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

[spasm3]

I'm sorry! But glad to hear the story of a loving owner! You sound like you gave him an amazing life, and he returned the love!

You are giving him the ultimate gift that he can't give himself, the gift of not suffering.

Thank you for sharing your/his story. The love between your both must be amazing.

Well done good servant!

Bryan

 

[PontiacHO]

Here’s what we told our two little grandkids after the loss of their beloved dog….
God owns all animals. He shares them with us and then He takes them back to Heaven. They will be waiting for us when we step through That Door.

 

[97prizm]

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.
View attachment 239957 View attachment 239958 View attachment 239959
Christmas Morning 2023, he always could sniff out his presents, would act like a kid, every Christmas even when blind.
View attachment 239961

Sorry to hear that. I had a beagle corgi mix that made it to 17. They really are apart of your family.

 

[Bud]

Tough thing to do, but also the best to keep your pet from suffering. Been there many times and it is always heart breaking. I always hold mine in my arms until they go to sleep forever. I wish we as humans had this option when our health is gone.

 

[Donald]

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.
View attachment 239957 View attachment 239958 View attachment 239959
Christmas Morning 2023, he always could sniff out his presents, would act like a kid, every Christmas even when blind.
View attachment 239961

If the dog was your buddy then unfortunately it will hurt for awhile. I think it's suppose to. You lost your friend.

My Molly The Dog is getting on 13 and a Mastiff mix. Unsure how much longer she will be around. My Neopolitan Mastiff had to be put to sleep earlier this year as he had something like ALS and he and I had really bonded. Not sure my wife understood how deep the bond was. I still miss him.

 

[Dave Hess]

Always very difficult when a pet passes away.

RIP.

 

[alarmguy]

To everyone,
I just wanted to say I appreciate all the responses. I will reply to them in the next day or two.

The posts, stories and well wishes in here are truly amazing.

My wife and I appreciate it very much. I went through all your responses with her and we both want to say thank you.

Doug

 

[loneryder]

I had my Elkhound on Vetmedin. Caused her to lose her back leg strength completely (full collapse), her front right leg to be crazy restless (stepping non stop) and to walk in a curve non stop. Really messed her up. But she was not coughing all the time. Took her off and now she can walk and the neuro symptoms are lessening, but she is coughing again.

She would not have lived another week on Vetmedin. She was clearly going down.

Maybe wrongly prescribed? It increases the strength of the heartbeat for failing hearts with deteriorated valves. Don't know about neuro symptoms.

 

[alarmguy]

I had my Elkhound on Vetmedin. Caused her to lose her back leg strength completely (full collapse), her front right leg to be crazy restless (stepping non stop) and to walk in a curve non stop. Really messed her up. But she was not coughing all the time. Took her off and now she can walk and the neuro symptoms are lessening, but she is coughing again.

She would not have lived another week on Vetmedin. She was clearly going down.

Maybe wrongly prescribed? It increases the strength of the heartbeat for failing hearts with deteriorated valves. Don't know about neuro symptoms.

I suspect he was talking about a neuro reaction to the drug?
I dont know. you got me on that but sadly we know any drug is not safe for everyone. I consider this one a miracle which I will reply to you in minute.

 

[alarmguy]

I'm guessing he is on Vetmedin. It is a miracle drug. Gave one of my dogs another year plus of quality life. I feel your upcoming pain. Your write up in tribute to him is superb.

Thank you.
You hit it right on the head and Vetmedin is EXACTLY what I call that drug. A miracle drug.
The transformation last August 2023 when Benson started taking the drug was amazing. Guessing that about 3 days after he started taking it, he was a new dog again. Gone was the fluids building up in his lungs, hearing him gasping for air was gone. He was back to his old self. I even remember telling the doctor because we had a follow up a week or two later after he started taking it how it was AMAZING that Benson was back to normal, like his old self.

Of course we knew (as he told us) the day would come where the drug would no longer help. When I pressed to a time line he said 6 months to a year. We past the year mark and for the last few weeks a rapid decline that started maybe a few months back more slowly.

He weighs 28 to 30 LBS. VERY stocky dog for that weight, meaning his bone structure is like a brick, rock solid dog.
5Mg in the morning and 2.5 mg in the evening.

Appreciate the responses in here.

