doctor will come to our house and put him forever to sleep. After that a crematorium will pick him up and individually cremate him and return his ashes. In our/my will I want my ashes spread with his.
I know this sounds nuts. But this dog impacted out lives like nothing else in our lives (and we have adult children now*LOL*)

Anyway, we have been doing a "bucket list" for him since first learning about the beginning stages of heart failure one year ago. Including trips on the boat ect. We also knew it would be his last Christmas in 2023.
Knowing he will not be with us next month, my wife took off early from work this week and we took him to one of his other favorite places. The beach, it lights up his senses. He loves it. His ears are typically "down" like the car photo, at the beach it must be the sounds of the ocean.

Christmas Morning 2023, he always could sniff out his presents, would act like a kid, every Christmas even when blind.

 

[UncleDave]

Awww man. So sorry.
I've been there so many times and understand the pain.
Tearing up as I write.

"I am in tears, while carrying you to your last resting place as much as I rejoiced when bringing you home in my own hands fifteen years ago."

 

[PontiacHO]

You’re a great “dad” for this dog. They are our “children “. Prayers sent.

 

[c502cid]

Incredibly sorry. Not all angels have wings, some of them have paws.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

If he is not in severe pain, why? Unless in severe pain I have decided to not euthanize. Now I have to convince my wife.

I did not give him his life, I cannot not take it away.

Regardless of my thoughts, I am sad this chapter with your wonderful friend and family member is coming to a close.

What is your dog's name so we may say it?

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I'm so so sorry. The emptiness will be real and profound.

 

[Pablo]

Time helps. But not much. That is deep love good and unfortunately bad to the human heart when they get to pet heaven.

 

[demarpaint]

I know that feeling very well. That dog is blessed to have a home like yours. My dog died in 08, and there isn't a day that goes by that I think of him and smile.

He liked Christmas too.

 

[Passport1]

A month ago had to put my 22 year old 'Kitty' to sleep. She had gone blind. Tincture of time helps.

 

[wings&wheels]

Very sorry to hear and enjoy the time that remains. You are providing him a great life.

We held off getting another dog for a long time due to this...

 

[oldhp]

Pets become part of the family. So sorry for your loss when the time comes.

 

[TheOilWizard]

If he is not in severe pain, why? Unless in severe pain I have decided to not euthanize. Now I have to convince my wife.

I did not give him his life, I cannot not take it away.

Regardless of my thoughts, I am sad this chapter with your wonderful friend and family member is coming to a close.

What is your dog's name so we may say it?

It often times comes down to finances. With an unlimited budget, the vet can keep the animal limping along for quite some time with a questionable or poor quality of life. You have to ask yourself at what point it doesn't make sense and you are being selfish. Some of the hardest decisions we ever make as animal owners.

 

[alarmguy]

If he is not in severe pain, why? Unless in severe pain I have decided to not euthanize. Now I have to convince my wife.

I did not give him his life, I cannot not take it away.

Regardless of my thoughts, I am sad this chapter with your wonderful friend and family member is coming to a close.

What is your dog's name so we may say it?

Benson
Everything we do is with his comfort and interest at heart over our own emotions. Everything we have done for him was a consultation with doctors, even when he lost both eyes we took him to an animal eye specialist for consultation. Most people give up on their pet by then, but we were told his breed is amazing and will handle this well and they were right. COST was NOT a concern for the two separate operations to remove his eyes. Cost was not a concern as they feverishly tried to save one of them to no avail. It actually ruptured the night before the operation. The cool part is, he went on to live an AMAZING life that no one can imagine. I have it all on video. This was three years ago.

This is now, 4 years later. (im getting mixed up on the years)
Im not sure how much you know about heart failure but we are at a stage now that for one year he has been on a FDA approved heart medicine for dogs exactly with his condition, its improves heart function to overcome failing heart valves. However the medicine over time cannot overcome nature and he will start downing in fluid as it builds up in his lungs. His heart valves are deteriorating at a rapid pace now. Dr put him at a 5 our of 6 but also offered its close to a 6 which is the limit of the scale. He said so much so he can hear it in his stethoscope even before it touches his chest.

