We have a 6 year old dog, who we love dearly but the stress of his health is weighing on him, our family and our finances. I’m sort of at a loss as to what to do. I have only been through putting one dog down in my life, our 18 year old family dog and he was visibly suffering. This is not the case with our current dog.
We recently discovered he is diabetic, and he is on insulin (we are still upping the dose each week because it isn’t controlled yet, he is still peeing in the house and really thristy) and currently it’s costing us about $160 a month. He is also having seizures, separate issue which just resurfaced, he had them 3 years ago but they have returned in greater frequency. He is averaging about 2 a week and has had 2 in one day this week.
We’re looking at putting him back on Phenobarb. We’re strapped for $$ as we have a new baby. We feel horrible that this is weighing into the decision as it isn’t our dogs fault. At what point do you decide that the care/cost is too much?
Dog With Some Health Problems, Struggling With The Decision To Put Him To Sleep?
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if you think the dog is suffering put him out of his mizery and put him to sleep, if you cant pay the expenses then maybe think about putting him in a foster dog home or humance society and maybe not get another dog or other animal until you know you will be able to pay for it, if you dont think he is suffering please dont put him to sleep but hopefully you know whats best for him. you could also ask your local vet for advice on what to do. i hope i helped!!
Putting a pet to sleep has to be one of the hardest decisions in the world.
We waited too long with our cocker – she was peeing in the house too and I just kept doctoring her and loving her and finally one day, she couldn’t even stand up. Of course, I didn’t know it would develop into something like that but it as horrible taking her to the vet.
We also put our hourse down and we had ot make that decision before he couldn’t walk – otherwise how would we get rid of him? So, we took him before she was lame and my hubby came home with a dog. He made father of the year but certainly not husband of the year – that dog destroyed my house!!!
Anyway -this doesn’t answer your question – I am just empathizing with you and hoping for the best for you.
Have you ever done any research on help for people with ailing animals. There are groups out there that will help out with different kinds of medical issues. Also I would be questioning about the insulin and the seizures. In humans too much insulin will lower the blood sugar and a person can have what looks like a seizure. Ask your vet if there is any groups that can maybe give you some help with the expenses for your dog or even maybe if that doesn’t work and all else fails help in placing dogie in a home that can take him or her. As far as putting him to sleep that is something that should be used only if he or she has no quality of life left. You are the one that has to decide as it is your pet but make sure it is what is best for both you and your pet. Good Luck.
are there any low cost clinics in your area. you may ask your vet. and tell him your situation. he may have some ideas that will help rest your mind.
i don’t think anyone can make the decision for you. everyone has a different opinion. i think you just have to follow your heart.
Sorry for you. That is the hardest.
Why not try getting a new Vet or go get a second opinion.
Or find holistic treatments.
You never know…..
Otherwise if you dog is uncomfortable and emotionally upset, then mabye it is wise to put it down, especially if it has seizures.
Pray for an answer or for help making the decision.
Diabetes is something that is very hard to control and you can treat the problems but not cure.
Seizures often when they start that often you are actually looking ot some kind of brain damage.
It’s going to be harder on her as well as you as your baby starts toddling around.
If it were my dog I would have her put down. It is not easy decision but I truly think it’s best. Phenobarb has side affects as well as many diabetic meds.
here is a poem htat may help:::
PUT ME TO REST
Time to let me go my friend,
Because my life no-one can mend,
Its better to let me go this way,
Than watch me suffer night and day.
I’m happy to go, my time has come,
My quality of life is no longer fun,
Ive been so ill, so its not a bad thing,
To let me go forever resting.
Stay with me till I drift away,
Fast asleep forever I pray,
To relieve me from suffering and pain,
What more can I ask from my best friend.
Don’t be sad, I’ll be free from pain,
Never to be ill ever again,
I know you’ll miss me being there,
But all the memories you have to share.
Thankyou for being my best friend,
And all my needs that you did tend,
Try not to be sad, try not to cry,
Now’s the time to say GOODBYE PUT ME TO REST
I can not advise you, only you can decide.
But I truly feel for you.
Been there.