 

[alarmguy]

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

My sister had a cat I think it was 18 years old. Had to be put down recently. She also had a special dog years before that.
That cat was her world, so in tune with each other, it was every bit as hard for her as it was to put down their long time family dog.
That was about 2 years ago, and she still mentions how she misses him. Cats and dogs, fill our lives with something I guess humans do not.

 

[alarmguy]

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...

Yeah, at this point I cant imagine having another. Yes, again, we did make him every part of our family and was always thought of that way.

 

[alarmguy]

You have a very sad story, and I feel bad.

If it were me, I'd do everything possible to keep him alive as long as possible until he died of natural causes.
I would ask the vet what they can give him to ease any discomfort, and spend a lot of time with him each day.

The Vet sounded off on this. We did do everything possible by buying this miracle drug for him for the last 13 months and he lived a great life during that time.
To let him go naturally would mean to not buy the drug and let him go naturally.

However I will not allow my dog hearts to beat while all his major organs break down. loses his brain to dementia and he becomes a vegetable unable to move on a floor gasping for air and living in misery because a drug can make his heart beat.

 

[Passport1]

My sister had a cat I think it was 18 years old. Had to be put down recently. She also had a special dog years before that.
That cat was her world, so in tune with each other, it was every bit as hard for her as it was to put down their long time family dog.
That was about 2 years ago, and she still mentions how she misses him. Cats and dogs, fill our lives with something I guess humans do not.

It's because their love is unconditional and demands nothing in return.

 

[alarmguy]

I'm so sorry for your loss. We lost our 12 year old Doberman in January. She was our world. We also lost our two Yorkies the year prior (one of them also due to heart failure.) They were 15. I miss them all very much. In February 2023 I lost my Mom. Lung Cancer that spread to her brain. Last couple of weeks were AWFUL. She didn't want that, but she held on for us.

You and you're wife sound like amazing animal parents. When you are ready, please get another pup. I promise you that Benson will want you too. You have a lot of love to give, and you both deserve the love of another dog, when you're ready.

It will be a while, right now we cant see having another dog. My mom with cancer was heart breaking, she was literally telling us "I wish they would just let me go"

 

[alarmguy]

I'm sorry! But glad to hear the story of a loving owner! You sound like you gave him an amazing life, and he returned the love!

You are giving him the ultimate gift that he can't give himself, the gift of not suffering.

Thank you for sharing your/his story. The love between your both must be amazing.

Well done good servant!

Bryan

Thank you

 

[alarmguy]

Tough thing to do, but also the best to keep your pet from suffering. Been there many times and it is always heart breaking. I always hold mine in my arms until they go to sleep forever. I wish we as humans had this option when our health is gone.

I agree 100% with humans, it can be brutal.
Yes, we will be holding Benson in our arms when he is put forever to sleep and SOOOOOO happy we will be doing it in his (our) home.
I dont wants last moments to be a place that positively freaks him out.

 

[alarmguy]

If the dog was your buddy then unfortunately it will hurt for awhile. I think it's suppose to. You lost your friend.

My Molly The Dog is getting on 13 and a Mastiff mix. Unsure how much longer she will be around. My Neopolitan Mastiff had to be put to sleep earlier this year as he had something like ALS and he and I had really bonded. Not sure my wife understood how deep the bond was. I still miss him.

Yes, I remember your post.
Benson was our only dog and my wife is having a rough time over this as well. She is the one who bathed him and gave him monthly hair cuts (grooming) which oddly he loved! For his entire life. We equally split the dog walking and I was the one to feed him his two meals a day.

 

[alarmguy]

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.

I cant remember if you mentioned it, sorry to hear.
RIght now, my wife and I are emotional, actually I started around last Christmas knowing it would be his last.
I agree 100%, its a responsibility as a pet owner do make sure that loved companion isnt subject to misery and pain, something they can not convey to humans in speech.
No question though, it is hard.

 

[Cujet]

Thank you for this,
Yeah, I told my wife, I wonder if we would ever come around to wanting another dog. Right now we feel it wouldnt be fair to another because we cant imagine loving another one like we did this one. He was so in tune with us, freak out and dart around the house like a crazy person every time we walked in the door, insane! . Cant explain it but most likely most know already and experienced the same.

Maybe wrongly prescribed? It increases the strength of the heartbeat for failing hearts with deteriorated valves. Don't know about neuro symptoms.

It is a disaster for her at any dose. She does have a heart murmur and is now coughing up fluids. Diuretics help.