It's a sound quite unsettling hearing the wheezing. So when you ask about pain, think about the feeling of constant state of drowning which we would be awakened at night by his choking, it was then we took him to the doctor over one year ago and was told. So this miracle drug gave us another 1+ year with him which stopped the fluid build up and his life greatly went back to almost normal which slightly exceeded the doctors expectation of 6 months to a year.

Keep in mind with heart failure at this level now, other organs start breaking down do to lack of blood circulation. Anyway, had him at the doctor again this week and doctor 100% agrees with us, we wanted to make sure we were thinking clearly and not playing god. (read on) He tires very easy, the beach lit him up, but at home he cants walk more than a few houses without getting tired.

He is also entering a stage of dementia, he has good moments for sure, most times sleeps but is now getting lost in the house at times and barks for us to come get him, we also now have to make sure he drinks water and lately not as interested in eating but he still does so far. ALL I am mentioning has been a rapid downhill spiral of what seems like the past few weeks to a month or so. We were told this time would come one year ago by the doctor.
We ARE NOT TAKING HIS LIFE AWAY, if anything at this point we are artificially keeping him alive with the drug he takes. The drug gave him one more year of a comfortable life and now at the point of rapidly being in-effective. If not for that drug he would have drowned in his own fluid over 10 months ago.
BOTTOM line is we do not want him to suffer for our own emotional good. His time is here and it is NOT easy but I can honestly say if this was me, I would tell my family to let me go now. I watched my mom die of cancer in a bed with a morphine pump, I look at letting an animal pass on as more humane than we treat humans. Trust me, Im man enough to say this is killing my wife and I, many tears.

 

[JeffKeryk]

@alarmguy you gave Benson a wonderful life; he wanted for nothing. And now he's going to Doggie Heaven!
Well done my friend.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Benson
Everything we do is with his comfort and interest at heart over our own emotions. Everything we have done for him was a consultation with doctors, even when he lost both eyes we took him to an animal eye specialist for consultation. Most people give up on their pet by then, but we were told his breed is amazing and will handle this well and they were right.

Im not sure how much you know about heart failure but we are at a stage now that for one year he has been on a FDA approved heart medicine for dogs exactly with his condition, its improves heart function to overcome failing heart valves. However the medicine over time cannot overcome nature and he will start downing in fluid as it builds up in his lungs.

It's a sound quite unsettling. So when you ask about pain, think about the feeling of constant state of drowning which we would be awakened at night by his choking, it was then we took him to the doctor over one year ago and was told. So this miracle drug gave us another 1+ year with him which stopped the build up and his life which slightly exceeded the doctors expectation of 6 months to a year.

Keep in mind with heart failure at this level now, other organs start breaking down do to lack of blood circulation. Anyway, had him at the doctor again this week and doctor 100% agrees with us, we wanted to make sure we were thinking clearly and not playing god. (read on) He tires very easy, the beach lit him up, but at home he cants walk more than a few houses without getting tired.

He is also entering a stage of dementia, he has good moments for sure, most times sleeps but is now getting lost in the house and barks for us to come get him, we also now have to make sure he drinks water and lately not as interested in eating but he still does so far. ALL I am mentioning has been a rapid downhill spiral of what seems like the past few weeks to a month or so. We were told this time would come one year ago by the doctor.
We ARE NOT TAKING HIS LIFE AWAY, if anything at this point we are artificially keeping him alive with the drug he takes. The drug gave him one more year of a comfortable life and now at the point of rapidly being in-effective. If not for that drug he would have drowned in his own fluid over 10 months ago.
BOTTOM line is we do not want him to suffer for our own emotional good. His time is here and it is NOT easy but I can honestly say if this was me, I would tell my family to let me go now. I watched my mom die of cancer in a bed with a morphine pump, I look at letting an animal pass on as more human than we treat humans. Trust me, Im man enough to say this is killing my wife and I, many tears.