Was spending an average of $400 a wk. to keep my baby Pug alive yrs. ago. She was my life.
Grand Mal Seizures that progressed and got so bad that if was increasingly frequent and longer.
Eventually she got blind (partially) and deaf totally from brain damage for the prolonged episodes.
The vet was actually coming to my house to put under with general anesthesia.
Dilantin, phenobarbitol, and a gamut of other anti-epileptic meds, both experimental and not were tried (had to make charts to schedule times of).
It was the worse time of my life and with a newborn child too.
Finally, when during one fit she was screaming as she flayed about,.. I called vet to put down. Mugsy was not yet 3 yrs. old.
Had I know the heartache, expense and total stress, I would have never taken that precious dog in.
In hindsight, I still feel guilty,… don’t know why though, just that maybe it was wrong to make her go through all that.
YET if I didn’t try…????
So I hope my experience may help your decision.
Gd. luck.
To be honest, even if he isn’t visibly suffering, it still hurts him. Yesterday morning we had to put our 8 year old dog down for health reasons. He had terribly rotted teeth from gingivitis, urinary problems, and arthritis. We had been paying for his health expenses for a couple years, and it does effect financials dramatically, especially with your case of having a baby to care for too. It is hard when it resorts to whether or not to put him to sleep because of not only his pain, but the costs of his pain, but the best thing for your dog, in my opinion, would be to put him down. No creature wants to live with a disability, especially things as bad as diabetes AND seizures. That’s my advice, I hope it helps. =)
Best Wishes
I don’t think putting this dog to sleep is the right answer. He has health issues that can be controlled. Do you know of anyone (responsible) to take over the care of this dog? I understand that money can be difficult at times (been there done that) but, I found a way to get through it. Would you get rid of your baby if some sudden health issues popped up? I don’t understand why it would be any different for a dog. But, that’s me….and just my opinion.
Personally, I have always made the decision to put my dogs down when they no longer have any quality of life left.
I’m very sorry you are facing this difficult decision. I wish I could give some magic advice, but that decision has to be up to you.
I thoroughly understand the situation you are in. You love your dog & don’t want to have it put down, yet the finances are ruining you; noone is happy. It would probably be hard for you to find it a new home, with all the Medical Expenses. So, you have a big decision to make. If it would make you feel any better about having him put down, then one of you request to be in with the dog, at that time, & have a hand upon it, so it knows you are there with it, & so you will know that he didn’t suffer from it. This is what I do whenever I am forced into this situation; to me, it’s the only way to go, cause I want my pets to know that I am right there with them. If the Vet thinks you will be able to handle that, they will allow it. It’s a hard thing to do, but this is very Humane; if you’re there at the time, you will see for yourself. I wish you well.
Your dog needs you, he needs your help because without it he’s a dead dog! I know its hard for you money wise, with a new baby ( congratulations x ) to look after and feed and clothe, bills to pay etc etc but that little lad was your furry baby before the real thing came along and before you think i’m being horrible ( i’m honestly not ), i know you’ve been so very good to him, loving him and paying the vets bills etc and i really can see your point of view but please don’t end his life because of money, there maybe other solutions. Ok, he hasn’t got the kind of life that other dogs have but he still loves and relys on you and he does have ‘normal’ days so it isn’t as if he’s knocking at deaths door eh? Have you got a vet college or university near you? If you have, they would be interested in treating your dog for a minimal amount of money ( some do it for free! ) so that their students learn a thing or two about diabetes in dogs and fits etc. Its worth asking isn’t it? Can any family members help you out? What about asking an animal charity, in the UK we have the RSPCA, i think you have the equivilant, to help you? I feel that you really don’t want to give up on him, you wouldn’t have come on here to ask for help if you did so pick up the phone and exhaust all other avenues before the one in your mind. I hope something comes up, for him of course, but mainly for you, you’d feel forever guilty if you just went ahead and put him to sleep and that wouldn’t be fair, not with a new baby and all. Good luck to you x
see if a animal rescue will take the dog, I f not do the kind thing if you can’t afford to give the dog the care it needs. Sometimes the things we think are cruel are really the kindest.