Putting pets to sleep

[Miss Chicken]

The woman concerned died, aged 52, several years ago of a heart attack. It was her third heart attack and she was too stupid to change her lifestyle after the first two. Her daughter, who had own one of the dogs, blamed her mother's doctor for the death - she was totally blind to the fact that her mother smoked and weighed 150 kgs. This family was selfish to the extreme.

The son went into the house after her death and started to take things out of the house because he didn't want the boyfriend to have them even though the son had absolutely no need for them.

At the time of her death she and her boyfriend had two dogs, a little Maltese terrier and an German shepherd. He looked after them well and eventually decided to go to Western Australia and drove all the way with the dogs. one of the neighbours received a couple of photos from the guy and the dogs were in the photo looking well and happy.

 

[NickInABox]

She got what she deserved.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I've never had to put a pet down, but my 6-year old kitty Lucifer is very sick at the moment (his kidneys are failing), and I'm afraid I'm going to have to put him down in a few days, before he's in a lot of pain again :/

I'm sorry to hear that. Is there any chance he'll get better?

 

[Candlelight]

My cat Sausage was put to sleep three years ago last week, after contracting cancer and had trouble breathing.

Was one of the saddest few days of my life. We found him in the back yard as a two week old abandoned kitten and nursed him back to health. The vet said if he survives the night he should be ok. He lived seven years.

I'm sure many of you who posted here may remember the sad post I made here when he died.

 

[mimic]

^I remember.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Probably one of the saddest cats I had was one when I was young, that was put to sleep. The sad part wasn't that it was put to sleep, but rahther it DIDN'T NEED to be put to sleep -- there was nothing wrong with her. It's one of those things you just can't forgive a parent for.


One of my autns had this nice cat that would stand up and paw with both hands, and drink from a running sink facet. It got cancer(?) in the jaw, to the point where it ate a hole in the lower jaw. Poor cat was still okay otherwise, but it was killing it, so they put it to sleep.

 

[C. Cole-Chakotay]

I've made that decision for two elderly dogs. One was blind and partially deaf (she was around 15-16 years old); the other had bad arthritis (she was nearly 17 years old). They were hard decisions but I did what I felt was best for my pets.

 

[AdAstra]

I've never had to put a pet down, but my 6-year old kitty Lucifer is very sick at the moment (his kidneys are failing), and I'm afraid I'm going to have to put him down in a few days, before he's in a lot of pain again :/

I'm sorry to hear that. Is there any chance he'll get better?

No. He's getting cortisone, which is basically what has kept him alive during the diagnosis and it made him better for a while, but he can't be cured.

If a human has what he has, he'd get dialysis while waiting for a kidney transplant, so it's not looking good...

 

[RJDiogenes]

I'm very sorry.

 

[AdAstra]

He passed away about an hour ago...

 

[Cakes488]

He passed away about an hour ago...

I am really thinking about you right now. I don't know who you are or where you're from but I know your pain.

Even though we have to go through this with our pets its our last act of love and kindness.

 

[Gertch]

He passed away about an hour ago...

I'm so sorry. He had someone who loved and took care of him so he had a great life no matter how short.

 

[SmoothieX]

He passed away about an hour ago...

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. That's terrible man.

 

[TrekkieMonster]

He passed away about an hour ago...

I can only offer my thoughts and best wishes that sooner, rather than later, you will have only fond and happy memories of your "furry friend". I know what you've gone through, and I know that right now nothing will probably help all that much. If I may offer one piece of advice, please do allow yourself to grieve and feel the loss. It really will help the healing process long term. It does get better, I promise. You will truly be in my thoughts and in my heart.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

He passed away about an hour ago...

I'm so sorry dear.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

He passed away about an hour ago...

Sorry for your loss.

 

[May 20]

He passed away about an hour ago...

I'm so sorry.

 

[Candlelight]

He passed away about an hour ago...

Ditto on all the condolences. Its not a great thing to go through but they are in a better place now. Just remember this little story:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.

 

[RJDiogenes]

He passed away about an hour ago...

My condolences. Believe me, I know how it feels.

 

[JuanBolio]

He passed away about an hour ago...

I'm very sorry for your loss. Its a terrible thing.

I've only had to euthanize a pet once, about four or five years ago. My cat Chloe - sweet little thing, was undergoing liver failure. Her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears were turning a sickly shade of yellow, she wouldn't eat or drink, couldn't control her urination, and became very weak toward the end. We took her to the vet and he said there was no hope, and suspected she might've gotten into some kind of poison, though I don't know how. He was going to give her two shots - one to knock her out, one to stop her heart, but she was so weak that the first shot killed her.

My Cornish Rex, Ember, died a year or two later, but in his case he had a sudden attack of some kind and was dead within two minutes, and was strong and healthy up til the moment he seized up - no small thing, considering he lived to be 18 or so. That last night just before he died he ran up the stairs into my room, jumped onto my lap, and I put him under my fleece against my chest, where the attack began minutes later. Its definitely harder to watch them slowly break down and have to end it yourself, especially since you can never be sure what they'd want if they could choose. If only they could all go as suddenly and gloriously as Ember.

Incidentally - why do we say we "put them to sleep"? Is it to shelter innocent ears and minds from an ugly truth? Why not simply say "kill" or "euthanize"?