When you know it's time, you know. This experience is going to suck but it's the responsibility we assume as pet owners. My wife still becomes very emotional over the loss our MaineCoon who we had to suddenly put down last month.

 

[demarpaint]

Benson
Everything we do is with his comfort and interest at heart over our own emotions. Everything we have done for him was a consultation with doctors, even when he lost both eyes we took him to an animal eye specialist for consultation. Most people give up on their pet by then, but we were told his breed is amazing and will handle this well and they were right.

Im not sure how much you know about heart failure but we are at a stage now that for one year he has been on a FDA approved heart medicine for dogs exactly with his condition, its improves heart function to overcome failing heart valves. However the medicine over time cannot overcome nature and he will start downing in fluid as it builds up in his lungs.

It's a sound quite unsettling. So when you ask about pain, think about the feeling of constant state of drowning which we would be awakened at night by his choking, it was then we took him to the doctor over one year ago and was told. So this miracle drug gave us another 1+ year with him which stopped the build up and his life which slightly exceeded the doctors expectation of 6 months to a year.

Keep in mind with heart failure at this level now, other organs start breaking down do to lack of blood circulation. Anyway, had him at the doctor again this week and doctor 100% agrees with us, we wanted to make sure we were thinking clearly and not playing god. (read on) He tires very easy, the beach lit him up, but at home he cants walk more than a few houses without getting tired.

He is also entering a stage of dementia, he has good moments for sure, most times sleeps but is now getting lost in the house and barks for us to come get him, we also now have to make sure he drinks water and lately not as interested in eating but he still does so far. ALL I am mentioning has been a rapid downhill spiral of what seems like the past few weeks to a month or so. We were told this time would come one year ago by the doctor.
We ARE NOT TAKING HIS LIFE AWAY, if anything at this point we are artificially keeping him alive with the drug he takes. The drug gave him one more year of a comfortable life and now at the point of rapidly being in-effective. If not for that drug he would have drowned in his own fluid over 10 months ago.
BOTTOM line is we do not want him to suffer for our own emotional good. His time is here and it is NOT easy but I can honestly say if this was me, I would tell my family to let me go now. I watched my mom die of cancer in a bed with a morphine pump, I look at letting an animal pass on as more human than we treat humans. Trust me, Im man enough to say this is killing my wife and I, many tears.

IMO you did all you could do. I watched my father die from cancer, ultimately it was heart failure and filling up with fluids that killed him. His last few days were horrible to watch. You'll know when the time is right, trust me it is a horrible death. Putting the dog down and sparing him the agony is the best thing to do.

 

[alarmguy]

You’re a great “dad” for this dog. They are our “children “. Prayers sent.

Thank you for that.

 

[2dogs]

Mixing your ashes with your dogs ashes isn't crazy; It's beautiful...My condolences.

 

[alarmguy]

IMO you did all you could do. I watched my father die from cancer, ultimately it was heart failure and filling up with fluids that killed him. He last few days were horrible to watch. You'll know when the time is right, trust me it is a horrible death. Putting the dog down and sparing him the agony is the best thing to do.

My wife and I agree. It is why we took him to his regular doctor this week, to make sure we weren't playing god. This was at the suggestion of another doctor 1 hour away who will actually do the procedure. She suggested it for our own emotional well being, make sure nothing else could be done. It was GREAT advice even though I knew already based on what his told us just months ago. Im so glad we did.

So you got to watch a horrible human death too. It's brutal the way we make humans suffer. I could never allow our dog to leave this earth like that. My mom was begging to just let her "go" she was an amazing, active woman where even her doctor would question her age, that out of the blue ended up with cancer and brutal decline from that point on. Doctors keep suggesting procedures etc. has an excellent chance. None of it held true and boy she grew tired of it and suffered.

 

[Jack Watts]

My deepest sympathies. Been through this more than I care to remember, and just enjoying every day with a member of the pack sitting on 15 years. It's never easy, but just remember how lucky he was to have you as an owner. Many/most don't live the charmed life.